My First Money Date☕️💸

I’d been ghosting my bank account for months and it was time for a proper date.

If you’ve ever opened your banking app and immediately closed it again, this is for you.

For a long time, I had been avoiding my finances. I would check my banking app here or there but deep down I knew I was avoiding something.

Avoiding my finances, feeling anxious and spending without intention.

I didn’t want to know that I was spending X amount on lattes, or that I had 20 different subscriptions.

But knew it was time to be a serious with my finances, so I went on a money date.

Yes, I took myself on a money date.

If you want to feel in control of your life, you need to know where your money is going. A money date is how you take your power back.

What is a money date?

I had heard of this concept before but had never tried it myself.

A money date is a date with yourself to get to know your money better.

Bingo, exactly what I needed.

I wanted to re-frame this task and make it fun and not a chore that had to be done.

A money date is basically picking a location, maybe it’s your favourite resteraunt, the beach, local park or of those nice bookstores.

You get dressed for the occasion and hype yourself a little and get excited.

You take your laptop, notebook or jot things down in your notes app (this is essential)

You order your favourite drink or meal and get started with your finances. The whole goal is to be grounded, not to judge yourself and to enjoy the process.

Let’s be real we have all made money mistakes, but this your re-set date.

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How do you want to feel?

✨Curious

✨Self-compassionate

✨Grounded

✨In partnership with yourself

✨Honest

✨Non judgemental

You don’t need to show up already feeling these. You can choose one as your starting point.

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My first money date

Just like a first date I picked the day, time and location. I dressed in a nice outfit and took my laptop with me.

I decided to go to a cosy café with cute vibes - exactly what I like.

I ordered my favourite Latte, opened my laptop and logged onto my banking app.

This was the start of getting some clarity.

The are exact steps I took on my money date:

1. My first goal was to determine what money I had incoming. I was curious to know what was going on (of course, by my own actions). That was easy for me as it was just my salary. So, that was done (You might have multiple sources of income).

2. Then I had a look though my direct debits, standing orders and money going out of my account each month. Most of them were bills but I did have some subscriptions that I didn’t use and some hidden costs (a closed online shop was still charging me).

3. Next step, I cancelled my subscriptions (that weren’t in use)

4. I then started looking for leakages. Money, I that I spent without realising (I signed to a service, but they were charging me a small hidden fee for coaching that I didn’t sign up for, so that had to be cancelled)

5. The feedback was: I spent an embarrassing amount on lattes, buying lunch out and just on random bits (like my monthly must have Tiktok shop).

6. I then tried to stick to some sort of budget like 50/30/20 rule. This is simple and easy to follow (50% for needs, 30% wants and 20% savings). This way every month I had a guideline which meant I could still have fun money.

6. I also created some money jars within my account – one for a holiday, one for that nice bag that I had been eyeing – and now I had a system in place and bit more clarity. This took me around an hour or so.

7. I made a note to go on my next money date. You can schedule this in monthly, quarterly or whenever you see fit.

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What I realised

I didn’t want to face my reality. I would get paid every month and just spend without any real plan.

But now, I left my money date feeling a sense of achievement.

I had a plan, a clean slate, peace and clarity.

I knew exactly where my money was going each month.

I implemented the 50/30/20 rule which works for me, as I can adjust it accordingly depending on what’s going on that month.

I realised the extra money I was spending on random bits could have been spent on something more meaningful to me - like getting a massage💆‍♀️

THE GOAL: to be in the driver’s seat of your finances.

Have you ever had a money date? Or will you be taking yourself out on one? Let me how it went in the comments ⬇️

See you in the next one:

- Salma