Chapter 35, Part 6: Budgeting for Abundance: The Spirituality and Practicality of Money
I used to think budgeting was primarily about restriction. Don't spend too much. Cut expenses. Save more. Stay within the lines. But the older I get—and the more I've worked with entrepreneurs and money—the more I see budgeting differently. A budget isn't a punishment. It's a plan for what you want your money to make possible.
That shift is at the heart of what I call Budgeting for Abundance. Abundance doesn't mean pretending money isn't a problem or repeating positive affirmations while ignoring your bank account. Spirituality doesn't replace financial literacy. And being practical about money doesn't mean you have to abandon your values. To me, true abundance lives in the intersection of both. You need to know your numbers and understand your relationship with those numbers.
Start by asking a deceptively simple question: What does abundance actually mean to me? For one person, it might mean a paid-off house. For another, it might mean working four days a week. It might mean traveling, supporting family, having a financial cushion, donating to causes you care about, taking time off, or simply not feeling anxious every time a bill arrives. There is no universal definition of abundance. If you don't define it for yourself, you can spend your entire life chasing someone else's version.
Then comes the practical part. What comes in? What goes out? What are your fixed expenses? What are your goals? What are you spending money on because it genuinely matters to you—and what are you spending because of fear, comparison, impulse, or habit? A budget can become a values document. It can show you what you prioritize, where your money is leaking, and where you have opportunities to create more freedom.
I've come to believe that money is both practical and deeply personal. It can bring up fear, safety, worthiness, identity, control, freedom, and possibility. That's why the most powerful financial conversations aren't only about spreadsheets. They're also about the life you're trying to create. Budgeting for abundance is ultimately about making your money serve your values instead of allowing money to dictate your values.