More Control Than We'll Admit

Oh, inflation. Inflation, inflation, inflation. Inflation is a topic that doesn't seem to go away. It's now as engrained in our cultural narrative as Taylor Swift, TikTok, and my Bears being terrible. Inflation is an easy target. It's easy to point to a single number as proof of why we're screwed. "Well, gas prices were x, and now they are y," or "My weekly grocery haul used to cost b, and now it costs c." While those facts may be true, they don't properly account for the overall picture. They are just numbers in a vacuum. 

I had a conversation ask week that may illustrate the topic. While meeting with a client, we were looking closer at their current monthly budget. This exercise was through the lens of changing circumstances and a desire to carve out more margin. This family's monthly needs are approximately $9,000. This accounts for food, housing, utilities, transportation, and other items that are essentially needs. 

Curious about the broader context of this number, I flipped back to some of their older budgets (from four years ago). Much to their dismay, their apples-to-apples monthly needs were just $5,000 back then......less than half of what they are today! You may be thinking to yourself, "How do monthly needs go up by $4,000 in just four years!?!?" There are a few reasons this happens, which primarily include:

• Inflation

• Changing seasons of life

• Lifestyle creep

• Evolving definition of "need"

I don't highlight this to point fingers. This isn't a condemnation of them (or anyone else). Rather, this is a great opportunity to look in the mirror, be honest with ourselves, and act accordingly. 

Yes, inflation has done a number on this family. That's a very real thing. We can go category by category and see how their monthly spending has changed over the years (one of the benefits of budgeting and tracking over a long period of time). Inflation has played a role in this. 

But we also need to take account of all the areas in our lives that we've inflated (whether intentionally or unintentionally). Just because we can spend on something, it doesn't mean we should. It's so easy to squint our eyes and decide xyz is now a need, or what was once needed isn't enough anymore. We humans justify all sorts of decisions this way.

We also have to look at our major decisions and how they impact our financial journey:

• The cars we buy

• The house we live in

• The childcare we choose

• The stores we shop at

• The food we eat

Not all decisions are created equal. Some decisions can transform our budget to the tune of hundreds or thousands per month. It's critical that we view each decision through the lens of our broader life and what's most important to us. 

So as we enter a new year, perhaps this is a great time to take a look at your numbers. Take back control. Focus on meaning. Create margin. Give yourself peace. You deserve it!

Inflation, the Tale of Two Families

Inflation has oddly become a polarizing topic in recent months. To millions of Americans, the weight of it has been heavy, often destructive. The impact of inflation can be felt in nearly every aspect of their lives. It's ever-present, and it feels overwhelming.

Others, however, seemingly roll their eyes at the topic. They acknowledge it exists, but on the whole, believe most people are being overly dramatic about the entire thing. This group sometimes thinks people use inflation as a scapegoat to deflect their poor financial decisions.

I've discussed it on this blog before, but we humans tend to view reality through our personal lens. It's a sample size of one: me. Our own experiences, perspectives, and situations largely inform how we perceive these external forces. Recently, though, I stumbled upon a TikTok video that illustrates this concept so well.

@fmsmith319

Housing and daycare has middle class divided

♬ original sound - Freddie Smith

In short, this man theorizes that the American inflation experience is strongly formed around two variables: 1) When someone bought their house, and 2) The age of their children. Depending on the combination of these two variables, it drastically changes the shape of their financial life. While you/I may disagree with his specific numbers, I believe the concept is true, and his assessment is spot-on.

On the cheaper end of the spectrum are people who purchased their house before 2020 (lower prices and record-low interest rates) and don't have young children requiring childcare. These families have a combined house payment and childcare bill of approximately $1,500/month.

On the most expensive end of the spectrum are people who purchased their house within the last 12-18 months ($4,000/month) and have kids requiring childcare ($2,500/month). Therefore, these families have a combined house payment and childcare bill of approximately $6,500/month.

Comparing these two families, that's a $5,000/month difference....just from two categories. That equates to $60,000/year of spending differential, or closer to $80,000 of gross salary to make up the difference. Again, we can disagree with the specific numbers, but either way, the disparity between these two groups (revolving around just these two categories) is staggering. Also, these two families could live next door to one another. They could live similar and parallel lives, but have completely different financial experiences.

It's no wonder how two people who make similar money can disagree on the topic of inflation. I think this is a great perspective for us all to think about. Some of us live on the cheaper side of this spectrum, and others on the more expensive side.

