You ever open your bank app and see something like $42.19 staring back at you—and you know that’s not gonna cut it? Bills are coming, your fridge is half-empty, and all you feel is that wave of failure rolling in.

Been there. And I don’t know anyone who’s made it into adulthood who hasn’t been there.

That’s exactly why we need to talk about budgeting. And before your brain checks out—no, I’m not talking about spreadsheets, formulas, or color-coded misery. I’m talking about real-life budgeting for people who feel broke, overwhelmed, and honestly... over it.

Let’s Get Real About Budgeting

Most of the questions I get from people in their 20s are about money. And honestly, it makes sense. The world today is not designed to make managing money easy, especially if you feel like you're already behind or living paycheck to paycheck.

Budgeting often feels like something other people do—people who have extra money or aren’t panicking about rent and groceries. But here’s the truth:
Budgeting is most important when you feel like you have nothing to budget.

Because budgeting isn’t about what you wish you had. It’s about seeing where you are, so you can do something about it.

Forget the Word “Budget” If You Need To

Seriously, call it something else—your money map, your clarity tracker, whatever. The word “budget” can carry a lot of shame and stress, and that’s not what this is about.

This is about visibility. Because when you can see your situation clearly, you can start solving it. But if you avoid it and don’t look because it’s too stressful, you’ll stay stuck.
You can’t solve what you’re not willing to see.

Step One: Observe

That’s it. Just observe.

• Write down everything you spend on a day or a week.
• Jot down what you earn.
• Include bills, subscriptions, gas, random snacks, all of it.

Use your Notes app. Use a notebook. Use the back of a receipt. I don’t care—just get it down. This step isn’t about judgment. It’s about reality.

Once you’ve got it all written down, ask yourself:

• What are the essentials? (Rent, food, transportation.)
• What are the nice-to-haves? (Streaming services, takeout, that third iced coffee.)

You Don’t Need to Be Somewhere Else to Start

The biggest myth? You need to wait until you’ve got more money to budget. No. You start with where you’re at.

You might look at your list and realize:

• You’ve got subscriptions you forgot about.
• You’re spending way more on delivery than you thought.
• You’re impulse-buying stuff you don’t need (hi, new pants).

None of that makes you bad or broken. It makes you human. But once it’s visible, you have the power to decide what stays and what goes.

Shame Doesn’t Help, Clarity Does

Money is one of those topics that brings out all the internal junk—shame, fear, comparison, panic. That’s why writing things down is powerful. It stops the spiral. It gives you something solid to work with.

You can look at your list and say, “Okay, this is where I’m at. Now what’s one thing I can shift?”

I’ve got a simple budget starter sheet you can grab in our Digital Products for free. No fluff, no overwhelm—just a place to start. And if you want to see how I walk through it, check out the video HERE.

Bottom Line?

You don’t need to be in a better place to start.
You start so you can get to a better place.

And if you’ve got a question of your own, ask away. We might answer it in an upcoming video. Until then—stay kind to yourself, stay curious, and keep showing up.

You’ve got this.

— Lee