City Girl Savings | Budgeting, Money Management, and Goal Setting Tips for Women

If you've ever created a budget, felt really good about it...and then realized two weeks later that you weren't following it anymore, this episode is for you. Maybe you've tried budgeting multiple times.

You create the spreadsheet. You download the budgeting app. You write out your numbers. You promise yourself, "Okay, THIS month I'm actually going to stick to it." Then real life happens.

You spend more than planned. An unexpected expense comes up. You have one expensive weekend. And suddenly you're right back to thinking, "See? I knew I couldn't stick to a budget."

But struggling to stick to a budget doesn't automatically mean you're bad with money. Sometimes your spending expectations aren't realistic. Sometimes you're not tracking what actually happens after you create the budget. Sometimes you've left absolutely no room for anything you enjoy. And sometimes your budget works perfectly, as long as your life does too.

In this episode, I'm breaking down six surprising reasons your budget may keep falling apart and what you can do differently to create a realistic budgeting system you can actually stick to. Because your life shouldn't have to become perfect for your budget to work. Your budget should help you manage your real life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why budgeting based on what you wish you spent can set you up for frustration
• How to create realistic spending expectations based on your actual habits and lifestyle
• How spending awareness gives you more options to adjust before the month is over
• Why your budget needs room for fun, wants, travel, and the things you genuinely enjoy
• How identifying what matters most can help you make better spending tradeoffs
• Why one overspending day doesn't mean you've ruined your entire budget
• How all-or-nothing budgeting can keep you stuck in a cycle of constantly starting over
• What to do after you overspend instead of abandoning your financial plan
• How believing you're "bad at budgeting" can affect your ability to improve
• Why budgeting is a skill you can learn, not an identity you either have or don't

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Keep creating budgets but struggle to stick to them
• Make good money but still regularly overspend in certain categories
• Feel like budgeting is too restrictive to maintain long term
• Tend to give up on your budget after one bad spending day or weekend
• Have convinced yourself that you're simply "bad with money"
• Want a realistic budget that includes both financial progress and the things you enjoy
• Need a budgeting system that can adapt when real life doesn't go according to plan

Why this matters:

When your budget repeatedly doesn't work, it's easy to make the problem personal. You tell yourself you need more discipline. You need to stop spending so much. You need to try harder. Or maybe you're simply someone who "can't budget."

But those conclusions don't give you much useful information about what actually needs to change. A budget is a financial tool. And when a tool isn't working, the first question should be: why?

Maybe you've consistently budgeted $100 for something that realistically costs you $300. Maybe you're creating a plan at the beginning of the month but never checking your actual spending against it. Maybe you've removed every enjoyable expense in an attempt to make faster progress. Or maybe your plan leaves absolutely no room for birthdays, car repairs, invitations, travel, or anything else real life throws at you.

Those aren't character flaws. They're problems you can identify, learn from, and adjust. That's why I want you to think of an unsuccessful budget as feedback instead of failure. The goal isn't to create a budget you can follow perfectly. It's to create a system that keeps you connected to your money, helps you make intentional decisions, gives you room to enjoy your life, and allows you to adjust when things don't go according to plan.

That's what makes a budget sustainable.

Timestamps:

• [02:22] Raya consistently sees women creating budgets based on what they wish they spent money on, instead of what they actually spend money on.
• [06:13] Knowing you're overspending as early as possible in the month gives you time to make changes to get back on track.
• [11:45] Do you already believe you're bad at budgeting? If so, it's a mistake that could cost you a lot of financial progress.
• [15:15] Give yourself permission to be fluid and flexible. Things are going to happen outside of your control; you need to be able to adapt.

Resources Mentioned:

Listen to CGS Podcast #179 - 5 Ways Budgeting Can Be the Key to Living the Life You've Always Wanted

Listen to CGS Podcast #3 - Breaking Through the Stigma of Budgeting

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you're listening to this episode and realizing you've made one (or maybe all six) of these budgeting mistakes, don't turn that realization into another reason to beat yourself up about money. Use it as information.

You don't have to fix everything at once. Pick the part of your budgeting system that's creating the biggest problem right now and start there.

Maybe you make your spending numbers more realistic instead of choosing the numbers you think they "should" be. Maybe you start tracking your spending consistently so you know what's happening while you still have time to make a different decision. Or maybe the next time you overspend, instead of deciding the month is ruined, you open your budget, look at the numbers, and figure out the next best move.

That's what managing money well looks like. It's not never overspending. It's not following every number perfectly. And it's definitely not creating a financial life where nothing unexpected is allowed to happen.

It's staying connected enough to your money that you know how to respond when something changes. A budget that hasn't worked for you in the past isn't proof that you can't budget. It's feedback. Figure out what wasn't working. Change the system. Give yourself the opportunity to get better at it.

And if you've tried creating a budget on your own but can't seem to build one that works with your income, spending habits, goals, and actual life, that's exactly the kind of work I help women with through one-on-one money coaching.

