Don’t want to spend money? Here’s how to say NO

 

Hi all!

This year, we’re all about upgrading – our finances, our bandwidth, and our boundaries.

When it comes to implementing boundaries with our money, there are a few variables to consider:

  • Your Needs – knowing what is and is not ok, and what the parameters are for you in this season when it comes to spending time, money, or other resources.

  • Your Values – knowing what’s most important to you and how you want to engage with those things leads to more confident ‘yeses’ and better ‘noes’

Once we know these things about ourselves, we can practice saying ‘no’ when the opportunity to spend doesn’t align with our needs or values.

Here’s how:

💕 Take the Gentle and Caring Approach.

  • Family member: Hey, I’d like everyone to go to a concert with Mom on Saturday. Could you chip in $70 for tickets and attend?

  • Response: I really wish I could help, but I’m going flower shopping with Mom on Sunday. I really value our quality time together, and would prefer to spend money on this. Please let me know if there’s another way I can support the concert trip! 

🤝 Be Honest and Direct.

  • Family Member: Can you loan me $100? I’ll pay you back as soon as I’m able.”

  • Response: I understand where you’re coming from, but I’m not in a position to spot you this cash.

🔀 Take a Financial Route.

  • Family member: I need help with my bills this month. Can you help me out?

  • Response: I’m really trying to stick to my budget right now, so I’m not able to help monetarily. What if I helped you find other types of support that could help you financially?

NO might be a complete sentence, but candidness and compassion can go a long way to maintaining the relationships that we value.

And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Capitalize, upgrading our finances and bandwidth got a whole lot easier!

Capitalize is a rollover service that will help you find any old 401(k)s you may have and roll them over into an IRA of your choosing. For FREE!

Recently, I (Kim) changed positions in April, and Capitalize made transferring my old 401k to my new IRA a breeze. I was so thankful I didn’t have to go to the trouble of digging through rollover papers.

Capitalize took care of everything for me, and it didn’t cost me a thing!

They earn an income from IRA providers, so you’ll never have to worry about rollover charges again.

Now I can focus on helping therapy dogs without the added stress of worrying about my financial future! **

She Lost Everything in a Hurricane!!

Last week, we talked with Emily who is the perfect example of how our spending changes in seasons of trauma, but how we can still take control of it. This is not one to be missed.

This Week on Frugal Friends Podcast

Start Here to Become Frugal in 2025 | Frugal Living Tips is a gentle guide through beginning a new, frugal adventure. 

Being frugal doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding debt, and we dive into the salacious topic of auto loans in today’s episode: Is it OK to Have a Car Payment? & How to Avoid an Auto Loan.

Tune in wherever you get podcasts and let us know what you thought of the episode over on our latest Instagram post!

Weekend Checklist

Do: Sign up for The Donut for speedy, trustworthy news delivered to your inbox daily! Writing? Engaging! The news? Nonpartisan. The content? Got you covered. With sections focused on current events, finance, and technology trends, you’ll be up to date every mornin’ with this newsletter.

Meal Prep: One of our favorite recipes from the Sunday Reset series, the Cajun shrimp bake! With fresh shrimp, minimal steps, and a delicious blend of spices, it’s the perfect summer recipe! 🍤

Listen: To something soothing, like this bird call playlist. Bonus points if you learn how to identify your neighborhood birds!

Watch: The Pitt. This fast-paced medical drama will keep you on your toes for all 15 episodes! 

Just getting started with budgeting? Ready to feel more in control of your money? This mobile-optimized Spending Planner is here to help you do both. It makes it easier to track your spending, set goals, and actually stick to them.

And did we mention that it comes with a 60-page Values-Based Spending Guide to help you spend with intention and not guilt? Grab it now.

Happy Fri-Yay!
Kim

⭐️⭐️ P.S. Want to share all this goodness with your friends AND earn cool Frugal Friends merch?

**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.

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