💥 Planning your money is how you protect your peace

Before I had a simple system, money felt messy. Even when I wasn’t overspending, I was still anxious. Because I didn’t have a plan.

I knew how much I earned, but I didn’t decide what would happen to that money before it hit my account. So naturally, it flowed wherever it wanted (most times into black holes and disappeared).

A favour here. A splurge there. And suddenly I was left wondering, “What happened?”
If that sounds familiar, this might be your missing link too.

🧠 A spending plan gives your money direction

The word “budget” used to make me roll my eyes. It sounded like punishment. Like a list of things I couldn’t do.

But then I realized a spending plan isn’t about restriction. It’s about permission.
It’s telling your money where to go before it disappears. So call it whatever makes sense for you; budget, spending plan, or money system.

Here’s what shifted for me:

• I stopped reacting and started deciding

• I gave every dollar a job

• I built in flexibility for fun and unexpected life events

Slowly I started to feel more freedom. Not less.

🔁 Here’s how I set up my simple money plan

I didn’t wait for the perfect app or some magical number. I started with what I had and used categories to plan ahead.

1. I wrote down my exact income

2. I listed my fixed expenses (rent, daycare, groceries) cuz lets be real, we have to pay our bills

3. I added my goals (debt repayment, savings, giving)

4. Then I gave myself personal spending room — without guilt

5. any surplus went towards debt repayment

Once everything had a place, I felt peace. Not because I had more money, but because I knew what to expect.

Even now, my plan evolves with the seasons. But the habit of planning ahead never leaves.

⚠️ Not having a plan is still a plan (someone else’s plan)

If you don’t give your money a job, it will still go somewhere and likely be part of someone else’s plan. You just won’t like the results.

Before my plan, my money always felt “tight,” even though the income was there. Because I wasn’t aligned. The stress wasn’t about the numbers. It was about the uncertainty.

The moment I started planning, I felt safe. Not because I had it all figured out but because I was finally in charge. And I crave structure and certainty.

✅ Start here and keep it simple

If you’ve never created a spending plan before, start small. Just plan the next month. Or even the next paycheck.

Decide:

• What do I need to cover first

• What goals matter this month

• What amount will I give myself for joy

Write it down. Check in every week. Tweak it as you go.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.

💬 Let’s talk about it

Do you already plan your money ahead of time? Or is this the step you’ve been avoiding?
Hit reply and tell me where you’re at.

And if this newsletter gave you that “ah-ha” moment, forward it to a friend who’s ready to feel in control too.