“We fling our paychecks at pastel cookware and strawberries from farmers’ markets.”

For some reason, I just loved this line from an article I read recently. It created a vivid visual for me, was funny, and packed a lot of truth. If you’re a spender (yes, you know who you are), maybe this resonates with you, too.

There’s something aspirational in this kind of spending. It can feel like an investment in creating a dream future or maintaining an ideal version of the present.

Of course, not all spending—aspirational or otherwise—is bad. Money makes the world go round, right? Even if it’s a cliché, there’s truth to the idea that money flows; it circulates naturally in exchange for the goods and services we want, need or deliver.

One way of evaluating the value of that exchange is to look at the energy behind it.

At one end of the spectrum, we have hoarding. It could be considered saving—good, right? But the energy behind it can feel off, almost stingy. On the other end, there’s flinging those paychecks—aka spending. The key question is, is the spending intentional, or is it random? Does it carry the energy of sharing, giving, and circulating, or is it numbing? Shopping can easily slide into the latter.

Then there’s that sweet spot in the middle—the ideal equilibrium. A healthy circle of exchange that includes both saving and spending. Yet even this balance can hide its own traps.

A key trap I often see with women is that they aren’t fully open to the receiving side of the exchange, even if it goes unnoticed.

Here are signs that your “receiving muscle” might need a little work:

• You pay yourself last (a common habit for early entrepreneurs).
• You don’t ask for help or politely decline it when offered. “I’m good, thanks!”
• You routinely put others’ needs before your own.
• You plan to secure your financial foundation… once [fill in the blank].
• You consistently undercharge or offer your services at a discount.
• You provide your offering for free. This isn’t to say that free is bad—it’s often part of marketing and being of service—but it can also mask an underlying belief about what you deserve.

Do any of these resonate?

True financial wellness isn’t just about managing numbers; it’s about the energy behind how you spend, save, and allow yourself to receive. Take notice as you go through your week: What is the energy behind each financial exchange? Is a shift required?

#mindfulmoney #inspiredfinancialplanning #heartstrongwealthplanning #investyourvalues