Hey again, Last week, I shared why traditional budgeting often backfires—making us feel guilty for $6 coffees while ignoring the real leaks in our finances (like housing, cars, and lifestyle creep). So if budgeting is broken… why am I still writing about it? Because you can’t spend in alignment with your values if you don’t know where your money is going in the first place. Budgeting isn't useless, it's simply misused. Instead of using budgets to restrict yourself, try using them to reflect. Values-based money management starts with awareness, not control. |
🧰 Start with Awareness If you’ve never tracked your spending before, I recommend going all in for the first couple of months. Log every dollar. Know exactly where your money is going. This isn’t about shame—it’s about gaining clarity. The worst thing you can do is lie to yourself about your current financial reality. Once you have that foundation, you can start zooming out. You don’t have to track every penny forever—but you do need to recognize the patterns and be able to make adjustments to align your goals with your values. Here’s how I do it: |
I track my net worth monthly
I check in on my saving and investing goals
I make sure my spending aligns with my values
📋 Want to try it? Download My Free Net Worth Tracker
🔧 My Favorite Tools for Smart, Shame-Free Spending Here are a few tools I recommend—not to micromanage your dollars, but to help you notice where your money is helping you… and where it’s just leaking. Don’t worry about getting this perfect. The goal is progress, not perfection. Just start observing where there’s wiggle room, and where you might shift spending to better reflect your values. Let’s jump into my top 5 recommended tools. But Andrew, didn’t you develop your own Money App? Why, yes. Thank you for noticing www.mouni.app While I built my app to address the needs I see in my clients, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—so I’ve included several other tools to help you pick what fits you best. I fully believe my app can help anyone manage their money and their money stress better, but I’m not going to pretend that my app is the solution for everyone. If you care to try out my app, please let me know your feedback so I can continue to improve my platform for others. |
🧠 For the Detailed Planner How it works: Zero-based budgeting that encourages proactive planning, not restriction. ✔ Pros: |
Adjust as you go: Shift money between categories guilt-free when priorities change.
Learn as you budget: Free workshops and a supportive community.
⚠️ Cons:
Learning curve: Takes ~1 month to click (but the trial covers this).
Cost: $99/year—worth it if it saves you financial stress.
Best for: People who want control and flexibility—like funding hobbies and savings.
🔍 For Subscription Trackers & Bill Trimmers How it works: Cancels unused subscriptions and negotiates bills for you. ✔ Pros: |
"Set and forget": Identifies waste without daily effort. Easy to start.
Free version available. Premium is $3–12/month
⚠️ Cons:
Broad strokes: Less useful if you love granular budgeting.
Best for: People who want to clean up expenses and stay on top of recurring costs.
💳 Bonus Tool: Aven Advisor
Aven is a free credit monitoring app that offers financial insights and $5 weekly Starbucks gift cards for users with a 700+ score in eligible states—plus, you'll get an extra $5 with my invite code: AA252S2YN8
Just note: setup requires linking your bank info, and you may receive optional credit offers.
🧾 For Spreadsheet Superfans How it works: A free, zero-based template for those who love hands-on customization. ✔ Pros: |
FREE. Open-sourced Google Sheet
Endless flexibility: Mold it to your exact priorities (no preset categories).
Community-powered: Active Reddit group for troubleshooting and hacks.
⚠️ Cons:
Manual labor: No bank sync—best for those who enjoy data entry.
Setup takes effort
Best for: Tinkerers who want a budget that evolves with them.
Check out this FREE tool for a lightweight, privacy-minded alternative: Actual Budget
💑 For Couples Managing Money Together How it works: Combines budgeting, net worth tracking, and goal planning in one shared space. ✔ Pros: |
Designed for teamwork: Real-time syncing and collaborative goal-setting.
No judgment zone: Encourages open money talks with clean visuals.
⚠️ Cons:
Premium price: $99/year (use code GETMONARCH for 50% off Year 1).
Lighter on integrations.
Best for: Partners ready to align spending with shared dreams. Voted best Mint alternative (RIP 🪦)
💸 For Investors Who Hate Budgeting How it works: Free dashboard for investments, cash flow, and high-level spending trends. ✔ Pros: |
Zero cost: Unlike most wealth tools.
Big-picture focus: Spot patterns without daily transaction tracking.
⚠️ Cons:
Limited features for budgeting and tracking spending
Upsells: Expect wealth management pitches.
Best for: Future-focused planners who want to keep investing on track or those planning to retire in the next 5-15 years.
🎯 The Bottom Line Traditional budgeting fails when it starts with cutting instead of clarity. Try this instead: |
Observe (use tools to see where money actually goes).
Reflect ("Does this match what I care about?").
Adjust (shift 5–10% toward values first—no drastic cuts needed).
Your budget should bend to your life—not the other way around.
Got a favorite tool I missed? Hit reply—I’d love to hear yours!
💬 Need Help Finding the Right Tool?
Or book a 1-on-1 coaching call here: Schedule a Call To smarter systems and less stress, |
P.S. Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission. No extra cost to you, and I only share what I trust! |
