13 Intentional Money Habits Every Woman Should Know by 30

It’s so easy to pick up the money habits your parents had or the ones your college friends taught you and not even think about it.

Then you’re 26 and a bit confused as to why things aren’t adding up with your finances, and that money stress is starting to creep in. Oh, and the advice you’ve read up on feels overwhelming and you’re not so sure where to start.

But being able to take control of your finances and trade in your old money habits for the new ones can actually be pretty freeing.

And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

If you’re looking to do a bit of a financial overhaul, then I’ve broken it down into good money habits you can adopt when it makes sense. They’re small and big ways to start building your financial confidence and start having a healthy relationship with your spending.

Whether it’s the beginning of the year or in the middle, these financial habits will help you create a less stressful relationship with money.

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Good Money Habits to Adopt This Week

• Create Your Budget & Stick to It

You’ve heard it from Dave Ramsey and other financial influencers, but it’s probably a task you’ve put off.

I get it, it feels like homework.

So now it’s time to start romanticizing the process: Get a cute budget planner, grab a matcha latte, put on some good music, maybe light a candle, and start getting financially organized.

The budget really is the lifeline for your money.

It helps you to finally understand where you’re overspending on bills, Trader Joe’s, transportation, and so much more. It keeps you from stressing that you don’t have enough for rent, and motivates you to figure out how you can make more money (instead of staying comfortable and using credit).

So, if you want to be that person who never stresses over how much they have in the bank and always has more than enough for special occasions, then you budget is your best friend.

Related: Making A Budget: 7 Simple Steps for Creating One You’ll Stick To

• Create Financial Goals & Start Tracking Them

Having financial goals is a great way to stay on track even when big (or small) distractions come.

It gives you something to focus on so that you’re thinking long term, taking care of your future self, and not going back to bad money habits.

So this could be anything from paying off a certain amount of debt to having $10,000 in savings by a certain date.

Having goals is so good for keeping you motivated and helping you to grow into a much more financially responsible person. So figure out what your top 1-3 goals are, start breaking them down into smaller steps, and see what changes you need to make.

• Spending Less Than You Earn

A quick habit that’ll help you save more money each month is to just choose to spend less than you earn. And doing this helps you to be more thoughtful about how much you do want to spend on non-essentials.

So if you know how much you make each month, and how much of it goes towards bills and living expenses, you’ll be able to quickly decide whether that extra $70 in grocery splurges is worth it or not.

If you’re living on less than you make, then you’re not giving yourself any room to fudge the math and go over budget.

• Become Aware of Your Emotions When Spending

Whether you’ve had a stressful day at work and it feels so much better to just hit order on UberEatsm or you’re shopping online after an emotionally stressful week, it’s so good to start being aware of what’s going on internally.

What holes are you trying to fill, and how could they be better taken care of?

Because even though that purchase can make things feel a whole lot lighter, you’re still adding more emotional stress to the pile when you check up on your bank account later that month.

Good Financial Habits to Start This Month

• Create a Plan for Getting Rid of Your Debt

Whether you have credit card debt or student loans, now is the month to figure out how you’re going to get rid of it for good.

You need to be figuring out the fastest route to real financial freedom, and then making plans to never find yourself in that place again.

So for instance, if you’ve just paid off your credit card, then cancel that account.

• Start Using Cash Over Credit

While credit cards can be useful, they can also be pretty tempting.

So start only using cash, or at the very least, cash and your debit card. That way you’re never overspending and you always have money for the things you need.

• Look for Lifestyle Creep

Every month, check up on your spending and look for any lifestyle creep.

Lifestyle creep is where you start making a bit more money, and in turn, you start spending more on your lifestyle.

So now you’re going out for a brunch or dinner with friends a couple times a week. Or maybe you’re just doing a bit more online shopping.

Check up on this and make sure to cut back if see it coming on.

Good Money Habits to Practice When Shopping

• Stay Away from Small Impulse Purchases

I promise you, these really do add up.

So whether it’s a couple of splurges at Trader Joe’s, a coffee from a new cafe you just passed by, or a cute accessory you’re seeing at checkout, these small purchases cost you a lot more than you realize.

So try establishing a 2-week rule. If by the end of two weeks you still want it, then go for it (but only if your budget allows).

• Use the 30-Day Rule

Got your eyes on something that’s kind of expensive and you want it right away? Similar to the 2-week rule, this one applies to relatively expensive products.

Write down what you want, and after 30 days, if you still want it and it makes sense financially, then go for it!

• Shop Around

Rather than sticking with one provider, you may find cheaper deals by looking around at different companies that do monthly services.

Doing this, you can compare prices for the best deals so that you’re never overpaying for certain services.

• Think Before Buying Something That’s on Sale

Before making a splurge, ask yourself a quick question; would you have bought this item if it weren’t on sale? If not, then walk away.

Healthy Financial Habits for Emergencies

• Build an Emergency Fund

Setting up an emergency fund of $1,000 means that you’re never going to be worried if something unexpected does pop up.

So if you just got a flat tire, you’re covered.

Start putting away a certain amount of money each month so that you can make that emergency payment without any stress.

Also, once you have that first one thousand dollars, make it a habit to put in extra money here and there each month for more expensive problems.

• Check Your Medical Charges

Sudden medical expenses can really be soul-crushing, but some of them can be due to overcharging.

So always check your bills to make sure there weren’t any mistakes made.

Also, before you pay, ask for a “Good Faith Estimate” (or cost estimate) so that you can see a list of all the expected charges before receiving medical treatment.

This way you can look over any elective or optional services and decline them.