Let's talk about Conscious Spending.
Okay, wait - what even is that?
To me, Conscious Spending is the art — not science — of actually thinking about what you're buying. Mind blown?
Start With the Why
Before we break it down, let's start with the why. I love whys. In this case, our why is our motivation — the thing that keeps us going when the small, frequent decisions start to feel exhausting. It's our resilience factor.
Why do I want to be better with my spending? What am I willing to sacrifice short-term to achieve something long-term?
Defining your why might look like:
Some examples to get you thinking:
- I want to pull together the rest of my house deposit.
- I want to set good examples for my kids.
- I want to free up spare cash to give my family new opportunities.
- I want to spend on what's actually important to me.
The Art (Not Science) of Thinking About What You're Buying
It sounds simple, right? "Just think about what you're doing."
No, but it is simple — and you're probably already doing it. There's no one right way. Here are some concepts I use to paint the picture:
This is where you cue the girl math jokes — but I don't mean impulse-buying something just because it's discounted. I mean comparing two consumables in the Woolworths aisle. (Or Aldi — actually, new tip: always shop at Aldi.)
Look at what's actually on sale. Be flexible with brands. Check the unit price and price per 100g. Being organised means you can stock up when something's genuinely discounted — or wait a week until it is.
I grew up with six brothers, so I only ever shopped sales. If there weren't sales, I wouldn't eat. (Sorry, Mum.) 😅
"But I want it!!!"
When it comes to wants — not needs — a few things are at play. First: marketing. Do you really want it, or is it the pretty colours and the lifestyle being sold to you? Spoiler: we're never going to look like the models in the photoshoot, so the product won't look that good on us either.
Change your opinion about yourself. See yourself as someone who's not an impulse buyer. Give yourself credit for being able to say no. You've got this.
If the marketing's got its hooks in you and you still want it — fine. But pause.
Start buying based on two metrics: quality and price. Nothing else. Not brand names, not hype — just those two.
A rich person can afford $50 boots that last ten years. A poor person buys $10 boots that fall apart every season. Over a decade, the poor person spends $100 and still has wet feet — while the rich person spends half that and stays dry.
— The Sam Vimes "Boots" Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness, Sir Terry PratchettRead up on the Sam Vimes "Boots" Theory — it's one of the most quietly powerful ideas in personal finance, and it came from a fantasy novel. Cheap isn't always cheaper.
Facebook Marketplace isn't for everyone — but if you can handle the time-wasters, go nuts.
We recently bought a doggy door for $50. The same one at Bunnings? $150. Both brand new. A little mucking around saved us $100. 🐾
Know the value of things. A FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) podcast taught me this: calculate the actual cost of a trip before you go.
Say I'm driving from New Farm to Currumbin Beach — about 100km. My Mitsubishi Eclipse uses 7.5L per 100km, and fuel's $2.05/L.
Easy. Sure. Moving on.
Don't get trapped by brands. Remember: brands become successful because of quality and marketing — not price. And once they're too successful, they often change materials and raise prices to boost profit margins. The name on the label isn't always worth the premium.
Conscious Spending isn't about being tight. It's about being intentional. Think before you buy, know your why, pause on the big stuff, and compare before you commit. That's it. No spreadsheets required.