How to Spend Less or Save More
- Nick Kaylor
- Aug 8
- 6 min read
Why Cutting Back Without a Clear Reason Doesn't Work
When people think about budgeting, especially when they feel like things are tight, the instinctive response is often this: “I need to cut back.”
Cut back on eating out. Cut back on subscriptions. Cut back on the extras.
And sure, that sounds responsible. Disciplined, even. But here’s what happens more often than not: people try to cut back, and it doesn’t stick. Or it sticks, but feels punishing. Or they save some money here and there, but that money doesn’t feel like it went anywhere. And that disconnect is exactly the problem.
When we make the decision to cut back without clearly identifying the “something else” we want to do with that money, it’s like cleaning out a closet and not knowing what you’re going to store in it next. Eventually it gets filled back up again, usually with the same stuff you were trying to declutter in the first place.
So the real question is: What’s the point of cutting back?
Not in a snarky way, but in a deeply practical one. What are you cutting back for? What will the freed-up money allow you to do that your current spending is crowding out?
Reframing “Cutting Back”
“Cutting back” doesn’t have to be a punishment. It doesn’t even have to be called that. Think of it instead as reprioritizing, rebalancing, or realigning.
Let’s say you spend $400 a month on takeout. Nothing inherently wrong with that. But maybe you’ve been telling yourself you need to “cut back on takeout” to “save more.” Save more for what? For who? For when?
Now let’s say you get specific: you want to finally go on that anniversary trip you and your partner have talked about for years. And you realize $75 a month redirected from takeout could fund the flights over the next few months. Suddenly, it’s not about giving up Thai food. It’s about reassigning that money to something you're giving a higher priority.
This is where your YNAB budget becomes powerful. Because it’s not just a log of transactions or a spreadsheet of hypotheticals. It’s a tool used in real time with real money to name your priorities and assign dollars to them accordingly. When you take the money out of your “Dining Out” category and put it into “Anniversary Trip,” you’ve done more than just move dollars around virtual envelopes, you’ve made a conscious decision about what you value more right now.
The Power of Assigning with Intention
One of the easiest traps to fall into with budgeting is trying to save without knowing what you’re saving for. And when there’s no clear vision for where that saved money is going, it’s too easy for it to get swallowed up later in something less important, or just disappear into the ether of everyday life.
This is why in YNAB, saving doesn't have to be a separate category of its own; it’s everything. Every category where you’re holding money for a future purpose is a form of saving. Whether it’s for car repairs next quarter, holiday travel, or replacing your laptop in two years. It’s all saving. Because it’s money that’s been given a purpose, not meant to be spent right now on something else.
So instead of vaguely aiming to “save more,” get clear:
What are you not doing right now that you wish you could?
What’s missing in your financial picture that could bring more peace or joy?
What upcoming expense would be way less stressful if you had the cash waiting for it?
Let those answers be the “face” to the "name". Give the money you're not spending today a new identity. Don’t just stop the spending—re-assign it.
Schedule a free video chat and tell me what it's been like to manage your money.
I'd love to help make YNAB - and budgeting - finally work for you.
Realignment Over Restraint
The idea of restraint can feel noble. Like white-knuckling your way through the month is somehow a badge of honor. But in practice, it’s unsustainable. Budgets built on deprivation tend to snap back hard. Budgets built on realignment - on choosing what matters most to you - tend to stick.
When you use YNAB, you’re not trying to spend less for the sake of it. You’re trying to spend right. And “right” is different for every person. That’s why the budget has to be yours.
This is where YNAB’s philosophy gives you an edge:
You assign money only once it arrives.
You decide what it should do.
You change those decisions as needed.
So when your priorities shift, and they will, you’re not locked into last month’s decisions. You can move money around in your budget and feel completely fine about it. There’s no shame in rethinking what matters to you.
But those reassignments are only satisfying if they go somewhere on purpose.
Don’t Wait for Leftovers
A common mistake people make is saying, “If I have money left over at the end of the month, I’ll put it toward X.” The problem is, money that isn’t given a job tends to find its own. Usually one that feels good in the moment but forgettable by next week.
So instead of waiting for money to be “left over,” move it now. If you’ve decided that goal X is more important to you than category Y, reallocate today. Even if it’s just $10. That’s 10 bucks more progress than you had yesterday. And it signals to yourself that your priorities matter.
When Cutting Back Is About Getting Back in Bounds
Of course, there’s another important reason people might want to cut back on their spending: because they’ve been living beyond their means.
It’s more common than we like to admit. Sometimes spending doesn’t look irresponsible—it might just be a little more takeout here, a slightly larger vacation there, a few unexpected expenses tossed onto the credit card. But over time, that lifestyle gets just slightly out of sync with what your income can sustain. And when debt quietly fills the gap, it can feel like you’re keeping up… until you’re not.
If this is your situation, cutting back isn’t just about pursuing a new goal. It’s about rebalancing. About right-sizing your spending to match your income. Not the income you wish you had, not the one you hope to have next year, but the one that’s coming in right now.
This isn’t punishment. It’s clarity.
It’s hard to realize you’ve been relying on debt to prop up a lifestyle that doesn’t quite fit. It can feel like taking a step back. But reframing your spending to reflect your real financial footing is an essential first move toward long-term peace and progress.
YNAB makes this process more transparent. When you’re assigning only the money you have, the budget tells the truth. If something doesn’t fit, it becomes obvious. But that clarity is a gift—because it helps you stop digging the hole any deeper.
And once you’re living within your means, that’s when real progress can start. Whether it’s rebuilding savings, chipping away at debt, or finally setting money aside for things that matter, your dollars will finally be working for you; not against you or seemingly on their own.
A Coach Can Help You Name It
Sometimes the hardest part of budgeting isn’t the act of cutting back, although it certainly can be challenging. It’s figuring out what you want instead. If you’ve gotten used to a life where spending spirals and goals feel detached, then identifying what really lights you up financially can be difficult. This is where working with a YNAB budget coach can make a huge difference.
A coach won’t just help you optimize your categories or clarify the mechanics of YNAB, they’ll help you name the things that matter. The “face” you want to give your money. And once you have that vision in place, it becomes easier to redirect spending with enthusiasm, not guilt.
You’re not cutting back. You're realigning, taking ownership, and crafting your spending plan to be truly yours.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling like you “should” spend less but don’t know why, or you keep setting goals to save more but they never seem to stick, it’s probably time to rethink and try something new.
What do you want your money to do for you?
Put that in your budget. Assign dollars to it. Let it guide your choices and actions, not just with what and where you spend, but also with what and where you don’t.
And if you need help uncovering what matters most to you financially, or aligning your budget to reflect those values, I’d love to help. Schedule a free chat and let's get to work on giving your money a name, a face, and a purpose.