For starters, this post is by no means sponsored. I had a lot of questions with little answers up-front and ended up learning a lot from my first cruise with Virgin Voyages. Therefore, I figured many others had the same questions, so I decided, you know what? I’m going to write the post that I wish someone else had written before I went on my first cruise with Virgin.

So, let’s get into it! 

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

This year I will be going on my second voyage with The Virgin Voyages to travel throughout Alaska and Canada. I absolutely loved my first cruise with this cruise line; their staff was phenomenal, I met so many amazing people, and the excursion crew operated like a well-oiled machine–making the entire trip feel especially safe as a solo female traveler. Since my upcoming trip is to Alaska, I’ll also be sharing my Alaskan cruise budget with you as an example.

My first cruise with them, I made a budget and while I stayed mostly within my planned budget, I did end up going a little over. So this blog is to share what I learned from my first cruise and how I will plan to budget for my upcoming cruise this year. 

If you are also going to be cruising this year, here’s everything I recommend to help you learn how to budget for a cruise realistically. This may vary cruise line by cruise line but you can always do a little extra research to see what others are saying based on which cruise line you go with.

We’ll start with what you need to include in your budget, then end with a breakdown of how to pull this altogether and determine how much to save for your cruise based on your budget.

12 Things to Include In Your Cruise Budget

Here are 12 things to consider when planning for your upcoming cruise:

1. Base Cruise Fare

For Virgin Voyages, I saved money on my upcoming cruise by booking while onboard my last cruise. When you do this, you get free Sailor Loot, which is essentially onboard credit that can go toward food, drinks (including alcohol), excursions, and more.

I also happened to be cruising during Thanksgiving, and at the time they were running a huge sale on future voyages, which helped lower my overall cabin fare. If you can, I highly recommend booking during a major sale. Virgin Voyages runs this sale every year.

2. Crew Gratuities

Virgin Voyages no longer includes gratuities in the base cruise fare. This is an additional charge that must be paid either before boarding or at the end of your cruise.

• Prepaid: $20 per person, per day
• Paid onboard: $22 per person, per day

For a 7-day cruise:

• 1 person: $20 × 7 days = $140
• 4 people: $20 × 4 × 7 days = $480

If you can, prepay to save a little.

3. Excursions

One of the biggest questions people ask when learning how to budget for a cruise is how much excursions actually cost. For Virgin Voyages, I recommend budgeting around $150 per person, per excursion. Not all excursions are this expensive, some are only about $80-100 but it is better to come under budget than over budget. Plus, the additional budget could always go towards souvenirs as you’re wrapping up your excursion.

4. Excursion Accessories

If you’re wondering how much to budget for cruise excursions, don’t forget to also budget for excursion gear and accessories! Pay attention to the types of excursions you book and what gear you’ll need. Here’s how I planned for mine:

Reference: This was their Sunny San Juan & Isles of Beach Miles cruise on Brilliant Lady

Horseback, buggy rides & beach swim with lunch (6.5 Hours)

For this excursion, I purchased:

1. This face mask with ear loops to protect my face from the dirt/sand during dune buggy riding (I highly recommend the ones with ear loops so they don’t fall down during riding. I have found that the style with no ear loops falls down easily and is less comfortable for breathing.)
2. These ATV dustproof, foam-lined goggles to protect my eyes for the same reason
3. Long sleeve cover-up. I got this idea from Reddit reviews and while I was skeptical due to how hot it was going to be during the time of my excursion, I am actually so happy I bought one. I just wore a flannel long-sleeve like this one that I could leave unbuttoned and just throw over my crop top. Was it hot? Absolutely. But did I burn from being under the sun for 6.5 hours? Nope. Plus, it saved me from getting mud all over my arms during the dune buggy riding. That was a win-win for me! (Don’t worry, the mud washes off super easily)

If you’re wondering, do I really need to buy some of these things now or can I just wait until I get there? Here’s my honest response: Tour guides may sell gear, but I prefer buying my own so I’m not forced into low-quality options. For example, the masks sold on my tour were extremely tight with no breathing holes, and goggles weren’t sold at all.

Now, you can wear sunglasses but these foam-lined goggles off Amazon will do a much better job protecting your eyes from getting dirt in them (and from experience, it sucks trying to keep your eyes open while riding with dirt in your eyes).

On another note, I also read reviews saying I needed 1-in heeled boots and thick pants for horseback riding. On the contrary, I wore Converse and thin leggings with zero issues. Just wear what’s comfortable for you and allows you to flexibly get on the back of a horse!

ATV tour to Maho beach (3.5 hours)

For this excursion, I purchased:

1. These ATV riding gloves off Amazon because I read many reviews about how much it can hurt your hands to grip onto the ATVs for long periods of time. I wasn’t convinced until the day came, and there I was trying to grip onto the ATV handlebars for the first time. Let me tell you, as a woman with small, thin hands, this was not as easy as I expected. But having these gloves should help to relieve your fingers of the tight grip. 
2. I also wore glasses during the ATV tour because again, you have dirt specks flying into your eyes. Not only that, but on my tour it ended up raining a bit and let me tell you–water droplets also hurt a lot when they hit your eyes during high speeds. You can wear any pair of glasses, like sunglasses, or choose to wear a pair of goggles. Sunglasses worked just fine for me since this tour was on regular roadways. But if you are riding in dirt/mud, I highly recommend the foam-lined goggles.

Sea turtle swim & snorkel (1.5 hours)

For this type of excursion,…

1. I highly recommend bringing a long sleeve bathing suit or swim top when snorkeling since you will be under the sun and likely to burn more due to the sun reflecting on the water. I absolutely love this women’s long-sleeve one piece because it has UV protection, is extremely comfortable and super cute. I wear this for my snorkeling, kayaking, and all-day boat excursions so I don’t roast in the heat haha!
2. Reef safe sunscreen (Blue Lizard is my favorite). I actually didn’t even know “reef safe” sunscreen was a thing until visiting the Florida Keys but it turns out, regular sunscreen has harmful toxins in it that is not safe for coral reefs. So if you book a snorkeling/swimming tour, make sure to check out reef safe sunscreen options!

Culture, cocktails & culinary delights (3.75 hours)

Since this involved lots of walking, I didn’t want anything heavy. I recommend…

1. A fanny pack or money wallet. It also helps reduce pick-pocketing risk, which can be common in tourist areas. This fanny purse is a personal favorite given how cute it is while also staying secure around the waist. But if you want to travel super light and only need to carry money, I highly recommend sticking to a thin money wallet like this one.

