Sticking to your money goals when life is going smoothly? Pretty manageable. Sticking to them when life feels like it’s falling apart? That’s the real challenge.
Whether you’re paying off debt, saving for a house, or building an emergency fund, there will be moments when it feels easier to give in — to spend, to quit, to put your goals “on pause.”
But here’s the truth: financial freedom is built in the hard seasons, not the easy ones.
Today, I’m sharing some less-talked-about, tactical tips to help you keep going when life gets messy — starting with one of the most powerful changes you can make that has nothing to do with your bank account and everything to do with your environment.
🏠 1. Change Your Environment (Your Surroundings Shape Your Spending)
In the 1970s, Stanford University conducted a famous psychology experiment where college students were randomly assigned the role of either “prisoner” or “guard” in a simulated prison. Without further instruction, the “guards” began acting aggressively and the “prisoners” became submissive — just because of the environment they were in.
The takeaway? Your surroundings influence your behavior — often more than willpower does.
If you’re constantly surrounded by people or spaces that encourage spending, you’ll feel pressure to follow along. If your environment supports your money goals, sticking to them becomes much easier.
How to apply this to your money goals:
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Spend more time with people who share your financial mindset.
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Limit exposure to “spendy” triggers (shopping malls, Instagram influencers, credit card offers).
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Create a home setup that supports your goals — a clean space to meal prep, a visible savings tracker, a “no-spend” calendar in plain sight.
🎯 2. Remember Your Why
When life gets overwhelming, your “why” is your anchor. It’s the reason you started this journey in the first place — and it’s what will keep you moving forward when everything in you wants to give up.
Maybe your why is:
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Freedom from debt
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Owning a home
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Giving your kids a better life
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Retiring early
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Building generational wealth
Whatever it is, write it down. Put it somewhere you’ll see daily. Because when the hard days hit, your why becomes the fuel that keeps your financial fire burning.
🎯 3. Use Milestone Motivation Instead of “The Big Goal”
It’s easy to feel discouraged if your ultimate goal is years away. Instead, break your journey into bite-sized wins.
If your goal is to save $10,000, celebrate every $500 saved. If you’re paying off $50,000 in debt, track and cheer for each $1,000 milestone.
Pro Tip: Use visual progress trackers — the satisfaction of coloring in a square or crossing off a debt payoff amount is surprisingly motivating.
🕵️♀️ 4. Make “Temptation-Proof” Systems
When life gets stressful, your decision-making energy drops — and that’s when bad money habits sneak in. Instead of relying on willpower, build systems that make it harder to spend impulsively.
Try these:
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Set a 24-hour rule for all non-essential purchases.
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Remove saved payment info from shopping sites.
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Keep savings in a separate, harder-to-access account.
✏️ 5. Rewrite Your Money Identity
We act according to who we believe we are. If you’ve always thought of yourself as “bad with money,” you’ll subconsciously keep proving yourself right.
Shift your self-talk:
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Instead of “I’m terrible with money,” say “I’m learning to make better financial choices.”
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Instead of “I’ll never get out of debt,” say “I’m someone who prioritizes freedom over instant gratification.”
The more you affirm your new money identity, the easier it becomes to act in alignment with it — even when life is tough.
💬 6. Build an Accountability Loop
When you’re struggling, isolation makes it worse. Find a trusted friend, family member, or online community where you can check in weekly about your money wins and struggles.
Accountability keeps you from quietly quitting on yourself.
Try this:
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Share your goals with someone who’s rooting for you.
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Send weekly updates — even if they’re tiny wins.
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Ask them to call you out (kindly) if you start drifting.
🔄 7. Plan for “Messy Money Seasons” Before They Happen
Life will throw curveballs. Instead of hoping for smooth sailing, plan for the storms:
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Keep a small “life happens” fund separate from your emergency fund.
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List your non-negotiable bills so you can cut everything else quickly if needed.
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Have a pre-approved side hustle you can activate (like freelance work, driving apps, or seasonal shifts).
💡 Final Thought: Your Hard Season Is Still a Building Season
When life gets hard, remember — you’re not starting over every time you slip. Every small choice you make in the right direction compounds over time.
Protect your environment. Keep your why front and center. Break your goals into milestones. Build systems that make discipline easier than distraction. And most importantly, remind yourself who you are becoming every step of the way.
You’ve got this. Even on the hard days. Especially on the hard days.
I believe in you!! Keep Going
-Moe