Budgeting for beginners Archives – Simplified Motherhood

What does financial independence mean? A mom’s guide to…

March 20, 2026March 20, 2026
by Jessica Whitney

With spring in the air, I’ve been thinking a lot about growth — specifically, the kind that happens slowly underground before you ever see a single bloom. That’s what led me to ask myself: what does financial independence mean, really? Not the magazine-cover version. Not the “quit your job and retire at 40” version. But the real, personal, this-is-my-actual-life version.

I think the answer is different for every woman — and especially for every mom.

Financial is, of course, related to money. But independence? To me, that means the ability to choose. Not being dependent on money — or more precisely, not being held hostage by the fear of not having it. And that distinction changes everything.

Let’s get into it.

Budgeting

How to Pay Off Debt Fast On Low Income…

February 26, 2026March 6, 2026
by Jessica Whitney

When people search how to pay off debt fast on low income, they often want complicated strategies or a secret formula. The truth is simpler — and harder — than that.

We paid off $90,000 in debt over five years while newly married. During that time, we lived apart temporarily due to jobs maintaining two houses, bought a house, had two young kids (in daycare), worked full time, and then stepped into the uncertainty of self-employment as my husband pursued his dream of professional golf.

There was no inheritance. No big raise. No loan consolidation trick.

Just discipline, intentional choices, and a complete mindset shift around money and life.

I’m going to share our lessons learned and some mindsets that will powerfully change how you show up in life.

Let’s go!

Budgeting

Common “Money Personalities”: Which One Are You? (And why…

January 23, 2026January 23, 2026
by Jessica Whitney

If you’ve ever Googled “why is it so hard for me to save money”, you’re not alone.

And here’s the surprising part: for most people, saving money isn’t hard because they’re lazy or “bad with money.” It’s hard because of something deeper—fear, overwhelm, lack of clarity, or the mental load of trying to do everything right.

In coaching calls, I hear the same money struggles show up in different forms. Over time, I started noticing patterns—almost like money personalities.

So in this post, I’m going to walk you through 5 common “money personalities,” how to recognize them, and one simple tip or question that can help you move forward without shame.

Budgeting

Boring Money Habits That Build Wealth: Simple Steps to…

January 9, 2026January 23, 2026
by Jessica Whitney

When we were newlyweds, I remember everything costing so much. New tires. Furniture. Paying my husband’s car insurance when he was under 25. Rent. Wanting to travel to see family. All of it just seemed so expensive, and we were fresh out of college with really not much extra income.

Through that time, I was trying to figure out what this whole budgeting thing meant. I had always been taught to not put money on credit cards, to live below your means, but what did that actually mean, and what could I actually control? I felt simultaenously rich (since I actually had a job) and also poor because it still wasn’t much.

This post is, if I was going to do it again, the boring habits I would put in place to get to your first million dollars.

You might be reading this as a new college student or newlywed, young in your twenties. You might be reading this in your mid-thirties, mid-forties, or mid-fifties. I don’t know what season of life you’re in, but no matter which season, these boring habits can go a long way and can be applied to whatever stage of life you’re in.

As always, I’m not your financial advisor. These are simply things I’ve learned along the way from listening to various podcasts and applying them in my own life. They are what helped us achieve Coast FI (coast financial independence) and allowed us to continue to multiply our money and build the life that we want over the years. They are not in any particular order, so read them all and take your next best step!

Budgeting

Sinking Funds, What They Are, and Examples

January 29, 2025January 26, 2026
by Jessica Whitney

Hey there, friend. Let’s talk about one of the easiest ways to take control of your finances, reduce stress, and create margin in your life. If you’ve ever felt like you’re barely staying afloat, constantly putting out financial fires, or wondering how you’ll cover the next unexpected expense, I’ve been there. That’s why I want to introduce you to a tool that has been a game-changer for my family: sinking funds.

I’ve been using sinking funds effectively since almost the beginning of our marriage, and let me tell you, they’ve been an absolute lifesaver. If you’ve never heard about sinking funds before, get ready. Your mind is about to be blown, because these are your ticket out of living paycheck to paycheck!

In this post, I’m going to share what sinking funds are, why you need them, and some of the best categories to start with as a beginner. By the end, you’ll feel empowered to take charge of your budget and start building a financial plan that works for you and your family.

Let’s dive in!

Budgeting

5 Tips to Enjoy Christmas on a Budget [Free…

August 15, 2020December 11, 2024
by Jessica Whitney

Here’s a super simple free Christmas Budget printable from my home to yours along with tips to have an affordable yet joyful Christmas.

Make your list, check it twice, and stay on budget with all the things this holiday season! It’s so easy for spending to get out of control if you don’t have a plan, so here’s how to NOT stress about money this Christmas.

No one likes the feeling of paying off Christmas in July (so not cool!) yet, so many people fall victim to the same mistakes every year.

Stay on a budget but still bring plenty of Christmas joy to your home with this free Christmas budget.

I mean, isn’t it pretty? 😉

Budgeting

14 Ways Real-Life Married Couples Handle Finances and Build…

October 8, 2019October 1, 2020
by Jessica Whitney

I polled one of my favorite mom groups for their best tips on how to handle finances as a married couple. From dividing and conquering to communication and trust, I combined my favorite responses to give you the most effective ways married couples handle finances!

These are the awesome responses I received! Feel free to add your own at the end!

Budgeting

7 Myths and Overall Popular Excuses Not to Budget

September 10, 2019September 19, 2019
by Jessica Whitney

According to Gallup, 32% of Americans do not keep a detailed household budget. This fact combined with the average household debt level of $135K makes me even more motivated to get the word out about the absolute FREEDOM that budgeting can bring you. I mean, jump for joy, loving money freedom.

All of this data tells me that most likely, if you’re reading this article, you’re looking for ways to become motivated or stay motivated to better manage your money, whether it be because you’re behind on bills, because you want to make a career change, or just because want to create a secure financial future for your family.

Before you begin your first budget, you need to understand the many commonly held myths and quite frankly, popular excuses for not budgeting. It’s time to get real, friend! Do any of these apply to you?

Budgeting

9 Steps To Get On a Budget When You’re…

August 8, 2019August 25, 2025
by Jessica Whitney

When you are already behind on bills, the thought of starting a budget seems overwhelming and just not worth your time. But in my opinion, what’s not worth your time, is the weight you are carrying around unnecessarily.

Here are some tips for how to start a budget when you are already behind on all the bills.

There are affiliate links in this post, this means when you click on a link and make a purchase, I might receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Budgeting

How to Thrive as a One Income Family Post-Baby…

May 9, 2019May 14, 2020
by Jessica Whitney

I’m going to tell you right now, this post is less about specific tactics for how to live on one income with a baby and more about encouragement and mindsets you absolutely need to live on one income with a baby.

I remember when I was considering quitting my job, I was afraid of going down to one income. “Would we be able to pay the bills?” was actually keeping me up at night, but there were other fears there too. Not only because my husband had a variable income, but because I was afraid our lifestyle would have to significantly change as well.

I decided to unpack and discover why I was so afraid to become a stay at home mom and to live on one income.

I’m here to share with you that if you desire to stay home with your beautiful babies, raise them yourself, and enjoy a stay at home mom life, then you should do it!

You shouldn’t let the fear of not being able to live on one income get in the way. Let’s discover some mindsets that will help you get there!

Do you have a copy of the free simple budget printable?