5. Other Accessories

• If you are in a cabin that’s closer to decks 7&8 front/midship, I recommend ear plugs like these because it can get really noisy late at night when people are still clubbing until 2am.
• Cruise bathrooms are very small. If you haven’t been in one before, it’s typically the size of two bathroom stalls combined. That’s it. That means your counter space is super limited. Therefore, I recommend getting a hanging toiletry bag like this one to maximize the space you have. 
• This next one is close to my heart. I have traveled over the last 6+ years and on my last cruise, my mom decided to surprise me with a travel diary where I can document all my travels. How amazing! I wish I thought of this sooner. So, if you are a traveler at heart and aren’t already documenting your travel stories to share down the road with friends and family, or even to look back on for yourself, I highly recommend this. It’s now become a special part of my travel, something I look forward to opening up each night. 
• This last one is about safety–especially for my solo travelers. There’s not many safety accessories you can take with you on cruises and flights. However, I recently learned about this personal safety alarm made for women which is a key chain that sounds an alarm when you pull on it. As a female traveler, I am absolutely getting this as an extra layer for protection because I have been in multiple uncomfortable situations while traveling and this seems to be a great safety precaution for when you need to quickly scare someone away and/or grab others’ attention.

6. Onboard WiFi  

Unlike many cruise lines, Virgin Voyages actually offers free basic WiFi while onboard. However, since I work remotely, I choose to upgrade my WiFi and pay for their “Work from Sea” option. This one is$50/day for 1 device only (+$25 for each additional device) or they offer a flat-fee if you purchase it for your entire voyage. This ended up being cheaper on my last cruise which was 9 days so I ended up paying for the flat fee of $210.

If you want tips on balancing work and travel while working remotely, check out my guide to work-life balance for remote workers.

7. International Service

I use AT&T, which charges $10 per day for international service. Personally, I only used my phone while onboard, so I didn’t need this. That said, I still recommend budgeting for it just in case. You never know.

If you also use AT&T as your service provider, there is no setup needed in advance. You just use your phone as normal when you travel and it will automatically add to your plan and charge you for each day. Talk to your service provider to find out what your options are and what advanced setup is needed.

8. Onboard Spending

Virgin Voyages offers a TON of free food, drinks, amenities, and so forth. You could absolutely go on the cruise and enjoy yourself without spending another dime. So, if you’re asking yourself how much spending money do you need for a cruise, don’t overestimate this one (at least on a Virgin Voyages cruise).

That said, I still saw plenty of people diving into the up-charged offerings on the cruise. If that sounds like you, let’s break down what that could look like from a budgeting perspective.

Food & Drinks

Virgin Voyages includes dining in your cruise fare, but alcohol and certain food and drink options cost extra.

On my last cruise, I budgeted $300, but only ended up spending $85.72. This gave me a much clearer idea of how much spending money for a cruise actually makes sense for my travel style. I found there were more than enough free food and drink options to choose from that I didn’t feel the need to spend more. I also don’t drink much alcohol, which helped.

Drinks onboard are usually about $10 each, give or take, and they offer drink packages that are usually closer to $200-300 if you wish to include this in your budget. 

One thing I love is that the Virgin Voyages app tracks your spending. You can check your tab every night to make sure you’re staying within budget.

How this works: 

You receive a bracelet at check-in that’s linked to your room and credit card. You use it as your room key and to pay for everything onboard. Each purchase shows up in the app under your virtual tab.

Onboard Events/Activities

Again, Virgin Voyages offers tons of free onboard events, but there are also limited-seat events that cost extra (paint and sips, themed dinners with shows, auctions, etc.).

Some events appear in the app before boarding, but others don’t show up until you’re onboard.

I personally didn’t feel the need to pay for these since there was already so much to do for free. However, if this sounds appealing to you, I’d budget $50–$80 per person per event, or about $200–$250 total per person if you plan on doing 2–3 events.

If you tend to overspend on trips, this is where having a solid budget system matters most. I shared a few simple ways to stay organized in these personal finance organization tips.

9. Passport

If you have never traveled internationally before and do not need a passport, make sure to include this in your budget. In Florida, this currently costs $165 for an adult.

On the flip side, if you have a passport but it expires within 6 months of your cruising date, you will need to renew your passport prior to boarding. In Florida, this currently costs $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card, or $160 for both.

10. First-Aid Kit

Yes, there is an infirmary on board if you don’t bring your own mini first aid kit. However, my experience going to the infirmary felt much like an urgent care visit where you have to sit in the waiting room for a bit, fill out a bunch of forms, and go through all these hoops just to get ibuprofen. I recommend packing the essentials in a mini pouch and carrying this whenever you travel. Here’s what I carry in mine specifically when cruising:

• Excedrin (for headaches or muscle aches)
• Dramamine (for motion sickness)
• Pepto (unfortunately, many people get stomach bugs or upset stomachs while cruising so I always bring this with me as a precaution)
• Benadryl (I have allergies, so this is a must!)
• Zinc (keeps my immunity up and fights potential colds while onboard)

Note: I am not a medical professional so this list is for educational purposes only. Please speak to a doctor and do your own research when curating your own first-aid travel kit. The list above is what works for me. You must do what works for you. 

11. Transportation & Lodging

How much you budget for this is going to depend on a handful of factors, mainly being how far away the port is from you. I am going to give you two case scenarios.

Scenario 1: Port is within driving distance

My first cruise with Virgin Voyages went out of Miami which was only a ~3 hour drive for me. In this case, I did not budget anything for flights or hotels. All I budgeted for was gas, tolls, and parking.

• Gas: $30 (full-tank) lasted me to and from the port
• Tolls: $25 (this is my default amount for toll budgeting unless I am going on a long roadtrip)
• Parking: $200 flat fee for stays of 7+ days. Otherwise Port Miami charges $22-35/day depending on which garage you park in (Virgin Voyages is Garage G which charges $25/day).

I parked directly at Port Miami for safety and convenience. While some people park farther away to save money, that felt overly complicated and less secure for me as a solo traveler.

Scenario 2: Port distance requires a flight

My upcoming cruise only goes out of Seattle, Washington which is out of state for me. In this case, I am budgeting for gas, tolls, a round-trip flight, taxis and a hotel.

• Gas: $30 (to/from airport)
• Tolls: $25
• Taxis: $160 round-trip
• Flight: $555 round-trip
• Hotel: $200 (1 night pre-cruise)

For gas, this is accounting for a family member that is taking us to the airport. The taxi then accounts for the driver taking us to/from the airport to the cruise terminal. For hotels, we’re skipping a post-cruise hotel since the ship returns at 7am and our flight is later in the day. We will have plenty of time to grab lunch and get to the airport before flying back home. 

