$pent Millennial

This morning, I woke up and after doing my daily meditation, I balanced out my bliss with my routine doom scrolling. I scrolled through an article about scientists discussing the rising temperatures. I am not a scientist and I hadn’t even made coffee yet, so the depth of my understanding on the matter was “The world is getting hotter due to climate change” which in my anxious, pre-coffee brain translates to “The world is on fire, and it is going to explode in a few years”. Good thing for that meditation to keep me balanced, huh? 

So, then of course I call my siter to see if she is home for a doggo visit. She isn’t. She is at work. On a Sunday morning! So, I tell her about the impending doom of the world being on fire, and we start our Sunday morning existential crisis – remotely today. In a very Gen-Z manner, I told her we could be budgeting, working weekends and saving up all for nothing if the world is just going to explode. What a waste. 

As we half-joked, half-cried about finally putting a downpayment on a house, unpacking and the world combusting as soon as we sit down on our hard-earned porch, it hit me. When I was in college I lived in a way where I honestly felt that if my life ended, I would be content based on how I had spent my life and how I lived. Sure. I was getting daily lattes out, volunteering and hanging with friends. What’s not to love. 

Somehow it feel like in all this “growing up” and getting my affairs in order, I have lost some of that. So, today I am reflecting and thinking about hwo I can get back to some of that- while still living within my means and creating security by saving for the future. 

If this all ends tomorrow, or in 4 years right as Jesse and I sign on the dotted lines for our dream home, I want to know I did more than just trudge through my days. 

Guilt-Free Spending Category

One way I’ve reconciled living in the moment while maintaining a budget is by adding a guilt-free spending category. This little slice of my budget lets me indulge occasionally, like picking up some fresh sushi after work or treating myself to a matcha beverage at a local cafe. These small pleasures help me feel like  myself and give me the opportunity to bring small, special joys into my days, even on a budget.

Finding Budget Room

To make room for these treats, I made a practical change: switching my phone carrier to a more affordable option. This adjustment freed up some funds, allowing me to enjoy life’s small luxuries without breaking the bank.

Sinking Funds

Another strategy I use is creating sinking funds. These are small, dedicated savings pots for specific goals. I have one where I save $2 each paycheck for future travel and another where I put aside $5 for fashion and style splurges. These funds grow slowly but surely, giving me the freedom to indulge in things that matter to me without guilt.

Travel/ exploration and peronal style are two important values of mine. My personal style is a tool I use for self-expression. And travel and ex;oration speaks to a key part of my personality. 

This weekend I was able to use some money from my style sinking fund to buy a new nail polish and lipstick as I reclaim my personal style and move into Summer. Sometime this summer, I plan to make a withdaw from my travel fund to make a trip down to Chicago to explore the city and visit with friends from college. 

Value-Based Spending

Ever since I began my personal finance journey, I have found that the key is to feeling good about my money is to align my spending with my personal values. This means spending money on things that are important to you and doing so in a way that reflects your core values and beliefs. It shows up not only in what you send your money on, but how you spend it.

A few exmples from my life: 

Wal-Mart- 

Nothing makes me feel less like my best self than parking my car in the Wal-Mart parking lot, squaring up my best “Don’t mess with me. I’m not here for your entertainment.” face and navigating the crowded, poorly planned grocery section of my local Wal-Mart. Not my best life. 

Now, this doesn’t mean I do not shop at Wal-Mart. That is not a high horse I will be climbing onto today, or probably tomorrow. I enjoy their lower prices. I value the security I can get from stocking up on affordable groceries and knowing I have food for the month. And so, what I do is once a month, typically the first Saturday of the month,  I go to the Super Wal-Mart in the nice suburb outside of town and get a big haul in. It is a much nicer Wal-Mart, so I avoid the negative experience of my local store and by stocking up, I only have to do it once a month. In the end, I feel good because my kitchen is well-stocked and my budget is in tact. 

Now, not everything lasts a month. I often have to make smaller trips throughout the month for things like milk, cheese, produce, etc. For these smaller trips, I have convinced myself that I do not need to go to Wal-Mart to save the 30 cents. I instead allow myself to go to a local market that is a bit pricier, but is a much better experience.

