How good it was to be a child. We didn’t have to worry about bills, rent, groceries, etc. that you had to think about every month. When I grew up, I started to feel like money management was a constraint, and no matter how flawless my budgeting was on paper, I felt emotionally bankrupt; it’s not just what you do with the money that matters. You also need to understand the money mindset and when you start to focus on it, everything starts to change.
You don’t need big changes to understand the money mindset! Just start changing with 9 steps plus my bonus rule to help you change your daily money mindset habits with consistency, focus, and small mental shifts.
1. Start Talking Gently About Money
I used to often say things like ‘I don’t understand money anyway’, but this way of thinking was unwittingly poisoning my relationship with my spending.
I was always saying things like:
- “I can never afford this.”
- “Money just disappears.”
- “I’m not good with money.”
When I realized that these statements were wrong. I replaced them with these statements:
- “I am learning to manage my money wisely.”
- “I’m open to new income opportunities.”
- “Every dollar has a job.”
This perspective may seem silly at first, but over time you’ll see it: You’ll notice a big shift in the way you think about money.
2. I Practice Gratitude for Every Expenditure
Yes, you heard it right. Instead of getting angry or resentful about every bill, grocery bill, rent, etc., say thank you.
- Thank you for the electricity that runs my house.
- Thank you to the grocery stores for feeding me and my family.
- I thank my landlord for giving me a safe place to live.
When I stop seeing expenses as burdens and stop associating money with anxiety, believe me, it works and has moved me from scarcity to abundance.
3. I Checked My Finances Every Day
I have added a 3-minute routine after basic personal care every morning when I wake up:
- Open the budget app.
- Review balances.
- Celebrate small wins (it could even be a $2 savings).
With this simple but effective practice that I apply every morning, I started to spend more in control, and most importantly, it started to protect me from impulsive purchases. This way I learned to protect my budget against financial difficulties.
4. I Visualized My Future Wealth
Visualization may sound “woo-woo”, but it’s a practice that really works. I repeated the following 3 great suggestions for 2 to 5 minutes a day for a month and it really worked.
- I must have zero debt.
- I need to build a healthy savings account.
- I will take my family on a stress-free vacation.
Yes, you didn’t hear me wrong, I did it just by repeating these 3 items for about 5 minutes every day believing in it, and keeping my spending mentality under control. Already after a week, what to do and how to do it starts to take shape in your head.
For Day 5 I chose a “Money Mantra”
You can motivate yourself with this method. This is how I chose a simple but effective money affirmation every morning when I woke up and repeated it occasionally throughout the day.
For example, start with these 3 examples:
- “I am worthy of financial abundance.”
- “There is always more where that came from.”
- “I make wise, confident financial choices.”
This was a grounding feeling, especially on days when unexpected expenses popped up or doubts crept in.
6. I Surrounded Myself with Wealth Positive Content
How to strengthen a healthy money mindset? For this, I share the Podcasts I listened to and the books I read:
- Podcasts like The Mind Your Business Podcast or Afford Anything
- Books like You Are a Badass at Making Money
- Pinterest boards with empowering quotes
Just 10-15 minutes a day has made a huge difference in the way I think and talk about money.
7. Loudly Celebrated Small Financial Gains
A common mistake is to set big goals at first, instead set smaller goals, like paying off credit card debt or paying bills, and start by celebrating these simple tasks.
- Skip the coffee and do it at home? ✅
- Put $10 into savings? ✅
- Saying no to an impulsive purchase on Amazon? ✅
These actions may seem difficult for a first-time saver. The important thing is to focus on having a consistent budgeting mindset, even if it’s slow.
8. I Started to Say “No” Without Guilt
Yes indeed, one of the most important changes in this life is to be able to say no. Learning to say no to an action you don’t want to take is what makes you strong.
I can’t:
- Things I can’t afford even if others can
- Events that drain my wallet and energy
- Self-sabotaging purchases “just because I deserve it”
Saying no to others has become a powerful way of saying yes to my future self.
9. Every Morning I Give My Money a Purpose
For example, when I got out of bed today, I set a clear intention for every dollar I was going to spend. That way I was able to avoid all unnecessary spending:
- “Today, I will consciously spend on food and save the rest.”
- “I will put $10 in my emergency fund.”
- “No unplanned spending today.”
This helped me stay in alignment with my values, not just my emotions.
Final Thoughts: Small Habits, Big Changes
Of course, what I have written above did not change my life overnight. But day by day, slowly but consistently, it has strengthened my view of money, my appreciation of it and my interaction with it. I now feel like a CEO when I manage my money.
You may feel stuck and overwhelmed at first, start small to overcome this. Pick one habit for yourself from our list above and stick with it, even if it’s for three days, and you’ll be amazed at the change on the fourth or fifth day.
Bonus Tip:
Start your morning with one sentence:
“Today, I give myself permission to build wealth – one smart choice at a time.”
Your financial transformation doesn’t start with your paycheck – it starts with your thoughts.
