By Laura Onyeneho
Social media is best known as a place where flaunting your latest purchase or sharing your vacation snaps is the norm. A new trend has emerged on TikTok that encourages the opposite: being loud about not spending. “Loud budgeting,” a money-saving technique, is all about putting your financial goals first and being unapologetic about it.
Coined by TikTok and media personality Lukas Battle, loud budgeting has gained traction as more young people look for ways to manage their finances without succumbing to the pressure of social obligations.
Battle describes the concept as follows: When invited to social events—whether dinner with friends, a birthday trip, or a lavish destination wedding—you should feel comfortable saying no if it jeopardizes your financial goals. What’s more, you should be honest about why you’re declining.
Jade Warshaw, a debt elimination expert, financial coach and co-host of The Ramsey Show, is known for paying off more than $460,000 in debt with her husband in seven years. She has used her social media platforms to help her followers strategize their way to financial freedom. She has been ‘Loud budgeting’ for over 30 years.
“I would say a good budget is detailed, realistic, and flexible,” she explained to her TikTok followers. “If you want to take it to the next level, make a zero-based budget. A zero-based budget is spending every single dollar on paper before the month begins, and you create a new budget every month because every month is different.”
What Exactly Is Loud Budgeting?
At its core, loud budgeting is about being open and vocal about the reason behind your financial decisions. For years, people have felt the pressure to keep up appearances, often accepting costly invitations even when it strain their wallets. With loud budgeting, that social stigma is flipped on its head. Instead of silently declining or feeling guilty about not participating, individuals are encouraged to proudly declare that they prioritize their financial well-being.
By making your budgeting decisions loud, you normalize discussions about money and create space for others to do the same. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about being transparent about your financial goals and feeling empowered to set boundaries regarding your spending. This transparency can alleviate financial stress and open up conversations about how others might feel similar financial pressures but are too afraid to speak up.
Why Is Loud Budgeting Important?
According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America study, 45% of respondents feel embarrassed to discuss money with others. Money was one of the biggest sources of stress for respondents in every age group, with the exception of those over 65.
In a world where financial literacy isn’t always prioritized, trends like loud budgeting allow young people to engage in financial conversations that might otherwise feel intimidating. It challenges the societal norm that you need to say “yes” to every invitation or opportunity that comes your way, regardless of how it impacts your finances.
This trend is significant because it highlights the financial struggles many young people face today—particularly in a time of rising student debt, housing costs, and inflation. Financial pressure is real for many Millennials and Gen Z, and a sense of guilt is often tied to saying no to social plans. Loud budgeting removes that guilt and replaces it with empowerment. It says, Being loud about budgeting sends a powerful message that saving money and making responsible financial decisions shouldn’t be something to hide. With so much social media revolving around consumerism and “living your best life,” loud budgeting brings balance to the narrative by emphasizing that there’s strength in saving—and there’s nothing wrong with declining an invite if it helps you meet your financial goals.
“We, especially as women, need to become more serious about creating a generation of people, specifically adults, that are financially literate,” said content creator Naomi Ny. “That means teaching our sisters, mothers, and aunties. Anybody in your family who doesn’t understand how money works or specifically their money.”
