Hack your habits
Your relationship with money is unique and likely to change over time as your life enters new phases and your goals shift. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the way you spend, nor should there be.
Here's how to find a balance between your needs, wants, and savings that works for you.
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This content reflects the real-life experiences of individuals. Participants received compensation for sharing their stories. Venmo is not making any recommendations regarding finances. Consider seeking advice from your financial advisor.
Hack your habits
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Your relationship with money is unique and likely to change over time as your life enters new phases and your goals shift. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the way you spend, nor should there be.
Here's how to find a balance between your needs, wants, and savings that works for you.
This content reflects the real-life experiences of individuals. Participants received compensation for sharing their stories. Venmo is not making any recommendations regarding finances. Consider seeking advice from your financial advisor.
Find your balance
Find your
balance
Needs
Your needs are exactly what they sound like: the necessities. Expenses like rent, groceries, and transportation that are essential for your everyday life.
Wants
Your wants are the icing on the cake, like trips, takeout, and concert tickets.
Savings
This money might one day go toward a big purchase, like a car or a vacation, or help you make it through an emergency.
READY
WHEN YOU ARE
NEEDS
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WANTS
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SAVINGS
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SavingsSavingsIf most of your money goes directly to funding your savings, you’re likely to be well-prepared for an emergency. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with money is stress-free. If most of your money goes directly to funding your savings, you’re likely to be well-prepared for an emergency. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with money is stress-free.
Avoid restrictive spending patternsAvoid restrictive spending patternsIf you find yourself struggling to make basic purchases even though you earn more than enough to afford your lifestyle, you may be overly restrictive with your spending. If you find yourself struggling to make basic purchases even though you earn more than enough to afford your lifestyle, you may be overly restrictive with your spending.
Invest in youInvest in youGive yourself permission to spend money on the things you value. And remember that investments in your health and happiness are investments in yourself. Give yourself permission to spend money on the things you value. And remember that investments in your health and happiness are investments in yourself.
Give your money room to growGive your money room to growOnce you’ve hit your savings goals, try diversifying your assets by building an investment portfolio. If you’re new to investing, be sure to start small, perform your due diligence, and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.Once you’ve hit your savings goals, try diversifying your assets by building an investment portfolio. If you’re new to investing, be sure to start small, perform your due diligence, and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.
NeedsNeedsWhether you’re living in an area with high monthly expenses, are managing your own debt or that of a family member, or simply aren’t earning as much as you’d like, there are many reasons why your needs might make up the bulk of your monthly spending. Whether you’re living in an area with high monthly expenses, are managing your own debt or that of a family member, or simply aren’t earning as much as you’d like, there are many reasons why your needs might make up the bulk of your monthly spending.
Get creativeGet creativeYou can try increasing your monthly income by starting a side gig or finding creative ways to lower your monthly needs. You can try increasing your monthly income by starting a side gig or finding creative ways to lower your monthly needs.
Lean on your communityLean on your communityIf your needs feel overwhelming, don’t be afraid to ask a financial planner, a loved one, or your community for advice or assistance. If your needs feel overwhelming, don’t be afraid to ask a financial planner, a loved one, or your community for advice or assistance.
Show yourself some compassionShow yourself some compassionRemember: Tough financial times don’t last forever, and your net worth is not a reflection of your self-worth.Remember: Tough financial times don’t last forever, and your net worth is not a reflection of your self-worth.
Wants
Wants
If you make more than enough money to meet your needs, but still find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, it may be time to examine your spending habits. If you make more than enough money to meet your needs, but still find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, it may be time to examine your spending habits.
Lifestyle inflation happens Lifestyle inflation happens As you advance in your career, you may also see your spending start to rise. It can feel nice to reward yourself with the things you value and enjoy—just be sure your spending doesn’t outpace your earnings.As you advance in your career, you may also see your spending start to rise. It can feel nice to reward yourself with the things you value and enjoy—just be sure your spending doesn’t outpace your earnings.
Set some asideSet some asideYou can allocate a portion of every paycheck to your cash reserve to help you stay covered should an unexpected expense arise.You can allocate a portion of every paycheck to your cash reserve to help you stay covered should an unexpected expense arise.
Buy what brings you joy—and budget the rest Buy what brings you joy—and budget the rest Conveniences like rides and delivery offer short-term comfort, but they may ultimately stand in the way of your larger financial goals. Consider placing a monthly cap on categories that don’t bring you long-term happiness. Conveniences like rides and delivery offer short-term comfort, but they may ultimately stand in the way of your larger financial goals. Consider placing a monthly cap on categories that don’t bring you long-term happiness.
SavingsSavingsIf most of your money goes directly to funding your savings, you’re likely to be well-prepared for an emergency. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with money is stress-free. If most of your money goes directly to funding your savings, you’re likely to be well-prepared for an emergency. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with money is stress-free.
Avoid restrictive spending patternsAvoid restrictive spending patternsIf you find yourself struggling to make basic purchases even though you earn more than enough to afford your lifestyle, you may be overly restrictive with your spending. If you find yourself struggling to make basic purchases even though you earn more than enough to afford your lifestyle, you may be overly restrictive with your spending.
Invest in youInvest in youGive yourself permission to spend money on the things you value. And remember that investments in your health and happiness are investments in yourself. Give yourself permission to spend money on the things you value. And remember that investments in your health and happiness are investments in yourself.
