What 25 push-ups taught me about money

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🤔How Do We Build Our Financial Muscles?

Just like my push-up journey, our financial journeys need consistent effort, proper technique, and sometimes a little accountability to keep us going.

The obvious solution might seem to be making a budget and sticking to it.

But just like exercising, if you've never done it before, starting with 137 financial push-ups (aka a complete budget overhaul) might be setting yourself up for failure.

Instead, what if we started small but consistent? What if we had financial "workout buddies" to keep us accountable?

Let's consider how we can apply what I learned from my push-up challenge to our finances...

Here's a kind of weird scenario playing out…

On day one of my push-up challenge, I could barely do 12 without my arms shaking like crazy.

But I did those 12, and then the next day, I did 12 more.

I didn't try to do 50 on day two. I stuck with the manageable number.

By week two, those 12 push-ups felt easier, so I added a few more. Now I'm at 25 and feeling stronger than I have in years!

Our finances work the exact same way.

Maybe you can't overhaul your entire budget system today. Maybe you can't magically save 30% of your income this month. But you CAN take one small, consistent action. And then another. And another.

(I swear I'm going somewhere with this by the way)

🔍 The Reality Check Before my push-up challenge, I made every excuse in the book:

• "I don't have time"

• "I'm not strong enough"

• "I'll start next week"

Sound familiar? These are the EXACT same excuses we make about our finances:

• "I don't have time to track my spending"

• "I don't make enough to save"

• "I'll start budgeting after this busy month"

The truth?

Starting small is better than not starting at all.

…And consistency beats perfection every single time.

✔️ Your Financial Push-up Plan

Just like my physical push-ups, here's how to build your financial strength one rep at a time:

1. The One-Rep Start: Choose just ONE financial habit to master first. This could be:

• Tracking just your coffee spending for a week

• Setting aside $5 every Friday

• Checking your account balance daily

Make it so easy you can't say no. This builds your financial mindset muscle before anything else.

2. The Progressive Overload Method: Once your starter habit feels easy (usually 2-3 weeks in):

• Slightly increase the challenge

• For example: Move from tracking coffee to tracking all food expenses

• Or increase your savings from $5 to $10 weekly

Remember how I went from 12 to 15 to 20 to 25 push-ups? Your financial habits should grow the same way - gradually and sustainably.

3. The Accountability Boost: This was my game-changer with push-ups and works for finances too:

• Tell someone about your financial goals

• Ask them to check in regularly

• Consider a money buddy who's also working on their finances

• Share wins to stay motivated

Those daily texts from my friends asking "Did you do your push-ups today?" were annoying but effective! Who could do the same for your financial habits?

🚫 Common Financial Fitness Fails

Just like with exercise, there are some classic mistakes to watch out for:

The "All-or-Nothing" Trap: Many people think they need to create a perfect budget immediately or save huge amounts right away. That's like expecting to do 100 push-ups on day one!

….And if you need help getting started, check out our huge range of simple-to-use budgets here.

Start with tiny habits that feel almost too easy. Success will build confidence and momentum.

The "January 1st Syndrome": We've all made those grand New Year's resolutions that fizzle by February. Financial transformations often follow the same pattern.

Instead of "I'm going to completely overhaul my finances this weekend," try "I'm going to take one small step today, and another tomorrow."

The "Comparison Killer": Comparing your day 1 to someone else's day 1,000 is a motivation killer.

Remember: I started at 12 push-ups while my friends were doing over 100.

Had I compared myself to them, I might have given up before seeing any progress.

💭 Final Thoughts 

You know what's funny about my push-up challenge?

I started doing it just to get my friends off my back.

But somewhere along the way, I started doing it for me. I started noticing the benefits, feeling stronger, and actually looking forward to that little daily ritual.

The same thing happens with our financial habits. What starts as a chore becomes a pathway to something greater - freedom, security, and peace of mind.

…And of course, if you want to manage your finances like a pro, feel free to visit our store here.

It starts with the decision to manage your money - even if it's on a small scale now, that habit will grow with you over time.

…And if you are already budgeting, kudos to you! I'd love to hear how you've been going so far and what resources would help.

I don't always get the chance to reply to emails, but read them all and I love hearing from you.

Hit reply and let me know!

To your success,

Ren