When we talk about wellness, it is often about physical things we can do to feel our best. However, a topic that is just as important as physical health is financial health. Having a negative relationship with money can impact nearly every aspect of your daily life. You forget about a car payment and your account becomes overdrawn - stress. You spend too much on your credit card and find yourself paying hundreds of dollars in interest each month - stress. You watch your money disappear because you do not know where it is going - stress. This financial stress can seep into every area of your life, affecting your relationships, your career, your mental health, and even your physical well-being.

If you are just getting started on “locking-in” with your finances, here are some simple steps that you can take to start your journey.

#1) Take time to learn about financial literacy, whether it's reading a book, financial blogs or consuming content from a creator you trust. This is a small way to expand your knowledge and start making finances a part of your everyday life. 

#2) Do a financial audit - A financial audit is when you dig into everything to do with your money. Find out how much you earn every month, find out how much your utilities bills are and what day they come out. Take the time to go into every corner of your finances and figure out what you have coming in, going out and what is being retained. 

#3) Write down your money goals. Now that you know exactly what is going on in your finances, you can now make your money goals. Do you want to pay off your debt this year or do you want to save your first $1,000? Set your goals and write them down!! (this is how you make them happen)

#4) Create a budget. Creating a budget is not reserved for any specific income bracket. No matter how much you earn, you should always track your spending and allocate places for your money to go. Create a budget based on your income, fixed expenses and what you are spending every month. The budget should also align with your financial goals and the future you are building for yourself.

Learning basic money-management skills is one of the first steps toward financial wellness. Understanding how to budget, save, spend intentionally, and plan for future goals allows you to make informed decisions rather than reacting to financial challenges as they arise.

My Weekly Money Reset Routine

I see having a money reset routine as part of self-care. Each week, I set aside time to review my bank accounts and credit cards and input my transactions into my budget template. Just like physical wellness requires regular effort, financial wellness is built through small actions repeated consistently. By checking in regularly, I feel more organized, more confident, and less stressed about money.

My budget template is now available for free thanks to ATB and you can download it here if you want to start tracking your money. 

Having a positive relationship with money begins with awareness and consistency. Rather than viewing money as a source of fear or stress, it helps to see it as a tool that can support your goals and values. A healthy relationship with money means understanding where your money is going, making spending decisions that align with your priorities, and recognizing that small habits can lead to long-term success. It also means giving yourself grace when mistakes happen. Financial wellness is not about being perfect; it is about being intentional, learning from setbacks, and developing habits that help you feel confident and in control of your finances.