I used to think saving money meant depriving myself.
There are certain herbs that herbalists reach for when life feels like it is pulling us in a hundred different directions.
That being “good with money” meant saying no to everything that made life enjoyable.
Now I’m beginning to see it differently.
Every purchase is a vote.
A vote for the life I have today…
or the life I’m trying to build.
That realization has changed more than my budget. It’s changing me.
I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Really Watched Myself Spend
Living with ADHD means impulsivity isn’t just a personality trait—it’s often part of how my brain seeks stimulation.
Shopping gives a quick hit of dopamine.
It’s exciting.
It’s novel.
It promises that tiny rush of maybe this will make today feel better.
Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m shopping.
Amazon became entertainment.
Scroll.
Click.
Add to cart.
Buy Now.
Repeat.
I don’t think I’ve ever really watched myself spend.
I just…buy.
No pause.
No question.
No intention.
Just another package showing up at the door.
Sometimes We’re Not Buying Things…
We’re Buying Relief
I’ve also realized that not all spending is about wanting more stuff.
Sometimes it’s grief spending.
Loneliness spending.
Overwhelm spending.
Stress spending.
Sometimes it’s just trying to make a hard day feel a little softer.
And that’s where the dangerous phrase sneaks in.
“It’s just $18…”
But then it’s another $27.
Then another $19.
Then a Target run that somehow becomes $41.
None of those purchases feel like a big deal on their own.
Together?
They’re quietly pulling me further away from the future I’m trying to build.
I Want to Start Calling Them Wins
I’ve been thinking about how we celebrate purchases.
New shoes.
New skincare.
A sale we couldn’t pass up.
But what if we celebrated something different?
I LOVE calling them Wins.
Not things you “couldn’t have.”
Things you chose not to buy.
Because every intentional decision deserves to be noticed.
June Wins
☑ Coffee shop drink — $8
☑ Cute dress on sale — $34
☑ New skincare I didn’t actually need — $27
☑ Random Target trip — $41
☑ Amazon impulse purchase — $19
Those aren’t things I missed out on.
They’re votes.
Votes for the person I’m becoming.
Not Because Money Is Evil
This isn’t about never spending money.
Money isn’t the enemy.
Shopping isn’t a moral failure.
This isn’t about guilt.
It’s about alignment.
Because you have dreams.
Instead of another tumbler…
I’m investing in:
- Sovereign Becoming
- My blog
- My future
- Building something meaningful that lasts longer than the excitement of opening another package
Every dollar has a job.
I’m learning to give mine better ones.
My 24-Hour Rule
I’ve realized I don’t need complicated budgeting systems.
I need a pause.
So here’s the rule I’m practicing this July.
Before buying:
- Leave it in the cart.
- Wait one day.
- If I still want it…
- Ask if it supports my long-term goals.
Simple.
Practical.
Sometimes the answer will still be yes.
And that’s okay.
Intentional spending is still intentional spending.
No Spend July Isn’t About Perfection
I’m not trying to become someone who never buys anything.
I’m trying to become someone who knows why she’s buying it.
There’s a difference.
For July, I’m writing down every purchase I almost make.
Not every purchase I avoid forever.
Every purchase I delay.
Every delayed purchase is a Win.
Because the goal isn’t restriction.
The goal is awareness.
To finally watch myself spend.
To notice the impulse instead of automatically obeying it.
To choose my future a little more often than my dopamine.
Will You Join Me?
I would love for you to join me.
This July, keep a simple list.
Every purchase you almost make.
Every time you pause.
Every time you leave something in your cart.
Every intentional decision is a Win.
Not because we never spend money…
Because we’re becoming intentional with it.
And maybe that’s what building a beautiful life looks like.
One thoughtful choice at a time.
Wherever you are in your journey, I’m glad you’re here.
Warmly,
Jerica – Founder of Sovereign Becoming
