When you hang out with your friends, you likely expect to spend some money. Whether you’re buying rounds of drinks, movie tickets, clothes, dinner — or just putting gas in your car to get to your destination — the cost adds up fast, especially if you have pushy pals who encourage you to spend beyond your means. It’s why socializing and budgeting rarely go hand in hand. When you’re trying to save money, it can be tough to figure out how to strike a balance.
Instead of being honest about your current budget, you might come up with an awkward excuse to stay home or give in and allow yourself to overspend on a wild night out, but it doesn’t have to be that way. To stop the cycle of shame — and to help yourself save more cash — TikTok’s loud budgeting trend encourages you to speak up and set firm boundaries, all without overthinking, lying, or feeling a single ounce of guilt.
“Loud budgeting is about getting clear about financial limits, goals, and priorities, and not being afraid to talk about it,” says Ashley Rittershaus, a CFP professional and founder of Curious Crow Financial Planning. The topic of money can feel taboo, she tells Bustle, but this trend is all about flipping the script.
In a viral TikTok posted on Dec. 29 of last year, creator @lukasbattle explained that loud budgeting is the opposite of quiet luxury. “Loud budgeting isn’t about ‘I don’t have enough,’” he said in his video, which now has over 180,000 likes. “It’s about ‘I don’t want to spend.’”
It’s essentially a mindset shift that helps you stand up to friends and say no to social pressures. Here’s what to know about the loud budgeting trend, and how to give it a try.
How To Practice Loud Budgeting
If you’re wondering what loud budgeting looks like in practice, picture yourself turning down a friend’s invite to an expensive restaurant with a loud, firm no. If you’re already out with them, you might announce at the table that you’ll only be ordering fries instead of a full meal. According to Rittershaus, the extra dose of honesty is what helps you stick to your boundaries.
If you want, you could offer a cheaper alternative to their proposed plans, like inviting them over to your place instead. But to truly loud budget you often have to get a little cheeky, just like @lukasbattle. “If your friend texts you ‘I want to hang out’ you say ‘I don’t want to spend gas money on coming to hear you talk about your ex for three hours,’” he said in his TikTok. Instead of being wishy-washy, you’re supposed to get sassy and tell it like it is.
Here’s why: Being “loud” about your budget makes your goals crystal clear to everyone in the vicinity, and that in turn helps you stay accountable, says Rittershaus. The hardcore honesty will also make your friends less likely to pressure you into spending beyond your means or goals.
If a friend tries to talk you into buying something, like a pricey vacation or tickets to a show at an expensive venue, creator @libbybonthelabel suggests sharing details about why you don’t want to spend the money. If you usually say, “Sorry, I can’t afford that” or “Oh... I don’t know...” the loud-budgeting version of you will say, “Absolutely not. No way. I need to set aside $4,000 by November to pay for a new car.” Details — and a little drama — are tougher to argue with than simply saying “no.”
TikTok creator and money expert @jadewarshaw also loves this trend. She noted you can also loud budget with yourself by getting real about why you’re saving money, how much you hope to save, and what your goals are for the future. If your inner monologue is telling them to spend, go ahead and talk back. In her comments, someone said, “It’s like going debt-free is the newest cool thing. Finally!”
Who Should Try Loud Budgeting?
Loud budgeting can take some practice if you’re used to being awkward or hush-hush about your money, but Rittershaus says it’s so beneficial, especially if you tend to fold under pressure or spend beyond your means while out with friends.
“Loud budgeting can also be helpful for meeting specific financial goals, like paying off debt, building an emergency fund, saving for a big purchase, or contributing to retirement accounts,” she says. It’s one of the best ways to save money quickly since you’ll be boldly protecting your paycheck.
Who knows? By being extra vocal about your financial goals, the people around you might even join you in cutting back and spending less. As Rittershaus says, “The only way we can normalize talking about money is to start talking about it more, even if it might be a little uncomfortable at first.”
Source:
Ashley Rittershaus, CFP® professional, founder of Curious Crow Financial Planning
