Let’s get one thing straight: I suck at budgeting.
Spreadsheets? Hate ‘em. Budgeting apps? Too much work. Guilt every time I grab a coffee? No thanks.
But somehow… I still managed to save over $5,000 in just three months. And I did it without using a strict budget, depriving myself, or turning into one of those “finance hacks” influencers.
Here’s exactly how it went down — real talk, real results.
The Budgeting Struggle Was Real
I tried the whole “create a budget and stick to it” thing more times than I can count. It always started with good intentions and ended with me rage-quitting Excel.
Budgets made me feel restricted. Like I was being punished just for wanting to be responsible with money. And every time I “broke the budget,” I’d feel like a failure and give up completely.
So I stopped trying to be perfect. And that’s when things finally started to work.
Step 1: Mindset Over Math
My biggest breakthrough wasn’t financial, it was mental. I realized I didn’t need to track every cent. I just needed to shift my perspective.
I stopped thinking of saving money as losing freedom and started seeing it as buying myself options. Future peace > temporary purchases.
And most importantly: I gave myself permission to start small. Like, $5 at a time small. And that made a big difference.
Step 2: Lazy Habits That Actually Worked
These small tweaks saved me hundreds without even trying:
Deleted Uber Eats and Amazon apps
The fewer taps between me and spending, the less I spent.
Unsubscribed from promo emails
No more “20% off today only!” traps.
Started a “Didn’t Buy It” list
Every time I skipped a purchase, I wrote it down. That “fake savings” list totaled over $300 in one month!
Cash-only fun money
I gave myself a small weekly budget for “fun stuff” — when it was gone, it was gone.
Step 3: The Big Wins
The one-time decisions that moved the needle big time:
Sold stuff I didn’t use
Goodbye old tech, clothes, and gym equipment. Hello $600.
No-buy month
I only spent on essentials for 30 days. Result? $400 saved.
Called to negotiate bills
One call = $15 off my internet every month. Literally free money.
Final Thoughts
Saving $5,000 didn’t come from discipline or perfect planning. It came from changing how I saw money — and getting creative with how I didn’t spend it.
If you hate budgeting but want to save money anyway, I promise: there’s a way. Start with one habit. One shift. One less Uber order.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start.