You don't need a perfect budget. You need one you can actually live with.

There's a very specific kind of frustration that happens when you make good money...but somehow, you still don't feel like you're doing well with it.

You know you're earning a decent income, so it feels like you should have more to show for it. More money saved. Less credit card debt. More invested. More confidence when you look at your accounts. More freedom to take the trip, make the purchase, or handle an unexpected expense without wondering where all your money went.

When your financial reality doesn't seem to match your income, it's easy to start questioning yourself. How am I making this much money and still struggling?

But here's what I want you to understand: making good money and managing money well are two completely different skills.

Earning more doesn't automatically teach you how to budget, control your spending, save consistently, plan ahead, or make intentional financial decisions. And without those systems in place, increasing your income can sometimes lead to increasing your lifestyle without actually helping you feel further ahead.

I know because I've experienced this in both my personal finances and my business. In this episode, I'm sharing why your income shouldn't be your financial scorecard, what making six figures in my business taught me about the difference between earning and keeping money, and what managing money well actually looks like.

If you're already making good money, you may not need another raise to start seeing meaningful financial progress. You may need a better system for what happens to the money you already make.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why earning more money doesn't automatically create better money habits
• How lifestyle creep can quietly absorb increases in your income
• What reaching six figures in my business taught me about revenue versus profit
• Why what you keep matters just as much as what you earn
• The patterns I see in women who make good money but still don't feel financially secure
• Why making six figures doesn't prevent overspending, credit card debt, or financial anxiety
• What managing money well actually looks like in everyday life
• Why good money management doesn't require optimizing every dollar or giving up the things you enjoy
• How a strong money management system can help you spend with more confidence
• Why financial progress is ultimately about creating more options
• The financial systems to evaluate if your income doesn't seem to be translating into progress
• Why your salary isn't a financial report card

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Make good money but constantly feel like you should be further ahead
• Earn a high income but still wonder where your money goes
• Feel embarrassed that budgeting, saving, or controlling your spending still feels difficult
• Have experienced lifestyle creep as your income has increased
• Want to save and invest more without giving up the lifestyle you've worked hard to create
• Know what you should be doing with your money but don't have a consistent system for actually doing it

Why this matters:

Income matters. Having more money coming in can absolutely make saving, investing, paying off debt, and building wealth easier. But income is only one part of your financial picture.

What happens after that money reaches your account matters just as much.

If every raise, promotion, or increase in income is followed by higher spending, bigger fixed expenses, and a more expensive version of your existing lifestyle, you can earn significantly more without creating significantly more financial security.

That's why money management matters. A strong financial system helps you decide what happens to your income before everything else gets the opportunity to claim it. It helps you know what you're saving for, what you're investing toward, which expenses need to be planned for, and what matters enough to you to spend on confidently.

And importantly, managing money well doesn't mean being afraid to spend it. It means creating enough structure underneath your finances that you can spend on the things you value while still knowing your future is being taken care of.

Because the goal isn't simply to make more money. It's to make sure the money you're already working hard to earn is actually moving the needle in your life.

Timestamps:

• [02:08] More money doesn't automatically create better money habits. Raya shares her experience with learning this particular lesson.
• [05:25] Everyone celebrates the amount coming, but that's only one part of the financial picture. What are you actually keeping?
• [10:18] Managing money well means you have a system that helps you make intentional decisions with your money.
• [13:45] If you realize you don't have a solid money system, that's useful information. You'll know what your next steps are – create a money system!

Resources Mentioned:

Join Money Management Mastery, we start soon!

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you're listening to this and realizing you've spent a lot of time focusing on earning more without paying nearly as much attention to how you're managing what you already earn, I don't want that realization to turn into shame.

I want you to see the opportunity in it. Because if you're already making good money, imagine what could happen when you start managing that money really well.

Imagine looking back a year from now and being able to see what your income helped you create.

You traveled. You went out. You bought things you genuinely loved. You enjoyed the money you worked hard to earn.

And you also built your emergency fund. You invested consistently. You paid down debt. You prepared for expenses before they became emergencies. You made measurable progress toward the things you said mattered to you.

That's the difference between simply earning money and managing it with intention. And if you're ready to close that gap, Money Management Mastery is open now for a short time.

Over eight weeks, we're going to work together to build the systems that help you manage your money consistently, confidently, and in a way that actually supports the life you're working so hard to create.

Because you probably don't need more information telling you to budget, save, or invest. You need a system that helps you actually do those things consistently.

You can find the link to join Money Management Mastery in the Resources section above.

Because you already know how to make money. Now it's time to master what you do with it. You're not behind, you're building. Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.

Making good money doesn't automatically mean you're good at managing it.

You can have a great salary and still wonder where your money went. You can know you should be saving more and still struggle to actually do it. And you can create a budget that looks perfect on paper...only to watch it fall apart once real life gets involved.

That's why successful money management isn't just about knowing what to do.

You need systems that make doing it consistently easier.

