Skip to main content

Mindset

October 8, 2025 The last two months have been busy. I’ve been tightening my budget so I can pay off debt, save for Shaela’s tuition, and reach other goals. I haven’t bought myself a coffee in six weeks (until yesterday!), haven’t bought new clothes, and have been sticking to a small grocery budget.The old me would have been frustrated and down on myself for not having extra money to spend. But lately, it’s been easier to stay focused on my goals. That’s because when I budget for the month, I include specific things I want to spend money on.For example, in September I had a girls’ weekend, visited Shaela, and had dinner with friends. This month, I’ve already gone to dinner with a friend, visited Shaela for a day, and taken Hayden to the pumpkin patch for our favorite apple donuts and apple cider. All of this was planned for in my budget—so I’m not missing out on things.When Hayden asked for something extra at the pumpkin farm, I had to say no—it wasn’t in our budget. And I didn’t feel bad about it. It’s okay to say no, both to him and to myself, because I’m in charge of how I spend my money. Spending an extra ten dollars wouldn’t break me, but it would set me back a little from reaching my goals.If you’ve been scared to make a budget because it feels restrictive, remember this: you can design your budget to fit your needs and your wants. The best thing about a budget is that it’s a plan for how you’ll spend your money. Without a plan, it’s easy to feel like your money just disappears—and to be frustrated when you can’t reach your goals.It feels incredible knowing I can plan my money in a way that lets me do the things I love, buy the things I want, and still make progress toward my goals. You might also be interested in From debt reduction to smarter saving, Project Money transformed my finances—discover the lessons that changed everything... Financial freedom means control, not wealth. I’m guiding my kids early—open talks, goals, IRAs, and celebrating wins... Kelli’s prepping for retirement at 50 by boosting savings, opening a Roth, and learning to invest smart... Kelli’s mindset shift = power: she’s tackling surprise costs with strategy, not stress. Financial freedom starts with intention and control... Kelli shares how intentional budgeting brings freedom—not restriction. Saying no today means saying yes to your bigger goals tomorrow... Kelli revamped her budget by prioritizing needs, goals, and learning—turning mindful spending into meaningful financial progress... Learning to live debt-free, Kelli pays cash for college, budgets tightly, and uses envelopes to stay focused on her financial goals... Kelli got a glimpse of financial ease this summer—budgeting stayed strong, stress eased, and small, consistent steps proved key to lasting financial confidence... Kelli shares how working with her coach helped her reset her budget, stay flexible, and prioritize saving—all while celebrating a debt-free vacation...