12. Cruise Outfits

Lastly, Virgin Voyages has Scarlet Night, where everyone wears red and parties all night. Other cruise lines have themed nights too (for example, Disney’s pirate night).

If you already know you’ll want new outfits, budget $50–$300, depending on how many nights you’re cruising and how much shopping you plan to do.

My girls who “never have anything to wear” will understand this one.

How Much to Save for a Cruise

Now begs the question: How much do you need to save for your cruise and how can you incorporate this in your budget?

This is where everything comes together. Once you understand how to budget for a cruise, figuring out how much to save each month becomes simple. It’s important to note that Virgin Voyages requires a 20% deposit at the time of booking. Then, full payment is due 120 days before your sailing date. In the table below, this is exactly how I organized my Alaska cruise budget.

Important Note: This budget is for 2 people for a 7-night Virgin Voyages cruise. Take what’s relevant to you, and leave the rest.

First I calculated the following (also denoted in the email from Virgin Voyages after you book the cruise):

• Total Cruise Fare (cruise only): $4,280
• Deposit Paid (20%): $735.20
• Balance Due (120 days before sailing): $3,544.80

I’m going to use “balance due” and incorporate that in my budget. If you are trying to budget for a cruise before booking it and paying the deposit, simply use the total cruise fare amount posted on the website and keep in mind that you’ll need to pay 20% up-front when you actually book the cruise. 

This method works whether you’re planning a weekend sailing or a longer trip and want a clear answer for how much to save for a cruise.

Alaska Cruise Budget Example

Below is a full breakdown of how I built a realistic Alaska cruise budget, including everything from travel to onboard spending.

Then, simply take the total planned budget amount and divide it by the total # of months you have until your cruise date. For example, if I have 11 months from the time of booking to the time of my cruise, I’ll take $7,409.08 / 11 months = $673.56/month. 

This means I need to save $673.56 per month to achieve a total savings of $7,409.08 before I set sail. Breaking it down monthly is my favorite way to approach how to budget for a cruise without stress. If staying consistent is your biggest struggle, here are 11 tips you can use to stay on track and keep motivated with your finances.

Here’s an example payment schedule if I booked my deposit in November, then plan to use the next 11 months to save, with my cruise being the following November:

Conclusion

That’s everything! This is why I love budgeting for travel ahead of time. Instead of stressing about thousands of dollars at once, you’re intentionally setting aside a manageable amount each month so you can fully enjoy your trip when the time comes. 

This approach completely changed how I think about how to budget for a cruise, especially when it comes to travel that spans multiple months of saving.

I hope you have an amazing time on your cruise! If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment down below or send me an email. 

For more budgeting tips, check out my other posts here.

The post How to Budget for a Cruise (Based On Virgin Voyages Cruise Cost) appeared first on The Allie Edition.

In this post, I’m walking you through what a vision board is, what to put on a vision board, and how to do a vision board step by step, even if you’ve never made one before. Whether you want something super simple or a little more aesthetic, this guide will help you confidently make a vision board that feels aligned with your life and goals.

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

What Is a Vision Board?

Think of a vision board as a visual collage that represents the life you want to live. It’s filled with images, words, and quotes that reflect your goals—things like travel, career, finances, faith, health, relationships, or personal growth.A vision board is something you come back to daily to visualize your goals actually happening. When you can physically see what you’re working toward, it becomes easier to align your daily actions with those goals. And let’s be honest—it’s incredibly easy to lose sight of what you want once life gets busy. A DIY vision board acts as both motivation and a reminder of what you’re working towards.

Vision Board Examples

Here is my vision board for this year:

And here are a couple other vision board examples I’ve seen online to give you inspiration:

Tip: Notice how different they all look. There is no “right” way to do this—your board should reflect you.

What Do I Put on a Vision Board?

If you’re wondering what to put on a vision board, start simple.

I recommend choosing 3–5 main goals and centering your board around those. These goals can relate to anything in your life. For example, my top three goals are to:

• Travel more
• Grow my side hustle
• Improve my abundance mindset

On my DIY vision board, you’ll see a lot of imagery around travel, career growth, and quotes that reflect an abundant and positive mindset. Surrounding those core goals, I also included things I want more of this year—like painting, going to the beach, and spending more time reading my Bible.

Take some time to reflect on your own life and choose goals that genuinely excite you. Your vision board should feel inspiring, not overwhelming.

Setting the Tone Before You Create Your Vision Board

Before we jump into the actual step-by-step, there are a few important things I want you to know about creating a vision board—especially if this is your first time.

When it comes to making a vision board, there are no rules. It can be completely personalized and tailored to YOU. It can be big or small, colorful or minimal, aesthetic or messy—literally whatever feels right to you. There is no “right” way to do this, and you don’t need to overthink it.

I’m going to walk you through the exact steps I took to create my 2026 vision board, but I also want to share some simple alternatives you can try at home. And I really want to emphasize this upfront: you do not need to buy anything to make a vision board.

When I first started, I kept things extremely simple. I grabbed a blank piece of copy paper and a marker, wrote out a short list of the 5–10 things I wanted to achieve that year, added a few doodles around it, and stuck it on my fridge. That piece of paper stayed there all year long—and you know what? It wasn’t fancy at all, but it WORKED.

I’ve also seen people keep it just as simple by creating a collage of photos from Instagram or Pinterest, printing it out, and hanging it on their fridge or wall. You could use notebook paper, printer paper, or even create something that’s mostly text-based with just a few words or phrases that really resonate with you (like the example we saw earlier on).

Again, your vision board can be whatever you want it to be—as simple or as extra as you want. If you ask me, the most important thing you can do is just make one and start. Watch how much it shifts your mindset and your focus. And over time, if you decide you want to level it up a little bit, go for it. That’s exactly what I did this year.

Now that you know what to expect, let’s get into the exact supplies and steps to create your DIY vision board.

