I used to think being “good with money” meant simply not spending too much. 𖧷
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Cute little purchases here. A coffee there. Adding something to my cart because it was on sale. Telling myself, “It’s only $10.” And then somehow those little $10 purchases would turn into $50, $100, or more before I even realized where my money went. And honestly? I got tired of feeling like my money was disappearing. I wanted to stop looking at my bank account and wondering, Where did all of that go? So lately, I’ve been trying something different: instead of telling myself I can’t spend my money, I’ve been giving every dollar a purpose. And this little shift has completely changed the way I look at my finances.
✿ I’m Not Trying to Stop Spending — I’m Trying to Spend Intentionally
I love pretty things. I love getting little treats. I love shopping, trying new products, ordering food, and occasionally buying something just because it makes me happy. I don’t think enjoying your money is a bad thing. The problem for me was spending without thinking about what that money was supposed to do first.
There’s a huge difference between:
“I have $100, so I can spend $100.” and “I have $100, and I already know where every dollar needs to go.” That second mindset has been a game changer for me. Now, before I spend, I try to think about my upcoming bills, necessities, savings goals, and the things I actually want to spend money on. If there’s money left over after that, I can enjoy it without feeling guilty. Because the goal isn’t to make life boring. The goal is to make my money work for me.
✿ Finding a Place for Every Dollar
One of my favorite things I’ve started doing is giving every dollar a little “home.” Some money is for bills. Some is for groceries. Some is for transportation. Some is for savings. Some is for things I actually want. And yes, sometimes a little money is just for fun. Giving myself permission to have “fun money” has actually helped me spend less recklessly because I don’t feel like I’m constantly restricting myself. When I know I have money specifically set aside for something fun, I can enjoy it instead of randomly dipping into money that was supposed to be used somewhere else.
It’s basically financial organization, but make it cute.
✿ How the Bloom Collection Has Been Helping Me:
This is actually one of the reasons I created the Bloom Collection in the first place. I’ve been using my own Bloom Budget Journal as part of my money routine, and seeing everything laid out visually has made budgeting feel so much less overwhelming. Instead of keeping everything in my head, I can actually sit down and see what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what I want my money to accomplish. And there’s something about physically seeing your numbers that makes you think twice before spending.
I’ll look at my budget and think:
Okay… do I really want this, or do I just want the feeling of buying something?
Sometimes the answer is yes.
Sometimes it’s absolutely not. lol.
And that’s okay.
The point isn’t perfection. It’s awareness.
✿ My New “Before I Buy It” Rule:
I’ve also started giving myself a little pause before buying things I don’t actually need.
Before I check out, I ask myself:
♡ Do I actually want this?
♡ Did I plan for this purchase?
♡ Is there something more important my money needs to cover?
♡ Will I still want this tomorrow?
♡ Am I buying this because I need it, or because I’m bored?
That last question gets me every time. Sometimes I don’t actually want the item. I just want to shop. And recognizing that has helped me break the habit of buying things simply because I can.
✿ Budgeting Doesn’t Have to Feel Like Punishment
I think budgeting gets a bad reputation because people associate it with restriction.
No more eating out.
No more shopping.
No more coffee.
No more fun.
But that’s not how I want to approach money.
I want my budget to give me freedom, not take it away. When I know my bills are accounted for, I know what I can comfortably spend, and I have a plan for my upcoming expenses, I actually feel more comfortable enjoying my money. There’s something so peaceful about knowing what’s happening with your finances instead of constantly wondering. It’s giving organized. It’s giving intentional. It’s giving I checked my budget before I bought it. I’m Still Learning. I’m definitely not going to sit here and pretend I’ve suddenly become a financial expert. I’m still learning. I’m still figuring out what works for me. There are still times when I spend more than I planned or make a purchase that wasn’t exactly necessary. That’s life. But I’m learning that managing money isn’t about being perfect. It’s about noticing your habits and deciding what you want to change. For me, that meant going from “Where did my money go?” to “I know exactly where my money is going.” And that feels like a pretty big accomplishment.
✿ A Little Reminder From Rain
If you’re trying to get better with your finances too, start small. You don’t need a complicated spreadsheet or a perfect financial plan. Start by writing down what you have. Write down what you need to pay. Write down what you want to save. And then decide what you can actually spend. Give every dollar a little home. Your money doesn’t have to be perfect to be purposeful.
And honestly, that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned lately:
You don’t have to stop enjoying your money. You just have to start paying attention to it. That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do with my own finances, one little budget page at a time. And somehow, making my money feel a little more organized has made everything else feel a little more organized too.
— Rain ♡ ｡･:*˚:✧｡
✿ Shop the Bloom Collection
If you’re ready to make budgeting feel a little less intimidating and a lot more you, the Bloom Budget Journal from the Bloom Collection is the digital budget journal I’ve been using to help me organize my spending, plan ahead, and give every dollar a purpose. https://rain-recommends.myshopify.com/collections/all ✺
Because budgeting can be practical and pretty. 🌷
