Hey {{first_name}}!
Every other week, I share a money lesson, story, or idea to help you build wealth and Financial Wholeness over time.
Richer Thoughts
Have you ever noticed how targeted ads on social media seem to know you better than your own best friend does? 😂
You mention wanting a new pair of sneakers once, and suddenly your entire feed is screaming at you to buy them before midnight.
Some of y'all are letting an algorithm budget your life because you're clicking "Buy Now" on things you didn't even know existed two minutes ago!
People sometimes assume that because I’m “The Budgetnista”, I never buy anything just because I want it. That is absolutely not true.
I don’t believe you have to remove all the joy from your life to build wealth.
Money is meant to pay your bills, protect your future, and help you build a life you actually enjoy.
The trick isn’t saying “no” to everything. It’s knowing what deserves a “yes.”
Your Richer Tip
To keep myself grounded, I always use a simple four-part filter before I spend. I even keep a little sticky note reminder near my computer.
The strict order of priority matters here—we always move from highest priority to lowest:
1) Need It (Highest Priority): The absolute essentials. Food, housing, transportation, insurance, and the foundational things that keep your life running safely.
2) Love It: The things that bring you deep, lasting joy. (For me, travel is a love. So when I’m tempted to buy a little trinket, I think about where I’d rather put that money. Plane ticket wins every time!)
3) Like It: It’s nice, it’s trendy, and it’s fun for a moment. But the excitement probably won’t last past next week.
4) Want It (Lowest Priority): The quick burst of, "Ooooh, I have to have that!" that completely disappears almost as fast as it came.
This doesn’t mean you can never buy a like or a want. It just means your needs and your loves shouldn't keep losing money to temporary things you barely care about.
Spend less on what you’ll forget, so you can save more for what you truly love.
Goodie Bag
To make this filter as easy as possible to remember, I turned this exact order of priority into a free smartphone wallpaper lock screen.
The next time you’re hovering over an online shopping cart or standing in a checkout line, let it help you protect your pockets before you swipe.
Dream Catcher Spotlight
One Dream Catcher recently shared what happens when you start prioritizing your "Loves" over your "Wants":
I stopped buying the random clothes and home decor items that were cluttering my space, and used that exact money to fund a family vacation to the beach. We didn't accumulate a dime of debt, and the memories were worth every single penny.
If You Remember One Thing…
Buy your needs first, so you can protect room for your loves.
Live richer,
Tiffany