How to (responsibly) spend your way through sleepless nights

But that doesn’t make you feel better NOW, does it? So I want to give you some tips on how to get through today. How?

By spending some money on yourself.

Now that’s a big deal, because I’m a Money Coach. I teach people how to spend smarter and save more. Now you’re thinking, wait this money person is going to tell me to go spend some MORE money and ADD to your monthly budget?

Basically, yes.

Here is how it works. I believe in spending intentionally. Spending intentionally means you get crystal clear on what spending will add the most value to your life, and then cut the rest. What ‘matters the most’ is going to ebb and flow depending on your season of life and resource levels.

And when you have a child not sleeping, that is a distinct season of life with pretty low resource levels.

You have three buckets of resources available to you at all times: Time, Energy and Money.

Often, if my clients are trying to save money they need do things like meal planning (takes more time) or start a side hustle (takes more energy) to help refill their money bucket. Keeping your resources balanced is a constant juggle.

But you, Mama, are sleep deprived. Probably reading this bleary eyed in your yoga pants, dreading making dinner. You are different. Your energy bucket is drained, darlin’. Depleted. Zippo. And the time bucket isn’t looking so good either. Which means that you are in a season of life where you need to rely on money more than you normally would to get you through.

So budget aside, I ask you:
What would be the top three things that will help fill YOU back up?

What are the most important things you should be spending money on right now to help you through this season of life?

• Need to go out for a massage, book it.
• Want to order some ready-made meals, do it.
• Want to buy all the latest books on sleep habits, cool.
• Need to buy back your time with a house cleaner or babysitter, smart.
• Ready to invest in a sleep consultant, book that call now!

Do what you need to do to get you through this tough time.

Please know that I don’t want you racking up credit card debt to get through this season of life, either. Remember, this is about being intentional. And that includes cutting what you don’t need in your life right now to make way for the things you do, like a sleep consultant.

• Are you really going to the gym right now? Put it on hold until things calm down.
• Stay out of Target!
• Be really mindful about what the baby needs, versus what you want.

Ultimately, you need to give to yourself first so you can be the best version of yourself for your baby and your family. When you and your child aren’t sleeping, life is different and your spending should be adjusted for that too. You will make it through the other side and your spending will normalize. But for now, consider this permission to make those adjustments.  You’ve got this.

Comment below and let me know the best way that you’re saving your money while raising your little one!

Nicole Cooley helps her clients manage their family finances by building a system to track their spending, creating debt and savings plans,  exploring limiting beliefs and learning about value based spending.  Her company Money With Moxie teaches women to be powerful with money and use it as a tool to design their ideal life. Get her free Budgeting Starter Kit here.