You work hard. You make good money. So when you see something you want, it’s easy to think. "I deserve this." And you do! But here’s the tricky part...if every purchase is a reward, your expenses will always rise to match your income. I literally wouldn't have a thriving money coaching practice if it weren't for this apparent law of the universe. This is how lifestyle creep sneaks up on people. You get a raise, a bonus, or a higher-paying job, and without even realizing it, your “normal” gets...

Many people think managing money is about self-control. Resisting impulse purchases, sticking to a budget, and having the willpower to say no. But personal finance isn’t about willpower. It’s about decision making. Think of it like a muscle. If you’ve never actively decided how to spend your money, if you’ve never practiced weighing trade-offs and making intentional choices, then that muscle is weak. And like any weak muscle, it won’t magically get stronger on its own. I see this firsthand...

Last month I sent an email about the small, frequent, forgettable purchases that quietly drain your money. I concluded that the best way to stop the leak was awareness. But since then, I realized I don’t actually agree with myself. Awareness is valuable, but knowing where your money went after you spent it isn’t the same as stopping the leak in the first place. The real problem isn’t that spending is invisible. It’s that we don’t decide before we buy whether a purchase aligns with what we...