When Taking Care of Myself Quietly Reduced My Expenses
Disclaimer . This story is shared as a lived experience — sometimes mine, sometimes inspired by real conversations and moments I’ve witnessed or been trusted with. Details may be adjusted to protect privacy, but the lessons remain real. This is not professional financial, legal, or tax advice. It’s simply a reflection, an experience, and an invitation to think differently about money, choices, and life. What worked (or didn’t) in one situation may not work the same way in another. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and apply what feels aligned with your own circumstances, values, and goals.
What if the reason you’re struggling to save isn’t a lack of discipline —
but the way your life is structured?
What if the answer isn’t another budgeting method,
but taking a closer look at how you’re taking care of yourself?
In 2015, I was diagnosed with an ulcer.
Medication worked — the first time.
In 2016, it came back.
That’s when I stopped ignoring my body.
Not to save money.
Not to optimise my budget.
Just to stop being sick all the time.
What I didn’t realise then is that looking after myself would quietly reduce my expenses — not all at once, not dramatically, but consistently and sustainably.
This is where Strategic Spending, at the core of my 👉 SIS Framework (Spend, Invest, Save), truly began.
When Health Becomes an Investment (SIS: Invest)
After the ulcer returned, I had enough.
I had been sick for most of my life — often without knowing why, often without understanding how.
Have you ever reached a point where your body forces you to listen, even when your mind wants to keep pushing?
Around that time, I watched Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010).
To be clear: many health claims around juice cleansing are not supported by scientific evidence.
For me, the documentary wasn’t a solution.
It was a shift in awareness.
It made me ask questions I had never really asked:
What am I consuming every day?
Why do I normalise discomfort?
Why do I accept ingredient lists I don’t understand?
Awareness changes behaviour — and behaviour changes spending.
The Slow Juicer: A Strategic, Long-Term Investment
I invested in a slow juicer.
It was not cheap. It cost a few hundred euros upfront — the kind of purchase many people hesitate over.
But six years later, it’s still standing strong after daily use.
Do I juice today the same way I did back then? No.
But that investment paid for itself in ways that don’t show up on a receipt.
Ask yourself:
How often do you spend because you feel tired, low, or overwhelmed?
When your body feels supported and your energy is more stable, you’re:
less reactive
less emotionally exposed
less vulnerable to impulse and emotional spending
Those small “comfort purchases” — a few euros here and there — don’t feel expensive.
But over months and years, they quietly add up.
A calmer mind is a quieter spender.
That’s 👉 Strategic Spending: paying once to reduce many future expenses.
When Awareness Starts Changing How You Spend (SIS: Spend)
As my health improved, I didn’t just feel better.
I consumed differently.
I started reading ingredient lists — and once you see, you can’t unsee.
Some products? I stopped buying them altogether.
Let me ask you this:
How many things do you buy out of habit, not because they truly serve you?
This wasn’t about restriction. It was about alignment.
“Just in Case” Food and Tied-Up Money
As my awareness grew, I also noticed something else:
how much food I was buying “just in case.”
Canned goods, frozen meals, extra items meant to make me feel prepared — not necessarily nourished.
But food sitting in a cupboard or freezer isn’t neutral. It’s money that’s stuck.
And often, it’s money spent to reduce anxiety, not to meet a real need.
When I changed how I ate and felt more stable in my body, I stopped over-buying “backup food.”
Not because I was stricter — but because I felt safer.
That shift alone reduced waste, freed up cash flow, and made my spending more intentional.
Lipstick, Cosmetics, and Cutting the Middleman 💄
I love lipsticks.
At one point, I had around 15.
And one day, I realised: this wasn’t enjoyment anymore — it was accumulation.
So I made a simple rule: When one finishes, I don’t automatically replace it.
No guilt.
No pressure.
Just intention.
That alone reduced how often I spent on cosmetics — but something else changed too.
I started buying less often, but more consciously, from:
small brands
local or independent businesses
makers with clearer sourcing
By doing that, I wasn’t just buying fewer products — I was cutting the middleman.
