If the holidays didn’t go exactly to plan financially, you’re in very good company.
There are two times of year when even the most intentional people tend to drift: December and August.
Routines change. Emotions run higher. There’s more socializing, more outings, more “oh while we’re here…” moments.
Add Boxing Day sales, family expectations, and time off work, and it becomes the perfect storm for spending that doesn’t match our intentions.
So if you’re looking at your bank account or credit card right now with a knot in your stomach, I want you to hear this first:
Nothing has gone wrong.
This is human.
And it is very fixable.
Think of it like the gym
When someone takes a few weeks off training, they don’t lose everything. They may need to start lifting lighter again, and their strength comes back faster because the muscle memory is there.
Money habits work the same way.
You didn’t lose all your progress because December went sideways. You stepped out of routine. Now you step back in.
The three stages after an off-plan season
When people overspend, they often get stuck in the first stage.
1. Awareness
“I see what happened. I spent more than I meant to.”
This is powerful. Many people never reach this stage. Awareness is progress.
2. Acceptance
“Yes, this happened. I don’t love it. And it’s real.”
This is where guilt softens. Acceptance does not mean approval. It means you stop fighting the past so you can work with the present.
3. Action
“What’s my next right money move?”
Looking at the numbers. Updating your accounts. Returning to your weekly rhythm. Re-anchoring yourself in the plan that supports you.
The longer we stay in awareness without acceptance, the easier it becomes to slide into “what’s the point” or “F&*^ it!” spending. The faster we move into acceptance, the easier it becomes to take calm, grounded action.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant
One of the most consistent patterns I see is this:
When money feels heavy, people stop looking.
And when they finally do look… it is almost never as bad as their nervous system told them it was.
Shame thrives in the dark. It shrinks in the light.
Looking at your numbers is not a punishment. It’s how you take your power back.
A simple reset ritual
I encourage everyone to have a weekly “money date” with themselves. Same day. Same general time. Quiet space.
For many people, Friday works beautifully. You close out the week knowing where things stand, and you enter the weekend with clarity instead of background stress.
Your money date doesn’t need to be long. Fifteen to twenty minutes is often enough.
Here’s a gentle structure you can borrow:
1. Look at the facts
– Bank balances
– Credit card balances
– Any upcoming bills or known expenses
No storytelling. No judgment. Only information.
2. Emotional check-in
– How did I feel about money this week?
– Did I notice urges to spend, avoid, or check out?
– What supported me? What felt challenging?
Money is not math. Money is emotional. Your plan gets stronger when you include that truth.
3. One supportive action
– Move money where it belongs ie your purpose accounts
– Schedule a payment
– Remove a temptation (like taking a credit card out of your wallet or deleting it from saved payment methods)
Small, consistent actions rebuild safety faster than dramatic overhauls.
Build for next time
Holiday overspending is not a character flaw. It’s a systems issue.
Holidays need their own containers: gift funds, celebration funds, travel funds. When money has a job before the season starts, emotions have fewer places to run.
Your future self doesn’t need more willpower. She needs clearer buckets.
If this season felt heavy…
Offer yourself the same compassion you would give someone you love.
You’re not behind.
You’re not broken.
You’re practicing new habits in emotionally charged environments.
That takes courage. And repetition. And kindness.
If today all you do is open your banking app and look, that counts.
If today all you do is forgive yourself and choose to begin again, that counts.
Progress is not perfection. Progress is getting back on plan.
April
