Disclosure: WE DON’T SELL ANY COURSES. We make money through product suggestions located in our content as an affiliate. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The ideas presented are Money Vice editorial team’s opinions and presented for entertainment purposes only. We’re not licensed financial advisors. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.
1. You’re Always Wondering Where Your Money Went
👉 In a Nutshell: Your paycheck disappears faster than free samples at Costco.
One minute, you have money.
The next, your bank account looks like it got robbed.
You swear you didn’t buy anything crazy, but somehow, the math isn’t mathing 😳
It’s like your cash is pulling a magic trick. Poof, gone!
If you’re constantly scratching your head, wondering where your money went, it’s time for a wake-up call.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Track Every Dollar: Use an app or notebook to write down every single expense.
-
Step 2: Check Your Bank Daily: Open your banking app every morning. Yes, even when it hurts.
-
Step 3: Set a Spending Limit: Give yourself a strict weekly budget and stick to it like your life depends on it.
2. You Avoid Checking Your Bank Account
👉 In a Nutshell: You treat your banking app like a haunted house: Too scared to look.
You keep swiping, hoping for the best.
But deep down, you know your balance is just waiting to ruin your day 😒
You’d rather live in blissful ignorance than face the damage.
Newsflash: Avoiding your bank account won’t make the problem disappear.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Rip Off the Band-Aid: Check your account first thing in the morning. Before scrolling Instagram.
-
Step 2: Set Up Alerts: Let your bank send you notifications for low balances or big purchases.
-
Step 3: Do a Weekly Money Check-In: Every Sunday, sit down for 5 minutes and review your spending.
3. Your Budget Exists Only in Your Imagination
👉 In a Nutshell: You say you have a budget, but where is it?
You promise yourself you’ll only spend $50 on eating out this week.
Then Friday night rolls around, and suddenly, you’re at a fancy restaurant ordering steak.
Your “budget” is just a vague idea in your head 🫣, not a real plan.
If your budget isn’t written down somewhere, it doesn’t exist.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Write It Down: Use a simple spreadsheet or a budgeting app.
-
Step 2: Set Spending Limits: Decide how much you can spend in each category before the month starts.
-
Step 3: Stick to It: Before buying something, check if it fits into your budget. No excuses.
4. You Can’t Go a Week Without Online Shopping
👉 In a Nutshell: Your Amazon cart is never empty.
You tell yourself you’re just “browsing.”
But somehow, a package shows up at your door every other day.
You get a little dopamine rush every time you hit “Buy Now.” 🫠
If you can’t go a week without ordering something, your wallet is begging for mercy.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Remove Saved Cards: Make it harder to impulse-buy by deleting your payment info.
-
Step 2: Wait 24 Hours: If you want something, give yourself a full day before buying it.
-
Step 3: Track Your Spending: Look at how much you spent on shopping last month. It’ll be eye-opening.
5. You Justify Every Impulse Purchase as a “Treat Yourself” Moment
👉 In a Nutshell: Every day doesn’t need to be your birthday.
You had a rough day? Treat yourself.
Finished a task on time? Treat yourself.
Found a random excuse to buy something? Yep, treat yourself 😅
If every little inconvenience in life turns into a shopping spree, you’re not celebrating. You’re overspending.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Pick a Real Treat Day: Choose one day a month for guilt-free spending.
-
Step 2: Set a Treat Budget: Decide how much you can spend without wrecking your finances.
-
Step 3: Reward Yourself Differently: Find non-money ways to celebrate, like a free activity or extra me-time.
6. Your Friends Call You “The Big Spender”
👉 In a Nutshell: If your friends joke about it, it’s probably true.
You’re always the one picking up the tab.
Your friends know you as the one who never says no to a night out.
You like looking generous, but your bank account is suffering in silence 😭
If everyone around you thinks you’re a big spender, it’s time to prove them wrong.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Set Social Boundaries: Be upfront with friends about your new money goals.
-
Step 2: Suggest Cheaper Plans: Swap expensive outings for budget-friendly activities.
-
Step 3: Learn to Say No: You don’t have to go broke keeping up with your crew.
7. Your Credit Card Balance Never Seems to Go Down
👉 In a Nutshell: You make payments, but your balance isn’t budging.
You pay the minimum, but interest keeps stacking up.
No matter how much you pay, your debt feels like it’s glued in place 😫
Swipe now, suffer later has become your life motto.
If your credit card feels like a black hole, it’s time to switch things up.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Stop Using Your Card: Freeze it, hide it, or delete it from online stores.
-
Step 2: Pay More Than the Minimum: Even a little extra each month makes a difference.
-
Step 3: Use the Snowball Method: Pay off the smallest balance first to build momentum.
8. Your Bank Account Hits Zero Before the Month Ends
👉 In a Nutshell: You’re running out of money way too soon.
Payday comes, and suddenly, you’re rich.
But two weeks later, your checking account is gasping for air 💀
By the end of the month, you’re surviving on instant noodles and regret.
If this happens every month, your spending habits need a serious overhaul.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Budget by Paycheck: Assign every dollar a job before you start spending.
-
Step 2: Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to save before you spend.
-
Step 3: Cut Unnecessary Expenses: Cancel anything you don’t really need.
9. You’re Constantly Borrowing Money or Using Buy Now, Pay Later
👉 In a Nutshell: You’re living off future money you don’t have.
BNPL apps feel like free money until the payments pile up.
You keep borrowing from next month’s paycheck just to get by.
Every time you “borrow a little,” you’re digging a bigger hole 😖
If you always need extra cash to survive, you’re not just broke. You’re trapped.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Delete BNPL Apps: Remove temptation by cutting off easy access to debt.
-
Step 2: Build an Emergency Fund: Start with just $500 to avoid borrowing for small things.
-
Step 3: Learn to Wait: If you can’t afford it now, you shouldn’t be buying it.
10. You Struggle to Save Even Small Amounts
👉 In a Nutshell: Every dollar you make finds a way to disappear.
You tell yourself you’ll save when you “make more money.”
But somehow, your expenses always rise to match your income.
If you can’t save $20, how will you ever save thousands? 😑
Saving isn’t about how much you make. It’s about how much you keep.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
-
Step 1: Start Small: Save just $5 a week. Consistency is key.
-
Step 2: Automate It: Set up auto-transfers so you don’t even think about it.
-
Step 3: Treat It Like a Bill: Pay yourself first, before you spend on anything else.
You don’t have to go broke to enjoy life.
Small changes add up, and the sooner you start, the faster you’ll see results.
Money should give you freedom, not stress.
“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” – Warren Buffett
✌️ Dale! (See you!)