the $0 rule: what happened when i tracked every dollar for 30 days...fit finances™ series – part 5
- Heather Newman
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
i didn’t expect a $14 amazon order to unravel me.
but that’s what happened.
it wasn’t the money — it was the pattern. the auto-pilot. the way my spending no longer felt intentional, but reactive.and that day, something clicked:
i decided to track every single dollar i spent for 30 days straight.no skipping. no guessing. no sugarcoating.
just me, my wallet, and the truth.
why this matters more than u think
you don’t need another budgeting app or shame spiral.you need structure.
and this isn’t just about “money management”
— it’s about mental clarity.
because when your finances are messy, everything else feels heavier:
→ your stress
→ your sleep
→ your relationships
→ your energy
→ your ability to think clearly
the money fog is real. and it doesn’t clear itself.
here’s what changed in 30 days
after a full month of tracking, i didn’t just feel more organized
…i felt lighter.
here’s what i learned:
1. most of my spending leaks were silent
→ small, unconscious purchases (target, amazon, groceries i didn’t cook)
→ emotional spending that numbed but never fixed the root issue
2. i was spending to feel better
but the reality?
those feel-good hits gave me 5 minutes of dopamine…and 5 days of frustration.
3. i needed a system
not a restriction. not a freeze.a real structure to make better choices — without the burnout.
introducing the $0 rule
here’s the simple shift that changed everything:
if it’s not planned, it doesn’t get purchased.if it’s not in the budget, the answer is zero.
this isn’t punishment — it’s peace.
no guilt.
no panic. just parameters.
boundaries with your bank account = structure with your life.
the free tool i swear by
i made a simple, elevated printable
—my 30-day spending tracker — and i’m sharing it with u for free:
🎁 download now at: glitteru.com/theedit
no logins, no spreadsheets, no judgment.just clarity
— in black and white.
you’ll also find my get it paid off™ 30-day challenge there too.
final thought: this isn’t just about the money
this is about becoming the woman who pays attention.who protects her energy.who doesn’t ignore the red flags — even in her own bank account.
structure is self-respect™ — and your finances deserve it, too.
🖤 ready to reset?
start with the free tracker.
grab the tracker here:
listen to the podcast now here
and if you want to go deeper, grab the $1 budget + envelope bundle at glitteru.com/theshop
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