In this episode, I'm joined by nationally recognized consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch to talk about five money management systems every woman should have in place: budgeting, spending tracking, saving, automation, and regular financial reviews.

Andrea's own financial journey began after finding herself thousands of dollars in credit card debt while earning $28,000 and living in New York City. By making small changes to her everyday spending, she was able to pay off her debt and eventually turn what she learned into a career helping other women take control of their finances.

Together, we're talking about how to build financial systems that work in your actual life (not just on paper) so you can spend more intentionally, save consistently, reduce some of the mental load around managing money, and still have room to enjoy the life you're working so hard for.

Because the goal isn't to spend your entire life thinking about your finances. It's to manage your money well enough that you don't have to.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why knowing what to do with your money doesn't always translate into actually doing it
• The role financial systems play compared with discipline and willpower
• What makes a budgeting system realistic and sustainable
• Why flexibility matters when creating a budget you can actually stick to
• How tracking your spending creates awareness and helps you make more intentional decisions
• Spending habits that can have a bigger financial impact than you realize
• Why saving consistently can be difficult even when you make good money
• Which parts of your financial life can benefit from automation
• What you may not want to automate completely, and why staying engaged with your money still matters
• How financial systems can create more freedom rather than making money feel more restrictive
• Where to start if creating multiple money systems feels overwhelming

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Make good money but still don't feel fully in control of it
• Know what you should be doing financially but struggle to follow through consistently
• Have tried budgeting before but haven't found a system that works in your real life
• Want to save more consistently without putting everything you enjoy on hold
• Feel overwhelmed by the amount of attention managing your finances seems to require
• Want a simpler, more organized way to manage your money and make progress toward your goals

Why this matters:

You shouldn't have to constantly think about money in order to manage it successfully.

The right financial systems give your money structure while reducing the number of decisions you have to make from scratch every day, week, or paycheck.

A realistic budget tells your money where it needs to go. Tracking helps you stay aware of what actually happened. A savings system protects your future goals. Automation can reduce mental load and make important financial actions more consistent. And regular reviews give you a chance to make adjustments instead of waiting until something feels completely off track.

But there's another piece that matters just as much: those systems need to work together and fit your actual life.

Because structure for the sake of structure isn't the goal.

The goal is to create enough clarity and consistency with your money that you're able to spend confidently, prepare for your future, and make room for the things you genuinely enjoy without constantly second-guessing yourself.

That's what good money management can give you.

Not just better numbers, but more confidence, more peace, and more freedom to live fully.

Timestamps:

• [05:15] Raya shares what prompted her to turn her financial situation around. Moving back home may have felt like a step backwards, but it propelled her (and Andrea) forward.
• [15:45] Your monthly bills could have wasteful spending in them. Andrea shares some examples of how to save more on bills you already pay.
• [28:18] A lot of people think that to be better with money they have to change their lifestyle. Andrea shares some ways to keep the fun in your life while improving your finances.
• [38:24] Automatic payments aren't always your friend. Andrea shares what people should be aware of when bills or subscriptions are on autopay.

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Andrea on Instagram

Join Money Management Mastery, we start soon!

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you're listening to this and thinking, "Okay, I probably need all five systems," don't let that turn into another reason to feel overwhelmed.

Start with the system that would create the most clarity for you right now.

Maybe that's finally creating a realistic budget so you know where your income needs to go. Maybe it's tracking your spending because you make good money but aren't completely sure where it's going. Maybe you know what your goals are, but you need to automate your savings so progress isn't dependent on remembering to transfer money every month.

Or maybe you already have most of these pieces in place and what you're missing is a regular routine for reviewing, adjusting, and staying connected to your finances.

You don't have to overhaul your entire financial life overnight. Build one system. Get comfortable using it. Then build from there.

Because ultimately, becoming good at managing money isn't about thinking about money all day or following a perfect plan. It's about creating a structure you can trust…one that supports your responsibilities, your goals, and the things you actually want to experience in your life.

If you've been trying to put these pieces together on your own but still feel like your financial life doesn't reflect how hard you've worked or how much you earn, you don't necessarily need more money advice. You may need a system that helps you put what you already know into practice.

That's exactly what we work on inside Money Management Mastery. Over eight weeks, I'll help you get clear on your current financial situation, create a realistic plan for your money, better understand your spending, and build the habits and routines that help successful money management actually stick.

Enrollment is open now, and you can find the link to join in the Resources section.

And if you know you need more personalized, one-on-one support with your specific financial situation, you can also request a free call with me to learn more about private money coaching.

It's one thing to decide you want to save more money.

It's one thing to decide you want to stop overspending, pay off debt, stick to your budget, build your emergency fund, invest consistently, or become more intentional with your spending.

It's another thing entirely to keep honoring that decision when real life shows up.

When work gets stressful. When you're tired. When your friends invite you out. When your favorite store is having a sale. When the fresh-start energy wears off and you simply don't feel like making the responsible choice.

That's where lasting financial change actually happens. Not in the decision itself, but in the follow-through.

