Use these money journaling prompts to process your thoughts about your relationship with money.
Our thoughts can be like an unorganized closetāmessy and difficult to access. Sometimes itās best to just take down all of the clothes and reorganize them.Ā
In the same way, a money journal can help you make sense of your innermost feelings about your finances. It can also help you create a vision for how you want your life to look.
What is a money journal?
A money journal is a place where you write down your thoughts and feelings about your relationship with money. And it doesnāt have to be a physical notebookāyou can keep a money journal on your laptop, tablet, or phone.Ā
Benefits of a money journalĀ
A money journal can help you identify some of the limiting beliefs that you may have about money. It can also help you get excited about the potential that money has to positively impact your life!
There are many studies that show that journaling can reduce stress and anxiety. So beyond getting your finances in order, a money journal can also be great for your mental health.
9 Money Journal Prompts + Example Responses
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1. What are some of your earliest memories about money?Ā
I remember receiving a piggy bank on my 3rd birthday from my grandpa. He told me that whenever I receive money, I should put it in this piggy bank, and that one day, I could put it in a real bank…Ā
When I was a toddler, I remember my mom and dad fighting about a past due electric billā¦
When I was a kid, I remember opening an envelope from my classmate at my birthday party. There was a $50 bill inside! I remember thinking āWow, his family must be richā¦ā
2. What is your relationship like with money today?Ā
I am working on improving my relationship with money so that I donāt feel a huge sense of dread every time the first of the month approachesā¦
I used to feel so bad every time I would spend a few dollars at my favorite juice bar on my way to work, but it was the one thing that gave me joy on my way to a soul-sucking job. Iāve learned that itās OK to spend money on things you value! However, it also means that I have to stop spending on frivolous thingsāfor example, I recently discovered I had been paying for a health app subscription for the past 6 months but I never opened up the app after the first month!
3. What are your money goals and what steps are you taking towards them?Ā
I would like to retire by age 50. I am saving 40% of my income and working on gaining more skills so I can increase my income by at least 10% by the end of next year.Ā
I want to take my mom, stepdad, and brother to my momās favorite restaurant for her birthday. The average bill for a table of 4 is $300+ dollars so I will have to cut back on eating out this monthā¦
Iād like to pay off my student loans by March 1, 2027. I am directing 15% of my paycheck to these payments each and every month. Iām also trying to increase my income by taking on at least 2 more freelance projects each quarter.
4. What is your relationship with shopping?Ā
When I go to Target, I have a shopping list of essentials, but I almost always end up browsing the aisles and buying things I hadnāt planned to buy. When I get home, I feel really guilty, and usually end up returning items.Ā
My relationship with shopping has improved so much since I started delaying gratification! If there is something I really like, I will wait 1 weekāif I still want it after a week, I buy it, but most of the time I realize it was an impulse buyā¦
I do a good job of cutting back on things like coffee and clothing purchases. But then Iāll spend a ton of money on a high-ticket item, and itās frustratingā¦
5. What prevents you from being confident with money?Ā
I feel like I wasnāt taught much about personal finance growing up. There is so much information out there, Iām not sure where to startā¦
I know Iām paid below my market value but I donāt feel qualified to apply for other opportunitiesā¦
Iām not very organized so I donāt have a clear picture of my financial situation. I avoid getting organized because Iām afraid of what Iāll discoverā¦
6. What are things you love and how can you 2x spending here? 10x?
I love matcha lattes. I get at least 1 a week but having that to look forward to 3 times a week would be AMAZING!
I enjoy traveling. It would be nice to do a long-haul flight in business classā¦
I love to cook and want to take a sushi rolling class. It would even be cool to do a cooking class a few times a year!Ā
7. What kind of messages do the people closest to me send about money?Ā
My best friend complains about her car payments, rent, etc. all the time. But when we go out to eat, sheās the first person so say āYou only live once!ā and order the most expensive thing on the menu.Ā Ā
My boyfriend is SO cheapāone time I had to walk 10 blocks in heels with him because the Uber was too expensive. It made me feel like my comfort wasnāt a priority to him.Ā
One of my coworkers is one of the highest paid guys in the whole company and is someone I really admire. He drives a really old car but takes two weeks off a year to go on a private scuba diving excursion in locations Australia and Thailand. In conversation, he mentioned that he spent over $10K on his last trip! I think itās cool that heās not afraid to spend money on his passionsā¦
My uncle retired in his 50s and says that in order to enjoy life later, you have to make sacrifices early on. I agree to an extent, but I also know that tomorrow is not promised. I guess itās about finding a balance that makes senseā¦
8. What are some ways I can use money to enhance my relationships?Ā
My partner is an accountant and I want to take her on a trip to Key West once tax season is over. She works really hard and deserves a treat!
One of my old coworkers served as a reference for me and helped me get a new job! I want to take them out for lunch.Ā
I want to be able to send some food over to a friend who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
9. What do you think is the biggest benefit of having money?Ā
The ability to say āyesā more. I often have to turn invitations down because I canāt afford to participateā¦Ā
Not having anxiety attacks when an unexpected expense pops up…Ā
Not having to trade your time for money…Ā
Having the best of everything. I want to be able to buy things that will last a long time instead of breaking after a few uses…
Final Thoughts
These are just a few prompts to get the ball rolling but feel free to come up with your own.
Taking the time to process your thoughts about money is an important part of the journey to gain control of your finances.Ā
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And if you want more?
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