Happy Sunday afternoon everyone!

Friday we had group coaching, our budget workshop, AND the VIP after-party. Lots of talking. Lots of good questions. We wanted to share one takeaway from each with you today that may help you!

1. Which account pays for Amazon? 📦

In group coaching, someone asked which account should pay for Amazon purchases. Fair question when your cart has school supplies, paper towels, and a cute little something for yourself.

Ask: “What am I buying?”

Paper towels? Groceries / household money. Something for your kid? Kids’ money. That rose gold planner accessory? Personal spending, bestie.

Same checkout. Different purposes. Decide which money is paying before you hit “buy.”

You can save your different debit cards in Amazon and make the one you use most often your default. Then choose the right card before you buy (it takes one second).

2. You get to choose your grocery budget. 🛒

At the workshop, we talked about setting spending amounts that actually work for your family.

If you keep going over on groceries, get curious. Are you tossing extras in the cart or does your family simply need more grocery money?

Your grocery budget doesn’t need to match ours, your neighbor’s, or some random number online. Start with a realistic amount and adjust as you go. You’re allowed to do that!

3. Your kids have everyday expenses AND coming-soon expenses. 🎓

In VIP, a mom asked about three big events coming up for her daughter before graduation. Should she put that money in spending or savings?

It can feel confusing because it’s ALL for the same kid, right? The difference is when you’ll use the money.

Your kids’ spending account holds money for things you’re buying throughout the month. Lunch with friends, a school T-shirt, or another little “Mom, can I…?” You fund it just like groceries every month, spend from it, and refill it on your planned transfer days.

Your kids’ savings bucket holds money for bigger things coming later. Summer camp, a school trip, travel sports. You add money each month and let it build until you need it.

So you might put $50 a month into kids’ spending for the everyday requests, plus $100 a month into kids’ savings for a $600 school trip six months away.

Same child. Two separate amounts in your budget. When she wants Chick-fil-A, you check her spending money (or if she's old enough, she can do it herself). The school trip money stays saved for the school trip. 🙌

And you can save for several big events in one bucket named after your child. Just plan for the cost and timing of each one.

Want help organizing your money like this? 💕

Our Simplified Budget System walks you through building your budget, separating your accounts, and setting up automatic transfers so you know what’s covered and what you can spend.

CLIENT WINS 🎉

• One couple wanted dinner out, so they combined their personal spending money and left the bills money alone. Date night stayed in the budget. 🙌
• One client got her new debit cards, started automatic spending transfers, and put $100 aside for annual bills. System coming to life!
• One business owner caught a bill charging her monthly instead of quarterly, roughly $2,800 extra a year! She got the billing corrected and is pursuing the overcharges. Check those bills, bestie.
• One client has $7,500 in her home savings bucket and $1,500 for travel. Money waiting for its job. We love to see it.
• One client canceled subscriptions and negotiated a lower phone bill. A few phone calls and clicks can give your budget some breathing room.

NEW WITH US THIS WEEK 🏐

Vanessa’s daughter Catalina was the HEAD COACH for the first time this week… and guess whose team she coached? Shana’s youngest daughter’s team, at her first game EVER! 🥹

Shana’s middle daughter Melanie was on the bench doing stats, and we were sitting together watching it all. A whole besties family affair. 💕

And Shana’s son turned 18 this week! Vanessa’s son turns 18 in exactly. Three. Months.

Our boys were FOUR when we met. Now one of our girls is coaching the other, and our boys are becoming adults. How did we get here this fast?! 😭❤️

RECENT EPISODES 🎧

• ​Why Your Identity—Not Your Diet or Budget—May Be the Key to Lasting Change | 617​
• ​Why You Can’t Get Out of Credit Card Debt While You’re Still Using Credit Cards | 616​
• ​How to Get One Paycheck Ahead and Create a Realistic Budget | 615​

And be on the lookout tomorrow for an episode walking you through how to get ahead on budgeting and planning for holidays.