Spring Clean Your Finances With Simple Habits That Build Real Wealth
The following article is by Kim Potgieter, Certified Financial Planner, author and coach; who gives us some valuable insight into money management strategies that can not only provide women with independence but also help one thrive in the financial world:
Spring brings renewal and possibility, making it the perfect time to declutter more than just your home. Our financial lives accumulate clutter too: outdated habits, emotional baggage, and unconscious beliefs that sabotage our wealth-building efforts.
With December holidays approaching and a financially tight January looming, now is the time to examine how you spend, save, and think about money. What financial habits should you keep, eliminate, or completely overhaul?
Your money habits shape everything
Most people don’t realise how profoundly their money habits influence daily decisions and long-term outcomes. Behind every financial behaviour lies a belief, emotion, or story – often formed years ago without conscious awareness.
As a financial planner, I’ve watched clients unknowingly sabotage even the best financial strategies through unconscious behaviours and inherited money beliefs. The solution isn’t just better budgeting, it’s understanding the deeper patterns driving your choices.
Accumulating wealth isn’t a skill, it’s a habit
When you save consistently, live below your means, and persevere, you develop wealth-building habits that compound over time. I recently asked retired clients what they wished they’d known earlier. Their unanimous answer: “I wish I had started saving sooner and understood compound interest.”
Think of a snowball rolling downhill, gathering momentum and mass. Investments work similarly – growing through interest, dividends, and capital appreciation. That growth gets reinvested, creating interest on your interest. The earlier you start, the more powerful this effect becomes.
It’s tempting to wait for better market conditions, fewer expenses, or higher income. But there’s always something to fix, fund, or pay for. The cost of delaying savings and investment is simply too high.
If you start just one habit this spring, make it this: set aside a portion of your income for savings, no matter how small.
The habits helping (and hurting) you
We’re often unaware of the financial habits operating quietly in our lives. You might catch yourself:
- Avoiding bank balances because they feel overwhelming
- Always prioritising others’ needs over your financial goals
- Impulse buying for a temporary emotional “high”
- Operating without a budget and hoping for the best
But habits can work in your favour:
- Saving consistently before spending
- Having regular money conversations
- Setting boundaries around financial requests
- Regular budget check-ins with yourself or a financial planner
Reflection questions:
- What money habits do I repeat most often?
- Do these habits align with my values and goals?
- Are they building the life I want?
You don’t need to overhaul everything. Choose one habit to abandon or one new habit to cultivate.
Recognise your emotional triggers
Sometimes the emotion driving a habit needs more attention than the habit itself.
We all have financial triggers. Some fear scarcity. Others carry guilt, shame, or beliefs about being “bad with money.” My trigger? When someone tries to control or manipulate me financially, it awakens my inner two-year-old, and I react emotionally instead of mindfully.
When triggered, pause and ask:
- What situations cause me to overspend or shut down?
- When do I feel panic, shame, or defensiveness about money?
- What emotion is driving this decision?
Simply naming the emotion helps you respond more thoughtfully.
Start small with one habit at a time
Inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, I’ve learned that success comes from small, consistent actions that become part of your identity, not massive transformations.
Try these spring financial habits:
- Replace one spending habit (like daily coffee purchases) with automatic savings
- Set up automatic savings transfers
- Monthly bank statement reviews to identify:
- Unused subscriptions to cancel
- Memberships you no longer use
- Surprising spending patterns on delivery services or online shopping
These small steps create awareness, and awareness creates change.
Align habits with your future self
James Clear reminds us that good habits cost us in the present, while bad habits cost us in the future. Bad habits typically feel good immediately – that chocolate brownie tastes great now, but what about your health goals? The shiny new car provides instant gratification, but how does it impact long-term savings?
Good habits may not bring instant joy, but their long-term rewards far exceed momentary pleasures. When considering your future self and the life you’re building, ask: What habits will help me get there? Making good choices becomes easier when your habits align with your values and you can see the bigger picture. Let your financial habits reflect the purposeful life you’re creating – one guided by the future you want to live.
Kim Potgieter is a Certified Financial Planner, author, and coach. For more information, visit the Chartered Wealth website.