How to not spend a lot of money? I often get this question, in planning and financial consulting sessions, but not only. People who hear what I do ask me: “and how can I stop spending a lot of money?”. Most of the time I answer them with a question: “Why do you want to spend less?”. The problem is not that you spend a lot, but that you don’t have a goal.
Goals in our lives
Goals, and especially financial ones, give the perspective or purpose of life. They represent the engine, they give us the energy to go through life. Goals are like the engine of a car – they give us the energy we need to move forward. Headlights are the solutions that give us the visibility to follow the itinerary. It is necessary to take the time to make the itinerary: to know where we want to get to and where we want to go, then determine the right vehicle. It is necessary to have, from the beginning, perspective and visibility, but also along the way, the possibility of turning – of modifying our action, if the road becomes blocked.
Spending money
Money for each of us represents something different. I consider it energy and the material that helps us to obtain what we want. What we want can be represented by short-term needs and desires or just needs or just desires. What we want can be represented by both short-term needs and desires, as well as long-term needs and desires.
For me, money represents the energy and the possibility of achieving my long-term needs and desires. What I need and want in the short term, I can say that I neglect. It is not as important what I need and what I want in the short term as the long term ones, so if you focus on your long term needs and desires, you will not spend a lot of money now, on the other hand, if you do not know what your long term needs and desires, respectively objectives are, you will spend all your money now.
Money is an unlimited resource, because we can create it, we can make it back if we have spent it. Thus, you can spend all your money from one month to the next and at some point you will find that this circle leads you to frustration: you spend all your money, although your income is above average. What happens to the money, you ask yourself. It does nothing but circulate. Once you have an even higher income, you will spend even more, so increasing your income is not a solution. On the other hand, if you put only part of the money into circulation, then you will manage to save some for yourself in the future.
How not to spend a lot of money?
First of all, set a medium and long-term goal, and the medium and long term does not represent 1 year, respectively 5 years, but 15, respectively 20 years. Won’t you still be the same person over 15, respectively 20 years? Won’t you have needs and desires? The answer is yes, and all of those will cost much more. Think about a child. Even if you don’t have one, look around at those who do and ask them what the expenses are for raising and developing a child. You will find that, as the child grows, the expenses also increase, and the income will not be much higher than the income.
What is to be done? After you have set a big goal that requires a lot of money, save a monthly amount that is between 5 and 10% of your income. It is important that the first time it is easy for you to put aside, then you get used to it and increase the percentage. The bigger your goal is – the more it costs, the bigger your project must be and you will really need to invest your money to achieve it.
How not to spend a lot of money? Planning is the key!
Only the third stage aims to optimize expenses. What you can do here is to have a record of all expenses and set a level for each category integrated into your monthly budget. Very important: in order not to be frustrated in the long term and to consider that you cannot “live your life now-present” it is necessary to have expenses in the area of current needs and desires, both clothing, hobbies and vacations (you allocate an amount monthly that helps you go on vacations year after year at the level you propose to charge your batteries).
If you allocate too much money in an area of expenses that does not bring you satisfaction, let’s say: clothes and you would like to allocate more for vacations, then you direct the money there: in the vacations category. All these amounts that you set, for each category of expenses, you track. Maybe you don’t want to spend so much money on food or going out, so you can have more money for vacations, child support and your pension, then you set the amount and track it. During the month you determine if you are on schedule. If you find that you have exceeded the amount in the “envelope” allocated to that expense, you don’t take from another; it means that you “threw yourself” on something that was more expensive.
If you want to discuss this topic with me, find out your financial priorities and make a personalized plan together, you can contact me here: https://www.psihologiabanilor.ro/planificare-financiara/
Rules of the monthly spending budget
- don’t take a lot of money with you when you leave home – just as much as you need, whether you go shopping or go out;
- only take cash with you, not cards;
- pay for every purchase (except for bills that are fixed, most of the time) only with cash;
- if you find something that is not on the list or you found it on sale, put it on the list for next time!;
- if you exaggerate with an expense, set an amount and fit into it. If you don’t fit, you can penalize yourself and put the difference in a piggy bank.
For more advice on spending money wisely, I invite you to follow Ioana Mărgineanu on her Youtube channel and on the website: Family Budget. https://bugetdefamilie.ro/
Personal and financial achievement
No one is responsible for your goal; neither your boss, nor the state, nor even your employees if you are an entrepreneur; each one will work for their own achievement. Thus, it is necessary to know what you want from life, from yourself, and establish this. Make your plan and stick to it! The one who sabotages you is you; not the holidays or promotions. Promotions do nothing but support the economy. Know that you can also support the economy by investing the money you save each month and choose not to spend.
Good luck in becoming more aware of your money and your financial goals!
©2025 PSIHOLOGIA BANILOR - All Rights Reserved - Powered by 
