We’ve spent the past few years bracing ourselves for economic doom (or living through it). The looming threat of recession. Rent and mortgage costs continue to skyrocket. Just last week, my news app hit me with a push notification that said inflation had outpaced what economists predicted for this time of year. Families are literally spending an average of $200 a week just to keep their fridge stocked.
So when InHerSight polled its audience about budgeting, it wasn’t a shock to learn that 49 percent of women plan to significantly cut back their spending this year.
I’m right there with them. How can we not start making major changes when milk alone is up 36 percent?
The thing is, I struggle with sticking to a long-term savings plan—just like most people. Reports show that more than 84 percent of Americans overspend and exceed their monthly budget.
That’s where Aimee Cerka comes in. As a money confidence coach, bookkeeper, and host of Your Money Your Life podcast, she helps women successfully navigate finances without the overwhelm or at the expense of happiness.
Here, she shares how we can shift our money mindset, build a budgeting practice that actually sticks, and still enjoy some of the comforts that make life enjoyable.
1. Reframe budgeting so it actually works
The first step to saving, according to Cerka, is being open to the idea that improving your finances is possible, even if it doesn’t feel that way.
“We feel so stuck in this rut like this is just the way it is. There’s nothing we can do to change [our financial situation]. But even just being open to the possibility that something can change opens doors,” says Cerka.
Most of my attempts at ‘cutting back’ have failed largely because of the pessimism and discomfort that comes with it. It’s hard to stick to a budget when it feels like deprivation, or when progress is so slow that you begin to wonder if it’s even worth it.
“People tend to think they need a debt-payoff strategy—but what they really need is a life strategy that makes money feel doable,” Cerka says. The key to successful budgeting is realizing that we can save without sacrificing happiness. We often get so caught up in what we can’t spend that we lose sight of the bigger picture: Financial planning is about creating opportunities.
To make budgeting easier, we need to shift from a mindset of scarcity and frustration to one of possibility and control.
Mindset shifts that make budgeting easier:
- See your budget as a tool for freedom, not restriction. “We don’t want to create resentment or added stress—that’s not the life we’re striving for. That’s not success,” says Cerka. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, think of budgeting as a way to give yourself more choices in the future.
- Take a cue from Simon Sinek and ‘Start with Why’. What financial goals would truly motivate you? An emergency fund? Less stress about monthly bills? Identifying your why is a tried and true way to make your journey feel more meaningful.
- Don’t succumb to pressures to go ‘all in’ overnight. Making small, manageable changes builds confidence and momentum. Start with things like making coffee at home a few days a week instead of going to the coffee shop, or choose specific days where you commit to curbing non-essential spending.
- Identify your spending triggers. Many of us spend emotionally out of boredom, stress, or social pressure. Recognizing these patterns can help you make more intentional choices. Cerka’s free guide Guilt Free Impulse Spending… The Right Way is a great resource for identifying spending habits and gaining control over your purchases.
- Celebrate your small wins. “We set financial goals, reach them, and then immediately set another one. We forget to celebrate progress. Gratitude keeps us motivated,” Cerka reminds us. Whether it’s saving an extra $50 this month or sticking to a budget for a full week, acknowledging your progress makes it easier to stay on track.
2. Save more by planning ahead
Some of the most popular ways InHerSight readers say they’re trimming their budgets this year include cutting back on dining out, streaming services, hair and nail appointments, clothing purchases, travel, groceries, and live events.
The positive news is that cutting back doesn’t have to mean cutting everything out. It just takes a little planning.
“The biggest budget breaker is unexpected expenses. In truth, most of them aren’t unexpected. We just don’t plan for them.” Cerka says.
Dining out, for example, is one of the biggest areas for potential savings, according to Cerka: “How many times have you grabbed takeout just because nothing was thawed for dinner?”
Instead of relying on last-minute takeout, she recommends having a few ‘go-to’ meals in mind so that dining out becomes a choice instead of a desperate fallback.
“Dining out should be a ‘heck yes,’ not just a default because you didn’t plan,” Cerka says.
Another area where planning pays off is travel. Yet, many people fail to take advantage of countless ways to save. She notes that many people assume trips always have to be a massive expense, but taking time to look for travel deals, research credit card rewards, and thinking through group-sharing options can make trips significantly more affordable.
Smart cost-cutting hacks:
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Take advantage of happy hours and specials. Many restaurants offer discounted appetizers or entrees on certain days. Plan your ‘heck yes’ dining out days with those deals in mind. Cerka also suggests that families look into local restaurants with kids-eat-free nights for extra savings.
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Sign up for restaurant loyalty programs. My daughter loves a certain ‘smiley’ meal and I had no idea that just by downloading the app, I can almost always get a discount code, a free appetizer, or rack up points for future free items. Many chains offer similar perks through their rewards programs.
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Find free alternatives for those streaming services. There are plenty of legal ways to watch movies and shows without subscribing to 20 different platforms and paying as much as cable. Apps like Tubi, Pluto TV, YouTube, and Freevee offer free streaming with ads.