Vision Board Supplies You’ll Need

1. Poster board or bulletin board. Personally, I used a bulletin board like this one because I prefer something that lasts longer and can be reused or repurposed over the years.
2. Glue, Adhesive, or Push Pins. If using poster board, you’ll need some form of poster board glue or poster board adhesive. If using a bulletin board, you’ll need push pins. I really like push pins like these ones because I find the rounded/sphere shape doesn’t hurt my thumbs as much. There are also cute ones like these (I have these in my office, LOVE!) that can make your vision board more cute and aesthetic.
3. Scissors. Any pair around the house will do, but if you want the scrapbook vibe (makes things more fun!),I recommend grabbing these.
4. Images. The most important part, you need images. There are many ways you can source the images. For example:
   1. I wanted something super easy and quick, so I bought this vision board book which comes with over 1,000 images to choose from. It took barely any time to pick images from because they were all sooo pretty and aligned perfectly to both my goals and aesthetic. I highly recommend getting this one! Just be careful when tearing out the pages so you don’t rip the image itself (or use scissors to cut along the edge).
   2. You can also use old magazines to cut images out of. 
   3. Or, you can browse and print images from the internet – there are many free stock images available on sites such as Pexels or Unsplash.

How to Make a Vision Board: 6 Simple Steps

Okay, now the fun part!!! Here are 6 simple steps to create your vision board.

Step 1: Reflect and write things down

Take some time to reflect on what you want your vision board to represent and write it down first. I recommend choosing anywhere between 3–10 things you want to visualize. Knowing what you want to see on your vision board—and what your goals are for the year—will make everything else much easier.

You can decide if you want your entire board to have one main theme (like spiritually centered, travel centered, or career centered), or if you want a mix of different areas of your life. For me, I like variety, but I still have 3 core goals that I center my board around because those are the things I really want to see come to life this year.

Step 2: Decide where your board will live

Next, decide where you want to put your vision board and whether it will hang vertically or horizontally. This matters more than you think because it affects how many images you choose and how you lay everything out.

When choosing the location, I highly recommend putting your board somewhere you can look at every single day. The more often you see it, the more effective it will be.

Step 3: Pick your images and visuals

Now it’s time to start picking out the images or visuals you want to use. These can be pictures of quotes, people, places, things—whatever feels aligned with what you want to see more of in your life.

I personally browsed through my entire vision board book first before moving on, just so I knew what my options were. This also helped me start imagining what my board might look like and think about things like colors (did I want neutral tones, brighter colors, etc.).

Step 4: Cut and loosely organize everything

Once you’ve picked your images, start cutting them out. I recommend loosely separating them so things feel less overwhelming when you move to the next step.

For me, that meant separating page-sized images, smaller images, and quotes. Nothing fancy—just enough to help organize my thoughts and make the process feel smoother.

Step 5: Lay it all out before attaching

Based on what you decided in step two, place your images on your board where you think you want them to go. Make sure your board is positioned the right way (horizontal or vertical) before you start arranging.

Important: do not glue or pin anything yet. This step is just about seeing how everything fits together. Play around with the layout, move things around, and don’t be afraid to remove images if it starts to feel cluttered.

It took me about 3–4 different layouts before I landed on one I really loved. I also ended up removing a couple of images because my board started to feel overwhelming instead of calming—and that kind of defeats the purpose.

Step 6: Make it real

Once you’re happy with the layout, go ahead and glue or pin everything down.

That’s it, you’re done! Now it’s time to hang up your vision board.

How to Use Your Vision Board Effectively

You’ve done all the work—now it’s time to actually use your vision board.

I recommend making it part of your daily routine to look at your board and really visualize yourself living out the life you’ve put on it. Ask yourself questions like: What actions can I take today that align with these goals? What would this version of me be thinking, feeling, speaking, and doing?

I want you to practice showing up as the person who already walks the life on your vision board.

If you included quotes or affirmations, read them out loud to yourself every day. Say them 2–3 times. The more you repeat them, the more you start to believe them—and feel them.

The crazy thing most people don’t realize is that your brain doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what you’ve imagined. So by visualizing your goals every single day and imagining yourself already living that life, you’re training your brain to believe it’s possible.

And by the end of the year? There’s no telling how much could change.

Vision Board FAQs

How Often Should I Update My Vision Board?

Personally, I recreate my DIY vision board on an annual basis. I like starting fresh each year and using it as a reset for new goals and intentions.

That said, if there are significant changes in your life—where your current vision board no longer resonates with you or your goals have shifted—you can absolutely update it. Your vision board should evolve with you. There’s no rule that says once you make a vision board, it has to stay the same forever.

Can I Make a Vision Board Mid-Year?

Yes, absolutely! You can make a vision board at any point in time.

If you’re reading this in the middle of the year, that’s completely okay. It is always better to start your vision board today than to not start at all or delay your vision for the “right time” (like New Year’s, a Monday, or the first of the month). None of that is necessary.

If you’re wondering how to do a vision board mid-year, the answer is simple: the exact same way you would at the beginning of the year. Start where you are, with what you want now.

Should My Vision Board Be Realistic or Aspirational?

I really want to pause here and emphasize this: even if your goal or vision feels “crazy,” put it on your board anyway.

Do not put yourself in a box or let others—or even yourself—convince you that your vision isn’t realistic just because it’s not common where you live or among the people around you. Every single person who is currently living your dream once stood exactly where you are now, with hopes, goals, and aspirations of their own.

So if you ask me, put your biggest, wildest dreams on your DIY vision board. Align your actions with those aspirations and keep them top of mind every single day. That’s the real power behind understanding what is a vision board and what to put on a vision board.

This doesn’t mean things magically happen just because they’re on your board—and achieving your goals may take longer than a year. The purpose is to help you think differently, speak differently, and show up differently. After all, in order to achieve different, you have to do different.

You’ve got this. No dream is too big. (Unless you’re 5’5” and want to be 6’5”… sorry, I don’t know what to tell you there. Talk to God. 😂)

Do Vision Boards Actually Work?

Speaking from personal experience, yes — I absolutely believe vision boards work.

But for my friends who need stats and research: according to a Forbes article, “one in five successful entrepreneurs use vision boards” and “82% of these small business owners found that they have accomplished over half of their business goals since they began.” (Travers, M., “A Psychologist Explains The Power Of ‘Vision Boarding’ For Success”)

You can read their article to hear more from a psychologist on the matter, but here’s what I can tell you:

When my goals are written down or placed somewhere I can read every day — like on my DIY vision board — I’m reminded every single day of what fuels me and what I want out of life. That reminder becomes so important after a few months go by and suddenly life gets busy, or I get distracted by the world. Seeing my vision board helps me realign my actions with my goals.

Now, if you’re sitting there thinking, “Is a vision board on its own REALLY enough to make all my dreams come true?” — I would tell you not neccesarily. There is definitely more you can and should be doing to make your vision a reality.

