Recently, during a brainstorming session with a fellow YNAB coach, he asked me a great question:

"What are the most impactful messages or ideas you’ve shared in your workshops?"

Three simple but powerful concepts came to mind—core ideas that can make or break a spending plan:

1. Give every dollar a job
2. Be flexible
3. Include some fun

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Give Every Dollar a Job
(AKA: Create your spending plan)

Add up all the cash you currently have on hand—in your checking account(s), and savings account(s). Put that total at the top of a page, spreadsheet, or your favorite budgeting app.

Then, ask yourself:

“What does this money need to do before I’m paid again?”
Start assigning dollars their jobs, beginning with the most urgent things: housing, groceries, and upcoming bills. Write down how much you need in each category, and subtract as you go.

If you still have money left, ask:

“What larger, less frequent spending do I need to prepare for?”
Think of things like car repairs, holidays, or annual subscriptions. By treating these like monthly bills and setting aside a little each month, you avoid being caught off guard when they arrive.

Still have dollars to assign?

“What can I set aside for next month’s spending?”
Getting a month ahead means the money you earn this month won’t be spent until next month. That creates breathing room and peace of mind.

Next, ask yourself:

“What goals, large or small, do I want to prioritize?”
A weekend getaway, a new video game, a future home? Decide what matters and assign dollars accordingly.

These questions guide you to make intentional, proactive choices with your money.

2. Be Flexible
(AKA: Change your plan as needed)

One of the most important questions to ask yourself as you're following your spending plan is:

“What changes, if any, do I need to make?”

Life rarely goes exactly as planned. Your spending plan reflects your best guess based on the knowledge you had at the time. But things change.

For example, maybe you planned to buy new work clothes because you’ve been wearing the same few outfits for months. But then you find out an old college friend is visiting, and you’d love to take them to that restaurant that always reminds you of your time together.

You re-evaluate, and decide the experience with your friend is more important right now. So you change the plan—and that’s a win.

The real goal is alignment: making sure your spending reflects what matters most to you in the moment.

A rigid plan that can’t adjust? That’s not realistic. Rigid budgets break.
Flexibility allows you to stay connected to your values, even when life shifts.

3. Include Some Fun

Another way spending plans fall apart is when they’re all restriction and no joy. Living under constant financial pressure without a little breathing room can wear you down and cause you to give up.

It’s important to make room for guilt-free spending, even if it’s just a little.

Whether it’s $5 for a treat, money for hobbies, or a monthly fun category, allowing yourself a bit of freedom is part of what makes a plan sustainable. If you're part of a couple, be sure both of you have dedicated fun money.

This isn’t about reckless spending—it’s about recognizing that money should be used for both stability and enjoyment. A good plan supports both.

Final Thoughts

These three principles—giving every dollar a job, staying flexible, and making room for fun—aren’t just budgeting hacks. They’re mindset shifts that create long-term success.

If your plan feels too rigid, try adjusting your approach. Build in space to adapt. Build in joy. And keep coming back to those five questions—they’ll guide you every time.

Let me know how it goes—I’d love to hear what changes you notice.

P.S. Not sure what your next step is? Here are a few ideas:

• Want to chat about your spending plan? I hold open office hours every second Wednesday at 10:00 AM MT. They’re free and open to the public—you’re always welcome.
• Looking for more encouragement and practical tips? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter for fresh insights delivered to your inbox.
• Ready to get hands-on support? I offer one-on-one coaching to help you align your money with what matters most.

Wherever you are on your financial journey, I’d love to support you.

