If you’ve ever looked at your paycheck, nodded proudly… then opened your banking app and whispered “where the hell did it go,” congratulations — you are a normal adult. Most people aren’t broke because they’re bad with money; they feel broke because life is basically a subscription service designed to drain your soul and your checking account at the same time.
A simple first step? Do a once-a-month “money check-in.” Ten minutes. Scroll your last few transactions. Delete or cancel one thing that doesn’t actually make your life better. Let’s face it, you probably haven’t opened a few subscription apps in over 60 days. No you “won’t need it one day.”
The real issue isn’t income — it’s “invisible expenses.” You know, the sneaky stuff: the streaming services you forgot about, the $11 protein bar at the golf course, the Amazon boxes that appear on your porch like stray cats (this one hits home). These aren’t “bad” purchases… but enough of them will quietly rob you faster than a Vegas weekend with your college friends. A little strategy here: bundle small purchases to one designated “spend day” a week. It forces visibility, and visibility kills invisible expenses instantly.
Then there’s lifestyle creep — the silent assassin. You get a raise, and suddenly the coffee “needs” to be from the place that draws latte art of a swan, not the gas station. Your car gets nicer. Your golf clubs get newer. Your vacations get bougier. Before you know it, your expenses rise like they’re training for a marathon while your income is just trying to stretch. The cure? For every raise or bonus, decide ahead of time: X% for fun upgrades, X% for future-you. Give the money a job before it wanders off.
And let’s be honest: money stress isn’t really about numbers. It’s a psychology problem. We spend to save time, to feel good, to avoid FOMO, to reward ourselves for surviving another week. Your bank account isn’t fighting your income — it’s fighting your emotions. And your emotions have a black belt. So make a deal with yourself: set a small “fun money” amount every month. Spend it on whatever you want. When you allow yourself some guilt-free spending, it becomes way easier to say no to the stuff that doesn’t actually matter.
The good news? Feeling broke is fixable. Once you shine a light on invisible expenses, put guardrails on lifestyle creep, and separate emotional spending from “accidental” spending, everything changes. You don’t need to earn more — you need clarity. And clarity is the difference between “Where did all my money go?” and “Oh, I’m actually in control here.”
Stick around — we’re just getting warmed up.
Disclosure:
This content is intended solely for general financial education and discussion. It does not constitute advice, recommendations, or solicitation of any kind. The author is not providing services as a financial advisor, investment advisor, tax advisor, or legal advisor. All views expressed are personal and do not represent the views, policies, or positions of the author’s employer or any affiliated institution. No compensation has been received for this content. Any financial decisions should be made in consultation with appropriately licensed professionals.