Feel-Good Finance: Ditch Shame & Build Confidence
Budgeting Isn’t Just Math—it’s Emotional Work
When someone says, “Just follow this budget plan,” it sounds simple—until it’s not. Because managing money doesn’t just involve numbers; it involves your emotions, habits, and deeply held money stories. That’s where money mindset therapy meets financial confidence building.
Why Budgeting Fails Without Emotional Confidence
You might be wondering:
“Why can’t I stick to goals?”
“Why can’t I just ‘have it all together’?”
It’s not always a lack of motivation. Often, the real obstacle is being too hard on yourself. Budgeting with self-compassion means starting with emotional awareness, slowing down, and using self-kindness to build lasting habits.
Looking to deepen that self-compassion? Check out “8 Ways to Own Your Confidence and Feel Sexy: No Apologies Needed”. It has tools to help you reconnect with your body, your pleasure, and what makes you feel truly powerful.
🔧 Building Financial Confidence with Emotional Awareness
1. Start with Self-Compassion Instead of Self-Pressure
Radical truth: Your worth isn't defined by your bank balance. Begin with affirmations like:
“I’m capable of change.”
“Every small step matters.”
“I’m allowed to learn.”
“Being perfect isn’t human”
Begin the emotional shift necessary for lasting financial change.
👑 Need a practical tool that honours both your budget and your feelings?
Meet the Baddie Finance Tracker — a self-compassionate budgeting tool designed to help you build financial clarity without shame.
→ Download it now and start your empowered money era.
3. Slow Down to Speed Up
Forming emotional money habits doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to unlearn old patterns, build consistency, and build your own pace. That’s what leads to real, lasting change.
Taking your time is important. There’s no rush, and there’s definitely no perfect timeline. It’s completely normal to have thoughts like, “I should’ve started sooner,” or “It’s too late.” But those thoughts aren’t facts.
The truth is, now is the right time to begin. When you give yourself permission to slow down you give yourself time to re-wire the way your brain thinks about money. You’re laying the foundation of a positive money mindset.
You’re beginning to shift the way you think and feel about money and that’s how you build financial empowerment.
3. Unpack Your Money Emotions—With Support
Money habits often mirror emotional loops of self-doubt, avoidance, and fear. Money mindset therapy or coaching helps you unravel those patterns and build authentic financial confidence. Another way to feel empowered is to modify what kind of content you’re consuming. Start following empowered financial pages on Instagram or reading empowering books on finances. You want to get hyped and not feel discouraged.
📚 Financial Books That Actually Help You Build Wealth
💡 Atomic Habits by James Clear
Not technically a finance book, but essential for anyone trying to stick to a budget, start investing, or unlearn bad money habits. Because let’s be real: Your money problems aren’t just about money—they’re about patterns.
💰 Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
A classic for a reason. This book breaks down the difference between working for money vs. making your money work for you. It’s ideal for beginners who want to rethink wealth, assets, and financial freedom—and honestly, it’s a great hype-up read when you need to feel like building a rich life is actually possible. It’ll have you side-eyeing your 9–5 and dreaming bigger.
🪴 The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
A no-BS guide to investing, saving, and building wealth without all the noise. Collins breaks down index funds, retirement planning, and financial independence in a way that’s actually digestible—even if you’ve never touched the stock market before.
✊ Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap
Part financial education, part empowerment manifesto. This book speaks directly to women and marginalized folks who are tired of being left out of the money convo. Learn how to budget, invest, negotiate, and unlearn toxic financial shame.
👑 Girls That Invest by Simran Kaur
Want a book that makes investing feel approachable and powerful? This one is especially great for women, first-time investors, and anyone who feels like the finance bros don’t speak their language. Clear, practical, and confidence-boosting.
🚀 The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
This one’s for anyone who feels stuck playing small—with money, career, or confidence. Schwartz teaches you how to shift your mindset, dream bigger, and take bolder action toward your goals. It’s old-school but still hits. Especially helpful if you’ve got limiting beliefs around success or fear of “wanting too much.”
🌟 Pro tip: Start with the one that matches where you're at right now. If you're just beginning, go for Girls That Invest or Rich Dad Poor Dad to get hyped up.
Ready to Take Your Money Mindset to the Next Level?
I'll be updating this list regularly, so stay tuned—or book a session if you want help applying this emotional money wisdom to your real life.
First Steps for Emotional + Financial Balance
Journal about your money triggers and don’t be too hard on yourself (we’re not judging here).
Be kind when you stumble; recovery speaks louder than perfection.
Set small, easy goals that honour where you’re starting.
Celebrate every win—spent, saved, or repaid—even the tiny ones.
✨ Want to strengthen your self-worth from the inside out? Read Romance Yourself: Stop Waiting, Start Living, a guide to taking yourself out, showing up for your own joy, and building a life that feels good now (not someday). It’s a self-love power move.
Therapy Can Help Align Your Money Mindset & Self-Worth
No budget can heal childhood money messages or reinforce your worth. That’s what therapy offers: Space to explore money beliefs, develop healthy decision-making, and merge emotional tools with practical financial habits.
Ready to stop the self-sabotage and build financial self-trust? Book a therapy session and let’s align your emotional confidence with your financial goals.
💌 Need Ongoing Tools & Support?
Sign up for The Luma Letter, your go-to newsletter for therapist-backed insights on financial confidence, emotional growth, and setting boundaries—not just in money, but in life. Expect cozy advice, bold tips, and real-talk strategies delivered straight to you.
Bonus Resource: Baddie Finance Tracker
Budgeting shouldn’t feel like punishment, you deserve tools that support both your emotions and your goals. The Baddie Finance Tracker is a self-compassionate money tool designed to help you track your income, spending, and savings with support—not pressure.
👑 Ready to take the next step? Download the Baddie Finance Tracker and start your empowered money era today—with clarity, confidence, and zero shame.
Final Thoughts
Financial confidence isn’t about perfection. It’s about believing in your worth—emotionally and financially. You’re not broken. You’re rebuilding. And that takes fierce courage.