How we make every income dollar work for us

Hi, Angie here. 😉

Just got back from my sixth 10-day meditation retreat, 🧘‍♀️ and this time, feeling Freedom came more naturally.

It’s funny how we train ourselves to achieve Freedom, but also need to train ourselves to savor it.

We’re so wired for to-do lists and goals, always pulled by life and expectations.

But mastering the art of living in the moment? Now that's a reaaaal challenge. 😓

By Day 1 at the retreat, I felt a deep sense of freedom—no rush, no stress, just pure lightness in every step. 😌 If only I could feel that every day.

That’s why I’m meditating for my mind and budgeting for our finances.

Budgets don’t restrain us—they free us to spend on what matters ❤️‍🔥 while we stroll toward freedom.

May we all one day release life's burdens—financial and beyond—and focus on what truly brings us peace and joy. 🙏

When it comes to budgeting, besides the two rules we shared in this letter. We also focus on:

• Avoiding Lifestyle Creep
• and Giving Every Income Dollar a Purpose

1. Avoid Lifestyle Creep 🙊

We’re not about being painfully frugal just to reach our financial goals—you’ve got to be kind to yourself! 🫰

No need to wear a $5 Walmart t-shirt until it’s full of holes. 🙄 There’s a fine line between frugal and cheap, and for the sake of friendships, don’t cross it.

But spend on what matters most, ours are:

• quality time with loved ones 💞
• donations to causes we support 🤗
• organic and qualify food 🤤
• exercise 🚴🏻‍♀️
• travel 🌍
• hobbies 🎨 and experiences 🪂 that make life richer

Life’s too unpredictable to hold back on joy for some uncertain future. 💎

But if you're earning a decent income but can't save or invest 15-20% of your paycheck, it's time to watch out for lifestyle creep. 🚨

Treat yourself, but be mindful with upgrades like designer bags, luxury cars, high-end fashion, or Michelin-star meals–you get the idea.

If it truly brings you joy, go for it! ✨ Just be sure to have a budget in place.

And that takes us to the next point. 👇

2. Give Every Income Dollar a Purpose

We use a hybrid system for budgeting and cash flow. 🧮

When we get paid, we allocate right away every dollar to specific budget categories.

The idea is simple

✅ Assign every dollar a job before you spend it, so you always know exactly where your money is going. 💸

✅ Spend only what you have—no more, no less—and ensure no dollar slips through the cracks. 👀

✅ Any extra can be allocated toward savings, investments, or other financial goals. 💰

We weren’t always this organized (sad but true 🥲). We started with Google Sheets, then Mint 🪦, and now we’re using this app.

Heads up, the app has quite a learning curve, 😵 but once you’ve got it, you’ll have full visibility into your finances. 💪

There’re other similar apps in the market as well. Whichever you choose, give it a reaaaaal shot!

Because with that kind of clarity, you can make smarter decisions, enjoy life, and still stay on track financially. 💰📈

Hope it's helpful for your journey to Freedom 🙏

Love you to freedom and back, 🫰

Angie & Tyler

Things We are Loving Right Now ❤️‍🔥

🧳 Travel

• Foldable Travel Hangers: On our current trip in Europe, we rely heavily on trains , so packing light was a must.

  The secret? Quick-dry fabrics like merino wool that can be hand-washed and dry overnight.

  But drying them? That’s where these hangers came to the rescue! They’re super light, cheap, and easy to pack.

• Portable bidet (Travel hygiene 🫢): Tyler's been a bidet fan since high school in Japan, but not every country has caught on (looking at you, U.S. 😑). This little bidet bottle is his lifesaver.

  With a perfect angled stream and a good squeeze, you’ll be fresh anywhere. 🍑🧼  It’s always in our bag—unless we’re headed to Japan, where the magical toilets have us covered. 🌊🚽🦄