In this episode, I'm sharing six ways to make your money decisions stick long term without requiring perfection, cutting out everything you enjoy, or turning your budget into a punishment plan.

Because making a financial decision is only the beginning. If you want that decision to become a lasting habit, you need a plan designed to support it in your real life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why making a money decision isn't the same as designing a system to support it
• How to make saving, spending less, and sticking to your budget easier to follow through on
• Why your real priorities need to be reflected in your financial decisions
• How knowing what you value makes financial tradeoffs feel less restrictive
• Why I keep iced coffee in my budget, and willingly make tradeoffs elsewhere
• How to turn vague financial goals into specific actions you can actually follow
• Why mapping out your money by paycheck can make financial decisions clearer
• How regular reviews and adjustments help your money plan work through changing seasons
• Why consistency doesn't mean doing the exact same thing forever
• How to recover quickly after overspending or getting off track
• Why small promises kept to yourself can rebuild financial self-trust

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Make good financial decisions but struggle to follow through consistently
• Keep restarting your budget or financial goals
• Want to stop overspending without feeling overly restricted
• Know what you want to change with your money but aren't sure how to make it stick
• Tend to abandon your plan after one mistake or unplanned purchase
• Want to feel more confident trusting yourself with money

Why this matters:

Making the decision is often the easiest part. The harder (and more important) work is creating a financial life that makes following through on that decision realistic.

That's why a decision to save more needs a savings system behind it. A decision to spend less may need new boundaries or a different environment. A decision to stick to your budget needs regular check-ins. And any financial plan you create needs enough flexibility to adjust when your life changes.

Your decisions also need to reflect what you genuinely value.

Because long-term money management isn't about proving how much you can deny yourself. It's about knowing which tradeoffs are worth making so your money can support the priorities that matter most to you.

And when something doesn't go according to plan, you don't need to punish yourself or throw everything away. You review. You adjust. You make the next best decision. That's how consistency becomes sustainable, and how you start trusting yourself to follow through.

Timestamps:

• [03:27] You have to ask, "What needs to be true for this decision to be easier to keep?" That question changes the game.
• [08:06] Raya doesn't follow someone else's version of what a "good budget" should look like. She's not cutting out something just to look more disciplined on paper.
• [11:51] Mapping out your money by pay period is a common practice for Raya and her clients because it makes money management less overwhelming.
• [16:50] The goal is not to never get off track. The goal is to not stay off track. That is how your decisions start to stick long term.

Resources Mentioned:

Listen to CGS Podcast #70 – My Budget Non-Negotiables

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you've made a money decision that you haven't been able to maintain, don't automatically assume the decision was wrong, or that you're incapable of following through. Look at the design around it.

What needs to change to make that decision easier to honor in your actual life?

Maybe the goal needs to become more specific. Maybe you need an automatic transfer, a weekly money check-in, or a realistic spending category for something you genuinely enjoy. Maybe you need to adjust the timeline. Or maybe you simply need a plan for what you'll do the next time you get off track.

Remember, the goal isn't to never make a mistake. It's to not let one mistake become a reason to abandon everything you've been building. Come back to the next best decision.

Every time you follow through on a small promise to yourself, you're building evidence that you can trust yourself with money. And over time, those individual decisions become habits. Those habits become systems. And those systems become part of how you manage your money.

That's how lasting change happens. Not through one perfect financial decision, but through continuing to show up for the decisions that matter to you.

You are not behind! You are building. Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is preparing you for your next level.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you suddenly feel completely motivated to get your money together?

Maybe you looked at your credit card balance and decided enough was enough. Maybe you got tired of making good money but still feeling like you had nothing to show for it. Or maybe a new month gave you that fresh-start feeling and you decided this was finally going to be the month everything changed.

That motivation can feel powerful. It gives you energy. It gives you hope. And sometimes, it's exactly the spark you need to get started. But motivation usually isn't enough to keep you going.

Because eventually, work gets busy. You're tired. Your stress level changes. An unexpected expense comes up. Your friends want to go out. Or online shopping starts looking especially tempting after a long day.

That's real life, and your financial plan needs to be able to work there too. In this episode, we're talking about why motivation isn't enough to create lasting money habits and what you actually need to stay consistent with budgeting, saving, spending, and your financial goals.

Because if you keep falling off, you may not need more discipline. You may need a better system.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why motivation can get you started but usually can't keep you consistent
• How relying on a feeling can make your financial plan fragile
• Why I increased my automatic savings and investing transfers instead of relying on motivation to reach my 2026 goal
• How your environment can make good money habits easier (or harder) to maintain
• Simple ways to create more friction around impulse spending and less friction around saving
• Why your budget needs to work for your actual life, not an idealized version of it
• How making room for the things you genuinely enjoy can make a financial plan easier to sustain
• Why accountability is a strategy, not a sign that you're bad with money
• How regular money check-ins can help you reconnect before you completely fall off track
• Why lasting financial change comes from building systems, routines, and an identity that supports your goals

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Start each month motivated to manage your money differently but struggle to stay consistent
• Know what you "should" be doing with your money but have trouble following through
• Feel frustrated because budgeting, saving, or tracking your spending never seems to stick
• Have tried restrictive or generic financial plans that don't fit your actual life
• Want to stop relying on willpower to make good money decisions
• Are ready to build money habits and systems you can maintain long-term

Why this matters:

It's easy to make inconsistency mean something about you. You fall off your budget, stop tracking your spending, miss a savings goal, or start overspending again, and suddenly the story becomes, "I just need to be more disciplined."

