This week, I sent a survey out to my email list asking what people are struggling with the most when it comes to budgeting.

Over 42% of respondents said that making a budget isn't the issue -- the biggest problem is following through once the plan has been laid.

If you have trouble sticking to your budget, here are 5 sneaky issues that might be standing in your way and how you can fix them.

So much personal finance content today is based on shaming people into being “better” with money.

And sometimes this works. At least to an extent. But bullying people isn’t an effective method to create long-term change. In order to improve our relationship with money and to make long-term, sustainable changes, we have to ditch the shame.

One way to do that is by rewriting the stories we tell ourselves about our past financial mistakes. 

Something that I try to do is look at every mistake as a learning opportunity. Finding the lesson in a bad decision or situation gives it meaning and turns it into an opportunity for growth rather than just a setback.

So today I want to share with you 8 “bad” financial decisions I’ve made, what I learned from each, and why I don’t regret them.

My hope is that after hearing my experiences, maybe you can be a little more compassionate with yourself.

There are a ton of obvious benefits to budgeting: pay off your debt faster, save more money, more control over your finances, etc. etc.

But I'd venture to guess there are benefits you didn't even know existed. Ones that you may not be able to see, but you'll certainly notice and feel in your everyday life.

Here are 5 of the most unexpected benefits of budgeting.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Save $10K (course)

A Wealthy Life is all about living in alignment with your values and the things that are important to you. But in order to do that, you have to know what is really, truly authentic for you.

Not what other people say you should do or be or spend your money on.

Figuring out what that looks like isn't easy for everyone, especially if you're a recovering people pleaser like me.

This episode is a little different than previous ones. It's a completely off-the-cuff conversation about:

• What it means to be authentic
• My own struggles with showing up authentically in my life and business
• 5 exercises that have helped me make more authentic decisions

Don't forget to download a free copy of the Define your Wealth workbook. This exercise will help you put words to your values, what they look like in your life, and set goals that align with your values.

When I first started learning how to budget, I used to sit down on my couch, make a plan, and walk away feeling confident and accomplished. Until... nothing changed.

Three months later I'd be in the same position, feeling defeated and stressed over money.

Even though I'd made a plan that felt good at the time, I wasn't checking in with it regularly. I knew what I was supposed to be doing and spending, but I had no way of knowing whether I was actually doing it.

That's why I started having money dates.

Simply put, money dates are a time for you to check in with your finances, compare your planned spending with your actual spending, make sure you're on track with your goals, and adjust where needed.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• How often to schedule your money dates
• The 5 steps to having a successful money date
• The 6 less-frequent (but equally important) items to add to your money date checklist

Resources mentioned:

• Undebt.it (free, affiliate link)
• Define Your Wealth Workbook (free)
• Save $10K Course

We've all seen the self-care videos on TikTok reminding us to drink some water, go for a walk, or take a bath after a stressful day.

But self-care covers so much more than exercising or watching your favorite show on Netflix to decompress.

It's about making consistent daily decisions that our future selves will thank us for. In today's episode of the Define Your Wealth podcast, we talk about:

• The 5 types of self-care you want to practice
• Common (and uncommon) examples of each
• The difference between self-care and self-soothing
• How to get better at knowing what type of self-care you need

Don't forget to grab your free copy of the Define Your Wealth Workbook.

Every personal finance “expert” has a step-by-step program for you to follow.

Some say pay off debt first. Others say save first, then pay off debt. Some say pay off your lowest balance debt first, others say focus on the debt with the highest interest rate.

There’s a ton of information out there, and everyone thinks their way is the best way.

I believe there are very few (if any) hard-and-fast rules that apply to everyone's situation. Because as cliche as it is to say, personal finance is personal.

This episode gives you a general plan you can follow and customize to help you decide:

1. If you should focus on saving money or paying off debt
2. When and how much to save for emergencies
3. Which debt to pay off first
4. When to start investing for retirement, and more.

If you're not sure where to start or what to focus on next with your finances, start here.

Free resources mentioned:

• Undebt.it (affiliate link)
• The Define Your Wealth Workbook

Wealth is about more than money, but we can't deny that money plays an important role in living a Wealthy Life.

Money touches nearly everything -- from the food we eat to our hobbies and beyond. Having a system in place for managing your money ensures that you're living and spending in alignment with your values, which are the basis for your Wealthy Life.

In this episode, I share the system that I use to manage my money in 15 minutes (or less) per week.

It's the same system I use with my financial coaching clients and that I teach in my course, Save $10K, which you can grab now for just $27.

I believe that Wealth is about more than money. It's about living a life of meaning and fulfillment, as defined by you.

But... how do you define what your Wealthy Life looks like?

In this episode, I'll walk you through an exercise I created called the Define Your Wealth workbook.

The goal of the workbook is to help you get to the core of what matters most to you.

We're not just talking about a vague list of values, but actually defining what those values mean to you on a granular, day-to-day basis, and how to create goals that align with your values so that you can start living your Wealthy Life today.

Grab your free copy of the Define Your Wealth workbook here: https://www.goodbyetobroke.com/podcastgift

Welcome to the Define Your Wealth podcast! In this episode, I talk about who I am and the journey that inspired this podcast. I also talk about what I believe about money/wealth and what you can expect from this podcast.

A few things I believe about money:

1. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finance. I don’t know what’s best for you. Only you know that.
2. The most mathematically logical option isn’t always the best one. The best option is the one that aligns with your values and goals.
3. You don’t have to be rich to live a Wealthy Life. Wealth is defined by what is meaningful and fulfilling to you.
4. Money is an important element of living a Wealthy Life, but it’s not the whole picture. Life is meant to be lived, not spent toiling over a spreadsheet. Money is a tool to help you live a good life, whatever that looks like for you.
5. You can enjoy life now while planning for the future. Buy that pumpkin spice latte and save an emergency fund. Take vacations, travel, and invest for retirement. It’s a balance.
6. The psychology of money is as important (really even more important) than the tips/tools/strategies.

I also cover the four types of content you can expect from this podcast:

• Solo episodes (how-to)
• Solo episodes (thought exploration)
• Interviews
• Personal stories and life updates

Don't forget to download your free gift, the Define Your Wealth workbook, here: https://www.goodbyetobroke.com/podcastgift