This Year, I’m Getting My Money Right. Here’s How You Can Too

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Girl, we’re getting our money right this year and in this article, I want to share what I’m actually doing to get my money right. Not theory. Not finance-bro advice. Just real, practical systems I’m using for my own financial glow-up.

Quick disclaimer: I’m not a CPA or a financial advisor. I’m just a woman who enjoys budgeting, credit building, and money management. I worked at a bank through college, had an 800+ credit score by my late 20s, and if I didn’t have a beauty blog, I probably would’ve had a finance one. I genuinely love this stuff.

How I’m getting my money right

That said, let’s get into how I’m getting my money right this year.

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I’m Tracking Where My Money Actually Goes

One of the easiest ways to save money is also the most overlooked: tracking your money.

I’m a firm believer in this phrase:
What gets measured, gets managed. What doesn’t get measured, doesn’t get managed.

I use a simple spreadsheet to track my income, bills, debt, savings, and future expenses. Nothing fancy. Nothing overwhelming. Just clear visibility.

The first thing I track is a monthly snapshot:

How much money is coming in
How much my bills cost
How much is going toward savings
How much I owe in debt

Every month looks a little different ; groceries fluctuate, life happens, kids get sick but knowing where every dollar is going keeps me in control.

I don’t share my exact income or bill amounts publicly yet, but the structure of the system is what matters. That structure alone creates awareness, and awareness changes behavior.

👉 If you want the exact spreadsheet I use, you can download it here and customize it for your own life.

I Got Very Clear About My Debt (And Made a Plan)

Last year, we had to replace our air conditioning unit. If you live in Florida, you already know that AC isn’t optional. That expense required a personal loan, and this year my goal is simple: pay it off.

Inside my spreadsheet, I track:

Remaining balance
Interest rate
Monthly payment

Instead of randomly throwing money at debt, I plan ahead. For example, tax refund months allow me to put more toward the balance. I also account for interest because paying “$500 here and there” doesn’t mean much if interest is quietly working against you.

What I love most is that this same system works for future goals, not just debt. Vacations. Home projects. Big purchases.

You can duplicate the same tab and use it to plan ahead instead of putting things on a credit card and figuring it out later.

I’m Saving on Purpose & Not Just “Whatever’s Left”

Saving money looks different for everyone. Some people feel comfortable with three months of expenses saved. Others want six months or even a full year. The key is deciding what feels realistic for you.

I personally believe in having some money saved, even if it’s not perfect.

One habit I’ve kept since working at a bank is automatic saving. A percentage of my income goes straight into a separate high-yield savings account every time I get paid. I don’t manually move it. I don’t debate it. It just happens.

And because that account isn’t tied to my checking, it’s slightly inconvenient to access which honestly helps. That friction alone stops impulsive withdrawals.

Inside my spreadsheet, I also track:

Current savings balance
Monthly contributions
Projections (how much I’ll have by the end of the year)

Seeing those numbers grow is motivating. It turns saving into something tangible, not abstract.

I’m Doing More Things at Home (Especially Beauty)

This has saved me so much money.

I do my own nails at home using press-ons that last two weeks (yes, there’s a method). I do my own pedicures, facials, brow tinting, and lashes. A $15 nail kit can last me months compared to spending $75 every few weeks at the salon.

That said, I’m not extreme about it. I hate washing my hair, so I gladly pay someone else to do that. The goal isn’t doing everything yourself it’s choosing what’s worth your time and money.

You can still look put-together without overspending. It’s about intentional trade-offs, not sacrifice.

I’m Eating at Home Way More (Without Living in the Kitchen)

Food is expensive. Groceries are expensive. Takeout and Uber Eats? Extremely expensive.

We started saving serious money once I committed to cooking three times a week and eating leftovers. Crockpot meals on Sundays. Sheet pan dinners. Simple, nutritious meals that don’t require daily effort.

The crockpot and freezer are my best friends. I stock up on meat during sales, freeze chopped onions, peppers, and celery, and rely on frozen fruits and vegetables to reduce waste. I also do “use-up weeks” where I cook with what we already have instead of buying more.

Less waste. Less spending. Less stress.

I Reduced the Amount of Stuff I See

This one surprised me.

I created a separate email address just for retail emails. Sephora, Macy’s, Chick-fil-a, random sales — they all go there. That way, when I’m checking work or personal emails, I’m not being tempted by constant discounts.

I also unsubscribed from creators who only push consumerism. If every post is “buy this, buy that,” it’s not aligned with my current goals.

Curating your algorithm matters. What you consume influences what you spend.

I’m Spending Way Less Time on My Phone

This has been a game-changer for me.

Less scrolling means:

Fewer impulse purchases
Less comparison
Better mental health
More presence in real life

I walk more. I bake. I play with my baby. I use a no-scroll basket with offline activities. And when I’m not constantly seeing “must-have” products, I stop wanting them.

Putting the phone down helps me realize: I already have enough.

Final Thoughts: This Is a Lifestyle Shift

Getting your money right isn’t about restriction. It’s about clarity, systems, and intention.

You don’t need perfection. You need visibility. You don’t need another budget. You need a system that fits your life.

If you want to get started, download my budget spreadsheet and use it as your foundation. You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight — just start tracking and adjusting one habit at a time.

We’re not playing about our goals this year.

We’re locked in.