But discipline may not be what's missing. If your financial plan only works when you're motivated, energized, emotionally regulated, and able to give it your full attention, the plan isn't built to withstand real life.

That's why systems matter.

Automating your savings removes a decision. Changing your environment reduces temptation. Building a realistic budget gives you something you can actually follow. Regular check-ins give you a rhythm to return to. Accountability helps you reconnect before a rough week becomes six months of avoidance.

None of those things require you to feel motivated every single day. And that's the point. Sustainable money management isn't about creating the perfect version of yourself. It's about creating enough structure around the person you already are that following through becomes easier.

Timestamps:

• [02:15] Relying on a feeling to support a habit is a problem because feelings change. This means your habits change too.
• [05:59] Raya shares an example of how she took action towards a goal instantly, instead of leveraging motivation to try to achieve it.
• [12:51] If you know something matters to you, don't make it hard on yourself by leaving it out of your budget. Cutting those things out is not a recipe for being good with money.
• [16:03] The goal of Raya's 12 week money coaching program is to build a money management system that sticks long term.

Resources Mentioned:

Listen to CGS Podcast #209 – My Personal and Business Goals for 2026

Get a Custom Budget Plan by Raya

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you've been telling yourself that you just need to try harder with your money, I want you to consider a different question: What would make following through easier?

Maybe you need to automate the savings transfer instead of hoping there's money left at the end of the month. Maybe you need to remove the shopping apps that make impulse spending too convenient.

Maybe you need a budget that actually includes the things you enjoy instead of requiring you to become a completely different person. Or maybe you know you do better with accountability and regular check-ins.

Use that information instead of judging it. You don't need a financial plan that only works when you're at your best. You need one that can support you when work gets busy, motivation disappears, or life simply feels like a lot.

The goal isn't to never fall out of rhythm. It's to have a system that makes it easier to come back. And every time you do, you're creating evidence that you are someone who can check in with her money, make intentional decisions, save on purpose, enjoy her life, and still make progress.

That's how lasting money habits are built. Just a friendly reminder – you're not behind, you're building! Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level, so keep going.

When you hear the word "frugal," what comes to mind? Clipping coupons? Eating the same boring meals every day? Saying no to every fun thing you want to do?

That's not the kind of frugality we're talking about here.

Being frugal on purpose isn't about spending as little money as possible. It's about being intentional with the money you have so you can keep more of it, use it well, and create more options for your future.

And when you practice the right frugal habits consistently, you're not just saving a few dollars here and there. You're building behaviors that can help you save more, reduce impulse spending, make better financial decisions, and ultimately build wealth.

In this episode, I'm breaking down five frugal habits that actually support long-term financial progress, without requiring you to feel deprived or give up everything you enjoy.

Because the goal isn't to spend the least. It's to make sure your money is going toward what matters most.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between being frugal and simply being cheap
• Why pausing before a purchase can help reduce impulse spending
• How planning your income before you receive it makes intentional spending easier
• Why your budget should reflect your actual life, priorities, and personality
• How automating your savings helps turn saving into a consistent habit
• Why realistic savings goals can be more powerful than aggressive ones you can't maintain
• How to recognize the difference between value-based and emotional spending
• Why something being on sale doesn't automatically make it a good financial decision
• How weekly money check-ins help you identify spending leaks, opportunities, and wins
• Why intentional frugal habits can create more options and support long-term wealth

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Want to save more money without feeling deprived
• Make good money but still find yourself impulse spending
• Want practical frugal habits that fit into a full, busy life
• Struggle to consistently prioritize savings
• Want your spending to better reflect what you actually value
• Are looking for sustainable ways to build wealth without cutting everything you enjoy

Why this matters:

Building wealth isn't only about how much money you make. What you consistently do with that money matters too. Frugal habits can help create space between earning and spending so more of your income can go toward savings, debt payoff, investing, experiences, and the other goals that matter to you.

But sustainable frugality isn't about cutting back everywhere. It's about knowing where you're willing to spend less so you can intentionally build more somewhere else.

That's why something as simple as pausing before a purchase, planning your paycheck before it arrives, or reviewing your spending every week can have an impact far beyond that one decision. Repeated over time, those choices help you build awareness, strengthen your financial habits, and create more options for your future.

That's the kind of frugality that can support wealth, not because you're constantly saying no, but because you're getting much clearer about what deserves a yes.