Fewer supply-chain steps often mean:
less price inflation
better margins for the small business owner
money going closer to the source
Instead of paying for layers of distribution, marketing, and logistics, I was paying for value.
That’s still spending — just 👉 strategic spending.
Period Products, Reusable Diapers, and Long-Term Math
One of the biggest shifts came from period care.
Disposable pads are usually bought monthly, automatically. Individually, they already feel expensive — but over years, that can easily become hundreds, sometimes thousands.
When I learned more about the chemicals used — similar to those found in diapers — I paused.
I switched to:
reusable pads
period underwear
The upfront cost was higher than one monthly purchase, but spread over several years, the difference was significant.
I made the same decision for my children and used reusable diapers.
Diapers are a daily expense. So the savings there became visible very quickly.
Once again, buying from smaller brands meant:
fewer intermediaries
more transparency
better financial support for the business owner
It was a financial decision and a values decision.
Fewer Clothes, More Focus (Not Minimalism)
I didn’t aim for minimalism.
I aimed for focus.
My body fluctuated through two pregnancies.
Instead of constantly buying new clothes to keep up with changes, I chose:
comfort
versatile pieces
simplicity
Buying fewer clothes — and buying them less often — reduced both spending and mental load.
Ask yourself: Are you buying to adapt to your life — or to cope with it?
This is part of your 👉 financial ecosystem — your health, mindset, and spending habits are deeply connected.
When Saving Isn’t the Goal — but the Outcome
I didn’t save money by cutting joy.
I saved money by spending strategically.
Health became an investment.
Awareness became a filter.
Spending became intentional.
That’s the heart of the SIS Framework:
Save as a natural outcome
Invest in what stabilises you
Spend in ways that reduce future costs
Before asking “How can I save more?”, try this instead:
What part of my lifestyle is quietly making me spend?
Sometimes the answer isn’t financial at all — it’s embedded in your financial ecosystem.
And that’s where real budgeting begins.
Go Deeper
If this resonated, explore how lifestyle, mindset, and money connect:
Your budget isn’t a punishment.
It’s a mirror.
And sometimes, it reflects parts of your life that need care — not cuts.
Start Budgeting With Purpose — Free Tools Available Now
Budgeting with Purpose is about more than tracking expenses. It helps you understand your financial reality, identify blind spots, and build long-term clarity.
Two free tools are now available to help you get started:
Free Budget Tracker
The AfroBudgetinGirl Budget Tracker helps you see your money clearly, plan monthly or yearly, track irregular expenses, and prioritise actions using the Action Priority Matrix.
200 Questions Workbook Extract (Free)
Some financial risks don’t appear in spreadsheets. This workbook extract helps you uncover blind spots, understand what’s driving your decisions, and map those insights into numbers using your budget.
👉 Free tools : Budget Tracker and 200 questions workbook extract
The Money Design Session (Coming Together)
These tools introduce the Money Design Session — a practical way to map your financial ecosystem, identify patterns, and strengthen your foundation with intention.
Here’s what to do:
List every part of your financial environment — from family and work to culture and media.
Analyse how each one influences your mindset, habits, and goals.
Identify patterns and blind spots.
Strengthen your foundation by aligning your money with your true objectives.
This is how budgeting becomes a tool for direction — not restriction.
Want Early Access?
The Budgeting with Purpose Masterclass is in development.
👉 Subscribe to receive:
practical guidance to live intentionally — financially and personally
Budgeting with purpose isn’t just about having more — it’s about living better, preparing smarter, and choosing freedom over fear. Join me on this journey toward financial clarity, resilience, and empowerment.
Budget for the Life You Intend to Live
Budgeting with purpose transforms your money into a tool for independence and peace. It gives you the power to say “yes” to what matters — and the courage to say “no” to what doesn’t.
For women, intentional budgeting is more than a financial strategy — it’s an act of self-preservation and empowerment.
Because when we plan with purpose, we don’t just survive life’s challenges — we thrive through them.
If this story resonated with you, keep exploring the Diary — there’s more here to support your financial clarity, boundaries, and purpose.