If there's one thing I've learned in nearly a decade of coaching people with their spending habits, it's this: money is as emotional as it is logical. We like to think it's all about the numbers, but it's tangled up in feelings—especially guilt. Most of us carry guilt around how we spend or manage money, whether from feeling like we don't have enough, regretting past purchases, or comparing ourselves to others. But today, I want to talk about a mindset shift: a way to break the guilt cycle and replace it with a more empowering cycle of planning, spending, and reflecting.
This guilt often comes from the spend > track > regret cycle. It's when we make a purchase in the moment, track it after the fact, and only then realize it wasn’t the best choice. We didn’t plan for it, and now we regret it. Maybe we saw something we wanted (or felt like we needed) and bought it impulsively. Then we have something more important come up that needs to be paid for. We realize we already spent the money. Then we regret the spending. Or it may look like seeing something we need or want, spending the money, later realizing the item could have cost less elsewhere if we had done our research, then we regret and feel guilt about the spending.
One of the biggest ones my husband and I experienced was with a water softener. Just after our first child was born, we had a water softener salesman show up at our door. Being young and still not very experienced with door to door salesmen, we let him in. He used our new baby to tug on our heartstrings and we agreed to do a whole house system with a water softener and RO water spout in the kitchen. When all was said and done, we went to Lowes and found out that we could have gotten the same things for a quarter of the price. Boy did we feel stupid! We still look back and regret that one, but we’ve had to learn to let it go. That’s when we realized: spending guilt and frustration can cloud our judgment, making us doubt ourselves. But practicing self-compassion, even after mistakes, helps break that cycle.
The water softener example was a large one, but we have had many such regretful spending moments over the years. We had a lot of shame over going into overdraft each month, asking family for a loan, and much more. Over time, with a lot of trial and error, we learned there is a better cycle to be in. The plan > spend > reflect cycle.
With this cycle, we plan our spending BEFORE we spend. We think of all the things we need our money to do for us - going beyond just the day to day, monthly spending. We plan for things like Christmas, car registrations, school fees, and yearly subscriptions year round - not just before they happen. We plan on emergencies or other unexpected things happening. We even have a plan for our kids' weddings before any of them are even close to being married.
Making this plan, having it all laid out in front of us, helps us spend with confidence. We know we can buy that pizza or pay for that car repair and still be able to pay for all of our other expenses - because we have it all planned out. Now, don't get me wrong, we were not planning on weddings and the like right off the bat, but we stuck with what we knew we needed now and in the near future. As more and more things got funded, we were able to expand to include more things in our spending plan. The key difference here is that with the plan > spend > reflect cycle, your spending aligns with what matters most to you—because you planned for it ahead of time. Instead of reacting and regretting, you're in control, making intentional choices that align with your goals. And that’s what takes guilt out of the equation. If we had been following this plan back with that door to door salesman, we would have known that it wasn't part of our plan. We could have updated our plan to include it, done our research, and done it much more cheaply and intentionaly when we were actually ready for that expense.
After we spend, we can reflect on our purchases and not have that same feeling of guilt and shame. Reflection doesn’t mean beating yourself up over past choices. It’s about learning from them and making tweaks to your plan so that you can get even closer to your goals next time. If something didn’t go as planned, adjust and move forward. This is all part of the process.
If you really want to kick spending guilt to the curb, start today by giving every dollar a job. Plan for each dollar, track your spending, and make sure it lines up with that plan. After a week or so of spending, look back. Is your spending in line with what's important to you? If it is, keep going. If it's not, adjust, re-plan, and keep going. Remember, no one taught you how to do this. You can't magically know something you were never taught. You'e got this!

When we talk about and think about money, it can evoke very strong emotions. Sometimes we want to avoid it altogether. Even when we earn enough for our needs, we feel like it's still not enough. In fact, 73% of Americans rank their finances as the number one cause of stress, according to a survey from the American Psychological Association (APA). Often, we feel overwhelmed and stressed. When I talk with people, rarely do they feel hope and joy in their financial situations. Today, I want to dive into some of these emotions and how they can present within the context of money addictions.

1. Spending Addiction
Many of us are familiar with the concept of spending addiction. People who suffer from this often feel the need to spend any money they get and more, usually in an attempt to feel better. This can be seen in individuals who have experienced financial abuse in the past, where they weren't allowed to spend. Once they're free to spend, it can get out of control.

For those dealing with spending addiction, it's essential to seek help and begin by creating a realistic budget. But more than that, using tools like the SMART spending method can help you make intentional choices and curb unnecessary spending. George Kamel’s SMART spending concept offers a simple yet powerful framework:

• S - Self-Awareness: Ask yourself, Is this going to add value to my life? Does it have a purpose?
• M - Motive: Consider, Am I buying this for the right reason? Is this retail therapy or an emotional purchase?
• A - Affordability: Reflect, Is this in my budget?
• R - Research: Ensure, Is this the best quality or price? Have I explored all my options?
• T - Timing: Evaluate, Is this the right time to buy this? Could it wait, considering opportunity costs and priorities?

