But things feel different now. “I am buying things to live a life that I want to live. I feel like I’m in charge and back in the driver’s seat,” she says. The challenge has also improved her marriage, adding more accountability and teamwork, she says. Her kids are catching on, too. Her son asked for a family trip instead of a birthday party with presents. It feels like a culture shift in their family.
Focusing on your “why” can be the motivation you need to stick to your goals, Abernathy says.
“It can be really easy to say, ‘Oh, I want to save for the future.’ But when you have a cause behind why you’re doing it, then it has a greater meaning to you, and then it makes it much easier to implement,” she says. My “why” becomes clearer every day. I have less financial stress and have easily managed a few unexpected costs that would have tripped me up before. I’m watching my savings grow, and I’m becoming less easily influenced. I’m making space for more conscious consumption practices while leaning into contentment. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
The article Low Buy, Big Impact: How I Cut Spending and Stress originally appeared on NerdWallet.
AMANDA BARROSO is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: abarroso@nerdwallet.com
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