From Shock to Strategy: 3 Things I Learnt in My First Month of the Finance Uplift
You may be following along that one day, while listening to a podcast, I came across a woman who didn't buy clothes for an entire year. I quickly resonated with her story and decided to calculate my own clothing spending throughout 2025. I was shocked, and I knew I needed to go hard and give this a go myself to meet my financial goals in 2026.
This led me to become very intentional, where not only am I not buying new clothes, but I am also monitoring my monthly spending to see what other trends and changes I can make.
Here are three major insights from the first month of this experiment.
1. I Spend Way More Than I Thought
The biggest lesson affirmed during January was that I spend more money on things than I ever perceived I did. This wasn't just clothes, but also more general spending categories including groceries, food and beverages.
This has been really insightful because I've now set more realistic budgets that reflect my actual spending needs, while also ensuring I am minimising those ad hoc purchases that quietly add up across the month.
2. Social Media Is Too Tempting
I didn't realise how tempted I was by targeted advertising on social media. I thought I had enough awareness of it to stay in control. However, the mindless scrolling made me far too tempted to buy things I essentially do not need, so I had to make a strong move to limit my access.
I downloaded the app Opal and set restrictions on not only how many times I can pick up my phone, but also during the times I am most susceptible to mindless scrolling, such as in the morning, after work and late at night. Within the first week, my screen time halved, my phone pick-ups halved and I noticed the urge to reach for my phone continuing to subside.
If you want a free 30 day trial of the app, consider this your "stop doomscrolling" invite. Tap the link or use this referral code "W943Y" for a free 30-day Opal Pro pass.
3. The Desire for Clothes Has Turned Into a Homewares Obsession
Now that I am no longer browsing clothes online, I have become obsessed with homewares. I do need a few things, and my desire to create a cosy and warm home environment has ramped up now that I have more time and mental space.
I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not, but I am trying a few strategies to keep my spending in check, including buying more things second hand through Marketplace and writing a list of my wants to make sure I am sticking to it rather than going rogue.
I am also learning more about interior design to understand the vibe I want to create and ensure it's an aesthetic that will endure over time.
The Secret Step Four: Find Your Tribe
I want to add that I serendipitously ran into a group of friends at the beach one afternoon who I hadn't seen in months, and we discovered we were all working towards similar goals. They invited me into their group and sharing this journey with others has been really motivating and wonderful. I feel less alone.
My secret step four is all about finding your tribe, not only for support but also for accountability. We are our goals, our actions and what we are learning. It has been such a gift in this whole process to know that I don't have to do it alone.
So One Month Down.. The Verdict
One month in and I already feel like a different person in my relationship with money. Not because I have it all figured out, but because I am paying attention in a way I never really did before. The awareness alone has been transformative.
This journey is less about restriction and more about intention. It's about understanding where your energy and your money are actually going, and deciding with more clarity whether that aligns with the life you are building. I am excited to keep going and to keep sharing what comes up along the way.
If any of this resonates with you, I would love to know. Whether you are on a similar path or just starting to think about it, you are not alone in this either.
Got a financial goal you want to set for yourself ?
That's where coaching is such a powerful process too. Just like the athlete who has their team to support them towards their competitive goals, a life coach works in that role for people aspiring towards the many goals they have in life.
As a coach, I work 1:1 with clients over a three-month period (six sessions) where they work on two to three goals. Often clients find me when they're facing changes in their career, but we also tend to work on personal goals, work-life balance, hobbies, or relationships. Working on too many goals at one time unsupported can be unsustainable, but with accountability and support, it's possible.
I always start with a pre-coaching questionnaire and a free discovery call before any commitment, so you can make sure I'm the right coach for you and your goals, or I can make a recommendation. If it's something you're interested in or have questions about, find out more or please contact me at hello@jacquelinesmith.com.au.