The financial 'hack' that's actually making you spend MORE plus 5 easy automations that *will* help you save

Quick, tell me—

What comes to mind when I ask you to finish this sentence:

“Money is ___.”

Maybe you thought of…

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??Freedom, security, or choice?

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Or possibly…

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??Hard to come by? Never enough??

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And maybe it was even…

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??Something to be afraid of?

Your immediate answer can reveal A LOT about your mindset. And the interesting thing is this:

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That mindset? It often starts in childhood, waaaay before we are even aware that we are solidifying our view of such an important concept that can impact our money habits throughout our lives.

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As for my own experience, I grew up thinking debt is bad and money is something you need to hold onto.

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Watching my dad struggle with his business and seeing my parents have to sell our home cemented this idea for me.

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I started to believe that it’s easy for money to disappear.?

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And it took a long time for me to work through this mindset and learn a more productive way to view money. But now?

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Now I look at money as something to be careful with, for sure.

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But I also believe it’s okay to push the boundaries with it.?

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I understand now that debt is not always bad (and in most cases, it is necessary in order to build financial security—more on this another time!).

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It’s truly all about how you manage that debt (and truly, all your finances), and how you set yourself up for success.

This evolution in how I view money and debt taught me something crucial:?

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Balance and sustainability beat restriction and extremes every ??single ??time.?

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Which is exactly why I want to talk about the problematic 'no-spend month' trend I keep seeing, especially this time of year. Here’s what worries me about it…

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If you’ve ever considered a no-spend month (where you don’t spend any money on anything except the absolute essentials), I have a feeling you fall into one of these categories:

??Someone who has tried many saving methods, but never found lasting success

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??Someone who has been saving money (though maybe not consistently) but always feels like they should be saving more.?

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(Which sounds like you? ??)

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Whether you are saving for a deposit, a trip, a wedding, or even a career change, you might feel that cutting way back is the only way to get there.

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It could seem like a quick solution to your savings problem—and sure, if you do avoid spending any extra money during your no-spend month… you might find that you DO have enough for that thing you’re saving for (or at least, you’ll be closer).

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PROBLEM NUMBER ONE: Anything overly restrictive—whether in finances, health, or life—is a recipe for burnout rather than meaningful change.?

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No-spend months might seem like a trendy and effective way to save, but I see them as a short-term fix to a long-term challenge.

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Why?

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Because they don’t encourage sustainable habits.?

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Instead, they often lead to a cycle of deprivation followed by—you guessed it— overindulgence.

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Helloooo, post-restriction spending spree ??

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It’s kind of like a financial crash diet, right?

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Sure, you might “save” for a month, but what happens after that??

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Real financial freedom comes from building habits that work for you long term.

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Or maybe, you DO spend the month “being good” and following the “no-spend plan,” but then…

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??The exact dress you’ve been eyeing for an upcoming event goes on sale

??Tickets for a trip to Bali just miraculously dropped by $500

??Your friend got a huge promotion and invited you out to celebrate

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I mean, are you REALLY going to say no?!

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Which brings us to…

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PROBLEM NUMBER TWO: No-spend months set unrealistic expectations.

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The kind that are hard to meet and often lead to feeling like you’ve failed if you slip up, even if that slip-up purchase is spending completely in line with your values.

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So, rather than saying, “I won’t spend on anything for 30 days”...

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Why not focus on small, intentional changes??

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For example:

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??Cutting back on takeaways if that’s your budget buster

??Finding free ways to enjoy your weekends

??Looking at ways to lower or negotiate your monthly bills

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No-spend months might feel like the way to turn your savings goal into a reality, but they rarely help you tackle the deeper reason why savings feels hard.

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So instead of temporary hacks, here are a few ways to sustainably build simple savings habit through drum roll please …

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Automation ??

How to Automate Your Savings

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Here's the thing—I'm all about finding ways that we can build wealth while still enjoying life. And automating our savings??

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That's like having a little financial PA who never sleeps (and never impulse buys that gorgeous pair of boots you definitely don't need ??).

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Here's how to set it up:

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??The Bank Transfer

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Listen, if you're waiting until the end of the month to "save what's left"... we need to chat! Instead, set up an automatic transfer for the day after payday. Your future self will thank you for this one!

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??The Spare Change Trick

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Apps like Raiz are basically digital piggy banks, but on steroids. They round up your purchases and invest the difference. That $4.20 cappucino becomes $5, with 80 cents going straight to investments. Sneaky but SO effective!

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??The Pay-Split Strategy

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Fun fact: Your employer can actually split your pay between accounts for you! I love this because the money's saved before you even see it (aka ZERO temptation to spend it on UberEats ??).

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??The Round-Up Routine

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Most banks now offer round-up features. UP Bank and ING do this particularly well—every purchase gets rounded up to the nearest dollar and BOOM ?? money just went straight to your savings!

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??The Annual Bills Game Plan

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Create a separate account for bills and transfer 1/12 of your annual expenses each month. No more panic when that yearly big bill rolls around!

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Pro tip: It’d be a great idea to check your automation setup every three months (grab a mocktail, put on your favourite playlist, and call it your Personal Money Date!).

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Here’s the bottom line… just like I had to shift my mindset about debt being "bad," we need to shift how we think about saving.?

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It's not about restriction—it's about creating smart systems that work (maybe even while we sleep!).

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Want to chat more about setting this up for your specific situation? That's exactly what we cover in our Game Plan Sessions!?

A 90-minute 1:1 session to get tailored advice could be just what you need to finally create a savings habit that sticks.

GET 1:1 SAVINGS SUPPORT

THIS WEEKS LITTLE LUXURY

You know I’m all about allocating a portion of your budget for small indulgences that bring joy and enhance your quality of life. That’s why I make space in my budget for oysters in Tassie, which was my little luxury this week!

Remember—whether you decide to try a no-spend month (seriously, no judgment here!) or you’re working on building your long-term savings habit, this is what’s most important:

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Embracing progress over perfection ??

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Your consistency and small wins will build momentum, and any setbacks—big or small—are just opportunities to adjust. Not failures. You’ve got this, friend. And know I’m here to help you on your savings journey whenever you’re ready ??