First, I encourage you not to judge or demean others and their experiences. They are likely doing the best they can, and yes, it probably includes some unwise decisions along the way. Second, I also encourage you not to constantly compare yourself to others. It's so easy to play the woulda, coulda, shoulda game. Unfortunately, we can't hop into a Delorean and make different decisions. We must play the cards we are dealt. So let's play the best hand possible! You got this.

Cultural Narratives: College Edition

In yesterday's post, I discussed the importance of seeing through false cultural narratives. I framed the post through the lens of common misunderstandings around the stock market. However, I listed a handful of other cultural narratives wreaking havoc on our society. One raised more than a few eyebrows: "It's impossible to attend college without student loans."

Oh, this is a good one! And by good, I mean toxic and destructive. In my work, student loan debt is one of the top factors ripping people's lives apart. It's not uncommon to see $40,000-$100,000 of student loan debt......per person! I have a lot of empathy for people in these situations, for a few reasons:

• Student loans are the only debt that's non-bankruptable. The only way out is to die. That doesn't feel like "good" debt to me. 

• Student loans are torching people's ability to live a meaningful life. Instead of pursuing work that matters, people must pursue work that pays the inflated bills.

• It's not their fault! It's easy to blame people for their student loan debt, but they were only 17 or 18 when these decisions were made. They likely didn't understand the future consequences and implications. In most cases, the blame primarily lies on the parents. Parents don't trust their teens to stay at home alone for the weekend, but the very next day, they trust their kids to freely make a life-altering decision that will implode their financial life for decades.

Kids deserve better. My kids deserve better, and your kids deserve better! Luckily, better is available. Yes, college is expensive. There's no way around that. The cultural narrative is that the only way to go to college is via student loans. It's a lie! I'll explain why. First, it's essential to break things down so we can look at them from a different perspective. 

In-state public universities in my state cost approximately $24,000/year. Some states are more, and some are less. I'm using public, in-state as my example, as it's a common and accessible option. We can make other choices, such as community college, trade school, out-of-state universities, and private colleges, but all choices have consequences (good and bad). 

That's a lot of money, for sure. But we aren't going to pay $24,000/year. Most schools have an array of in-house scholarships to offer. In my state, most students will end up paying +/- 80% of sticker price, or $19,200ish. 

That's still a lot of money. Let's break it down further. This equates to $1,600/month over 12 months. Ok, now we're getting somewhere. That's a lot, but attainable. Once we know this number, we have an array of options to pay for it:

• Savings

• College fund

• Parents' monthly budget

• Student work

• Other scholarships

• And several other options. 

We don't need them all.....we just need some combination of them to total $1,600/month. I'm not saying it's easy, but it's 100% attainable for most families. And countless kids/families are doing it!

Methodically and intentionally piece together $1,600/month, or suffer for decades? The narrative pushes us to the latter, but we have the power to change the narrative.

It’s WHEN, Not IF

For most families, finances are generally ok......IF unforeseen issues don't pop up. That's the problem. We tend to live life as though it's an IF, but it's not. It's a WHEN. Unforeseen issues will absolutely rear their ugly head, but we won't know when, where, or how much. And WHEN they do, they can wreak havoc on our finances. 

Take this recent client story, for example. In a three-day stretch, this couple experienced a hat trick of crazy:

• Hit a deer with their car

• Coyotes attacked their dog

• Backed into their garage door

All that in three days!!! Wow. It wasn't an IF, but rather a WHEN. And WHEN happened to be an already busy week in the middle of November. They never saw it coming. They never anticipated a single one of these issues, never mind all three. They had enough life going on that they didn't need this to weigh them down. 

But they were prepared! This is the beauty of getting right with our finances. Instead of destroying their financial life and creating a ton of relational stress in their marriage, it was a mere bump in the road. An ugly bump, but a bump. Here's how/why they were able to navigate this week without it crushing them:

• They have a strong emergency fund for WHEN (not IF) life happens. 

• They are adequately insured to protect against significant liabilities falling on their plate. 

• They have sinking funds specifically for key categories (pets and home maintenance, in this case).

• They have margin in their monthly budget, allowing them to reallocate income to meet unforeseen needs, WHEN necessary. 

They are a wonderful case study of what it looks like to get this money stuff right. It didn't happen by accident. I began working with them in the spring to bring intentionality, preparedness, and acceleration to their financial life, but they have spent years building a strong foundation. Nothing here was good luck. I don't think anyone can accuse them of good luck after the crazy week they just had. 

They focused on getting their money right, so they don't have to dwell on their money when life hits hard. They practiced proactivity in the past, which resulted in them not having to practice reactivity in the present. It's not making money our number one priority, but rather putting intentional focus on financial matters so that we can continue to push money down on our priority list of life. It's living with financial margin, which prevents any single life situation from knocking us down. It's called humility and contentment. 

