Improve your financial wellness with these habits has been my mantra lately, mostly ‘cause I’m slumped in my tiny Denver apartment, the radiator hissing like it’s judging my bank account. The air smells like burnt toast and cheap air freshener, and I’m scrolling Mint on my cracked phone, trying to stop blowing my cash on late-night burritos. Like, seriously? I got sucked into this after overhearing some hipster at a RiNo café bragging about their “financial freedom,” and I was like, “Yo, I’m out here with $47 in savings.” So, here’s my raw, slightly embarrassing take on how to improve your financial wellness with habits I’ve tried (and flopped), straight from my chaotic American brain.
Habits to Improve Your Financial Wellness
Spoiler: I’m a mess. Here’s my go-to habits to improve your financial wellness, with my fumbles included:
Check Your Credit: Use Credit Karma to monitor your score. I ignored mine and got rejected for a loan.
Track Your Spending: Use an app like Mint to see where your cash goes. I found out I spent $120 on coffee last month—yikes.
Set a Budget: Try the 50/30/20 rule (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings). I forgot what “needs” were and bought too many candles.
Automate Savings: Set up auto-transfers to a savings account. I started with $25 a month and felt briefly adult.
Cut Impulse Buys: Pause before buying stuff. I impulse-bought a $40 hoodie and regretted it instantly.
How I Botched Improving My Financial Wellness
True story: I thought I was a budgeting pro after one Instagram reel. I was at a LoDo coffee shop, hyped on cold brew, trying to “optimize” my finances by cutting all my subscriptions. I accidentally canceled my Spotify mid-playlist, then spent $20 on a new music app ‘cause I panicked. The barista saw my phone and gave me this look like, “Girl, you good?” I was mortified. Check Forbes for real money-saving tips—wish I had.
Another flop? I tried meal prepping to save cash, but left my groceries in my hot car and they spoiled. Lost $35 and my pride.
Why These Habits Improve Your Financial Wellness
Why You Need Habits to Improve Your Financial Wellness
So, why bother with habits to improve your financial wellness? ‘Cause they’re like a life raft for your bank account. Tracking my spending saved me $150 last month, per Bankrate. Automating savings got me $200 in an emergency fund, which felt like a miracle. But here’s the tea: I love the idea of financial health, but I’m still tempted by $15 avocado toast. Anyone else?
Tips from My Financial Wellness Chaos
Stuff I Wish I Knew to Improve My Financial Wellness
Here’s what I’ve learned from my money disasters, typos and all:
- Use Apps: Mint or YNAB make tracking easy. I forgot to check YNAB for a week and overspent.
- Start Small: Save $10 a week first. I tried $100 and starved by month’s end.
- Avoid Temptation: Unfollow online stores on Instagram. I bought $50 shoes ‘cause of an ad—oops.
- Review Monthly: Check your budget monthly. I skipped this and missed a $30 subscription charge.
Seeing my savings hit $200 felt like a glow-up, but I’m still paranoid I’ll blow it on takeout.
Wrapping Up My Financial Wellness Rant
So, that’s my hot mess of a take on how to improve your financial wellness with these habits. I’m still here, radiator hissing, taco wrappers judging me, dreaming of a bank account that doesn’t stress me out. These habits can work if you’re not a scatterbrain like me, but they take effort. If you’re as lost as me, start with Mint or a small savings goal. Got your own money-saving wins or flops? Spill in the comments, I’m nosy AF.
