On the heels of viral trends like looksmaxxing (maximizing one’s attractiveness) and healthmaxxing (optimizing physical and mental wellness), moneymaxxing describes the pursuit of better finances.
But what does it mean, exactly? Well, it starts with a concept that’s been around longer than social media: budgeting.
kAm“xE’D E96 D2>6 <:?5 @7 A6CD@?2= 7:?2?46 25G:46 H6’G6 D66? 7@C J62CD[ 3FE :E’D 2=8@C:E9>:42==J EF?65[” D2JD y6DD6 |6492>[ 7@F?56C @7 E96 *@F }665 2 qF586E 2AA 2?5 2FE9@C @7 “}6G6C (@CCJ p3@FE |@?6J p82:?]”k^Am
kAm|@?6J>2II:?8 >62?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^DEF5:6D^EC24<:?8\DA6?5:?8\>@C6\4=@D6=JnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_efeacU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmEC24<:?8 5@==2CDk^2m[ A=2??:?8 DA6?5:?8 2?5 D6EE:?8 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D] xE 42? 2=D@ 6?4@>A2DD 2 D9@CE\E6C> DAC:?E E@ 249:6G6 D@>6E9:?8 DA64:7:4[ =:<6 A2J:?8 @77 563E[ @C 4@>>:EE:?8 E@ =@?86C\E6C> 923:ED E92E >2<6 J@F 36EE6C H:E9 >@?6J]k^Am
kAmt>3C24:?8 E96 EC6?5 42? 36 96=A7F= :7 :E >@E:G2E6D J@F E@ 25@AE A@D:E:G6 >@?6J D9:7ED[ |6492> D2JD]k^Am
kAm(96? x 2D<65 7:?2?4:2= AC@76DD:@?2=D 9@H H6 42? 2== 2AA=J >@?6J>2II:?8 4@?46AED E@ @FC @H? =:G6D[ E96J DF886DE65 DE:4<:?8 H:E9 E96D6 DEC2E68:6Dik^Am
k9amv:G6 6249 5@==2C 2 AFCA@D6k^9am
kAmxE’D 62D:6C E@ EC24< J@FC >@?6J 2?5 2G@:5 @G6CDA6?5:?8 H96? J@F A=2? 29625[ D2JD y@9? v:==6E[ rt~ 2?5 7@F?56C @7 E96 v:==6E p86?4J[ 2 7:?2?4:2= A=2??:?8 7:C> :? w@==JH@@5[ u=@C:52]k^Am
kAm“pD:56 7C@> E96 3:==D J@F 92G6 E@ A2J 2?5 J@FC 4@?DF>AE:@? @? 2 >@?E9=J @C 2??F2= 32D:D[ >@?6J ?665D E@ 36 2==@42E65 E@ 5:776C6?E 2C62D[” 96 D2JD]k^Am
kAm%9:D 2AAC@249[ @7E6? =236=65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^=62C?^K6C@\32D65\3F586E:?8\6IA=2:?65nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_efeacU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmK6C@\32D65 3F586E:?8k^2m[ :?4=F56D D6EE:?8 2D:56 >@?6J 7@C D2G:?8D 8@2=D[ E@@]k^Am
kAm“|2J36 :E’D D2G:?8 7@C 2 9@FD6[ 2 5@H? A2J>6?E @? 2 7:CDE 42C @C AFEE:?8 2 <:5 E9C@F89 4@==686] (92E6G6C :E :D[ J@F ?665 E@ 92G6 J@FC >@?6J 8C@H:?8[” v:==6E 255D]k^Am
kAm“|@?6J>2II:?8 :D 23@FE >2<:?8 DFC6 6G6CJ 5@==2C 92D 2 AFCA@D6[” 96 D2JD] “(6 565:42E6 @FC =:G6D E@ 62C?:?8 :E[ H9J =6E :E D=:A E9C@F89 E96 4C24<Dn”k^Am
k9amrFE 324< @? 6IEC2Dk^9am
kAm$@>6E:>6D[ EC24<:?8 6G6CJ 5@==2C C6G62=D 6IA6?D6D E92E 42? 36 EC:>>65]k^Am
kAm“~?6 2C62 @7 E96 3F586E E92E 42? 8@ 2 3:E 2HCJ 2?5 HC64< J@FC @G6C2== 7:?2?4:2= A=2? :D 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[” v:==6E D2JD] %92E :?4=F56D DA6?5:?8 @? C6DE2FC2?E >62=D[ E96 >@G:6D 2?5 @E96C 7@C>D @7 D@4:2=:K:?8]k^Am
