Yes, they helped me avoid foreclosure. They bought my house quickly and I got enough to pay off the loan. They were very understanding.

Printed facts are a good start... but you need to escalate. Next time someone says the teacup is a critique of the monarchy, just start reading the copyright page out loud in a monotone voice. Page numbers, publisher's address, the Library of Congress data... it's the only way to break the spell.

Honestly, tracking in a spreadsheet is smart, but I'd say the key was less about the numbers themselves and more about you actually looking at them regularly.