Wealth and Wisdom
Monday's

I deserve a budget that reflects my joy, not just my responsibilities.

Here’s what we mean: Most of us learned to see budgets as punishment, a constant reminder of what we can’t have. But a budget isn’t supposed to shrink you. It’s supposed to support you.

A values-based budget gives every dollar a job that feels aligned: bills for stability, savings for safety, and joy for soul care. When your numbers match your values, your money finally starts working for you, not against you.

Dollars and Sense

I had a client, who opened her laptop one day and sighed so deep it filled the room. Her spreadsheet looked like a stoplight. . . all red. Bills, debt, groceries, gas. Nothing green. Nothing good.

“Everything here just feels like struggle,” she said.

So, I asked, “What would joy look like on this list?” She laughed, half-sarcastic: “Joy? On a budget?”

But she humored me. We added one line: Fun Fund — $40/month. And then she pulled out her phone and found a photo of a beach she’d been dreaming about visiting for years. We taped it above her desk.

A few weeks later, she messaged me: “I still have debt, but now my money feels like it’s going somewhere.”

That’s the power of joy in your budget. It reminds your nervous system you’re not just surviving anymore. You’re building a life that feels like you.

Add one “joy line” to your budget. Name it something that makes you smile—Coffee + Quiet Time, Soft Life Fund, or Monthly Me-Treat.

Even $20 is enough. Because joy on paper turns into joy in practice.

MEET THE TEAM!

Bobbie, our Financial Therapist

Bobbie understands that money can feel messy. Not just in your bank account, but in your mind. She helps people make sense of the stress, guilt, and habits that often come with finances. Whether you're trying to stop avoiding your spending, feel more confident making decisions, or just want to stop spiraling every time rent is due, Bobbie’s here to help you work through it with honesty and compassion.

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