That's what it looks like to live meaning over money. 

Driving in the Fog

Have you ever driven your car in a dense fog? It's a white-knuckle experience. You're a bit (or a lot) on edge, progress is much slower, you might get lost, and you feel exhausted when you reach your destination. Or worse, you end up in an accident because you couldn't see where you were going. Driving in the fog is the worst!

Most everyone over the age of 16 can relate to my example. There's a financial version of this. It's called living without a budget. Living life without a budget is the equivalent of driving in the fog. You're a bit (or a lot) on edge, progress is much slower, you might get lost, and you feel exhausted when you reach the destination. Or worse, you end up in a financial mess because you couldn't see where you were going.

This analogy makes me think of one particular client. An awesome couple in their early 40s. When we started meeting, they were highly reluctant to budget. After all, they had done "just fine" for the 17 years before meeting with me. But by "just fine," they really meant average at best. They were stressed, tired, often got lost, and progress was slow. They even got into a few financial accidents. That's what happens when we drive in the fog. After much coaxing, I convinced them to give this budgeting thing a shot. Here's what happened:

After 1 month: They thought it was stupid and frustrating.

After 2 months: They weren't fans, but it gave them some clarity.

After 3 months: They felt in control, but still made some mistakes.

After 6 months: It transformed the way they handle money in their marriage.

After 12 months: It accelerated their progress five-fold, and they actually started to enjoy the process.

After about 18 months, I asked them to reflect on their journey. Here's what the husband said: "I don't know how I ever lived without one, and I can't image not having one again."

Budgeting in and of itself doesn't change our lives. Instead, budgeting is the mechanism by which we harness our hard-earned money and use it for what matters most. Paying off debt, giving, buying a house, sending our kids to college, retirement, transitioning careers, that dream vacation, ________ (your important thing here).

Budgeting isn't something we have to do, but something we get to do. It's not something that happens to us, but something that happens for us. It's a tool that allows us to remove the fog and cruise on the open highway. You'll never regret it once you try it!

Intensity vs. Diversity

Does it ever feel like there are too many needs and not enough money? You're not alone! There are lots of priorities vying for our money. We may need to buy a car soon. We'd love to purchase a house one day. We want to buy an engagement ring for the love of our life. That trip to Europe looks pretty fun. We have a medical procedure coming up in a few months. So many things!

How do we juggle all these priorities when there's more need than money? There are two primary lines of thinking: intensity and diversity. Intensity is just that, intense. It's the strategy by which we focus on one particular goal until we achieve it, then shift our focus to the next one. Diversity is the opposite. It's recognizing there are several priorities in life, and then spreading the dollars over each one. We make less progress on any given goal, but we're making progress on several. 

Let's use an illustration. Let's say we have $2,000/month of discretionary income. Also, here are the upcoming needs/wants:

• Car: $10,000 (needed by year-end 2024)

• Engagement Ring: $4,000 (proposing in the spring)

• Travel: $2,000 (needed by year-end)

• House Down Payment: $20,000 (not urgent)

• Medical: $500 (needed in January)

If we take a more diverse approach, we might allocate $400/month to each of these sinking funds. We'll slowly make progress on each. However, we'll fall short of the necessary timing on a few. 

If we take the intensity approach, we'll focus 100% of the funds on the next item on the list. It might look something like this:

• November: $500 to medical (done) and $1,500 to travel

• December: $500 to travel (done) and $1,500 to engagement ring

• January: $2,000 to engagement ring

• February: $500 to engagement ring (done) and $1,500 to car

• March, April, May, and June: $2,000 to car

• July: $500 to car (done) and $1,500 to house

• Aug+: $2,000 to house

We can refer to this as cashflow mapping. This is a common exercise we do to help clients prioritize, plan, and execute their goals. There's also a third option. I call it the hybrid approach. Instead of diversifying or putting 100% focus on the next item, we determine what monthly saving is needed to hit each goal by the deadline. Let's use the $10,000 car as an example. Instead of going all-in on the car in early 2024, we recognize we have 14 months to hit the $10,000 goal. This equates to approximately $715/month. So, instead of crushing the car with absolute intensity, we can meter it out while attacking other goals at the same time. 

This is a helpful tool to add to your arsenal. Definitely try it sometime, especially when the needs start stacking up. It can give us a lot of clarity and much more control. Personalize it to your needs and lean into your values. And as always, meaning over money! Always meaning over money.

