What Is Spendfulness?

Money matters. For obvious reasons, like securing food, shelter, and streaming services, but it goes so far beyond that. Your money is you. 

Every dollar you have represents the time, energy, and effort you put into earning it. Every dollar you spend reflects your choices, values, priorities, and desires. Money is the key to making so many things happen, for yourself, for your loved ones, in your community, and in the world. It’s a really big deal. 

However, money also carries a ton of emotional baggage—including (but unfortunately not limited to) feelings of insecurity, confusion, shame, stress, guilt, regret, fear, and the nagging belief that you’re just bad with money. It’s a tangled mess, with second-guessing at the center, sending out offshoots of doubt in every direction.

At best, our finances end up feeling like a chore. And who wants to do chores? Especially if the chore makes you feel pressured to give up life’s little luxuries—yeah, no thanks.

That’s where things start to go wrong. Because your money is you. It’s a tool for self-actualization and a way to express (and enjoy!) yourself in the world. It deserves the same time, attention, and care that you devote to your health and relationships. 

Trying to avoid your financial reality robs you of the chance to use your money to build your best life. Take a breath and picture yourself as that inspired kid again, clutching a crisp bill with endless possibilities ahead. What would be possible if you viewed money as an opportunity instead of an obstacle?

You might be thinking, “Okay, but I really just need more money.”. Valid, but let’s start with making the most of what we have. 

Do you ever find yourself wondering where all of your money goes? Or feeling guilty about splurging on yourself even if you’re pretty sure you can afford it? That constant sense of second-guessing your spending wears you down. It erodes your confidence, clouds your judgment, and affects your overall sense of well-being.

Intentional spending is the cure! You can have what you need and get what you want by making a proactive plan about how you want to spend every dollar, before you’ve spent a cent. But ‘intentional spending’ misses one key element—you. That’s where spendfulness comes in.

Spendfulness is the alignment between how you spend your money and how you want to live your life. It’s the absence of second-guessing. It’s the confidence and satisfaction that comes with saying, “That was money well-spent”—and meaning it. No more guilt, no more shame. Just the satisfaction of knowing your money is supporting what matters most to you.

With spendfulness, there’s  no uncertainty or mental math happening at the cash register. You have a plan, and your spending has a purpose. Giving every dollar a job before it’s spent gives you a sense of control over your finances and your future. It increases your financial awareness, brings perspective to your priorities, and eventually makes it easy to eliminate careless spending—which ultimately leads to having more money.

Spendfulness increases your net worth and improves your self-worth. And it feels so good!

Dive deeper into spendfulness with Ben M.:

Let’s say your favorite band is on their farewell tour. You’ve made your way through the infamous Ticketmaster queue—but the tickets are pricey. It’s your last chance to see this show. 

‍Spending Scenario #1

You check your bank account and it looks like you have plenty of money, but your mortgage payment is coming up soon. Oh, and you’re not sure how much longer your tires are going to last. It will probably be fine… but maybe you should put it on a credit card, just in case. You feel a little bit guilty about spending that much on something non-essential and briefly consider reselling the tickets on StubHub to recoup the cost. 

The show was great, but you’ll still be paying for it long after the excitement wears off. 

‍Spending Scenario #2 

You check your spendfulness plan. Attending concerts is one of your favorite pastimes, so you’ve been assigning $50 a month to your “Music Money” category for a while now. You have enough set aside to pay for your tickets in cash and this is a bucket list event for you. You upgrade to the good seats, guilt-free, and you buy the overpriced merch without a backwards glance. 

You have the time of your life. Smiling from ear to ear on the way home, you’re confident that was money well-spent. 

That feeling of confidence, clarity, and contentment in the second example is spendfulness—and it adds more joy to every day and every dollar.

With spendfulness, you bring awareness and intention to your spending in ways that reflect your values and priorities. Instead of mindlessly spending on autopilot, you make mindful spending choices  that move you closer to your goals. Decisions become easier, trade-offs seem more meaningful, and conversations about money become collaborative instead of argumentative.

There’s more than one path to spendfulness. You don’t need a sherpa to guide you on this journey.  No fancy equipment is required (but the YNAB app does make it easy to implement). 

However, the YNAB Method is a great place to start.

The YNAB Method is a proven framework for practicing spendfulness, and it’s simple: give every dollar a job. 

Turn each of  your spending priorities into individual categories. Working with the money you have right now, assign every dollar to one of those categories. Think of this plan as a map of what matters most to you, guiding each month of your spending. 

When more dollars come in, give them jobs too! As you fund those categories over time, your values start to shine through. It’s like holding up a mirror to your money—and seeing you reflected back.

As you’re giving your dollars jobs or reviewing your plan, ask yourself the following five questions to help simplify spending decisions and clarify priorities: 

What does this money need to do before I’m paid again? 

Reality is the first step of spendfulness. You can’t plan a journey without knowing where you are. Getting clear about how much money you have and what that money needs to do next helps you avoid spending more important money on less important things. 

What larger, less frequent spending do I need to prepare for?

Stability reduces stress and uncertainty. Anticipate upcoming expenses and start setting small, manageable amounts of money aside to save yourself from the emotional drama of one big bill. After all, the holidays happen every year and your car will need new tires someday—Future You will appreciate that you planned ahead!

What can I set aside for next month’s spending?

Resilience is being proactive instead of reactive. When next month’s expenses are covered, payday and due dates don’t really matter and financial emergencies become minor inconveniences. This built-in breathing room helps you rest a little easier and frees up mental space for something more fun, like cheating at Monopoly. 

What goals, large or small, do I want to prioritize?

Creation is giving your goals a chance (with money). In a way, you’re  asking yourself the age-old question of, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” over and over again,then giving your dollars jobs that will make those dreams a reality. Who do you want to be, and how can the money you have help you get there? 

What changes do I need to make, if any?

Flexibility means changing your plan when new priorities arise. There’s no such thing as a normal month, and the answer to “Who do I want to be?” can change from at-home chef to DoorDash frequent-flyer on the drive home. And that’s okay! It’s your money and your plan for it can change at any time—without guilt, stress, or second-guessing. Change your mind, move some money, and move on. 

That’s living spendfully! It’s knowing yourself, and spending accordingly.

Some moments of spendfulness will be big, bold, and life-changing. Others will be small, quiet, and tucked into the everyday rhythm of your life. The benefits are both immediate and lasting, deepening over time. And the feelings that come with it—confidence, well-being, and joy—will ripple into areas you never expected money to touch.

Spendfulness isn’t just about financial wellness; it’s about reshaping the way you see money and what you believe is possible for yourself. It’s about reclaiming the excitement, wonder, and freedom you once felt when a few dollars held endless possibilities.

And you deserve to live a well-spent life. You’re worth it.

Ready to add more joy to every day and every dollar by living spendfully? Try YNAB for free to get started. There's no credit card or commitment required!

Introducing Spendfulness

Live Spendfully

A Spendful Move

How We Built a More Spendful Life

How to Make Your Money Go Further

Loving the Way You Spend with YNAB

Money Well-Spent Stories

Is YNAB Worth It?

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