Timestamps:

• [02:10] A lot of people hear the word frugal and think of being cheap. Raya breaks down the difference between frugal and cheap.
• [06:55] Having a plan for income before you get it is one of the best practices a person can implement for successful budgeting.
• [13:48] Give your future self options by building the habit of automating your savings and making it a positive money cycle.
• [18:15] Raya's clients don't like to look at their accounts because they don't want to face what's happening with their money. If you avoid your money, you're not alone.

Resources Mentioned:

Join the Frugal Fall Savings Challenge

Get a Custom Budget Plan by Raya

CGS Podcast #70 – My Budget Non-Negotiables

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you've been thinking that becoming more frugal means making your life smaller, I want you to leave this episode with a different perspective.

Being frugal on purpose is about deciding what deserves your money before everything else gets the chance to claim it.

It's pausing long enough to recognize an impulse. It's giving your paycheck a plan. It's consistently saving for future you. It's confidently spending on the things that genuinely add value to your life. And it's staying connected to your money so you can make adjustments before small decisions become bigger problems.

You don't need to implement all five habits perfectly starting tomorrow. Choose the one that would make the biggest difference for you right now and practice it consistently.

If you're listening when this episode goes live and you want some extra support putting these ideas into action, join us for the Free Frugal Fall Savings Challenge. And if you're listening later, create your own mini frugal reset: choose a savings goal, identify one area where you want to spend more intentionally, and give yourself a timeframe to work toward it.

Managing your money well isn't about saying no to everything. It's about saying yes to the things that matter most, with a plan to support them. You are not behind…You are building. Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.

One of the biggest money questions I hear from women is this: How do I enjoy my life today without sacrificing my financial future?

Because most of us don't actually want to stop spending money.

We want to travel. We want dinners with friends. We want the occasional shopping trip, concert tickets, or weekend getaway. We just don't want every one of those decisions to leave us wondering where our paycheck went.

And that's where intentional spending, and intentional frugality, can make such a difference.

In this episode, I'm joined by Kara Stevens, founder of The Frugal Feminista, to talk about what it really means to be frugal on purpose. Kara paid off $40,000 of debt in two years on her journey to eliminating $65,000 in student loan and consumer debt, and her work focuses on helping women build wealth by strengthening both their relationship with money and their relationship with themselves.

We're talking about how to stop impulse spending without feeling restricted, why even smart and successful women can struggle with overspending, and how your beliefs, habits, and priorities shape the way you use your money.

Because being frugal doesn't have to mean depriving yourself. Done intentionally, it can help you spend more confidently on what matters while creating more room for your financial goals.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What it really means to be frugal, and why frugality doesn't have to mean deprivation
• Why the word "frugal" has developed such a negative reputation
• What can trigger impulse spending, even for smart and successful women
• How social media can influence our spending habits and financial priorities
• The signs that you're spending out of habit instead of intention
• How to decide what truly deserves your money
• How to budget for travel, dining out, shopping, and other things you enjoy without neglecting your financial goals
• Why consistency matters when you're working toward long-term wealth
• Where people may be wasting money without realizing it
• How gratitude can contribute to financial contentment
• The money beliefs that can keep women from building wealth
• How to start becoming more intentional with your money right now

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Want to save more money without feeling like you have to give up everything you enjoy
• Struggle with impulse spending or purchases you later regret
• Make good money but still wonder where your paycheck went
• Want to become more intentional about what deserves your money
• Feel like being "good with money" requires too much restriction
• Want to build wealth while still enjoying your life along the way

Why this matters:

Frugality isn't about spending as little money as possible. It's about being more intentional with the money you have.

When you understand what you value, what triggers your spending, and what actually adds value to your life, you can start making financial decisions from a place of purpose instead of habit, impulse, or outside pressure.

That might mean spending less on things you don't care about so you can spend more on the things you do. It might mean questioning a purchase before automatically making it. And it might mean realizing that enjoying your money and building wealth aren't opposing goals.

The point isn't deprivation. It's creating enough clarity around your priorities that you can confidently say no to what doesn't matter, and yes to what does. That's what being frugal on purpose can make possible.

Timestamps:

• [04:30] Your budget should include the things you love. It may not include all the things, but you can work towards your goals and enjoy your life.
• [13:35] Kara shares why women struggle with impulse spending and how a woman's menstrual cycle plays a role in spending triggers.
• [29:05] Fill your cup before you go on social media. Focus on the things you need to bring joy into your life before you start scrolling. This is your anti-social media plan.
• [40:11] Allow your problems to build something that can build you up. This is a great way to help others and help your own finances.

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Kara on Instagram

Grab your FREE Excerpt of Heal Your Relationship with Money

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you've ever associated frugality with restriction, I hope this conversation encourages you to look at it differently.

You don't have to cut everything fun from your budget to make meaningful financial progress. And you don't have to feel guilty every time you spend money on something you genuinely enjoy.

What matters is knowing why you're spending. The more intentional you become about what deserves your money, the easier it becomes to let go of spending that doesn't serve you, and create more room for the things, experiences, and financial goals that actually do.