By pausing to ask yourself these questions, you can break the cycle of impulse spending and make better financial decisions. It can also help to have an accountability partner who can talk you through purchases before you make them, ensuring that your spending aligns with your long-term goals.

Did you know? According to a 2023 study, approximately 6% of the U.S. population may struggle with compulsive buying disorder, with women being disproportionately affected.

2. Debt Addiction
Debt addiction can wreak havoc on financial health. It often looks like someone constantly opening new lines of credit—credit cards, personal loans, payday loans—and using one to pay off another. This behavior often leads to a vicious cycle of debt accumulation, poor credit, and in extreme cases, bankruptcy.

For help:

• Debtors Anonymous is a resource offering support for individuals struggling with debt addiction.
• Create a debt repayment plan and make it a priority to avoid opening new lines of credit.
• Seek financial counseling to manage and reduce debt systematically.

3. Financial Codependence
Financial codependence occurs when individuals feel compelled to give money to others, even to their own financial detriment. A person with this addiction might continually provide financial assistance to friends or family members, draining their own resources. This can lead to stress, resentment, and eventual financial ruin.

Overcoming financial codependence involves:

• Setting healthy boundaries and recognizing when financial help becomes enabling.
• Teaching financial literacy to those you help, so they can become self-sufficient.
• Work with a therapist to address the guilt or obligation associated with helping others financially.

Setting boundaries and helping others learn to manage their own finances can be incredibly empowering for both parties. For those in need, it offers hope and confidence as they gain the skills to handle their money independently. Rather than feeling helpless or dependent, they can take control of their situation and build a stronger financial future for themselves. This approach not only fosters self-reliance but also strengthens relationships, as it shows your loved ones that you believe in their ability to succeed.

4. Money Hoarding
At the other end of the spectrum from these mentioned addictions is money hoarding. This goes beyond simply saving towards goals or being wise with your money. It’s an obsession with holding onto every dollar, driven often by fear. People who hoard money may fear they will never have enough, or that financial security is always just out of reach. This fear can prevent them from spending on even small things that would bring joy or comfort. They may avoid social activities, turn down opportunities to celebrate with friends or family, or refuse to invest in experiences—all because of an overwhelming fear of future financial instability. Relationships can strain as they distance themselves from others to protect their financial resources. 

To overcome money hoarding:

• Acknowledge the fear and Create a balanced budget that allows for both security and enjoyment.
• Set aside a portion for experiences and give yourself permission to spend.
• Recognize your financial safety net and that responsible spending won’t leave you without enough.

By assigning some of your money the job of having fun, you can begin to trust that your future needs will be met without sacrificing the pleasures of today. Learning to trust your budget, will give you the confidence that you can spend and still have enough to cover your needs.

5. Deprivation Addiction
Deprivation addiction looks like intentionally living on the bare minimum, avoiding raises, promotions, or investments that could improve your financial situation. People who exhibit this behavior often feel unworthy of having more, or believe that living with less is a moral virtue.

If you struggle with deprivation addiction:

• Seek therapy to explore feelings of self-worth and address any underlying issues.
• Start small by allowing yourself to enjoy small luxuries within your means.
• Develop a mindset of abundance—recognize that you are deserving of financial comfort and security.

6. Money Hunger
On the other end of the spectrum is money hunger—an obsession with constantly seeking more income, new investments, or business opportunities. While ambition is not inherently bad, it can become problematic when it overshadows other aspects of life, like relationships or mental health.

If you find yourself consumed by the pursuit of more money:

• Evaluate your current financial situation: Often, when we take a close look, we realize we already have more than we thought. Instead of constantly seeking new income streams, ask yourself: Is there more I can do to stretch what I already have? By managing your existing resources more effectively, you may find that you’re already in a much better position than you realized, reducing the urge to always pursue more money.
• Prioritize relationships and experiences that enrich your life beyond financial success.
• Practice gratitude for your current wealth and focus on non-financial forms of richness in life.

Studies suggest that beyond a certain point, earning more money doesn’t increase happiness. In fact, research from Princeton University shows that emotional well-being plateaus at an annual income of around $75,000, depending on where you live.

