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Why Budgets Suck

Writer's picture: Siobhan HamiltonSiobhan Hamilton

Budgets. Just hearing the word might make you cringe. We typed "budget" into our media search bar and got this picture, does this look enjoyable to you? For years, traditional advice has told us that budgeting is the key to financial freedom. But what if we told you that budgets don't work for a lot of people and there’s a better way to manage your money? 

Here's our argument for why budgets suck: 


1. Budgets Can Feel Like a Punishment:  For many people, budgeting feels like restriction. When you create a budget, you set strict categories for spending and essentially tell yourself "no" to things you enjoy. This approach can lead to feelings of deprivation, making it harder to stick to the budget. Research shows that when people feel restricted, they’re more likely to rebel and overspend​. 


2. Budgets Don’t Account for Real Life: Life is unpredictable. A strict budget often doesn’t allow room for unexpected expenses, whether that’s car repairs, medical bills, or last-minute trips. This inflexibility can make budgeting feel unrealistic, and when you inevitably go over budget, it leads to stress and feelings of failure​. Sounds an awful like unrealistic calorie restriction when dieting to us. 


3. Budgets Can Trigger Guilt and Shame: Many people who budget feel guilt or shame when they overspend. This guilt can lead to avoidance, where you stop looking at your finances altogether because it feels too overwhelming. Traditional budgeting methods set you up for this cycle of failure, reinforcing the idea that you’re “bad with money” when you can’t stick to the plan​. 


4. Budgets Ignore Emotional Spending: A key reason budgets fail is that they don’t address why we spend. Emotional spending is real, we are human after all. Whether it’s buying something to relieve stress, celebrate a win, or just feel better after a tough day. Budgets treat all spending the same and ignore the emotional triggers behind it.


5. Budgets Don’t Celebrate Wins: Budgets focus heavily on cutting back, which often leaves little room for celebrating financial wins. Whether it’s paying off debt or finally saving for something special, budgeting can make it feel like you’re always working against a deficit. Mindful spending encourages you to celebrate every intentional purchase and recognize progress without the guilt of “breaking the budget”​


Breaking up with Budgeting: 


Let's all agree to be done with the B word - especially if it's never worked for you. It’s time for a fresh start. Instead of trying to restrict ourselves with rigid rules, let’s focus on mindfulness - simply being aware of our financial picture.


At Safe we provide you with that clarity and soft boundaries through our app, making it easier to see where your money is going without guilt or stress. Our AI chatbot is there to do the heavy lifting for you, answering all your money questions, whether it’s figuring out how much you can safely spend or clarifying confusing transactions. 


It’s time to break up with budgets and embrace a new way of managing our finances.

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