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The Fruitful perspective on  everyday finances.

HOW TO SPEND WITHOUT GUILT

QUICK TAKE

Financial success isn’t just about being a tightwad and not spending on anything. It’s about intentionality, which is spending on the right things.

IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT 
SAVING MONEY

Are you a tightwad or a spendthrift?

Regardless, what matters even more is your intentionality — and anyone can practice that!

Before diving in, let’s take a step back

I think we can agree that life is more than just going through the motions. It’s about finding contentment and meaning.

Money plays a large part in our lives because it buys meaningful things that make us happy. Plus, money worries eat into our peace of mind and sense of agency.

Being intentional is being mindful

Mindful planning, saving, and spending means we don’t do it thoughtlessly, like breathing or blinking.

Instead, we think about what to spend money on. This can foster a sense of abundance and control rather than scarcity and anxiety.

Automating mindfulness makes it easier

The good news is that money mindfulness can be almost effortless! Turning your intentions into automatic payments and transfers allows you to live your life while your money does its thing.

You check in on your system every so often, and don’t have to constantly think about your cash flow. If you do want to spend on a whim, you know how much you can afford.

When you’re intentional with your money, you know:

  1.  Where you are
  2. Where you’re going
  3.  How you get there

Now let’s look at how each intention can work for you.

1. Where you are

If you don’t like thinking about money, it can be hard to look at:

  • How much you make and spend
  • How much you’ve saved and invested
  • How much you need to retire

But it’s a necessary step. You don’t need a budget, but you do need to have a starting line to know how far you’ve gone.

A Fruitful Financial Guide can help you look without judgment at where you are and where you should focus next.

2. Where you’re going

Managing money isn’t an aimless drive in the country to see the leaves change color.  

Money works best when you know your destination. You know how much you have, how much you need to save and invest, and how much you can cheerfully spend on what makes you happy. You can pinpoint your location on the path to financial freedom.

3. How you get there

Money is not an end in itself. It’s just one of several tools you can use to find contentment and meaning. The clearer you get on how money works, the more useful a tool it can be. Imagine that — money being useful instead of a burden! That’s the power of intentionality.

Treating money like a tool can also help with your internal monologues of blame and regret.

And when most of your financial life is automated, you spend less time thinking (or, more likely, worrying) about money. Talk to a Fruitful Financial Guide about how!

DISCLAIMER