When I first started trying to budget and get a handle on my finances, I thought I had to follow the rules. You know the ones—those hard-and-fast budgeting strategies shared by influencers, financial gurus, or anyone who seemed to have it all figured out.
I tried to copy their systems, thinking, “If it worked for them, it has to work for me.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
It felt rigid. Overwhelming. Honestly? It just made me want to rebel and impulse-buy something shiny out of spite.
Then one day, I had a little internal rebellion—but in a good way. I thought, “You know what? I deserve a little something too.”
So I started setting aside money just for myself. Nothing wild—just ten bucks a week to begin with. But that small act? Total game-changer.
Over time, I increased it a bit. And that tiny allowance became my mindset reset. Budgeting no longer felt like punishment—it started to feel like empowerment. Because even though I was putting most of my money toward bills, debt, and life stuff… I still got to enjoy a coffee. Or save up a few weeks and get my nails done. Or grab a book that had been on my wishlist.
Giving myself permission to experience joy—on a budget—was the best decision I ever made.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be about deprivation. Sometimes, the best financial decision is the one that reminds you why you’re working so hard in the first place.
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