Just this morning, I took a trip to our local market to pick up a fresh onion, peper and some broccoli for my Sunday morning Veggie Breakfast Scramble. It was a lovely experience, and I felt good doing it, a bit like my best self if you will.

Thrifting- 

When I dip into my style fund, I love shopping at thrift stores like Goodwill. Not only is it more affordable, allowing me to stretch my saved dollars farther, but it affirms my personal value of sustainability. Beyond the desire to save money, one reason I do not like to buy clothing too frequrently is I do not enjoy the consumer culture and do not want to contribute to the huge amounts of excess waste that our planet creates. By purchasing clothing that has been pre-owned, I am able to reuse materials and reduce waste. While I am at the thrift shop,  I can also donate clothes I no longer wear, feeding into the sustainable cycle of giving and receiving while avoiding clutter in my own space. 

Giving to Charity

Another way to affirm your identity through spending is by donating to charity. It doesn’t matter how much you give; it’s the act of supporting causes that resonate with your values. Working in a non-profit, I can tell you that every bit helps. Whether you donate $5 a month or more, your contribution makes a difference and helps you stay connected to your values.

Frugal Joys

Finding joy in frugal or free activities is another way to affirm your identity. Some of my favorite cheap or free activities include finding ways to be active while enjoying nature. I love going for runs, hiking and taking walks or bike rides to the local  library. These simple pleasures keep me grounded and connected to my true self, and I can do them without worrying about their impact on my wallet. 

Some ways to implement frugal joy into your life might include: 

Closet Swaps and Budget-Friendly Style

If you, like me, use a personal style as a source of self-expression, but your style budget is tight, consider organizing or participating in a closet swap. It’s a fun and free way to refresh your wardrobe. For me, it has the added benefit of speaking to my values of sustainability and community. 

Hobbies- But Make It Free

When I was really tightening down on my budget in order to save up to pay off all of my debt a few years ago, I cut all extra expenses from my life. This included coffees out, the $10 Planet Fitness membership, my monthly book-buying habit and much more. 

Some ways I managed to keep important parts of my identity while cutting back included: 

• YouTube workouts. Look into Emkfit on YouTube. It is so much fun it doesn’t even feel like a workout. And as an added bonus, she is a great mental health advocate and keeps it real. 
• Homemade lattes. Invest in a pour over and add coffee syrup to your monthly budget. The savings is incredible, and it is very empowering to know you can have your favorite cafe-quality lattes at home any time you want! 
• Use your local library to reserve new reads. You can also cancel some subscriptions and order DVD series for old school binging sessions. The delayed gratification is a throwback dopamine win! 
• Volunteering. I love volunteering. I tis a key part of who I am. Although my income and budget don’t always allow me to be the philanthropist my heart desires to be, volunteering my time is a way I can give back to causes that are important to me when I don’t have the financial means to contribute as much as I would like. 

Now that I accomplished my goal of being debt-free and am on the path of building financial security through intentional savings acounts, I am trying to slowly bring some of this spending back into my budget. But, I have found that I actually enjoy some of these frugal options more than the paid experiences. I love the thrill of getting notice that a book has come in at the library, or trying a new home latte recipe in my favorite mug. 

Identity-Affirming Playlist

Finally, create a playlist of songs that bring you back to who you are at your core. I love popping in my headphones or turning up my speakers to block out the world with some tunes that just “get” me. 

As you jam out to these identity-affirming songs, take a moment to reflect on other parts of your life. Consider how your job, relationships, routines, and spending habits contribute to or detract from your true values. It is in music that I always do my best reflecting. Use what you discover to make some plans and moves to ensure you are living your best life to your fullest. 

Conclusion

Staying true to yourself while sticking to a budget is all about making intentional choices that reflect your values. By incorporating guilt-free spending, sinking funds, value-based spending, and frugal joys into your budget, you can live a life that’s both financially responsible and true to who you are. What helps you stay true to yourself? Share your stories, and let’s support each other on this journey of growth and self-affirmation.