You’re not bad with money. You just weren’t taught.

For the longest time, I felt guilty about avoiding my bank app. I’d tell myself I’d get better with money once I earned more (or find the time to do so), or I’d cringe at the thought of looking at my balance.

Maybe you’ve been there too? The truth is, most of us weren’t given a real money education. We learned how to earn, how to spend, and sometimes how to stress about it, but not how to grow it or feel safe with it.

Here’s what’s been helping me (and what I share with my coaching clients).

Think of these as 7 shifts you can start practicing right now:

1. It’s a decision problem, not just an income problem

More money doesn’t automatically mean better habits. I used to believe “once I make more, I’ll finally save.” But science shows it’s our sense of control, not our salary, that predicts financial well-being.

Start small: cancel one unused subscription, move $5 into savings, or try a budgeting app. Every tiny decision builds confidence.

2. Save before you see it

I used to think discipline would carry me through. Spoiler: it didn’t. What changed everything was automation.

I opened a second account, called it my “Freedom Fund,” and set up a tiny automatic transfer on payday.

Suddenly, saving felt exciting, I’m working towards my feedom, not towards restriction.

3. Buy less, learn more

With this one I had to be very honest with myself. While others get the dopamine from chocolate, scrolling or what not, I’ve chased that dopamine hit from an impulse buy plenty of times.

It feels good for a moment, then… I realise I bought stuff I like but don’t need.

What’s felt better? Swapping 10 minutes of scrolling for a quick read on compound interest or financial basics. When your brain grows, your money does too.

4. Debt isn’t evil, ignorance is

I’ve grown up in a place where we lumped all debt into the “bad” basket, which need to be avoided.

The truth is, not all debt is created equal. Student loans, credit cards, mortgages: they all work differently, and some of them can contribute to your financial freedom. Pick one and learn how it functions. Knowledge is calming.

5. You’re not lazy, you’re overwhelmed

I can get very lost in beating myself up for “not being disciplined enough,” or spiral about “what happens later in life.”

But really, this is also decision fatigue. Too many small money choices draining me.

So I started to simplify before I scale. Choose one focus, like tracking coffee-spending for 30 days, and stick with just that. From that I can grow without being overwhelmed of changing everything at once. It’s one spreadsheet I check monthly and then choose a new focus area for each month.

6. Rewrite the money stories you inherited

We all grew up with money messages. In my house, it was “money needs to be earned and kept.” Maybe for you it was “rich people are greedy” or “we don’t talk about finances.”

Write down three of those old scripts. Keep the ones that serve you. Rewrite the rest. I turned mine into “money is energy, it wants to flow too.” and “Money returns, time doesn’t”. Living my life after these principles feels totally different.

7. Generosity multiplies wealth

This one surprised me. When I started giving, even just $25, or gifting my time, I noticed my mindset shift from scarcity to trust.

Money felt lighter. Giving reminds me that money is here to support connection, not just bills.

This month, everything is about your Money Mindset and Abundance here on my coaching account.

Something we haven’t learned enough about.

So, here’s what I want you to remember:

You are not bad with money. You just weren’t taught. But now you have the power to learn, experiment, and build a relationship with money that feels safe and supportive.

If you’d like a little nudge to get started, I created a free Money Beliefs Workbook that pairs perfectly with this month’s theme. It helps you uncover the old scripts running in the background and rewrite them into beliefs that actually support you.

Future you will be so grateful you started today. :)

xx Mimi

Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. I’m not a financial advisor, and nothing here should be taken as personal financial, investment, or legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so please do your own research and consider speaking with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.