Stop jumping straight into budgeting

Hello Reader,

Let’s be real: most people try to start fixing their money by slapping together a budget. But if you haven’t actually organized your financials first, you’re just guessing. This month inside the Unmuted Money Skool, we’re slowing down and starting where it really matters. (Skool is the platform for our free community)

💬 Rant:

One of the biggest myths in personal finance is that budgeting is the first step. It’s not. When you sit down with a pen, a spreadsheet, or an app without knowing exactly what’s coming in, going out, and piling up in the background the numbers won’t add up. That’s when people throw up their hands and say, “Budgets don’t work for me.”

Or people just make a budget with numbers that were never theirs to begin with and wonder "Why doesn't my life fit that?"

But the truth is, budgets fail when they’re built on missing information. If you don’t know your starting point, the plan you create is just an illusion. And this illusion will disillusion you around your finances.

👀 Reflection:

When I started my own money journey, I was guilty of this too. I’d jump right into trying to set limits on groceries or entertainment, but then a bill I’d forgotten about would hit, and my whole plan would crumble. It wasn’t that I was “bad with money” it was that I was trying to build on shaky ground.

The shift came when I slowed down and pulled together everything bank statements, bills, debts, subscriptions, income, all of it. Once I could see the full picture, budgeting felt less like a punishment and more like a roadmap. And that’s what I want for you too.

🔗 Resources:

Money Paper Checklist.pdf

This list is just the starting point. Inside the Unmuted Money Skool community, September’s free challenge goes deeper with step-by-step guidance and extra resources to help you actually organize all of this without the overwhelm. You can join the community (free!) and hop into the challenge right here: CLICK TO JOIN

Coach Becca

📩 Unmuted Money | Debt Tale
📆 Free Q/A Call | 📽️ Watch on YouTube | 💻 Free Online Community

If you’ve found value in my free content, consider tipping to support Debt Tale & Unmuted Money. Every tip helps keep these money talks going!

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

Hey Reader, if this newsletter isn't your jam anymore. No worries. The links below will help you get off the list or modify it to better fit your inbox needs.
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Debt Tale / Unmuted Money

A newsletter that helps you go from feeling awkward and ashamed about money to confident and in control. Get practical tips, real stories, and mindset shifts that make managing debt and finances less overwhelming. No shame, no fear—just real talk and real progress.