Money is the foundation of our intentional lifestyle. We encounter decisions that involve the spending of our money on a daily basis. Sometimes those decisions involve whether you should buy a latte or not. Sometimes they are big, hard decisions that need to be made.

This month, we've been focusing on the importance of a budget for yourself, financial boundaries in a relationship and how to navigate your finances while experiencing FOMO. So, let's get right into it!

Today, we're seeing others' lives on social media which might make you feel like you're not living your own best life in comparison. Sure, endless scrolling, liking and commenting can be entertaining and even inspiring but it may also be putting a strain on your wallet and taking a toll on your mental health.

In my generation, we had to cozy up with a Cosmo magazine to be told what was going on out there. Now, perfect picture-highlighted reels are fired at us at all hours of the day.

We mentioned in The Art of Budgeting Part 1 that a budget is a pause. In this episode, we talk about how your budget is an opportunity for you to ask yourself, what do I need to thrive as an individual?

*Remember being selfish is an unselfish act.

Your moves, your decisions and the intention you put behind your budget shifts the world. It matters to you, your kids, your pets, your family, your friends and your community and that reverberates outs to the wide world and the boundaries of our time.

In a recent episode on the podcast, I shared how when I was in university I would return bottles from house parties just so I can buy a five-pack of noodles to eat for dinner for the rest of the week. More recently, during the last economic crisis, the mortgage was foregone so that we can keep cash for groceries because things got tough during the pandemic.

So, I'm sharing 4 of my money lessons on how to navigate your finances while experiencing FOMO to remind you, and inspire you that whatever your challenges are with money right now, or in the future - you have to make tough leadership decisions.

Obama, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Aristotle, Eleanor Roosevelt, Steve Jobs - whoever it is - they didn't accomplish where they are by following others. They made hard decisions each and every day and stayed true to their own path.

Now, I'm not saying you need to sell 114 million albums or have 200,000 followers on Instagram. You just have to make decisions about how you want to spend your time and money and follow through.

Here are my four money lessons to inspire you to make the big, hard decisions to get your budget on track.

#1. Make tough decisions

Inflation isn't just happening to you, recessions risks are not just happening to you. Your friends are worried about their jobs, even if they are not talking about it. So, if you take on a roommate or sell your car to take the bus or take on a night shift job and someone else sees you, they might just be inspired to tackle their own financial problems head-on as well.

#2. Take some risk

A well-lived life is going to take some risks. It's one of my biggest sayings. So, if you're going to make decisions with risk, you have to get your budget on track. If that puts people in your life off then that will help you find the path to your real friends and your real business partners.

Don't be afraid to piss off some people and lose them along the way.

#3. Play the long game

There is no one day of arrival. Maybe you'll achieve financial perfection one day, but guess what? The world moves on, and you're going to change and everything will have to catch up again. So, you better get good at making dynamic tough decisions - it's a life skill.

#4. Expectations and attitude

I hear a lot of people talking about job dissatisfaction, and about how back in the day people were buying homes and how this generation can barely afford a home. But I want to say that while, yes, that's true. Back in the day, people were sending their kids off to war.

Well before I was born, my uncle was killed in World War II. Families in Ukraine and Russia are now experiencing that horror.

But back in the day, a car was a luxury. Eating out was a special occasion. No one expected to like their jobs. My point is, every generation gets its bag of sh*t. Your job is to use your grit and instinct to weave your way through this time by seeking opportunities.

That's what a good investor is, and what a good citizen does.

Budgeting is a tool, and we guide you in creating one that works for your lifestyle. this month, we focus on budgets, and that's why we've taken the time to highlight the importance of it in all areas of your life. So, if you're a member, login to your dashboard and download the Q4 checklist that we've shared to help you get back on track.

If you're not a member, access our free budget template and follow along with our podcast to create a budget that works for you!

Hopefully, this will help you see the bigger picture of your money, and help you to make good decisions.