Money and Meaning: How I’m Learning to Spend With Intention

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Are we all on a low-spend or no-buy year? I feel like we are. Yet most influencers and content creators are still showing us there hauls. But I get it it is their job. I am leaning into value-based spending. My focus right now is rebuilding my emergency fund, saving for a vacation or staycation (global tensions make me want to stay put in Jamaica). Here is the thing that I did last December, I made a list (a long list) of all the things I would like to have or want to buy it was random and filled with silly trendy products and fun stuff. Then I also made another list of items (large and small) that would improve my life and make my home more comfortable. And that second list is where I leaning my focus towards.

We speak volumes with how we spend our hard earned money every day, but are we really using our dollars in a way that aligns with our values?

I understand the toll that high credit card debt can bring, I have been there in my early 20s and I followed through and completed my repayments, rebuilt my credit and I feel so grateful for where I am financially. And no matter where you are in your journey with debt or money management, you can make a shift today.

Let’s Discuss Value-Based Spending

Now value-based spending isn’t about being cheap or frugal necessarily, it is more so about allocation. It is about cutting on things you don’t care about (like cable TV, expensive lunches or food delivery) to spend lavishly even on the things that do matter (travel, books, supporting local charities or schools, buying Jamaican products or supporting local artists and musicians).

Here is the thing, with value-based spending you get to decide what is important to you. You can forgo whatever society deems valuable and dig deep to figure out what is important for your life and well-being. This could mean that your focus is on your freedom, your time, health and well-being, creativity, comfort and family and friends.

A Money Audit: Let’s Take Action

I am challenging you to do a three month bank statement check. Think about where your money went. You can look back on purchases you were happy you made, things you still use and feel good about having bought. Then there are the things you had to spend money on, your rent or mortgage and your utilities, health and wellness or child-care or education. Then this is the category you have to be honest about, what are the items that didn’t add any value to your life, things you even forgot you bought, there are phantom purchases the money is gone from your account but you don’t recall buying the thing or haven’t even used it in the last three months.

Here is something, I want to you consider, if a complete stranger looked at your account, what would they think? Are you a foodie? Are you a traveller? A homebody? A booklover? Where did your money go?

Our Jamaican Reality

Let us acknowledge this, life in Jamaica is expensive. Cost of living jumped in COVID and for many of us, our salaries haven’t adjusted to the 2026 realities that it is expensive to exist. Now when is consider how expensive it is for the average Jamaican living and working an earning in Jamaican dollars, what I am proposing may seem out of touch, a luxury even. Yet it is even more crucial today than this may have been in say 2019 or 2020.

One thing we can do more of that can help, is if we supported local Jamaican businesses. This could be buying Jamaican made products at the supermarket, you are in that income bracket or live in a community with a farmers’ market, shop there. Buy from local authors and artists and help boost the Jamaican local economy where and when you can.

My Invitation To You

I want to close by saying that your money is a tool for you life your best life. It isn’t your master or a prison.

And I want to ask:

What is one thing you spend money on that brings you zero guild, no matter the price?

For me, I think it is obvious, books! Always and forever. Let me know yours in the comments.

Talk again really soon.

Be well.