The Cornerstone of Wealth Everyone Gets Wrong!

Good Morning, sunshine, and it is time to head ToTheUnknown!

Before we dive into the fun stuff—like how to stack cash like a madman (I’m referring to you, Mr. Krabs)—

let’s tackle the basics:

•  🧱The Cornerstone of Wealth Everyone Gets Wrong

•  💵Budgeting 101 and explained

• 💡 Pro Tip: Create a Financial Margin

• 🗣️Call-to-Action

🧱The Cornerstone of Wealth Everyone Gets Wrong

First up, budgeting—aka the financial broccoli no one wants to eat, but everyone needs. Let me guess, you’re thinking:

• “Budgeting is just about restricting your spending.”

• “It’s for people who can’t handle money.”

• “I make good money, so why bother?”

Let’s be real for a second:

Budgeting is for everyone—whether you’re broke, balling, or somewhere between. Even celebs budget—yes, even on diamond-encrusted phone cases (looking at you, Kardashians).

So, if you’re out here winging it, it’s time to stop.

The truth?

Budgeting isn’t about cutting out all the fun. It’s about taking control—telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.

💵Budgeting 101 – Explained

So, what’s this so-called ‘financial broccoli’?

At its core, budgeting is about taking control of your money. It’s simply a strategy to ensure you spend less than you earn. That’s budgeting in a nutshell.

A solid budget keeps you from living paycheck-to-paycheck and sets you on the path to financial freedom. And let’s be real—that’s exactly why you’re here, right?

If not, hey, I’m still glad you’re finding it useful. We’re in this together!

Here’s a shocking stat: a recent survey showed 60% of Americans don’t even have $1,000 saved for an emergency. Yikes. That’s a lot, like a lot, lot.

What should you do with this? Panic and go to sleep?

Of course not! It’s time to take action.

Step 1: Track Every Penny 💰

Before you can fix your habits, you need to understand them. Check out apps like Mint, YNAB, or Wallet (my personal pick—not sponsored, just obsessed) to see where your money’s going.

Spoiler: It’s probably that daily coffee habit or unused gym membership. (Can’t relate on that last one—I’m a proud gym enthusiast!)

Step 2: Set Clear Goals 🎯

Want to save for a trip? Build an emergency fund? Start investing? Write it down. Trust me, having specific goals changes the game.

Step 3: Follow the 50/30/20 Rule 📊

Allocate your income to essentials (needs), fun (wants), and future (savings/investments). Like this:

• 50% for needs (housing, food)

• 30% for wants (nights out, Netflix)

• 20% for savings or paying off debt

Personally, I’ve tweaked it:

• 70% for wants/future (investments)

• 20% for future (savings)

• 10% for fun (do what I want)

Usually, the 10% ends up in my investments. I know, I know, you’re say’n I don’t have a life.

But hey, I spend quality time with my family!

The bottom line? Without a budget, you're unlikely to make any real progress financially. But once you implement one, that’s when things start to click.

💡 Pro Tip: Create a Financial Margin

Okay, picture this:

You’re reading a book, and it’s packed with words, no space, no room to breathe. Your eyes hurt, and your brain's on overload. That's your finances without a margin.

Now, let’s add some space—like those blank areas around the words in a book. That's your financial margin. It's the cushion of cash left over after you’ve paid for the essentials (like rent, food, and Netflix—because priorities). It’s like your money’s “personal space” where it can chill and relax.

Without a budget, that space doesn’t exist. Your finances get all squished up, and you're living life in financial chaos, no room for anything extra. But when you create a margin, you give your money some room to breathe, make a plan, and have a little cushion for those “uh-oh” moments.

So yeah, think of your budget like the layout of a book—give your money some breathing room, and you’ll feel a lot less stressed. And trust me, it's way easier to read when there’s space to spare!

🗣️Call-to-Action

As always, I like to end things up with something actionous (and no, that’s still not a real word… yet). Maybe I’m ahead of my time, or maybe I’m just dumb—who’s to say?

Here’s the deal:

Start small, because big changes happen in tiny steps.

1. Review Your Spending: Look back at the last three months and find out where your money has been sneaking off to.

2. Quick Wins: Spot the low-hanging fruit—cancel unused subscriptions, cut back on takeout, or skip those “splurge” purchases that aren’t sparking joy.

Budgeting is like training for a marathon (and yes, I might run one this summer). It’s tough at first, but once you’re in the groove, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. So start today, even if it’s messy. Your future self will thank you.

Now go out there and budget like a pro! 🏆

That’s all for this week, people! If you have any questions or things you’d like me to change, you can reach me through X or Facebook MMM.

I hope you had an amazing week, and I look forward to seeing you next Sunday!