Financial Self-Care: Finding the Mix in Business and Life

Caring for yourself looks different for everyone, but the thing we all share is that it’s important to know how best to do so. This holds true for finances, too! Whether your money is what brings you opportunities for self-care or is itself part of your self-care routine, it’s good to find a balance that allows you to stay on track toward your financial goals without neglecting your physical and mental wellbeing.

In this article the EViE team shares our unique perspectives on what it means to practice financial self-care.

Melissa

Financial self-care has transformed how I run both my business and personal life. For me, it's never been about rigid spreadsheets or following someone else's prescribed money rules. It's about creating a thoughtful relationship with money that supports my wellbeing today while building toward my future vision. Here's my take on what financial self-care actually looks like in practice.

Finding Balance Through Intention

I've experienced both extremes of the financial spectrum — the strict budgeting that left me feeling deprived, and the carefree spending that eventually led to unnecessary stress. Neither approach was sustainable nor satisfying to me, although I did have quite a full closet at the outset of some of that “healing.” I do, candidly, miss that. 

But alas, self-care isn’t about filling up a never-ending bucket. For me, it’s something else altogether.

My version of financial self-care centers on intentionally balancing present enjoyment with future security. I regularly reassess where my money goes based on current priorities, business cycles, and personal needs. This flexibility has been crucial in maintaining financial health without sacrificing the things that bring me joy in the moment.

The Value of Convenience

One cornerstone of my financial self-care practice these days, though, is investing in conveniences when possible. Now, I fully recognize that this is a luxury not available to everyone, but it has been transformative for my well-being and productivity over the last few years. It has also meant that I tend to be called fancy, too much, or bougie for those who know. I may be all these things, and I’m okay with that from a financial perspective because it reduces stress for me!

This may look like meal delivery during hectic periods, household cleaning services when I can certainly do it myself, or updated travel accommodations that cost a pretty penny. These all reduce significant logistical and time-sucking stress for me, and they fit within my budget. I've learned that money spent on reducing my mental load is an investment, not an indulgence, no matter what external forces project onto me.

By thoughtfully outsourcing tasks that drain my energy, I create space for activities that either generate more income or significantly enhance my quality of life. Easy as pie, and yes, it costs money.

Other Self-Care Thoughts

It’s also important to note that financial self-care means creating money management systems that align with my actual habits and personality. After trying super complex budgeting methods that never stuck and didn't feel good, I've embraced simpler approaches that work naturally with how I think and operate. If you know me, just think buckets! It works for me to streamline things into a mostly automated system and then let it run.

However, the most powerful aspect of financial self-care is building flexibility into my finances. Having enough reserves for personal and business needs provides not just security, but true freedom to move. I can make decisions with confidence rather than fear. This buffer gives me the space to adapt to changing circumstances, pursue new opportunities, and occasionally step back to recharge without constant financial anxiety. What a lovely place to be. 

Overall, financial self-care looks different for everyone, but it always involves aligning money practices with personal values. For me, it means weaving self-care throughout my financial decisions — from how I structure my business expenses to how I prioritize spending on things that matter most.

Briana

When it comes to my own financial self-care, there are two key things I always come back to: knowing my score and prioritizing experiences that bring me joy. 

Life is all about balance. 

For me, creating financial freedom isn’t just about hitting a certain number — it’s about giving myself the flexibility and options that lead to fulfillment. Whether I have been focused on paying down debt or building wealth, I carve out time for a financial date with myself at least quarterly. It’s my way of zooming out to see the big picture, especially when certain short-term goals take longer than I expected. That time helps me realign, recalibrate, and keep moving forward with clarity.

Money is a powerful tool, but it’s not something I want to obsess over. Because I stay connected to the bigger vision, I can make thoughtful, intentional decisions about what really matters to me, like travel, connection, and personal growth. 

Whether I’m buying a plane ticket, splurging on concert seats, or signing up for a breathwork workshop, I want to enjoy life now, knowing that I’m also laying a solid foundation for the future. 

Financial self-care, to me, is about creating a life that feels good — on paper and in practice.

Erin

It will come as no surprise to those who know me that I am a meticulous kind of a person. I’m fun-loving, don’t get me wrong, but my approach to most things is analytical, detail-oriented, and data-driven… makes sense that I’m in Operations, doesn’t it?

While I do make an effort not to miss the forest for the trees, I must admit that my approach to my own personal finances is very much in keeping with my detail-oriented nature, partially because it has to be, and partially because it’s simply what works best for me!

Budgeting as a Form of Self-Care

I have been a single mom for my teenage son’s entire lifetime, and that has meant serious budgeting from A to Z. Am I good at sticking to a budget? Honestly… nope! But the lessons I learned earlier in my life and throughout my son’s lifetime have helped me develop a method that works for me, and that sets me up for success when managing what can sometimes be chaotic or conflicting financial goals and needs.

Anyone who is used to either running their entire financial household or sticking to a tight budget (or both!) can tell you that there can be a ton of anxiety wrapped up in the very act of budgeting, and in sudden or unexpected expenses. I’m thankful that my fastidious nature means that budgeting itself kind of feels like solving a puzzle… figuring out when, where, and how everything fits can actually reduce my anxiety and show me exactly how much wiggle room I do — or sometimes don’t — have.

Budgeting isn’t everyone’s first (or second, or third, or…) choice of stress-relief activity, but if you’re anything like me you may find that maintaining your budget with tools, spreadsheets, or whatever else feels right to you can actually make you feel more on top of things and less stressed, and can allow you to set aside funds to help when those surprise expenses do crop up.

Planning for the Fun Stuff

Living within a strict budget often feels like you have to give up on fun stuff, but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, I firmly believe it shouldn’t be true! If possible, I think it’s crucial for everyone to build exciting extras — from small treats to fun experiences — into their budget. This may not be easy, but in my opinion it’s absolutely crucial to remember that money is for living. I save for affordable vacations for our little family, I build mother-son dinners out into our monthly budget, and I set aside money for those days when I just can’t possibly be bothered to cook dinner. 

I do my best to remain faithful to my budget, but I don’t think I could be faithful to a budget that didn’t include carefully planned padding for those little extras.

Financial Self-Care: The Bottom Line

No matter your current financial picture or your goals, it’s important to remember that self-care should be a priority. Self-care can (and should!) scale to meet your needs, your budget, your goals, and your lifestyle, and it should account for your own personality and tendencies as well.

As a firm, we believe that every person’s financial path — including financial self-care — should be tailored to them, and not one-size fits all. Need help building out a plan that makes room for your self-care and financial goals? We’d love to chat.