Hey Reader,

Thanks for being here with us.
Let's dive right in with our two latest YouTube videos!

🎥 What's New

​Frugality Is Killing Your Budget (Do This Instead)​

• Last week, Nick shared why spending more in the right places can actually help your budget stick.
• He also interviewed a highly knowledgeable Fun Money Expert... you don't want to miss it! 😉

​Finally Understand Your Cashflow: YNAB for Business​

• Keep reading for more on this in Nick's Money Minute.

💲 Money Minute - From Nick

If you're a business owner — or you've ever thought about making money on the side — this tip is for you.

I picked it up from Alex Hormozi, and it completely changed how I think about my business budget (and it’s a big part of today’s YouTube video).

Here it is:

There are only two ways to grow a business:

1. Get more customers
2. Earn more per customer
   (charge more, increase frequency, or keep them longer)

That’s it.

Which means every dollar your business spends should ultimately help do one of those two things.

So when you look at an expense in your business budget, ask yourself:

“How does this help me get more customers or earn more from each one?”

If it doesn’t clearly do one of those two things… you should at least pause and ask if the expense is really worth it.

This idea changed how I organize my business budget in YNAB.

Instead of structuring my categories the way the IRS wants them for taxes, I organize them in a way that helps me make better decisions.

The goal isn’t just tracking expenses.

It's to become a better resource allocator — making sure every dollar in the business is working toward growth and earning a solid return.

If that idea resonates with you, check out today’s video.

And if you want a shortcut, you can also grab my YNAB for Business cheat sheet here.​

⚓︎ Craft Your Money Story - From Hanna

One thing I didn't expect when Nick and I started crafting our money story was how different it would make us feel from many of the people around us.

As our priorities changed, the way we spent our money, our time, and even our attention changed too.

And now, we find ourselves in one of the most intense "seasons of no" we've had in our entire marriage.
​
We’re trying to work heartily on the story we believe God is calling us to write. And for the time being, that means saying “no” to most new opportunities that come up — whether it’s a fun trip with friends or a new business idea.

We're choosing different things because we're pursuing different goals.

And sometimes it leaves us feeling like the odd ones out.

As Alex Hormozi puts it, if you want a life that looks different from the crowd, you can’t expect to take the same actions or live by the same standards as everyone else.

When you get serious about your priorities, you might start doing things like:

• Taking fewer vacations
• Driving an older car
• Updating your wardrobe less often
• Losing interest in status-driven social circles
• Spending more time learning instead of consuming
• Focusing instead of spreading yourself too thin
• Thinking long-term instead of only about the weekend

And if you're anything like me, the hardest part of crafting your money story won't be the math or the discipline.
​
It'll be the weirdness.

So I want to share three things that help me push through feeling like a weirdo.

1. Know your why
   • If you've been around here for any time at all, this won't be new to you. But it's always worth repeating!
   • When your "why" is clear, trade-offs feel purposeful instead of painful.
2. Find your people
   • Community normalizes what once felt strange.
   • This might look like conferences, online classes/ communities, or local meet-ups.
   • If you're married, taking time to pray and think through your life vision as a couple is the first step to finding your people... after all, your spouse is your closest community! Jimmy Evans' resources have been helpful for Nick and me.
3. Fix your eyes on eternity
   • Nick and I recently memorized 1 Chronicles 29:11 & 12 as part of a Crown Financial class we're taking at our church. (This has been a great way to find our people!) When I start feeling overwhelmed by being weird, or frustrated with slow results, or lackluster in my motivation, it helps me to ponder this verse and remember:
     • Everything I am and everything I have belongs to God.
     • God is in control of all things.
     • God will provide exactly what I need to live faithfully unto Him today.
   • Nothing brings peace and contentment like keeping our minds fixed on God and His Word.

So if the way you’re living right now feels a little strange compared to the people around you… that might actually be a good sign.

Crafting a meaningful life rarely looks normal in the moment. It looks like quiet discipline, focused priorities, and a willingness to live differently than the crowd.

And one day, by God's grace, those strange choices will simply look like a well-lived story.

Until next week,
Nick + Hanna