Give your money room to growGive your money room to growOnce you’ve hit your savings goals, try diversifying your assets by building an investment portfolio. If you’re new to investing, be sure to start small, perform your due diligence, and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.Once you’ve hit your savings goals, try diversifying your assets by building an investment portfolio. If you’re new to investing, be sure to start small, perform your due diligence, and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.
NeedsNeedsWhether you’re living in an area with high monthly expenses, are managing your own debt or that of a family member, or simply aren’t earning as much as you’d like, there are many reasons why your needs might make up the bulk of your monthly spending. Whether you’re living in an area with high monthly expenses, are managing your own debt or that of a family member, or simply aren’t earning as much as you’d like, there are many reasons why your needs might make up the bulk of your monthly spending.
Get creativeGet creativeYou can try increasing your monthly income by starting a side gig or finding creative ways to lower your monthly needs. You can try increasing your monthly income by starting a side gig or finding creative ways to lower your monthly needs.
Lean on your communityLean on your communityIf your needs feel overwhelming, don’t be afraid to ask a financial planner, a loved one, or your community for advice or assistance. If your needs feel overwhelming, don’t be afraid to ask a financial planner, a loved one, or your community for advice or assistance.
Show yourself some compassionShow yourself some compassionRemember: Tough financial times don’t last forever, and your net worth is not a reflection of your self-worth.Remember: Tough financial times don’t last forever, and your net worth is not a reflection of your self-worth.
Wants
Wants
If you make more than enough money to meet your needs, but still find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, it may be time to examine your spending habits. If you make more than enough money to meet your needs, but still find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, it may be time to examine your spending habits.Lifestyle inflation happens Lifestyle inflation happens As you advance in your career, you may also see your spending start to rise. It can feel nice to reward yourself with the things you value and enjoy—just be sure your spending doesn’t outpace your earnings.As you advance in your career, you may also see your spending start to rise. It can feel nice to reward yourself with the things you value and enjoy—just be sure your spending doesn’t outpace your earnings.
Set some asideSet some asideYou can allocate a portion of every paycheck to your cash reserve to help you stay covered should an unexpected expense arise.You can allocate a portion of every paycheck to your cash reserve to help you stay covered should an unexpected expense arise.
Buy what brings you joy—and budget the rest Buy what brings you joy—and budget the rest Conveniences like rides and delivery offer short-term comfort, but they may ultimately stand in the way of your larger financial goals. Consider placing a monthly cap on categories that don’t bring you long-term happiness. Conveniences like rides and delivery offer short-term comfort, but they may ultimately stand in the way of your larger financial goals. Consider placing a monthly cap on categories that don’t bring you long-term happiness.
SavingsSavingsIf most of your money goes directly to funding your savings, you’re likely to be well-prepared for an emergency. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with money is stress-free. If most of your money goes directly to funding your savings, you’re likely to be well-prepared for an emergency. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship with money is stress-free.
Avoid restrictive spending patternsAvoid restrictive spending patternsIf you find yourself struggling to make basic purchases even though you earn more than enough to afford your lifestyle, you may be overly restrictive with your spending. If you find yourself struggling to make basic purchases even though you earn more than enough to afford your lifestyle, you may be overly restrictive with your spending.
Invest in youInvest in youGive yourself permission to spend money on the things you value. And remember that investments in your health and happiness are investments in yourself. Give yourself permission to spend money on the things you value. And remember that investments in your health and happiness are investments in yourself.
Give your money room to growGive your money room to growOnce you’ve hit your savings goals, try diversifying your assets by building an investment portfolio. If you’re new to investing, be sure to start small, perform your due diligence, and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.Once you’ve hit your savings goals, try diversifying your assets by building an investment portfolio. If you’re new to investing, be sure to start small, perform your due diligence, and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.
Spend smarter
You work hard for your money—when you spend, you give your money the opportunity to work hard for you. Debit and credit cards that offer cash perks can give you the opportunity to earn rewards on your purchases, whether you’re paying for something you want or something you need.
(Psst. Our Debit Card offers cashback with no monthly fee or minimum balance.* You can even keep tabs right in the Venmo app—every split, share, and purchase. Pretty neat, huh?)
Spend smarter
You work hard for your money—when you spend, you give your money the opportunity to work hard for you. Debit and credit cards that offer cash perks can give you the opportunity to earn rewards on your purchases, whether you’re paying for something you want or something you need.
(Psst. Our Debit Card offers cashback with no monthly fee or minimum balance.* You can even keep tabs right in the Venmo app—every split, share, and purchase. Pretty neat, huh?)
Tackle financial anxiety head-on
Face your bank account
If you have trouble checking your bank account, you’re not alone—it’s one of the top symptoms of financial anxiety. As you assess your spending habits, remember to treat your past self with kindness and without judgment.
Make a list of goals
Your goals can be anything from paying down debt or saving for a big purchase to just learning to give yourself permission to spend the money you make. They’re completely up to you. Taking the time to reflect on your goals can help you build confidence in your financial future and remind yourself what it is you’re working towards.
Give yourself time
The most important ingredient to building a healthier financial future is time, so focus on making smaller, meaningful changes you can commit to—ones that align with your goals and help bring your needs, wants, and savings into greater balance.
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