For homework, we asked you to take on a personal challenge to help change your narrative
I took on a monthly spending plan — and it’s not going well. My husband wasn’t into it because his income isn’t steady, and he also knew it would make me anxious. I downloaded the apps and then chickened out. Like, Yom Tov came, and when I ordered Chanukah paper goods for our family Chanukah party, I figured I should also order packaging for Chanukah gifts. Before I knew it, I had a huge bill, and I thought, “I can’t put that in my plan.” I dropped everything.
Tamar, you’re doing amazing! The first step in a spending plan is to be more conscious of what you’re spending. To make it less overwhelming, let’s break it down. For next week, instead of tracking everything, just track one specific category. How much are you spending on groceries? Or clothing? Focus on one.
My husband and I were discussing this, and we realized that we have no idea where our money goes. We decided we’re going to start tracking, which is beyond overwhelming. It’s a huge, scary task.
Budgeting is hard because it’s a low-dopamine task — you don’t get a high from seeing how much you spend. That’s why we suggest breaking it into something smaller that feels more conquerable.
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