12 Steps I Took to Stop Feeling Broke (That No One Talks About)
12 Things I Did to Stop Feeling Broke (That I’ve Never Admitted Out Loud)
21, tired of overdraft anxiety, and finally doing something about it
Let’s be real. I wasn’t just broke—I was in a constant state of low-key panic. Like the kind where checking your bank balance feels like opening a scary text. I wasn’t in debt-debt, but I was always behind. Always saying “I can’t afford it.” Always pretending I was fine while secretly googling “how to budget when you make basically nothing.”
And yeah, I tried the usual tips. “Stop buying coffee.” “Use a spreadsheet.” But the stuff that actually helped? Way less Pinterest-y. So here it is—unfiltered. The weird, random, kind-of-unspoken steps that helped me stop feeling broke and start feeling like I had my life together (even just a little).
I renamed my bank account.
Hear me out. I literally changed the name of my savings account to “Hot Girl Emergency Fund.” It sounds dumb, but it made me want to put money in it. Suddenly it wasn’t just about saving—it was about being that girl who has her back, always.
I stopped using my card like it was fake money.
Contactless was destroying me. I switched to cash for weekly spending—£50, that’s it. If I ran out, I stayed in. No shame. It made me way more aware of how fast money disappears.
I made a playlist called “Rich Girl Energy.”
This wasn’t about manifesting millions. It was about feeling better. I’d listen to it every time I wanted to shop out of boredom. Dancing around to Beyoncé costs £0 and reminds you who you are.
I turned unfollowing people into self-care.
Anyone who made me feel like I needed to buy more to be enough? Gone. Not because they did anything wrong, but because comparison is a wallet-killer.
I romanticized cheap meals.
Instant noodles in a cute bowl. Aldi wine with fairy lights. Cheese toasties with a podcast. I stopped treating budget food like it was sad. It actually became… kinda cozy?
I started tracking the money I didn’t spend.
Didn’t order that £25 Uber? Noted. Walked instead of taking the train? Wrote it down. Seeing those “non-spends” gave me this weird little rush—like I was winning.
I stopped trying to look rich.
Once I stopped dressing for the Instagram version of myself and started dressing for comfort, creativity, and confidence—I felt lighter. And I spent way less.
I asked myself “future me” questions.
Would future me thank me for this late-night £19 Shein haul? Or would she be annoyed and still broke? Asking this stopped so many dumb buys in their tracks.
I found joy in stupid little side hustles.
Not a big business. Just things like flipping vintage clothes, selling old uni notes, or doing chill freelance gigs. Small cash boosts made a huge difference—and reminded me I wasn’t helpless.
I started calling saving a flex.
We don’t talk about this enough, but saving is hot. Having money left at the end of the week? Sexy. Declining a night out because your goals matter? Powerful.
I made peace with being “in my building era.”
I stopped expecting to feel rich at 21. This is the part of the movie where I’m figuring it out, learning lessons, making messy decisions. That thought alone made me feel less behind.
I stopped waiting to “have more” before acting different.
I used to think I had to earn more before I could feel better about money. But the truth? The feeling comes first. Small shifts, even with £10, change everything.
Not gonna lie:
I still don’t have it all figured out. Sometimes I splurge on iced coffee and regret it. Sometimes I panic mid-month. But I’ve come a long way. I don’t feel powerless anymore. I don’t feel trapped. And honestly? That’s what I wanted all along.
If you’re feeling broke, stuck, or like you’ll “never get ahead” — please know this: it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about how you treat yourself when the numbers are low. Start there.
Everything else comes with time.