Money addictions, like any other addiction, can be overwhelming and difficult to manage, but they are not impossible to overcome. Whether it’s working with a financial coach, seeking therapy, or joining a support group, there are many ways to regain control. The key is recognizing these patterns and addressing them before they damage your financial future, relationships, or mental health.

If you're struggling with any of these addictions or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional therapist or to your financial coach. I’m here to help guide you to financial clarity and empowerment.​

You read that right... I can't stop looking at my budget. And here's why.

Earlier this year, my husband made a huge life decision—he left his 21-year career to pursue a more intentional life, more aligned with personal interests. We LOVED the time we had together during those months of “retirement.” But we also knew it couldn’t last forever. Eventually, we'd need health insurance, and, well... the cash would run out.

After four wonderful months together, he accepted a government job to help meet our family’s needs.

Now, working for the government is very different from working in the tech industry. One of the biggest differences? The pay—it was a significant cut. To say I was nervous is an understatement. We had commitments and family traditions we cherished, and I didn't want to lose them. But with so much less money coming in, how could we make it work?

I even started subscribing to job listings for places I wouldn’t mind working (YNAB, can you hear me?), just in case. I was prepared to give up doing what I love—helping people take control of their finances—if it came down to it.

We didn't want to make any big budget changes until that first paycheck arrived and we knew what we were working with. When it finally did come, I sat down, crunched the numbers, and something amazing happened: I realized that, with a few minor tweaks, we could live within our new income without a problem. I was so excited to share the news with my husband!

That evening, we had a little budget date. I walked him through my plan, and together, we went through the budget line by line—tweaking here, adjusting there—until everything fit. When we were done, I felt an incredible sense of relief. We wouldn’t have to give up our commitments, our favorite traditions, or the things that mattered most to us.

That clarity gave me so much peace and hope, I couldn’t stop looking at the budget. Even now, I find myself opening it up just to admire it. It’s like looking at a piece of art—it represents security, freedom, and the knowledge that we’re going to be okay. Not to mention, I can still keep focusing on my business and helping others find the same peace and hope with their finances.

When people tell me they don’t need a budget, or that budgets are too restrictive, I can’t help but smile. For me, a budget brings freedom, not restrictions. It’s what allows me to feel calm and confident about the future. And that’s made all the difference.

​Four budgeting habits we should all develop...

One: A habit of dreaming
That's right, dreaming! It's our dreaming that helps us know what goals we want to achieve. Take some time to envision your life 5, 10, even 20 years into the future. What do you want it to look like, smell like, feel like? Where do you want to be living? What car do you want to be driving? Who do you want to be part of your life? Dream it all up. If you are married, be sure to dream together. You might be surprised at what your partner is dreaming of. Once you have your dream in mind, convert them into goals and get to work.

Two: A habit of creating a budget
What is a budget? People often think budgets are negative and restricting - something that limits their fun. But a budget is simply telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went. How it works: each time money comes in, you ask yourself, "what does this money need to do before I get paid again?" then give every dollar a job to do. The job titles are the categories/things you spend your money on like rent, food, insurance, and dining out. Once every dollar has a job, you are done creating your budget.

Three: A habit of sticking to your budget
Creating a budget is great, but sticking to it is how you really achieve success. So, how can you stick to your budget? The best way to know if you are on track with your budget is to track your spending. When money goes out, you track which category (money job) is being spent from. Doing this will allow you to know how much you have left for that category until you get paid again. There are times when we all forget an expense or sometime comes up we were not expecting and we overspend in a category. Though, we try to avoid it, sometimes, we may need to change our dollar's jobs - borrow from 

Four: A habit of paying off debt and staying debt-free
Use the snowball method to plan your debt pay-off. Make a list of all your debts - smallest to biggest. Then start at the top. Decided how much extra you can pay on that debt to pay it off as quickly as possible. Keep paying the minimum on all your other debts. Once you've got the first debt paid off, take all the money you had been paying towards your first debt and use it to pay extra on the next debt. Keep on snowballing and moving down your list. Why do we start with the smallest debt and not the one with the highest interest? Because it offers you a quick win, frees up cash fast,  and helps keep you motivated to keep going. Once you are out of debt, save up for future spending rather than borrowing again.