{"id":125,"date":"2020-04-23T00:01:17","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T00:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/getting-clear-on-the-lifestyle-upgrade\/"},"modified":"2025-09-05T19:52:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T19:52:20","slug":"getting-clear-on-the-lifestyle-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moneywithkatie.com\/getting-clear-on-the-lifestyle-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Clear on Your Lifestyle Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I\u2019ve been delaying this post because it didn\u2019t have an immediate, actionable takeaway \u2013 and #InThisEconomy, I felt like it was important to post things that could immediately improve people\u2019s lives (e.g., what to do with your stimulus check).<\/p>\n

But these types of grander, vision-setting money conversations still feel so relevant and, candidly, fundamental for a strong foundation on which to build good financial habits.<\/p>\n

So what does it mean to get clear on your lifestyle upgrade?<\/p>\n

Put as simply as possible, it\u2019s your \u201cwhy.\u201d And it\u2019s been on my mind because I\u2019m trying to get painfully, abundantly clear on MY why. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s the lifestyle you dream of that powers the good financial behavior (and related choices) that it takes to get there? What\u2019s your version of your ~ best life ~ that money could (probably) help provide? The clearer we can envision that reality, the easier it becomes to make choices accordingly.<\/p>\n

Because that\u2019s the sneaky thing about such a sterile topic<\/strong> \u2014 most people treat personal finance like the 6th period elective they reluctantly tack onto their schedule because they know it\u2019s the #responsible thing to do. <\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve always felt like personal finance was the window to the soul:<\/p>\n

Avoidant tendencies with debt? I\u2019d bet my<\/em> money that\u2019s showing up elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Feel guilty over wanting to live in financial abundance? That\u2019s probably a pattern that was picked up much earlier in your life when being rich was framed as corrupt and immoral.<\/p>\n

Splurging to keep up with the Kardashians? There might be a self-esteem issue at play.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s never just about the money. <\/em><\/p>\n

Money and worth are way too closely related for conversations to ever<\/em> just be about the money as a numbers game, and that\u2019s (a) why I find personal finance so fascinating and alluring and (b) how your grander, broader fantasies and beliefs about your happiness shape your attitudes and behavior around your finances. <\/p>\n

The money is simply the manifestation of greater human needs: security, comfort, belonging.<\/p>\n

So sure, I can outline the optimal breakdown for your stimulus check all day long, but until you\u2019re crystal-clear on what you want for your life and the dollar amount associated, the knowledge will only take you so far.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s my lifestyle upgrade fantasy?<\/h4>\n

When I imagine the dream life that money can<\/em> buy, it\u2019s characterized by a few major things \u2014 and some of them feel oddly niche when I articulate them. (Nothing makes you realize your quirks like verbalizing an ideal \u201cday in the life.\u201d)<\/p>\n