Loud budgeting is a new personal finance trend that’s taking the internet by storm. The term was popularized by Lukas Battle, a TikTok influencer. He says that loud budgeting is the opposite of quiet luxury, a trend that involves subtly signaling your wealth to others by purchasing high-end consumer goods. Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses, the loud budgeting trend is all about embracing frugality and wearing it as a badge of honor.
Loud budgeting involves being honest with others about our financial goals. Although talking about money is still viewed as somewhat taboo, we can break the stigma by being open about our desire to save money. Although I’ve been skeptical of other finance trends like girl math, loud budgeting is a concept I can get behind. Here are 3 ways I’m planning to implement loud budgeting in my life to save money.
Tell Family and Friends About My Financial Goals
I’m pretty transparent with my loved ones about my lifestyle goals. When I’m on a diet, I usually tell family and friends about it. I have no problem saying I can’t eat dessert because it doesn’t fit into my diet plan. However, I’d be a bit embarrassed to admit to my friends that I can’t eat out with them because I’m on a budget.
There’s still a stigma attached to being frugal and living on a budget. Although I write about money online, I don’t talk about my budget in real life because I’m afraid I’ll come across as cheap or miserly. But the loud budgeting trend is a great reminder that being financially responsible is nothing to be ashamed of.
Next time I can’t afford to participate in an activity due to my budget, I plan to be honest instead of coming up with a different excuse. My family and friends support my fitness goals, so I’m sure they’ll cheer me on while I’m trying to achieve financial security.
Stop Caring About Brands
When I was a teenager, I used to care a lot about brands. I loved designer clothing and followed style trends. Although I’ve mostly outgrown this obsession with brands, I’m not immune to peer pressure.
For example, a few months ago I almost bought a Stanley Cup. Even though I already owned a few insulated water bottles, I liked the color and design of the Stanley more. Luckily I was able to talk myself out of the purchase. But I almost wasted money on something I didn’t need due to online hype, which was a wake-up call.
In the spirit of loud budgeting, I’m going to try to stop focusing on and caring about brands once and for all. To achieve this, I plan to spend less time on social media. If I delete TikTok and Instagram, then I won’t find out about the latest trends.
I’m also going to embrace my no-name thrift store finds. If someone asks me where my top is from, I’m going to proudly respond that I found it at Goodwill. There’s no reason to be ashamed of wearing used clothing. After all, I’m not trying to impress anyone, so I have no incentive to purchase luxury brands as a status symbol.
Find an Accountability Buddy
Loud budgeting is all about breaking the taboo around money and finding a community that supports your financial goals. Although I’m sure my family and friends will cheer me on, I’d love to get a money accountability buddy to help me stick to my budget. Accountability partnerships have worked well for me in the past, helping me lose close to 100 pounds as a young adult. I’ve never sought out this type of support for my financial goals before. But the loud budgeting trend has encouraged me to give it a shot.
I recently found a forum on Reddit where you can connect with others seeking an accountability partner. I’m planning to use the group to find a money buddy to keep me on track. I find that sharing my goals with others makes them more real and concrete. Plans that only exist in my head are easier to disregard than goals I’ve told others about.
Checking in with someone about my progress regularly is also helpful. I want to be able to share good news about my success with my accountability partner, which makes me more mindful of my day-to-day choices. Asking myself what my accountability buddy would think about my decisions helps keep me on the right track.
What do you think about the loud budgeting trend? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
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