Money for Money’s Sake vs. Money for What Matters
Do you ever feel like no matter how much you earn, it's never quite enough?
If so, you’re not alone. Many people are caught in a cycle, assuming that the next paycheck, raise, bonus, or job will finally provide enough and stop the money stressors for good.
But here’s the hard truth: more money doesn’t always make life better.
What truly changes your life isn’t just the number on your paycheck. It’s how you use that money—and whether it’s connected to what really matters to you.
My mom, daughter, and I enjoyed a lot of laughter over coffee before going to the theater
The Trap of Chasing More
We're surrounded by messages that celebrate “more.” More income. More stuff. More status.
When the "more" arrives, why doesn't it seem to help as much as we expected?
How can you earn more than ever before, yet still feel stressed about money?
Perhaps it's because the more you make, the more you tend to spend. Your income gets a boost, but then your expenses grow by an even greater percentage.
You get a raise, then you get a nicer car.
You earn a bonus, so you upgrade your vacation.
You hit a savings goal, but then you move the target higher.
You earn more than ever, but life costs more than ever.
It becomes a cycle that leaves you exhausted and unsatisfied.
Why More Isn’t Always the Answer
Without clarity and purpose, more money can unintentionally lead to more stress:
A bigger house—that costs more to maintain and leaves family members feeling distant.
A new car— that brings higher insurance costs and more stress about wear and tear.
A promotion— that brings longer hours and more spending on conveniences.
Money without meaning is just numbers. And numbers alone don’t bring fulfillment.
Shift the Focus: What Truly Matters
In addition to asking, “How can I make more money?” try asking, “What really matters to me?”
For some, it’s:
Time with family.
Health and well-being.
Freedom to travel.
Security and peace of mind.
Impact and generosity.
When you identify your values, money stops being the goal and starts being the tool to achieve what matters most.
Our cat, Kinzie, on Christmas 2025
How to Connect Money to What Matters
Here’s a simple process to start realigning your money with your top values:
Clarify Your Values
Brainstorm all the people, places, experiences, memories, hopes, and goals you treasure most. Think: If money weren’t a concern, how would you spend your day? Identify themes in your list. Use these themes to write down your top 5 values.
Look at Your Spending
Look at your past month of expenses. How can you trace your transactions back to your values?
Cut and Redirect
How can you trim spending on the stuff that doesn’t matter as much to you? How can you divert those dollars toward your more important goals?
Build for the Long Term
How will you use savings and investments to support what matters long-term?
I took my son and his friend to the slopes!
When you start making these shifts, you put your money to work, not for its own sake, but to build a life that feels truly yours.
Real-Life Impact
It’s incredible how much motivation naturally arises from just looking at your spending.
It’s like when I looked at the tops of my kitchen cabinets. They were caked with months of greasy filth. Gross!
All of a sudden, there was only one thing I wanted to do with my time.
If you had just told me I “should” clean the tops of my cabinets, without showing me their condition, I would have said, “Yeah, probably,” and proceeded with more compelling activities.
But seeing the reality for myself, I just had to get those cabinets cleaned off.
That’s the motivational power of seeing the situation clearly.
When my husband and I sat down to take a look at our spending for the first time, a few things caught our attention right away.
We didn’t like that we were spending $300 a month to fuel our cars. We sold a lower gas-mileage car and bought a hybrid – and split our fuel costs in half.
We switched our home internet and phone providers to lower-priced plans that worked just as well.
We adjusted our car insurance coverage because we were paying for coverage we didn’t need anymore.
We noticed we had cash hanging out in a low interest account. We switched to earn more on our savings.
The impact was immediately noticeable, and it felt great.
All because we sat down to take a look at how our spending reflected what we really care about.
Over time, paying attention to our money became a regular habit, and we made dozens of other changes. Changes that, all together, became life-changing.
And it all started with the courage to just sit down and look for the first time.
The Payoff of Purposeful Money
Break out of the rut of assuming, “I just need to earn more.” Earning more isn’t always the quick fix.
While more income may help, believing it’s the only answer may distract you from the work at hand—better directing the money you already have.
Everyone assumes they would do better with a little more income. But not everyone really would.
Christmas 2025 with family
Those most likely to make the most of future income are those who put their current income to good use. Learn to connect the money you bring in to what matters most.
Even as you hope to make more money, why not do both—earn more in the future AND optimize your present income?
Consciously connect your money to your values, giving greater purpose both to what you bring in today and what you aim to earn tomorrow.
The Bottom Line
Money isn't the target. It’s the tool. And when you use it intentionally, it becomes energy that powers the life you want to live.