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DIY your touch-ups. I allowed myself an upfront investment in hair products and a gel manicure kit, saving me more than $150 a month on nail and hair appointments. And when I wanted to update my countertops, I found a DIY epoxy kit that sufficed at a fraction of the cost. The trick is to decide what tasks you can tackle yourself instead of outsourcing and researching affordable, reliable products that get the job done.
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Use grocery pickup or delivery services. Cerka recommends ordering groceries online instead of shopping in-store to help you stick to your list. It reduces impulse purchases and keeps your budget in check.
3. Overcome your loyalty biases
Loyalty bias is the tendency to stick with the same services—like insurance, subscriptions, or utilities—simply because they’re what’s familiar. Even when better deals may exist elsewhere.
It’s a common habit, with nearly 70 percent of consumers considered loyal to a brand or service. But loyalty can come at a cost.
Cerka shared that her own loyalty mindset nearly cost her hundreds of dollars per month. She was convinced she had the best rate on her insurance until her partner encouraged her to shop around. When she finally got a new quote, she realized she had been overpaying by $85 a month for the exact same coverage.
“I had to ask myself, why was my first instinct to say no? It was because it felt uncomfortable.”
Think about how you can apply this to your own spending habits. When was the last time you shopped for a new insurance provider, internet service, or even a different salon? If you’ve been using the same services for years without price checking, you just might be paying for convenience rather than value.
Where to ‘shop around’ for savings:
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Internet bills: “I saved $45 a month on my internet bill just by using a bill negotiation service—and I didn’t have to lift a finger,” Cerka shared. Services like these can negotiate better rates on your behalf, or you can compare provider costs yourself to find lower rates.
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Cell phone plans: Many providers offer discounts for switching services. I know it’s hard to give up the phone number you’ve had since middle school, but if it saves you hundreds it might be worth considering. Even if you don’t want to switch carriers, call your provider and ask about promotions, bundles, loyalty discounts, or lower cost plans to fit your usage.
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Utilities: Some energy providers offer fixed-rate plans that can help you save during peak months by locking in a lower rate. If you have limited options, check for seasonal discounts, budget billing programs, and rebates.
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Subscriptions and memberships: A pro tip from Cerka: “If you’re not tracking your expenses, you’re missing where your money is actually going.” Review your monthly charges and assess whether you’re actually using everything you’re paying for. This gives you an opportunity to cancel and pause the services you rarely use, or switch to lower-tier plans. Think fitness apps, gym memberships, book club subscriptions, and other automatic monthly payments.
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Grocery Stores: Many people stick to the same grocery store out of habit, but different stores have different pricing structures. What costs more at Food Lion might be cheaper at Aldi, and vice versa. If you’re using a mobile ordering service, you can compare prices between stores which can add up to big savings over time.
4. Make room for fun
If maintaining a budget means giving up everything you love, how long do you think you’ll stay committed to it?
A sustainable financial plan isn’t just about saving, it’s also about balance.
“You’ve heard of yo-yo dieting, right?” Cerka says, “You’re on the diet, you’re doing good, but then you end up falling off and gaining everything back because it wasn’t sustainable. The same happens with money. It’s critical that we spend on fun because otherwise we end up yo-yo financing.”
Cerka encourages her clients to create a percentage-based budgeting system that allocates funds to all the essentials like a contingency fund and general savings, but also includes a fund dedicated to ‘play’.
Without room for the things that make life enjoyable, budgeting quickly starts to feel like a chore.
Cerka emphasizes, “If your budget doesn’t include joy, you’ll burn out.”
How to manage your ‘play’ funds:
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Set your percentage-based allowance. The practice of budgeting for fun helps prevent overspending while also reducing the feeling or restriction. Decide what percentage of your income will go toward guilt-free spending each month, even if it's small.
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Automate your fun funds. Set up a separate account that automatically transfers money into your 'play' account. Most banking apps will allow you to schedule weekly, biweekly, or monthly drafts.
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Give your Play account a purpose. Identify what ‘fun’ means to you, whether it’s brunch with friends, movie nights, or saving up for a special experience so that your spending feels intentional and fulfilling.
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Pause before big, unplanned purchases. Practice the 24-hour rule. If a purchase isn’t planned or essential, wait a day to determine if it’s necessary. “When you make yourself wait, you give yourself time to decide whether it’s something you truly want or just a moment of impulse,” says Cerka.
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Spend your money. If you’ve already allocated money for a specific purpose, use it! Don’t second-guess your decision to prioritize you. “The guilt that we experience [when spending money on ourselves] is conditioning—the money mindset stories that we’ve created over time because we’re human,” says Cerka. She reminds us that taking care of yourself financially and emotionally enables you to show up as the best version of yourself.
And the best version of you is one that feels balanced, not burdened. When you’re in that space, you’re able to show up more fully for yourself, the people, and the things that matter most.