If you want your vision board to be even more effective, I highly recommend pairing it with an action plan. Revisit the 3–5 core goals you chose when you were deciding what to put on your vision board. Then write down steps you can take every day/week/month to push you forward in the direction you want to go.

This way, you can ask yourself over time, “Did I take a step forward today? Was I intentional?” Tracking these small steps will help increase your chances of achieving your goals.

Think of your DIY vision board like the foundation, and your action plan like the stepping stones.

Can I Have More Than One Vision Board?

Yes—absolutely!

For example, if you have big goals in different areas of your life, you might choose to create a personal DIY vision board that lives in your room and a career-focused board that stays in your workspace.

Whether you’re using different vision board supplies, themes, or layouts, remember this: vision boards are all about you. Do what makes you happy. Do what keeps the fire lit inside of you and helps you keep moving forward toward your goals.

Final Thoughts

Creating a DIY vision board is one of the easiest ways to reconnect with your goals and start showing up differently in your everyday life. The best part? Anyone can do it! You don’t need any super fancy supplies or to be a professional artist to do this. 

If this is your first time making a vision board, I’d love to know. Drop a comment below and tell me about your experience—or share what’s currently on your board. And if you’ve made one before, let me know what’s come true for you. 

If you want to learn more about goal-setting and goal-tracking, check out these related posts:

• 13 Realistic Personal Finance Goals to Crush Your Savings
• Track Finances Like a Pro: 11 Tips to Stay Accountable & Motivated

The post 6 Easy Steps to Create a DIY Vision Board at Home appeared first on The Allie Edition.

If budgeting feels overwhelming or you’re not sure where your money is actually going each month, stick around — this is completely normal. Most people aren’t looking for something complicated, just a simple starting point. And that’s exactly what this mini-series is meant to be.

This is the third post in the series, and it focuses on the zero-based budgeting method— what it means, how it works, and how you can apply it to your budget today.

Let’s get started.

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

What is the Zero-Based Budgeting Method?

This is not only my favorite budgeting method, but it is the best method for those who are trying to gain ultimate control over their money. This method helps you see exactly where your money is coming and going.

Put simply, every dollar you earn is assigned a job, whether that be for spending, saving, investing, donating, or paying off debt. Every single dollar should be accounted for so that if you subtract your expenses from your income, you end up with $0.

In this post, I’ll share some examples of budget categories you can assign your dollars to, followed by how this compares to other methods such as the 50/30/20 budget rule and the 70/20/10 budget rule, and finally a zero-based budget example that you can use to start budgeting today.

What Spending Categories Should I Use for the Zero-Based Budgeting Method?

Let’s start by thinking about where you might assign your money. There are three broad categories that come to mind, which if you’ve already read about the 50/30/20 budget rule, these will sound familiar: needs, wants and saving.

From there, I would break each broader category into subcategories, which is how you will truly allocate your budget. Here is a breakdown of those subcategories by needs, wants and saving:

Needs include things like…

• Rent/mortgage
• Utilities (gas, water, electric)
• Groceries, toiletries, or other essentials
• Insurance (car, health, home)
• Minimum debt payments
• Transportation (gas, tolls, parking)

If you are struggling to determine whether your expense is considered a need or a want, ask yourself, “Can you live without it? Are there impacts of not paying this expense (i.e. late fees, fines, etc.)?”

Wants include things like…

• Dining out, ordering food online, and entertainment
• Shopping and hobbies
• Subscriptions (Apple, Netflix, Spotify)
• Gym membership
• Vacation and travel
• Upgrades and luxuries

Think of this bucket like your nice-to-have’s.

Savings & Debt includes things like…

• Personal sinking funds (vacation, gifts)
• Emergency fund
• Retirement contributions
• Extra debt payments (to pay off the principal)
• Investment accounts (Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab)
• Big purchases (house, car)

This is your opportunity to pay yourself first. I personally aim to make sure at least 15% of my budget goes toward savings/debt, with the ultimate goal being 30%. Of this amount, I try to put at least 5-10% toward investing in retirement. Note: this is only for educational purposes, this is not financial advice.

Zero-Based Budget Example

Alright, let’s look at an example of the zero based budget in action. In this example, we’ll be using a salary of $45,000/year or $3,750/month (gross income, before taxes).

When we budget, we want to use net income (in other words, the amount of money that actually hits your bank account after taxes/fees are deducated). So now, let’s pretend that of the $3,750/month, your take-home pay is $3,400. We would utilize the 50 30 20 budget rule as follows:

Zero-Based Budget Example for $3,400/month take-home pay

If I had $3,400 a month, this is how I would budget my money. This ensures that I am paying no more than 50% of my monthly income to afford rent/utilities. Further, it ensures that at least 10% of my income goes toward retirement, with at least 5% more going toward savings.

You will need to tailor your budget to your lifestyle and financial situation, but feel free to use this zero-based budget example as a starting point. Plug-in your actual monthly income, adjust the budget categories as needed, and start breaking down your budget for the month.

How Do I Track My Zero-Based Budget?

I would highly recommend tracking your budget regularly, whether that be on a weekly or biweekly basis, to make sure you are staying within your budget for each category. A simple way to track a zero-based budget is to spend approximately 10-15 minutes each week logging all of your expenses and comparing actual spend against the planned amount.

There are several ways to do this:

1. Download a personal finance app (my favorite is EveryDollar by Dave Ramsey and it is literally designed for this method. Plus, it’s free!)
2. Get a physical budgeting planner (I like this one by Clever Fox)
3. Explore digital budgeting spreadsheets (I use this one for my business)
4. See if your banking apps offer budget tracking (if you bank with Chase, their app offers this!)

For more tips on how to track your finances consistently without getting burnt out or demotivated, check out this post.

Pros of Zero-Based Budgeting

Zero-based budgeting is a great way to see exactly where your money is coming and going. If you are struggling to identify spending patterns in order to effectively cut back on costs, this budgeting method is the perfect solution.

Further, it gives you complete control to decide exactly how much money you will save and invest each month. This budgeting method is, in my opinion, the most realistic because each person has a unique financial situation, requiring that they allocate their income differently than the next person. Not only that, but if you consider holidays, anniversaries, etc., these times of the year also warrant unique spending and saving patterns.

Using the zero-based budgeting method means you have flexibility to accommodate these fluctuations in spending and saving. And not just for this month, but for every month. Want to save $100 this month, then $200 next month? No problem. Want to cut back more aggressively for 3 months so you can finally pay off that credit card? No problem. You are the boss.

Cons of Zero-Based Budgeting

As much as this budgeting method is my favorite, it’s not for everyone. Here’s why.