That's the kind of frugality I want us to think about this month. Not spending less just for the sake of spending less. Spending with purpose so your money can support both the life you're living today and the future you're building.

You are not behind, you are building. Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.

When we think about wealth, it's easy to focus on the numbers.

A savings goal. A net worth milestone. A retirement account balance. A debt payoff target.

Those things absolutely matter. But lately, I've been thinking about something bigger. What is all of this for?

Because the more I've reflected on the next chapter of my life, the more I've realized that the wealth I'm building has very little to do with impressing other people, and everything to do with creating a life that feels meaningful to me.

A life filled with travel. Meaningful experiences. Time freedom. Purposeful work. Rental properties in places I genuinely love. And hopefully, a legacy that extends beyond me.

In this episode, I'm sharing the vision I'm working toward, why I believe it's important to dream beyond financial milestones, and how having a clear vision for your future can make today's financial decisions feel much more meaningful.

Because your money isn't just helping you reach goals. It's helping you build a life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why financial goals should support a bigger life vision
• How travel changed the way I define wealth and success
• Why experiences continue to shape my financial priorities
• My long-term vision for building a rental property portfolio
• The dream of owning homes in places that bring us joy
• Why multiple income streams fit into my long-term financial plan
• How financial freedom creates more options, not just more money
• Why you don't need every answer before you start pursuing a dream
• The importance of building wealth that aligns with your values
• How creating a clear vision makes everyday financial decisions easier

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Have financial goals but haven't thought about the life they're supporting
• Want to build wealth with more intention and purpose
• Dream about traveling more or creating additional income streams
• Feel ready to think beyond budgeting and into long-term lifestyle design
• Want your money to reflect your personal values instead of someone else's expectations
• Need encouragement to dream bigger about your future

Why this matters:

Financial goals are important, but they're only part of the picture. The numbers themselves aren't the destination.

They're the vehicle that helps you create more freedom, more flexibility, and more opportunities to spend your time in ways that matter to you.

When you have a clear vision for the life you're building, your financial decisions become more intentional because they have a purpose behind them.

Saving becomes easier because you know what you're saving for. Investing becomes more meaningful because you're investing in the future you want to create.

And budgeting becomes less about restriction and more about making sure your money reflects what matters most.

Because wealth isn't just measured by what you own. It's also measured by the life you're able to create because of it.

Timestamps:

• [02:35] Over the last few years, Raya has spent a lot of time thinking about what she's working so hard for. What's her bigger picture?
• [04:17] Building a portfolio of rental properties is a dream for Raya and her fiancé. She already has experience with this, but plans to take it to the next level.
• [08:32] Having time freedom, location freedom, and options is what drives Raya to build wealth for her life.
• [11:16] Raya shares how her dad would hype her up and her mom would allow her to stay hyped up. They shaped Raya's belief system.

Resources Mentioned:

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If there's one thing I hope you take away from this episode, it's this: Don't just build financial goals. Build a vision.

Give yourself permission to think beyond your next savings milestone or debt payoff target and ask yourself what kind of life you're actually working toward.

What experiences do you want to have? Where do you want to spend your time? Who do you want to share your life with?

Because once you have a vision that's rooted in your values, your financial decisions begin to feel more connected and intentional.

You don't need every detail figured out before you begin. You don't need the entire roadmap. You simply need a direction that's meaningful enough to keep taking the next step.

Money isn't just meant to be managed well…it's meant to support a life you're excited to live.

You are not behind, you are building. Consistency compounds. The steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.

Some of the most valuable financial lessons I've ever learned didn't come from a budgeting book, a money course, or even years of coaching women with their finances.

They came from stepping on a plane.

When I first started traveling, I simply wanted to see new places and have fun. But over time, I realized travel was changing much more than the stamps in my passport.

It changed the way I thought about money. It changed the way I defined financial freedom. It changed what I valued, how I spent my money, and even how I measured success.

In this episode, I'm sharing five of the biggest lessons travel has taught me about money, freedom, gratitude, and building a life that's aligned with what matters most.

Because sometimes the greatest return on your money isn't something you can measure…it's the perspective you gain along the way.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why experiences often create more lasting value than material possessions
• How travel helped me become more intentional with my spending
• The unexpected gratitude that comes from seeing different parts of the world
• Why financial freedom is about more than reaching a certain number
• How travel helped me redefine success on my own terms
• Why rest is an essential part of building a healthy, sustainable life
• The connection between experiences, relationships, and lasting memories
• Why money is a tool…not the ultimate goal
• How identifying your values makes financial decisions easier
• The role experiences can play in creating a richer, more meaningful life

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Love to travel or want to travel more intentionally

• Feel like you're working hard but want your money to support a more meaningful life

• Are trying to align your spending with your personal values

• Want to build financial freedom that reflects your own definition of success

• Feel pulled between saving for the future and enjoying the present

• Want a healthier relationship with money and the life it's helping you create

Why this matters:

Managing your money isn't just about growing your savings or reaching financial milestones.

