Money Goals Meet Mental Reality: How to Keep Going When Life Feels Heavy

I was watching a video one day when the speaker said,

“You can’t have everything you want. That’s not possible.”

And immediately, I thought, Says who?

I wasn’t sure if that was their personal experience talking or if they truly believed it was a universal truth. Either way, it made me pause and ask myself, “Is it really possible for someone to get everything they want?”

And after some honest reflection, I realized — yes, you can have everything you want.
It just might not all happen at the same time.


A New Way of Thinking

That realization didn’t just stay in my head; it reshaped how I looked at my money goals.

Over the years, I’ve had a lot of financial goals — save a certain amount, invest in a certain thing, pay off this, build up that. But I knew I needed a way to organize those goals so I wasn’t feeling like I had to “do it all” right now.

That’s when I created my 70/30 Rule.


The 70/30 Rule

It’s simple:

  • 70% of my income goes toward my daily life and bills.
  • 30% is divided into three 10% “buckets”:
    • Fun & enjoyment
    • Investing
    • Savings

It wasn’t just about percentages — it was about permission.
This system gave me space to take care of my responsibilities and enjoy my life, while also growing my future.

So, when I said “I get everything I want,” my 70/30 rule was how I made that true. It meant that in some form or fashion, I could live, invest, save, and have fun — without burning out or feeling like my goals were impossible.


The Mental Reality Check

Here’s the thing: the first time I applied my 70/30 rule, I noticed something.

If I had $1,000 to work with, 10% was just $100.
That meant $100 for fun, $100 for investing, $100 for savings. And honestly? $100 in each category wasn’t going to get me everywhere I wanted to go fast.

That could’ve been discouraging… if I didn’t reframe it.

I realized that if I wanted those $100 buckets to become $300 or $500 or even $1,000, I needed to raise my income. This wasn’t a failure — it was clarity. It was my mental reality check:

You can reach your goals, but you need to match them with the resources that make them possible.

And that awareness? It took the pressure off.


Why This Matters When Life Feels Heavy

Let’s be real — life “life-ing” can make it hard to focus on big goals.
Emergencies happen. Energy dips. Unexpected expenses show up.

When life feels heavy, a clear system like the 70/30 rule does two things:

  1. It keeps you grounded. You don’t have to rethink your whole plan just because you hit a rough patch.
  2. It makes your next step obvious. Even if you can’t do everything, you can still do something.

When you already know where your money goes, you can keep moving forward without burning out or making reactive decisions that throw you off track.


How to Keep Going When It’s Hard

If your money goals feel far away — or the weight of life is slowing you down — here’s what I’ve learned works:

1. Work within your reality.
Instead of fighting your current numbers, use them as your starting point. It’s easier to grow from truth than from denial.

2. Make small, consistent moves.
Even if your 10% buckets are small right now, keep filling them. Consistency compounds.

3. Focus on progress, not perfection.
It’s not about hitting every goal in record time. It’s about continuing to move forward even when you can’t sprint.

4. Give yourself grace in heavy seasons.
Some months are just harder. That’s life. Don’t mistake a slower pace for failure.


Why This Works

The magic of the 70/30 rule isn’t the math — it’s the mindset.
It reminds you that:

  • You can have a plan that meets both your needs and your wants.
  • You can make progress even when life isn’t perfect.
  • You can keep going without burning out or feeling like you’re “behind.”

That’s how money goals meet mental reality — you create a system that works with your life instead of against it.


Soft Challenge

Take a few minutes today to write out your own version of the 70/30 rule (or any percentages that work for you).

Ask yourself: What’s realistic for me right now? Then commit to sticking to it for the next 30 days — no matter how heavy life feels.


When you match your goals with a plan that fits your real life, you don’t just keep going — you start winning in a way that feels sustainable.

And if you want more tools, stories, and strategies like this, come join me in Wealthy Women Conversations — where we talk about money in a way that actually works for real life.

#SlowerWealthierHappier #MindAndMoney #WealthyWomenConversations

3 responses to “Money Goals Meet Mental Reality: How to Keep Going When Life Feels Heavy”

  1. practicallycertain9285c00769 Avatar
    practicallycertain9285c00769

    OMG. I think I can do that. This is the best plan I’ve seen. Thanks. I’m going to try it for next month.

    Like

    1. Aaaaaaayyyyyyeee! Get it! Get it! 🥳

      Like

  2. Now this an amazing a way to the end the year well. This can be implemented and practiced now to manage the upcoming holiday season with ease.

    Like

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