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The Super Smart (and Meaningful) Way to Spend Money

July 28 // Leave a Comment // 4 Minute Read

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Do you struggle with the fear of spending money? Try intentional spending! This essential mindset will transform your relationship with money so you can spend less on the things that don’t matter as much in exchange for the things that do.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
 
woman working on a laptop holding a credit card

I’m not shy about calling myself a minimalist, but some people think the term is synonymous with an “ultra frugal” person who lives in a barely 800-square foot apartment with blank walls and limited IKEA furniture.

And while I get totally giddy over a clearance rack or BOGO sale (and I do own a few pieces of IKEA furniture), I’m also not shy about spending $40 on foundation or buying a $50 pair of jeans (one of the few things I buy name-brand!) or regularly paying over $100 for highlights.

*GASP!*

So how does a minimalist not feel guilty for spending money like that?

Enter: Intentional Spending

When it comes to money, minimalism is not exclusively about spending less or being fearful about what you spend.

It’s more about spending intentionally.

In short, you determine which purchases mean the most to you and then you budget to support those purchases as much as possible. It doesn’t matter how much they cost!

woman pulling cash from her wallet

Now, this doesn’t mean you spend whatever you want whenever you want. Intentional spending is what you do with the money you have left over after covering everyday necessities like groceries and gas.

But when you adopt the intentional spending mindset, you’ll see your purchase habits shift in a big way:

  • You purchase items on purpose rather than on impulse. For example, you can forgo a great deal because it’s not something you need or think is important.
  • You cultivate a positive relationship with money (aka you don’t feel guilty for spending it each time).
  • You learn to appreciate opportunity cost, because you know the items you say YES to are your best return on investment (to borrow a financial term)!

How to define your values

Let’s face it: You can’t spend intentionally if you don’t know what your values are.

That means it’s time to get crystal clear on your financial goals and spending priorities before spending another dime. Most of us don’t have unlimited funds, but we can afford what matters most to us!

“You can have anything you want, but you can’t have everything you want.”

Marissa Mayer

So before you add something else to your physical (or virtual!) shopping cart, do a little soul-searching to come up with your financial values.

It helps to ask questions like:

  1. When have you felt the most fulfilled in your life?
  2. Where would you like to see positive change?
  3. What goals excite you the most?
  4. What purchases could you not live without?

Determine what lights you up on the inside so you can cut back and save in areas you don’t care as much about (whether it’s clothing or coffee!) in order to spend money on experiences and items you truly love (like that cruise you’ve always wanted to take!).

savings tracker bullet journal layout

How to eliminate the fear of spending money

I’ll never forget the lady at church who commented in disdain that I had wasted my money on Lasik surgery. At first, I felt extremely defensive and upset that she would criticize my spending.

But then I realized that while Lasik wasn’t a priority for her, this was a purchase that mattered to me. Especially since I had spent months saving up for it!

Understanding that not everyone’s priorities will always align with yours will help you be less judgmental about what others’ spend. Because—newsflash!—it’s likely they don’t see value in some of the things you purchase either. And there’s absolutely no problem with that!

For instance,

  • You might love ordering your favorite Starbucks latte every day, but you’ve decided that you don’t care as much about cable, so you live without the subscription (yes, it’s possible – here’s how!). Whereas TV lovers might be more willing to give up their Starbucks addiction in exchange for access to the newest series.
coffee in a mug
  • You could spend $60 on new books without blinking. But a $60 sweater? No way! However, your fashionista friend would bypass the bookstore and scoop up that sweater in a heartbeat.
  • Likewise, your brother-in-law and his wife might enjoy multiple weekends away each year, but they could care less if they have the latest iPhone. However, you’re a homebody and would much rather splurge on the latest tech than travel.

The bottom line is this: we ALL put money behind the things that are most important to us and sometimes those things on’t hold the same value for everyone else…and that’s perfectly okay.

Does your spending align with your priorities?

If you’re not sure yet, take a look at your credit card statement. Seeing where your money is going each month has an uncanny way of revealing what you truly value!

Maybe you don’t like what you see. There’s no better time than right now to shift your focus so you’re spending that money in an intentional way.

But if trying new restaurants or splurging at Hobby Lobby is your thing? Then you shouldn’t let the fear of spending money hold you back. Just remember—every “yes” now is a “no” to something later (and vice versa!). You can’t have it all, but you can have what matters most to you.

And no one gets to decide what matters most to you … except you!

Let’s chat about intentional spending:

What is something you value (and spend money on!) that seems wasteful to others?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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👩‍💻 | I help value-driven women lead manageable + meaningful lives.
💬 | INFJ / Enneagram 1
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Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
⁣
Sadly, I find m

Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
⁣
Sadly, I find most people resist minimalism because they can't wrap their head around "having less." People tend to equate this movement with blank walls, white IKEA furniture, and decluttering everything in your home down to practically nothing so you can live full-time in an RV. Like me. 😉⁣
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But, while minimalism could be all that, this mindset misses the point. Minimalism is not only about “having less.” 🚫⁣
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It’s so much more than that.⁣
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This week on the blog, I'm sharing the REAL definition of minimalism (that people who love their stuff can totally get behind!) as well as practical ways to incorporate minimalism into your life. 🎉⁣
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Drop a heart emoji in the comments below and I'll send the link to your DM's! 💖

I love lazy Saturday mornings…as long as I have
I love lazy Saturday mornings...as long as I have a book and a cozy blanket! 😍

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣
⁣
“I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣
⁣
Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣
⁣
I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣
⁣
Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣
⁣
➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣
➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣
➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣
➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣
➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣
➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣
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What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣
⁣
You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣
⁣
See, we’re all different! ⁣
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Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣
⁣
Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣
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What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣
⁣
But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣
⁣
As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣
⁣
Why? ⁣
⁣
No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣
⁣
And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣
⁣
There are too many good ones out there anyway.  Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣
⁣
This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣
⁣
Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣
⁣
What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
⁣
T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
⁣
These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣
2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣
3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣
⁣
That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣
⁣
What planners/journals are you using for 2021?


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