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StitcherEveryone says they’d be responsible with more money, but the problem is often how we define living below your means. It’s not about spending as little as possible. It’s about shifting your money mindset so you can spend intentionally without exceeding your means. Today, we’re talking about the mindset shifts that make living below your means feel less like restriction and more like financial freedom.
But first,
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This episode is brought to you by:
The Phone You Already Have TM. Because “still works” is underrated. If you’re ready to get more intentional with your money, check out Spend Smart, our coaching app designed to help you reduce impulse spending and build healthy, sustainable spending habits. With our book and podcast backlog, daily lessons, prompts, challenges, and values-based spending framework, Spend Smart helps you answer not just “How do I spend less?” but “Why am I spending in the first place?”
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Stop Spending Like You Have Something to Prove
Jen and Jill challenge the idea that looking middle class means having less. They talk about why we feel pressured to upgrade our phones, cars, homes, clothes, and everything in between, and why normalizing well-worn things can be a powerful way to build wealth without feeling deprived.
They also unpack why earning more doesn’t automatically mean you should spend more. By separating income from spending and building an identity around relationships, hobbies, skills, creativity, and purpose instead of consumption, you can resist lifestyle inflation and feel more confident living below your means.
How to Spend Less Without Feeling Deprived
Jen and Jill share mindset shifts that can help you spend less without feeling restricted. They talk about focusing your money on what actually matters, creating friction between impulse and purchase, and finding rewards that don’t always involve spending.
They also break down the psychology behind “I deserve it” spending and how marketing can manufacture desire by convincing us we need things we never wanted in the first place. The goal isn’t perfect self-control. It’s becoming more intentional about what earns a yes from your money.
What does living below your means mean to you?
For Jen, it’s simply saying ‘no’ to shopping and retailers. While for Jill, it’s important for her to define what’s enough for her.
Bill of the Week
Thanks Lottie for sharing your bill about reducing your verizon bill by $17/mo.
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