How to Build a Budget That Feels Like You

And still works

Author

AJ Neeme
May 25, 2025

Last week, we talked about why most budgets fail:
They’re built on guilt, not excitement.

So we flipped the script: budget based on your values, not your shame spiral.

This Week, let’s Turn Those Values into Action

Specifically, into financial goals you can actually live up to and feel good about.

Why Clarifying Your Values Matters

Your money doesn’t just fund things.
It funds your life.

So if you don’t know what kind of life you want:
Of course your spending feels random.
Of course budgeting feels like punishment.

When your financial goals are rooted in your personal values, everything shifts:

  • Less guilt, more alignment

  • Less chaos, more clarity

My core values are:
Freedom. Security. Experiences.

They translate into financial goals like:

  • A 12 months emergency fund

  • A coaching and side-hustle fund

  • A “live now” budget for travel & activities

Pretty straightforward, right?

But What If Your Values Aren’t?

Let’s say your values are:
Luxury. Comfort. Expression.

Still valid. Still powerful.
And still compatible with building wealth.

Here’s how those can translate into financial goals:

  • Luxury → A “fun fund” for designer purchases without dipping into savings or debt

  • Comfort → Higher spending on home upgrades or premium healthcare

  • Expression → A side hustle or budget for fashion, design, or content creation

But, you need to Secure the Base First

Before you build a budget around luxury, expression, or adventure,
make sure your Foundational Finances are covered:

  • Emergency savings

  • Basic insurance

  • No high-interest debt

  • Stable income and spending habits (ie: regular saving/investing)

When your foundation is solid, you unlock the ability to spend freely on what you love, without anxiety or guilt.

If you take one thing away from this edition, it’s that budgeting is an opportunity to think intentionally about the kind of Life you want to live. 

Next Week:

I’ll walk you through how I connect the dots between:
Values → Freeing up your Resources (money, time, energy) → Actionable Systems

Until then:
💭 What values do you want your money to represent?

How I Can Help You Take Action

1. Do it yourself:
 📘 The Busy Beginners' Money Guide to Build Wealth & Spend Guilt Free
(Perfect for busy professionals who want peace of mind and guilt-free spending.)

2. Let’s work together!
I have 3 coaching slots open where we can work on how to:

Interested ? Respond to this email and let’s get started!

PS: No investment or financial advice - just real-life clarity.

PPS: Missed last week’s edition? Read it here.

See you next week,
AJ

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The information contained in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.