kAmv:==6E DF886DED D42=:?8 324< E9@D6 6IA6?D6D :? 72G@C @7 D2G:?8 :7 J@F 2C6 =@@<:?8 E@ >2I J@FC >@?6J] p?5 H96? J@F 5@ DA6?5 :? E9@D6 2C62D[ ECJ E@ =2J6C :? C6H2C5D[ =@J2=EJ AC@8C2>D 2?5 @E96C 5:D4@F?ED :? @C56C E@ DEC6E49 J@FC 5@==2CD 7FCE96C]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^=62C?^DF3D4C:AE:@?D\2C6\92C5\E@\42?46=\2?5\62DJ\E@\7@C86E\3J\56D:8?nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_efeacU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm$F3D4C:AE:@?Dk^2m 2C6 2?@E96C 2C62 E@ A2C6 324<[ D2JD s’p?5C6 r=2JE@?[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 r=2JE@? u:?2?4:2= $@=FE:@?D :? vC66?D3@C@[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]k^Am
kAm“*@F >:89E ?@E 6G6? FD6 E96 D6CG:46 2?J>@C6[” 96 D2JD[ 6DA64:2==J :7 J@F D:8?65 FA 7@C 2 A2CE:4F=2C %' D9@H @C DA@CED D62D@?] (9:=6 D>2== >@?E9=J 766D >:89E ?@E D66> =:<6 >F49[ :E 255D FA BF:4<=J[ 96 D2JD]k^Am
k9am$965 9:89\:?E6C6DE 563Ek^9am
kAmx7 J@F’C6 42CCJ:?8 9:89\:?E6C6DE 4C65:E 42C5 563E[ E96? r=2JE@? D2JD J@F >:89E 36 “>@?6J=2II:?8” :?DE625 @7 “>@?6J>2II:?8]”k^Am
kAm“xE’D <:==:?8 J@FC @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C E96 7FEFC6[” 96 D2JD[ 3642FD6 :E’D 92C56C E@ D2G6 FA >@?6J E@ AFE E@H2C5 7:?2?4:2= 8@2=D :7 D@ >F49 @7 :E :D 8@:?8 E@H2C5 563E A2J>6?ED]k^Am
kAm|2<:?8 2 A=2? E@ A2J @77 E92E 563E 42? 36 A2CE @7 >@?6J>2II:?8[ r=2JE@? D2JD] &?=@25 E96 563E[ E96? 7@4FD @? 3F:=5:?8 FA D2G:?8D 2?5 :?G6DE>6?ED E@ >66E =@?86C\E6C> 8@2=D]k^Am
k9amu:?5 ;@J :? DA6?5:?8k^9am
kAm(9:=6 4C65:E 42C5 563E :D 2 <:==6C[ r=2JE@? 42FE:@?D 282:?DE 36:?8 D@ @3D6DD65 H:E9 E96 AFCDF:E @7 7:?2?4:2= @AE:>:K2E:@? E92E J@F 7@C86E E@ 6?;@J J@FC >@?6J]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F DE2J 7:I65 @? E96 563E A2DE E96 A@:?E @7 7:I:?8 563E AC@3=6>D[ E96? J@F >:89E D24C:7:46 E@@ >F49[” 96 D2JD]k^Am
kAmr=2JE@? 6?4@FC286D A6@A=6 E@ 4@?D:56C E96 <:?5 @7 DA6?5:?8 E92E 3C:?8D E96> ECF6 92AA:?6DD 2?5 E96? E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J =62G6 C@@> :? E96:C 3F586E E@ AFCDF6 E9@D6 24E:G:E:6D] xE 42? 36 2 G242E:@?[ 2? @FE:?8 H:E9 7C:6?5D[ 2 52:=J :465 4@7766 @C H92E6G6C 3C:?8D J@F ;@J WH:E9:? C62D@?X]k^Am
k9ampG@:5 6IEC6>6Dk^9am
kAmq6 42C67F= ?@E E@ @G6CD4CFE:?:K6 :? J@FC BF6DE E@ @AE:>:K6]k^Am
kAmyFDE 2D =@@<D>2II:?8 42? 8@ E@ 6I46DD :? E96 7@C> @7 F??66565 A=2DE:4 DFC86C:6D[ >@?6J>2II:?8 42? 2=D@ 8@ E@@ 72C]k^Am
kAm|6492> 42FE:@?D 282:?DE >2<:?8 A6C>2?6?E 564:D:@?D =:<6 D6==:?8 J@FC 9@FD6 @C 7@C8@:?8 32D:4D :? E96 AFCDF:E @7 D2G:?8 >@?6J]k^Am
