Intentionality with Money

Money is a huge proponent of every self-help course and coach. They always promise that somehow if you drop hundreads of dollars on them, that money will come back to you tripled. Money is usually the top thing people wish to change in their life. It’s the thing that they view as their greatest obstacle. Hell, I can tell you it is most certainly my biggest struggle. I’m a stay at home mom with no real consistent income. So take everything I am about to say with that grain of salt, I am certainly no expert in money management. 

Money in itself seems pretty self-explanatory. Money is a physical form of an energetic system. When you get a job, you are telling your employer you will expel your time and energy to support their business and they in exchange give you your pay because they view your energy and time worth that much. Then you leave work and spend your money on things both necessary and unnecessary. 

However, this is the part people don’t often consider. What you spend your money on is what creates the world you exist in from what kind of car you drive to who governs your entire county. 

Read that again. 

When you buy clothing from a fast fashion company such as SHEIN or Rainbow, you are giving support (money) towards their unethical practices such as child labor an unsustainable production. You are feeding into a world where kids are forced to work in factories and clothes are produced with poisonous materials that will not biodegrade. 

When you buy certain foods you are supporting the factory farming or ulta-processed food from factories that targets impoverished areas and leaks waste into their waterways while producing food that causes disease and mental disorders. 

Even things such as the brand of deodorant you buy supports a company that is owned by a bigger corporation that then donates MILLIONS of dollars to corrupt politicians who plan to cut their taxes and change manufacturing laws in exchange for that campaign donation. And these shady politicians then pass bills and amendments that allow employee exploitation, poisoned food and water ways, and work with companies to ensure things stay that way. 

And then people wonder why our world is the way it is. 

Money is the energetic language of mankind and people give it out without second thought to what they are truly supporting. 

Now, that’s money on a large scale. Money on a much smaller scale such as personal finances deserves the same consideration. 

What you spend your money on not only affects the greater world, but your life. Purchasing fast food is going to breed illness but is cheaper while organic whole foods will nourish you but take your whole paycheck. Buying another cheap dopamine boost from Walmart that you are only going to use twice because $20 seems like nothing now or putting it in the bank and hoping you’ll have the discipline to keep doing that which somehow feels like the opposite of dopamine. 

I’ve read so many books about financial planning, budgeting, and becoming a millionaire and it’s all intentional discipline. Cut costs where you can, don’t eat out, find a good savings account, and save every single penny. And do that for mooooonths. 

It sounds agonizing when we have been conditioned to get all our dopamine from buying things, eating out, and expensive hobbies. 

I personally do not believe you should sacrifice your happiness or lifestyle to save money. I think you should just realign where your dopamine comes from and where your headspace is with purchases. 

Instead of the instantly getting what you want in a brand new box straight from Amazon for full price, wait around for a bit until it is on Facebook marketplace for half the price. 

Do the tedious process of price comparing groceries so you can get the groceries you want for a better price. 

Train the dopamine to be released when it comes to saving money - not instant gratification. 

Train yourself to consider every purchase deeply and make sure it aligns with what you want for your life and your financial goals. 

I remember a few years ago my friend was selling a sexy Eclipse convertible with a light blue finish and a black spider on the hood. I was in the market for a car and that was within my price range. However, its safety rating was not ideal, having a car seat in the back would be a task, and it was missing a proper title. I wanted it so badly, to have this hot car. But, my priorities were safety and comfort for my son and knowing that trying to figure out the title would add a lot more DMV fees and processes, I passed on it. I ended up getting a more suitable car which has done me wonderfully but I waited a few years until it was in my budget. 

Had I chased easy dopamine, I would have been worried about my son every moment I drove in it. Instead, I intentionally waited until a car with a good safety rating and was in my budget came. 

Every purchase demands mindful intention. What does it do for the world? What does it do for you? Do you truly need it? And if it at all feels like there is conflict - put that exact amount in savings and either use it for an emergency fund or to fund a goal of yours, whether skydiving or buying stocks. 

I am not here to tell you what is worth spending money on, I’m only here to tell you that you need to intentionally consider that yourself. 

• Dani 💚💙