This particular budgeting method can feel more time consuming compared to other budgeting methods given it requires that you log each individual expense. Some people may feel like they do not have enough time to dedicate to this method or will find it overwhelming to start.

If this sounds like you, it may be best to try out more simple methods like the 50/30/20 budget rule or the 70/20/10 budget rule. As a reminder, any budget method can (and should) be tailored to suit your needs.

Is Zero-Based Budgeting Right for You?

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to budgeting BUT,… If you are new to budgeting and are finally ready to gain control over your finances so you can hit your financial goals by the end of the year, this budgeting method may be perfect for you.

This is honestly my favorite budgeting method because I am a bit of a control-freak when it comes to my finances and I like to make sure that if I say I am going to save $5,000 this year for vacation, I have an exact plan in place to do so. And when I say having a plan in place, I mean having a solid budget.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop a comment down below. I’d love to help!

For more information on how to start a budget from scratch, check out my beginner’s guide here.

The post What is Zero-Based Budgeting (Example Included)? appeared first on The Allie Edition.

If budgeting feels overwhelming or you’re not sure where your money is actually going each month, stick around — this is completely normal. Most people aren’t looking for something complicated, just a simple starting point. And that’s exactly what this mini-series is meant to be.

This is the second post in the series, and it focuses on the 70 20 10 budget rule — what it means, how it works, and how you can apply it to your budget today.

Let’s get started.

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

What is the 70 20 10 Budget Rule?

This method divides your money in 3 simple ways: 

• 70% of your budget gets allocated to spending
• 20% of your budget gets allocated to saving (or debt)
• 10% of your budget gets allocated to investing (or giving)

When you total this up, 100% of your budget should be fully allocated across these 3 budget categories.

What Do We Mean By “Spending, Saving, and Investing” for the 70 20 10 Budget Rule?

The spending category encompasses all living expenses, both needs and wants, like…

• Rent/mortgage
• Utilities
• Transportation (gas, tolls, parking)
• Insurance
• Groceries/Toiletries
• Minimum debt payments
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Hobbies
• Subscriptions (Apple, Netflix, Spotify)
• Childcare
• Pets
• Vacation/Travel

The saving category can span a set of savings goals or debt payoff goals like…

• Personal sinking funds
• Emergency fund
• Retirement contributions
• Extradebt payments (to pay off the principal)
• Big purchases (house, car)

This is your opportunity to pay yourself first. When you get your paycheck, you should plan to allocate 20% here and can choose to spread it across 1 or more of the items I listed above. For example, you might choose to put 5% savings across 4 of these: sinking funds, emergency fund, retirement contributions, and debt payments. 

The final category is for investing (or giving) for things like…

• Stocks or bonds
• ETFs or mutual funds
• Cryptocurrency
• Real estate
• Business start-up
• Charity and donations

If you are new to investing, I would start by checking out Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab. I have tried all 3 before but I personally choose to stick with Fidelity. Here, I have an individual brokerage account where I invest in a variety of stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds. Fidelity is super easy and beginner-friendly to use, I highly recommend it!

How Can I Apply the 70 20 10 Budget Rule to My Finances?

Let’s play out this scenario using a salary of $45,000/year or $3,750/month (gross income, before taxes).

When we budget, we want to use net income (in other words, the amount of money that actually hits your bank account after taxes/fees are deducated). So now, let’s pretend that of the $3,750/month, your take-home pay is $3,400. We would utilize the 50 30 20 budget rule as follows:

Example for $3,400/month take-home pay

What If My Personal Finance Goal(s) Require Me To Save More Than 20%?

It’s important to remember that personal finance is personal. Meaning, each person’s financial situation is going to look completely different. Therefore, you will require a budget unique to your income/expenses. If your personal finance goals require you to save more than 20% a month (or invest more than 10%) then you simply would want to adjust the weighted percentage across each of the 3 categories.

For example, you could budget this way instead: 60% spending, 30% saving, 10% investing. For more information on how to start a budget, check out my beginner’s guide here.

How Do I Track My Budget Using the 70 20 10 Budget Rule?

I would highly recommend tracking your budget regularly, whether that be on a weekly or biweekly basis, to make sure you are staying within your budget for each category. There are several ways to do this:

1. Download a personal finance app (my favorite is EveryDollar by Dave Ramsey)
2. Get a physical budgeting planner (I like this one by Clever Fox)
3. Explore digital budgeting spreadsheets (I use this one for my business)
4. See if your banking apps offer budget tracking (if you bank with Chase, their app offers this!)

For more tips on how to track your finances consistently without getting burnt out or demotivated, check out this post.

Pros of the 70 20 10 Budget Rule

Similarly to the 50 30 20 budget rule, this gives you a simple structure to follow making it easy for beginners to follow. This budget rule, too, helps you reinforce basic money management and gain a stronger sense of where your money is going each month. 

I personally love the 70 20 10 budget rule because it encourages a more aggressive saving and investing ratio, helping people to get out of debt and save more money. This is perfect for those who are getting introduced to saving and investing at a later stage in life and are trying to fast track their way to their finance goals (such as building a 6-12 month emergency fund, paying off your home, building an investment portfolio or retiring).

Lastly, this rule is great because it allows more flexibility when it comes to your needs and wants. As compared to the 50 30 20 budget rule, where some may find difficulty containing their living expenses to 50% of their income, this rule allows you to stretch it as much as 70%.

On that note though, if 70% if your income is solely needs (like bills and debt payments) as opposed to a healthy balance of needs and wants, then I highly recommend looking at ways to increase sources of income so you can lower this percentage to 50% or less.

Cons of the 70 20 10 Budget Rule

While the 70 20 10 budget rule can be a helpful starting point, it isn’t right for everyone.

There are some people who will require more than 20% monthly saving or 10% monthly investing ratios in order to hit their finance goals (maybe age and timing plays a factor here). On the flip side, others will have difficulty saving/investing as much as 30% of their income.

For me, personally, I struggle with this rule because it does not allow you to separate your needs from your wants. I like to see these broken into sub categories so I can closely track how much of my budget is going toward bills versus leisure spending. If that sounds like you too, you may wish to explore other budgeting methods like zero-based budgeting.

Is the 70 20 10 Budget Rule Right for You?

There is no “one right way” to budget.

The best budgeting method is the one that fits your lifestyle, reflects your real expenses, and helps you stay consistent. If the 70 20 10 budget rule gives you structure without feeling restrictive, it may be a great option. If it feels stressful or unrealistic, that’s a sign to explore a different approach.

