Small financial decisions today can make a meaningful difference in the life you want tomorrow.
Written in collaboration with Morgan Newman of The Newman Group.
Inspired by the conversation at The Essentials Edit, presented by Sweat for Smiles with support from The Newman Group.
What’s the last financial decision you made? Maybe you ordered takeout instead of cooking what was already in the fridge. Grabbed a coffee on your way to work. Signed your child up for another activity. Or decided that paying someone to clean your home was worth getting a few hours of your weekend back.
Those are financial decisions, too.
We tend to think about financial planning in terms of the big moments: buying a home, changing careers, investing for retirement. But the truth is, we’re making decisions about money every single day, often without even realizing it.
And it’s not always about spending less. Sometimes spending money buys us time, reduces stress, or allows us to focus on what matters most. The key is understanding how those everyday decisions fit into the bigger picture.
During The Essentials Edit, presented by Sweat for Smiles with support from The Newman Group, Morgan Newman shared practical ways women can take a more intentional approach to their financial wellness.
Start by knowing your numbers.
Before you can figure out where you’re going financially, you need to understand where you are. Take time to look at what you own, what you owe, what you earn, and where your money goes. Understanding your current financial picture is the first step toward making more informed decisions and setting meaningful goals.
Make time for a monthly money check-in.
You don’t need hours to stay on top of your finances. Morgan suggested setting aside just 20 minutes each month:
- 5 minutes: Reflect on what’s going well.
- 10 minutes: Review progress, setbacks, and areas that may need attention.
- 5 minutes: Identify one thing you can adjust moving forward.
A regular check-in also gives you an opportunity to account for unexpected expenses and changes in circumstances before they become bigger challenges.
Spend with intention, not guilt.
Financial wellness isn’t necessarily about cutting out the things you enjoy. It’s about understanding whether your spending reflects your priorities and fits within your budget. One helpful habit is to pause for 24 hours before making discretionary purchases. That little bit of time can help you decide whether something is truly worth it.
As Morgan emphasized, “It’s not about spending less. It’s about spending on purpose.”
Think about your future self.
One exercise Morgan shared was to imagine the woman you want to be 20 or 30 years from now. What matters to her? What kind of lifestyle do you hope to have? What experiences do you want to make possible?
Write down three things that matter to that future version of yourself, then identify one financial step you can take today to help support them.
It could be increasing your savings, reviewing your investments, paying down debt, or simply becoming more aware of where your money is going.
Ultimately, financial wellness is about more than numbers. It’s about creating options, reducing stress, and giving yourself the freedom to make choices that support the life you want.
Because financial confidence doesn’t happen overnight. It starts with small, intentional steps—and making sure today’s decisions are helping you build the future you envision.
Insights shared by Morgan Newman of The Newman Group during The Essentials Edit, hosted and moderated by Ashley Slaughter, founder of Sweat for Smiles. With support from The Newman Group, 100% of ticket proceeds benefited Coalition for the Homeless.
For more conversations that inspire us to move, connect and give back, subscribe to FIT It In and explore upcoming events at sweatforsmiles.com.
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