By Petra Ann-Brown, Brown Financial Solutions
Instruction is important. Without it, we can feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to move forward. According to the Oxford Dictionary, instruction is “detailed information telling how something should be done, operated, or assembled.” It provides a direction, a plan, an order.
Some people go with the flow, letting life dictate their next move. Others plan everything down to the last detail. And then, there are those of us who fall somewhere in between.
But what I discovered this week is that a lack of direction can slow us down, keep us stuck, or even prevent us from making progress altogether.
The Salt Story: A Lesson in Financial Direction
This week, my husband and I were preparing dinner, and he asked our boys to pass him the salt form the cupboard.
His exact words?
“Boys, can one of you pass me the salt? It doesn’t matter which one, just someone please pass me the salt.”
The boys, busy playing with their playdough, froze, they looked at each other, waiting for the other to move. You could almost see their little minds thinking, who’s going to get it?
After a moment of awkward silence, and another prompt from their dad, my eldest finally stood up and said, “I’ll get it.”
Now, if my husband has simply said, “Aiden, pass me the salt,” there would have been no delay, no confusion, no hesitation. He would have gotten exactly what he asked for immediately.
And it hit me… how many of us are stuck in our finances because we’re not giving our money clear direction?
The Cost of No Financial Direction
Many of us struggle financially, not because we don’t have money, but because we haven’t told it where to go.
We stress over how to:
- Cover daily necessities
- Take care of our children (and sometimes aging parents)
- Plan for retirement and future goals
- Pay off debt
And because we feel overwhelmed, we leave our money on autopilot, hoping it will sort itself out. But just like my kids waiting for each other to move first, our money just sits there, doing nothing until we step up and take charge.
So, how do we give our money clear direction?
A Budget: Your Money’s GPS
I know, I know, you rolled your eyes just now, didn’t you?
When people hear the word “budget,” they often think:
- Restriction
- Limitation
- No more fun
But let’s flip that perspective.
A budget is not about saying “no” to everything you enjoy, it’s about saying “yes” to what truly matters.
- Yes, I can take a vacation – because I planned for it.
- Yes, I can pay off debt – because I told my money where to go.
- Yes, I can save for the future – because I made it a priority.
A budget is a YES PLAN, it gives you permission to spend on what you value while still making progress toward financial security.
Why Do People Struggle with Budgeting?
When clients come to me, one of their biggest frustrations is:
“I have a hard time sticking to a budget”
“I’m not sure if I’m doing it right.”
The good news? Budgeting is simpler than you think.
At its core, a budget is just:
INCOME – EXPENSES = MONEY LEFT OVER (or not).
Breaking it Down: What Counts as Income?
- Your paycheck (full-time or part-time job)
- Side hustle earnings
- Child support, alimony, or any other consistent money coming in
What Counts as Expenses?
- Rent/mortgage
- Utilities
- Groceries
- Gas
- Car payments
- Student loans
- Credit card payments
After you subtract your expenses from your income, what’s left over should go toward:
- Paying off debt
- Increasing savings
- Investing in your financial goals
But what if there’s no money left over, or worse, you’re in the negative?
That’s when you need to ask yourself:
- Do I have an income problem or a spending problem?
- Do I need to change jobs or get a temporary side hustle?
- Do I need to cut back on unnecessary spending?
- Am I living beyond my means?
These are tough questions but facing them head-on is the first step toward financial freedom.
Financial Stress Impacts Every Part of Your Life
When money is out of control, it affects:
- Your mental and emotional well-being
- Your relationships
- Your ability to plan for the future
That’s why it’s critical to take charge and give your money direction instead of letting it wander aimlessly.
How to Get Started Today
1. Give Your Budget a Name. If the word “budget” stresses you out, call it something else!
- Spending plan
- Wealth Builder
- Money Mover
- Financial Blueprint
Whatever helps remove the mental block, go with it.
2. Start with the Basics.
- Write down your income
- Write down your expenses
- Identify areas where you can cut back or adjust
3. Set One Small Goal
- Save $50 this month
- Pay an extra $25 toward debt
- Cut one unnecessary expense
Progress is progress, no matter how small.
Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Financial Story
Just like my kids hesitated to pass the salt because the instructions weren’t clear, our money does the same thing.
If you don’t tell your money where to go, it will disappear without a trace.
If you don’t give your money direction, it will sit there, unused and unoptimized.
So, what’s one thing you can do this week to take control of your finances?
Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear how you’re moving forward?
Need help getting started? Let’s build your Yes Plan together!