As long as you understand how much money you’re working with and you’re consistently tracking where it’s going, you’re already setting yourself up for success.

What’s Next?

Check out my next post in this series where I break down zero-based budgeting.

Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to drop a comment below — I’d love to help.

The post What is the 70 20 10 Budget Rule? appeared first on The Allie Edition.

If budgeting feels overwhelming or you’re not sure where your money is actually going each month, stick around — this is completely normal. Most people aren’t looking for something complicated, just a simple starting point. And that’s exactly what this mini-series is meant to be.

This is the first post in the series, and it focuses on the 50/30/20 budget rule — what it means, how it works, and how you can apply it to your budget today.

Let’s get started.

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

What is the 50 30 20 Budget Rule?

It’s actually really simple. 

• 50% of your budget gets allocated to needs
• 30% of your budget gets allocated to wants
• 20% of your budget gets allocated to savings/debt

When you total this up, 100% of your budget should be fully allocated across these 3 budget categories.

What Do We Mean By “Needs, Wants and Savings/Debt” for the 50 30 20 Budget Rule?

Needs include things like…

• Rent/mortgage
• Utilities (gas, water, electric)
• Groceries, toiletries, or other essentials
• Insurance (car, health, home)
• Minimum debt payments
• Transportation (gas, tolls, parking)

If you are struggling to determine whether your expense is considered a need or a want, ask yourself, “Can you live without it? Are there impacts of not paying this expense (i.e. late fees, fines, etc.)?”

Wants include things like…

• Dining out, ordering food online, and entertainment
• Shopping and hobbies
• Subscriptions (Apple, Netflix, Spotify)
• Gym membership
• Vacation and travel
• Upgrades and luxuries

Think of this bucket like your nice-to-have’s. Sometimes these feel like needs, but in reality, they are not essential. They are just wants. 

Savings & Debt includes things like…

• Personal sinking funds (vacation, gifts)
• Emergency fund
• Retirement contributions
• Extra debt payments (to pay off the principal)
• Investment accounts (Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab)
• Big purchases (house, car)

This is your opportunity to pay yourself first. When you get your paycheck, you should plan to allocate 20% here and can choose to spread it across 1 or more of the items I listed above. For example, you might choose to put 5% savings across 4 of these: sinking funds, emergency fund, retirement contributions, and debt payments. 

How Can I Apply the 50 30 20 Budget Rule to My Finances?

Let’s play out this scenario using a salary of $45,000/year or $3,750/month (gross income, before taxes).

When we budget, we want to use net income (in other words, the amount of money that actually hits your bank account after taxes/fees are deducated). So now, let’s pretend that of the $3,750/month, your take-home pay is $3,400. We would utilize the 50 30 20 budget rule as follows:

Example for $3,400/month take-home pay

What If My Expenses Make Up More Than 50% of My Income?

It’s important to remember that personal finance is personal. Meaning, each person’s financial situation is going to look completely different. Therefore, you will require a budget unique to your income/expenses. If your expenses make up 60% of your income, you’ll simply want to adjust the other percentages for wants and savings. 

For example, you could budget this way instead: 60% needs, 20% wants, 20% savings. For more information on how to start a budget, check out my beginner’s guide here.

How Do I Track My Budget Using the 50 30 20 Budget Rule?

I would highly recommend tracking your budget regularly, whether that be on a weekly or biweekly basis, to make sure you are staying within your budget for each category. There are several ways to do this:

1. Download a personal finance app (my favorite is EveryDollar by Dave Ramsey)
2. Get a physical budgeting planner (I like this one by Clever Fox)
3. Explore digital budgeting spreadsheets (I use this one for my business)
4. See if your banking apps offer budget tracking (if you bank with Chase, their app offers this!)

For more tips on how to track your finances consistently without getting burnt out or demotivated, check out this post.

Pros of the 50 30 20 Budget Rule

The best thing about this budgeting rule is that it is super simple to follow and even easier to remember. As compared to the zero-based budgeting method where you are assigning every single dollar a job, this rule allows you to simply track your spend against a broader category/amount. As long as you don’t go over, for example, 50% of your budget in needs, 30% of your budget in wants, and 20% of your budget in savings, then you are solid. 

Not only that, but following the 50 30 20 budget rule helps you reinforce basic money management and gain a stronger sense of where your money is going each month. 

Further, it suggests that you save 20% each month which is far more than most people tend to save. A good rule of thumb is to save at least 10-15% of your money toward retirement and following this rule enables you to do that, then an extra 5-10% toward other savings goals such as for vacation, a home, or a car. 

Cons of the 50 30 20 Budget Rule

While the 50/30/20 budget rule can be a helpful starting point, it isn’t right for everyone.

As mentioned earlier, many people find that their expenses make up more than 50% of their income — and this is extremely common. When that’s the case, following the 50/30/20 rule exactly as structured can start to feel unrealistic.

Trying to force your spending into fixed percentages may lead to consistent overspending in certain categories, especially during seasons when expenses naturally fluctuate. Unexpected medical bills, higher utility costs, or holiday spending can all warrant changes in your spending patterns. Because this rule assumes your income and expenses will stay relatively consistent month to month, it doesn’t always leave room for real-life changes.

Over time, this can lead to burnout, overwhelm, or even a loss of confidence in your ability to manage your finances.

Is the 50 30 20 Budget Rule Right for You?

There is no “one right way” to budget.

The best budgeting method is the one that fits your lifestyle, reflects your real expenses, and helps you stay consistent. If the 50 30 20 budget rule gives you structure without feeling restrictive, it may be a great option. If it feels stressful or unrealistic, that’s a sign to explore a different approach.

As long as you understand how much money you’re working with and you’re consistently tracking where it’s going, you’re already setting yourself up for success.

What’s Next?

Check out my next post in this series where I break down the 70 20 10 budget rule.

Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to drop a comment below — I’d love to help.

The post What is the 50 30 20 Budget Rule? appeared first on The Allie Edition.

Growing up, our family always went all out with stocking stuffers—even for the pets! We’d open them on Christmas Eve, and honestly, that was sometimes the best part of the holiday. In fact, my favorite stocking stuffer that I remember to this day was a set of peace-sign earrings—like a 10-pack in every color imaginable. I was obsessed with peace signs back then, and I couldn’t wait to wear them with my peace sign shirt the next day!!

So yes, cheap stocking stuffers can absolutely be memorable. It’s all about picking little gifts that bring lots of joy. Lucky for you, I’ve already done the digging, and I’ve rounded up the best stocking stuffers under 5 dollars that are guaranteed to make anyone smile.