To Coffee or Not to Coffee

We had a fantastic event last night in Los Angeles. I couldn't have been more grateful to be in that room. One of the points I wanted to drive home was the importance of each person spending their values. Not the values of their neighbors, family, co-workers, or the underlying culture. This seems obvious, but most people subconsciously spend other people's values.

To illustrate this, I used a story I've previously shared on this blog. A young woman comes to me, frustrated with her situation. She's a young adult with a good career, but she’s discontent. Ever since college, her dream was to travel. However, two years into her career, she still hadn't traveled.

She had a fairly expensive car (with hefty payments to go with it), so I asked her about it. She said she didn't really care about the car. Her parents told her she needed something "reliable," which led her down this path. She was also living in a fairly high-end apartment. Again, she said she really didn't care much about it. It's where many of her close friends live, so it seemed the right place for her.

While she believed she was spending her values, I showed her how her two most significant expenses in life directly resulted from her living her parents' and friends' values. Shortly thereafter, she sold the car and moved into a cheaper apartment, opening the door for lots and lots of travel (you know, her values).

When we got to the Q&A portion of the night, I asked the audience what expenses in their budget DON'T add value to their life. There were many good answers, but two women almost simultaneously shouted "coffee." One of the women explained how she often goes to Starbucks, and it's always a ripoff to her. It doesn't add nearly as much value as it costs her.

It reminded me of a post I wrote a few weeks ago about a woman who finds tremendous value in her 7-days-per-week $7 lattes. These women have the complete opposite opinion about the very same purchase. One says it's the biggest waste of money, while the other calls it the biggest bargain and value-add in her life.

This is the beauty of how we're all wired differently. It's also a perfect representation of why it's important to lean into our unique values. If we do, it drives meaning. If we don't, it causes discontentment. It's the same $7 purchase, but one adds and one subtracts.

Here's my question today. What's one thing you spend money on that doesn't add value to your life? For me, it's fast food when I'm scrambling from place to place. I love the occasional fast food meal, but I get absolutely no enjoyment from it when it's done out of stress and hurry. I need to cut those from my spending.

That's my answer. What about you? I hope you have a meaningful day, living in accordance with your values!

Cushion is Key

I'm notorious for pitching counter-cultural and seemingly contradictive ideas to my clients. Ideas such as:

• Stopping the use of credit cards makes our finances less risky and more streamlined.

• Creating more savings accounts makes our financial life simpler. 

• Spending more on our wants (with less guilt) creates better control and restraint on our finances. 

Another seemingly contradictive idea came up this week while I was on the phone with a client. We were discussing a separate issue when he said, "Travis, you were right." Whenever someone says, "Travis, you were right," I'm all ears. It always beats "Travis, I told you so."

The idea in question was my insistence that if we do budgeting the right way, we'll never again care what day a paycheck is coming or what day a bill is being paid. For millions of Americans, one of the biggest tension points in their finances is the fear x bill will be paid before y paycheck arrives. Most believe the answer is to make more money. I can testify this is entirely false. It doesn't matter how much money we make if we don't do it well. I've worked with clients making $25,000/month who have this problem, and I've worked with NFL players making 10x this who have this problem. 

If the solution isn't more income, what is? There are two pieces. First, we need a cushion in our checking account. When the month begins, we must have a certain amount in our checking account. Each family is different, but a cushion is key. Some families elect for a $2,000 cushion (where my family traditionally stands), while others aim for $5,000, $8,000, or even $10,000. I've even worked with one client who kept a $250,000 cushion (it's a long story with a fun ending). 

This money isn’t to spend….it’s to hold. This cushion removes most of the fear about the sequence of transactions. If there's an appropriate cushion, it doesn't matter if two large bills come out before that next paycheck. Going from $3,000 to $1,000 is a nothing burger compared to going from $500 to -$1,500. 

However, that's just half of the remedy. Here's the other half. We need to be intentional with our income. For example, if your family has $8,000 of income arriving this month, you need a plan to spend/save/give $8,000. Not more, and not less. Here's how the math works.

Beginning Balance: $3,000

Income: +$8,000

Spend/Save/Give: -$8,000

Ending Balance: $3,000

If done well, you'll end the month with roughly the same amount you started with. Along the way, you'll have funded your needs, wants, giving, saving, and investing with ALL your income. Then, when the next month comes around, you'll get to do it again. If we play this out for 20 years, you'll wake up on the first of the month with the same $3,000 cushion. 

Whoalla! If you follow these two steps, you'll never again think about timing. It's so simple, yet so powerful. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'd love to help!