Ep 29 | The Truth About Why Budgeting Won't Work For You
Think you’re bad with money? You’re not. You’ve just never had a system that works. In this episode of The F Word, Priya Malani breaks down why traditional budgeting is broken—and introduces reverse budgeting, a system that actually helps high earners get ahead. If you’re making six figures and still wondering where your money goes, this episode is your wake-up call. Whether you're tired of second-guessing your spending or just want to feel like you finally have something to show for your paycheck, this episode will help you ditch the budget and take control. For real.
Tune Into This Episode to Hear:
Why traditional budgets are designed to fail
How reverse budgeting helps you prioritize what you care about
What your “magic number” is (and how to find yours)
How to spend guilt-free without sacrificing your bigger goals
Why feeling “behind” isn’t a reflection of your success—it’s a lack of a plan
Follow Priya Malani:
LinkedIn | Instagram | Youtube | Stash Wealth
THE STUFF OUR LAWYERS WANT US TO SAY: Stash Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor. Content presented is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to make an offer or solicitation for any specific securities product, service, or strategy. Consult with a qualified investment adviser (that's us) before implementing any strategy. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. There…we said it.
Transcription
You're Not Bad With Money — You're Just Missing a System
There’s nothing worse than going to work every single day, bringing home a paycheck, and finding out two, three, four years later, you look back and you have nothing to show for it.
But if you can say, like, “Yeah, I took this amazing trip,” and “I upgraded my apartment,” or “We ended up getting a car in the city that we’re now able to pay for parking…”
Thinking about those things that you care about is actually where it all begins.
Welcome Back to The F Word
Hey guys, welcome back to The F Word—the podcast for high-achieving 30-somethings who are ready to stop guessing and start getting serious about their money.
If you’ve ever said something like:
“I make good money, but I don’t know where it goes,”
“I feel like I should be further along,” or
“I’m just not good with money…”
This episode is for you.
The Truth About Money
Here’s the truth: you’re not bad with money—you’ve just never had a system.
You think you have a system. I promise you, you don’t.
But I’m gonna give you one today.
Let’s unpack this, and you’re gonna see what finally changes when you do have a system in place. It’s going to change your life.
Financial Literacy ≠ Financial Clarity
I want to start by talking about the fact that financial literacy does not equal financial clarity.
There’s more information out there than ever.
There are more financial apps on the marketplace than ever.
There’s so much out there to help us get our financial sh*t together.
And yet, the financial health of this country is not good.
For those of you out there binging financial content—
Maybe you just got promoted, and you’re ready to take your money seriously.
You’re on TikTok, you’re downloading the apps, you’re researching backdoor Roth conversions…
I’m not gonna stop you—that is great. Do your research.
As a high achiever, that makes a lot of sense.
Everything else you’ve conquered in life has been well-served by more information, more learning, more knowledge.
It makes sense.
But Information Isn’t the Answer
And I’m sure that, as a high performer, you assume “being good with money” means you need to know how to manage it—so you’ve got to learn.
That’s where you’re starting.
But the problem is:
No matter how much content you consume, it usually leads to more confusion, more questions—not clarity, not confidence, not actual steps.
Money doesn’t work like that.
The High-Achiever Struggle
I’ll give you a real quote from someone who came to us:
“I’ve never felt stupid in my life—until I tried to understand what to do with my money.”
That’s exhausting, right?
You’re crushing it in all these other aspects of your life.
Why does money feel so hard to conquer?
Why does it feel like no matter how much info you gather, you still don’t have clarity?
No Strategy = Feeling Behind
This is even worse with high achievers.
You’ve been rewarded your whole life for figuring things out on your own.
Money? Feels messy. Feels personal.
You’ve got conflicting advice from TikTok, your finance bros, your parents.
You feel overwhelmed.
You try to seek answers… and feel more unclear than ever.
The Pattern We Always See
We see people who come to us with solid salaries—no problem paying the bills.
They’re not tight. They’re living the lifestyle they want.
But there’s no big picture strategy.
It’s just day to day.
And the result?
“I thought I was doing everything right, but I still feel behind.”
You're Not Missing Information—You're Missing a System
Let’s fix this.
You’re a high achiever, but it’s time to stop struggling with money management.
You’re not missing information.
You’re missing a system.
Introducing: Reverse Budgeting
At Stash Wealth, we don’t believe in traditional budgeting. We don’t think it works.
Why?
Budgets are:
Rigid
Unrealistic
Designed to fail
Life is unpredictable. Budgets can’t keep up.
You set limits for rent, food, travel, insurance, entertainment…
And then life throws you a curveball.
Reverse Budgeting: A Simpler, Smarter Way
Reverse budgeting is my favorite place to start.
It’s for people who are brand new to managing their money or just want a simple system to feel more in control.
How It Works:
Know your take-home pay.
This is the number you should always know—what you bring home monthly or per paycheck.Start with your goals.
Not tomorrow, not next week—but a few months from now or next year.What do you want to say you did, experienced, or bought?
Examples of Real Goals
Spend $12,000 a year on travel
Tip your doorman at the holidays
Buy gifts (for yourself and others) guilt-free
Book that bachelor party in Lagos next spring
Most people don’t plan for these—they throw it all on a credit card and ask:
“Okay, who’s paying for this?”
But if you know it’s coming, you can plan for it.
Set It and Forget It
If I want $12,000 a year for travel, I need to set aside $1,000/month or $500/paycheck.
Automate it.
That way, when I go to book, I check my account and say:
“Cool—I have $5,000 saved. I can enjoy this guilt-free.”
Your Magic Number
After you've set aside money for your goals, what’s left?
That’s your “magic number.”
It’s the most you can spend month to month on your lifestyle without wrecking your future.
Spend it guilt-free—down to zero.
If you’re not happy with your magic number?
You’ve got two choices:
Earn more
Adjust your goals or timeline
Either way, you now have clarity.
The Power of Planning
There’s nothing worse than working for years and having nothing to show for it.
But if you look back and say:
“I traveled. I got a new car. I upgraded my life.”
Now that’s wealth.
What If You Want More?
Let’s say you want to upgrade your Lagos trip:
Add first-class flights, rent a boat—suddenly it’s $15K instead of $10K.
With a system, you can work backward and start saving today.
Otherwise, you’ll likely splurge, feel guilty, and possibly go into debt.
System = Freedom
Once you put your goals in place and prioritize them?
The money appears.
It’s math—not magic (but honestly, it feels like magic).
No more:
Monday morning credit card regret
Asking yourself “Can I afford this?”
Feeling behind
You finally know:
What to say yes to
What to say no to
How to plan short, mid, and long term
Final Thought: You’re Not Broken
If you’ve ever felt like you’re “bad with money,” let this be your reminder:
You’re not broken. You’re just long overdue for a system.
Share the Love
Send this episode to a friend who always says they need to get their finances together.
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Please support us—we’re so grateful and excited to grow.
See You Next Time
We’re doing everything we can to help 30-somethings maximize their money and achieve true financial freedom.
Follow us so you don’t miss what’s next.
Thank you for listening to The F Word.
See you next time.