kAm“pG@:5 2?JE9:?8 H96C6 J@F 2C6 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 :>>@C2= @C :CC6G6CD:3=6[” 96 D2JD]k^Am
kAm|@DE :>A@CE2?E=J[ 96 D2JD[ DE2J 4FC:@FD 23@FE J@FC >@?6J] “*@F 42? 36 2D :?E6?D6 2D J@F H2?E[ 3FE E96? E9:?<i (92E 5:5 x =62C?n (92E 76=E 8@@5n (92E 5:5 x =62C? 23@FE >J C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 >@?6Jn”k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2==[ A62< >@?6J>2II:?8 @F89E E@ =62G6 J@F 766=:?8 >@C6 C6=2I65[ 4@?7:56?E 2?5 =6DD @3D6DD65 H:E9 7:?2?46D]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\>@C6\7C@>\?6C5H2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0>@C607C@>0?6C5H2==6EQmkAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^DEF5:6D^7:?2?4:2=\D64FC:EJ\8FE\4964<DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_efeacQ E:E=6lQu66=:?8 $64FC6 GD] q6:?8 $64FC6i b vFE r964<D 7@C *@FC u:?2?46DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmu66=:?8 $64FC6 GD] q6:?8 $64FC6i b vFE r964<D 7@C *@FC u:?2?46Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^=62C?^9@H\42?\x\DE@A\=:G:?8\A2J4964<\E@\A2J4964<nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_efeacQ E:E=6lQpD<65 @? #655:Ei w@H r2? x $E@A {:G:?8 !2J4964< E@ !2J4964<nQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`QmpD<65 @? #655:Ei w@H r2? x $E@A {:G:?8 !2J4964< E@ !2J4964<nk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^=62C?^2F8FDE\>@?6J\BF6DE:@?D\2?DH6C65nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_efeacQ E:E=6lQs@6D $4@FE:?8 2 {@H6C v2D !C:46 |2EE6C |F49n !=FD[ |@C6 pF8FDE |@?6J "F6DE:@?DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qms@6D $4@FE:?8 2 {@H6C v2D !C:46 |2EE6C |F49n !=FD[ |@C6 pF8FDE |@?6J "F6DE:@?Dk^2mk^=:mk^F=mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HAQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@I \ (!Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@I0HAQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HA\\:??6CQmk2D:56 :E6>D4@A6lQQ :E6>AC@AlQ2FE9@CQ :E6>EJA6lQ9EEAi^^D496>2]@C8^!6CD@?Q 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@IQmkAmz:>36C=J !2=>6C HC:E6D 7@C }6C5(2==6E] t>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i<A2=>6Co?6C5H2==6E]4@>Qm<A2=>6Co?6C5H2==6E]4@>k^2m] %H:EE6Ci o<:>36C=JA2=>6C]k^Amk^2D:56mk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kA 4=2DDlQ?H\@C:8:?2==J\A@DE65\=:?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 w@H E@ q6 2 |@?6J>2II6C @C:8:?2==J 2AA62C65 @? }6C5(2==6E]k^Am