The first warm weekend in April hit, right around Good Friday and Easter brunch season, and the group chat lit up like it always does: rooftop drinks, overpriced prix fixe menus, someone floated an “accidental” shopping trip in SoHo. I love my girls—but I could already feel my monthly budget bracing for impact.
Thing is, I’m not trying to be that friend. You know, the one who mysteriously “already ate” when the check comes. But I’ve got financial goals. And lately, every dollar feels like a vote for Future Me—retirement, financial independence, maybe a little condo in Lisbon someday.
So instead of ghosting or saying no to everything, I planned ahead. I carved out $150 in my discretionary spending category for the weekend—nothing wild, just enough to enjoy myself without blowing up my spending plan. I pre-logged my meals like I do my macros, picked my splurges in advance (matcha martini, yes; $28 eggs, no), and still managed to hit my savings goal and catch a golden hour selfie on a friend’s balcony. Balance.
Money Managing 101
That’s the thing—budgeting isn’t about saying “no” all the time. It’s about saying “yes” on purpose. Same as fitness. I don’t restrict myself from dessert—I just plan for it. I don’t do 100 burpees to punish myself after pasta. I lift, I fuel, I recover. Money management works the same way: save, spend, reset.
My Freedom Fund is up to $9,120 now. Slow and steady. A couple freelance income deposits hit my high-yield savings account, and instead of mentally spending them three times over (we’ve all been there), I split them using my budgeting system:
- 50% to long-term savings
- 30% toward my Roth IRA
- 20% to guilt-free lifestyle spending
I call it the “discipline sandwich.” Treats in the middle, financial priorities on both sides. And yeah, sometimes I remix the ratios. I’m not a robot. But having some structure keeps me from 1 a.m. Amazon spirals. Just like how sticking to a training plan keeps me from overtraining my shoulders and skipping leg day (which—never).
On my radar this month: passive income ideas. Not the hustle-bro stuff. I’m talking boring-but-reliable—a possible bond ladder, maybe some REITs, or moving more into CD accounts now that interest rates are decent. The goal is simple: let my money grow while I sleep. Or at least while I meal prep.
And honestly? That’s the current vibe. Quiet wealth. Intentional rest. Knowing my investments are compounding while I binge Black Mirror episodes in sweats. The grind doesn’t have to be loud to be real.
Easter weekend will be a good test of where I’m at. Bringing a side dish to brunch instead of footing the full bill. Declining a second round of drinks downtown in favor of walking through the park with my cousin and her dog. Not because I’m cheap—but because I’m choosy. That’s a form of financial wellness too.
Sunday is rolling around again, which means it’s time for my weekly Money & Matcha ritual. I’ll:
- Review my weekly budget
- Reconcile my spending categories
- Top off my emergency fun
And yes—scroll Zillow for dream properties I’m not ready to buy yet but might someday. Maybe I’ll even list some stuff on Poshmark. That’s side hustle income if you squint, right?
Financial Wins This Week:
- Stayed under my entertainment budget
- Hit my Roth IRA contribution target for April
- Sold two items on Poshmark (hello, extra income)
- Navigated Easter spending without lifestyle creep
I’m not aiming for perfection. I’m aiming for consistency—with my money, my meals, my mindset. Because the version of me I’m building? She lifts heavy, budgets smart, and doesn’t flinch when oat milk costs $8.