I’ve even divided these up to help with your shopping. In this post, you’ll find stocking stuffers under $5 for women, , men’s stocking stuffers under $5, and stocking stuffers under $5 for kids.

Drop a comment and let me know which one you’re grabbing!

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

Stocking Stuffers Under $5 for Women

Men’s Stocking Stuffers Under $5

Stocking Stuffers Under $5 for Kids

Which stocking stuffer under 5 is your favorite?

See? You really can give thoughtful, fun gifts without spending a fortune. These stocking stuffers for under $5 are perfect for family, friends, coworkers—or even a little treat for yourself. From practical little goodies to quirky surprises, these cheap stocking stuffers under $5 prove that tiny gifts can make big memories.

So go ahead, grab a few, tuck them in stockings, and enjoy the holidays stress-free. After all, the best gifts don’t have to be expensive—they just have to be fun, thoughtful, and under $5.

The post 67+ Best Stocking Stuffers for Under $5 appeared first on The Allie Edition.

You’re probably wondering, what do you get the person who basically lives on their laptop, rotates between the couch and their desk, and has a mild obsession with good lighting and comfy clothes? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. 😉 There’s actually a lot of things that we don’t think about but could really make our lives easier, or home office much cozier.

Whether you’re shopping for a coworker, your partner, your best friend, or honestly… yourself (because treat yourself, always), this roundup covers a healthy mix of thoughtful, practical, cozy, and even humorous gifts for remote workers.

These are the kinds of gifts that make long workdays feel easier, lighter, and a whole lot more enjoyable. Because believe me, when you’re sitting at the desk staring at a screen for 8 hours straight, 5-7 days a week, “more enjoyable” is exactly what we need!!

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

Picking the Perfect Gifts For Remote Workers

At the end of the day, the best gifts for remote workers are the ones that support their everyday routines—whether that means helping them stay organized, keeping them comfy, or giving them a little boost of motivation during the afternoon slump. Any item on this list will be perfect, especially if you want something that feels personal and practical.

So if you’ve been wondering what to buy the remote worker in your life, consider this your go-to guide. These gifts for remote workers aren’t just fun—they’re things people will actually use, love, and thank you for later.

P.S. If you can’t tell, I love cats. 🤭

The post 36 Insanely Good Gifts for Remote Workers appeared first on The Allie Edition.

These money lessons highlight the very things I talk about here on The Allie Edition: budgeting smarter, saving intentionally, managing your money with confidence, and building a life you love through remote work. So let’s dive in!

This site contains affiliate links. These help fund my blog site at no extra cost to you. View the disclaimer for more information.

Money Lesson #1: Investing Is What Keeps Your Hard Work Working

By now, you probably know just how important it is to save your money and build better budgeting habits that will allow you to set yourself up financially. Budgeting and saving are the foundations of financial stability and control. But what do you do when you’ve got your budgeting down to a tee and you’ve developed strong saving habits, to the point you’ve got your emergency fund established and have made great progress on your sinking funds?

That’s where investing comes in. Investing is how you make sure all of the hard work you put in up front to save your money is sustained for the long-term. Investing takes that consistency and turns it into long-term growth, so that your dollars are working just as hard (if not harder) than you did to earn it.

So, if you are in a position where you can put even $20/month aside to invest, now’s the perfect time to start. A common starting point is setting up your 401(k) retirement account with your employer and contributing the minimum amount they will match (often between 4-6%). Additionally, you can set up a Roth IRA (another type of retirement account but not typically employer matched) or open a taxable brokerage account and invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, etc. Once you are able to start contributing $100+ toward investments, I would recommend diversifying your portfolio across different investment accounts and types to maximize your ROI (return on investment). Reminder that I am not a financial advisor and this is for educational purposes only, read the disclaimer for more information.

Money Lesson #2: Passive Income Creates Real Flexibility

I used to think earning a six-figure salary was the dream. But earning six-figures while you sleep? While you travel? While you work remotely from somewhere sunny? That’s a whole different level of freedom called passive income.

If you don’t have a passive income stream yet, now’s the perfect time to start exploring your options — whether that’s through affiliate marketing, selling digital products, investing, starting a side hustle like blogging, or something small on the side. Passive income is a key part of money management and a huge piece of creating more time and financial freedom.

If you’re interested in learning how to start blogging like me, Sophia Lee’s Perfecting Blogging Course Bundle taught me everything I know. It walks you through everything step by step, from setting up your blog, to getting on Pinterest, and actually making money from it. Whether you’re a complete beginner (like I once was!) or someone looking to refine your strategy, her course is designed to help you succeed.

The best part? I was able to start making money within my first year. If I can do it, so can you. If you’re even a little curious, take the first step—your future side hustle (and your bank account) will thank you!

Money Lesson #3: Strategy > Effort

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had to make was realizing that working harder doesn’t guarantee earning a higher income. I know it might sound counter-intuitive but hear me out. The thing is, income isn’t only tied to effort; if it was, I’m sure most of us would be billionaires by now! Income is also tied to strategy, the skills you build, the opportunities you take, and how you leverage your time (emphasis on being picky with your time!).

When you’re intentional — with your budget, your savings plan, the skills you hone into, and most importantly the way you spend your time— everything starts to shift. A few habits that have helped me improve on being intentional include:

• Saying no to what drains me or doesn’t add value to my life
• Saying yes to the things that terrify me, but are aligned with the direction I want to go in, because this is often when I grow the most
• And living like the version of myself that I desire to become—right NOW, not just “one day.” This applies to the way you think, speak, feel, act, react, etc.

Though these shifts may seem small, they will help you grow your finances, your career, and your confidence. And might I add, can help you build your wealth much faster than solely trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Build Wealth on Your Terms

If there’s one thing you take from this post on money lessons, let it be this: You don’t have to wait 5, 10, or 15+ years to start making real money and feel financially secure. You can start now — by investing, building passive income, strengthening your money habits, and exploring flexible work options that support the lifestyle you want.

Whether it’s remote work, starting a side business, or getting serious about your savings, your future self will thank you for taking the first step today.

Take action: Drop a comment down below and let me know which one of these 3 money lessons resonated with you the most. I’d love to hear from you!

Make sure to check out my other posts on The Allie Edition which go in-depth on topics around budgeting smarter, saving more money, mastering money management, and thriving in remote work.

The post 3 Essential Money Lessons to Help You Build Wealth Faster appeared first on The Allie Edition.