Guilt-free spending isn’t about bypassing your budget. It’s about making sure you spend money in a way that is aligned with what truly brings you value, joy, and peace of mind. Once the essentials are covered, how you spend your money should reflect what matters to you, not anyone else.

Here are essential tips for feeling good about—intentionally—spending.

Prioritizing Like vs. Love

“Do I like this… or do I love it?”

It’s a simple question that can dramatically change how you spend your money.

When every sale is screaming your name, it’s easy to get caught up in spending on “likes”—impulse buys and fleeting trends that are fun but not core to building what drives your happiness. That’s where the Like vs. Love framework comes in to help you prioritize…

❤️ “Love” spending aligns with your values and lifestyle—like purchasing appreciating assets or checking off your bucket list. These things bring you long lasting satisfaction and contribute to building a better life.

👍🏽 “Like” spending is driven by temporary value—things we often forget by next month. This kind of spending is often driven by peer pressure, convenience shopping, and even addiction.

To help you shift over to “Love” spending, start with assessing the money left over after you pay your bills. Set aside money into a “Love” savings account for what you love most.

Next, check in with Money Management to assess your spending habits. Do you see how often “Likes” creep into your monthly spending? Now you can reevaluate your spending next month so you have money left over to put in your “Love” account.

A month of unplanned “Likes” can easily add up to one unforgettable “Love” so choose wisely!

Purposeful Spending in Practice

One smart way to make guilt-free spending feel good? Use the Cost-Per-Use Rule.

It’s simple. Take the price of something and divide it by how often you’ll realistically use it.

A $100 jacket you will wear 100 times? That equals $1 per wear. Now compare that to a $25 trendy top that you wear twice. That equals $12.50 per wear—and then it’s straight to the donation pile. The better investment is clear!

It’s a mindset shift we break down in our Purchasing With Purpose guide. When you spend through a value lens, you naturally buy better, not more.

Mindful Money Moves

Staying on top of your finances helps you maximize money left over each month to spend, invest, or save strategically. Making the right money moves is easiest when you receive the right advice.

By using WiseOne™ Insights—our AI-powered financial wellness companion—you take full advantage of a tool that offers real-time, personalized guidance to help you make smarter money moves. Get alerts when your spending is off-trend, know when you have extra money available to save in your “Love” account, and get actionable debt-payoff strategies.

When you spend on what you love and use the right tools to help you make mindful money moves, you give yourself the room to spend guilt-free.

Now you have a guide to spend confidently, knowing that you are making both valuable choices and not overstepping your financial responsibilities.