It's about creating a life that reflects what matters most to you.

When you're clear on your values, financial decisions become easier because you're no longer spending based on pressure, comparison, or impulse. You're spending with intention.

For me, travel became one of the experiences that clarified those values. It reminded me that freedom isn't just measured by a bank account. It's measured by the choices you have, the relationships you invest in, the memories you create, and the life you're able to build along the way.

That's why I believe money management is about so much more than numbers.

It's about using your money as a tool to support the people, experiences, and priorities that make your life feel meaningful.

Timestamps:

• [02:05] Raya shares some of the most important things travel has given her that can't be measured in dollars.
• [04:45] Thinking about all the places Raya hasn't been to brings excitement to her. That is a sign that travel equals joy for her.
• [09:55] Raya used to believe that working hard was always the answer. Over time, travel has taught her that rest really does matter.
• [13:17] When people ask Raya why she's so passionate about budgeting, her answer is because it helps her leverage her money to create experiences.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode #65: How Traveling Feeds My Soul and Keeps Me Motivated

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If there's one thing I hope you take away from this episode, it's that money isn't the destination.

It's the tool that helps you create the life you want to live.

Whether that's traveling more, spending meaningful time with the people you love, building flexibility into your schedule, or simply feeling more present in your everyday life, your financial decisions have the power to support what matters most.

So take a little time to think about your own priorities.

What experiences have shaped you? What memories do you want to create? What kind of life are you working toward?

Because when you're clear on those answers, your budget becomes more than a spending plan…it becomes a reflection of your values and a roadmap for the life you want to build.

There was a time when I planned vacations completely backwards. I'd decide where I wanted to go, book the trip, and then figure out how I was going to pay for it later.

Sometimes that meant relying on credit cards. Sometimes it meant pulling money from other priorities. And almost every time, it meant coming home from an incredible trip feeling financially stressed.

Thankfully, that's no longer how I travel.

Today, I still prioritize experiences and vacations, but I have a system that allows me to enjoy them without bringing financial regret home in my suitcase.

In this episode, I'm walking you through the six-step travel budgeting process I use before every trip. We'll talk about planning ahead, building a travel fund, using travel rewards strategically, and making room in your budget for the experiences that matter most.

Because a vacation should leave you with great memories, not lingering financial stress.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why planning your trip before spending money changes everything
• How to estimate travel costs without feeling overwhelmed
• Why pricing flights, hotels, and transportation early gives you more flexibility
• How a travel sinking fund makes vacations less stressful
• Why breaking a trip into monthly savings goals makes it more achievable
• How to use credit card points and travel rewards responsibly
• Why travel rewards should support your budget—not replace it
• How to enjoy your vacation without guilt or financial anxiety
• Why you don't have to stop traveling while working toward other financial goals
• How intentional planning allows you to enjoy both financial progress and meaningful experiences

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Love to travel but struggle to budget for it
• Feel guilty spending money on vacations
• Usually pay for trips after you've already taken them
• Want to travel without relying on credit cards
• Are balancing travel goals with saving, investing, or paying off debt
• Want a simple system for planning future vacations

Why this matters:

Travel doesn't become stressful because you took the trip.

It becomes stressful when the financial planning happens after the vacation instead of before it.

One of the biggest mindset shifts you can make is realizing that budgeting for travel isn't about limiting your experiences…it's about protecting them.

When you've planned ahead, saved intentionally, and built travel into your financial plan, you're able to enjoy the experience without worrying about how you'll pay for it later.

That's what intentional budgeting makes possible. It allows you to create memories without creating financial setbacks.

Because your financial goals and your travel goals don't have to compete with each other. With the right plan, they can support one another.

Timestamps:

• [02:19] Travel hacking can absolutely help you save money, but most of us still need a plan for how we're going to pay for everything that comes along with a trip.
• [04:47] When budgeting for your trip, price out the biggest expenses first. Raya shares she researches flights, hotels, and transportation before anything else.
• [08:01] Even if Raya doesn't have a trip planned, she saves for it regularly throughout the year in a sinking fund.
• [13:06] Give yourself permission to enjoy the experience of your trip. If you plan and save for it, allow yourself to enjoy it.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode #30: Vacation Planning on a Budget

Episode #12: An Introduction to Travel Hacking

Request a free money call with Raya

City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio

Financial Focus Coaching Program

If you've been waiting until the last minute to figure out how you'll pay for your next vacation, I hope this episode encourages you to flip that process around.

Start with the plan. Build the savings. Give yourself time.

Then, when it's finally time to pack your bags, you can focus on making memories instead of worrying about money.

Travel doesn't have to derail your financial goals, and your financial goals don't have to keep you from experiencing the world.

With a little planning, patience, and intention, you really can have both. Money isn't just meant to be managed well…it's meant to support a life you're excited to live.

Don't forget: You are not behind, you are building. Your consistency compounds, and the steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.