When Work Stops Feeling Safe, Build a Life That Doesn’t Depend on It
When work becomes optional, even if only partially, you stop clinging so tightly to every...
Login
Register
Spend on What You Love, Not What You Like
Because money isn’t just for paying bills or collecting things—it’s for creating a life that reflects who you truly are.
- Written By: Jason Vitug
- Last Updated:
- No Comments
Disclosure: The article may contain affiliate links from partners who may compensate us. However, the words, opinions, and reviews are our own. Learn how we make money to support our mission.
A few years ago, I caught myself wondering why I was buying the things I bought.
Why did I need two cars, a motorcycle, an expensive apartment, and a walk-in closet filled with clothes I hadn’t worn? Why did I upgrade my phone every year or chase the latest tech gadget like it held the answer to happiness?
At the time, I was 26 and serving as a vice president of marketing for a credit union—just three years after starting as a bank teller. My career had skyrocketed. So had my income. But somehow, I still couldn’t buy my way to happiness.
I was living the “good life,” but deep down I felt unsatisfied. Something was missing, and I was trying to fill it with things—a $1,800 watch, weekend getaways, dinners that cost $40 a night, and bar crawls that easily hit $200.
I was making money and spending it just as fast.
It looked like success, but it didn’t feel like fulfillment.
When I Realized the Real Problem
Eventually, I saw what was really happening:
My relationship with money, credit, and debt wasn’t about numbers—it was about awareness.
I was chasing more income but spending mindlessly on things that didn’t truly matter to me. Even when I earned more, my spending habits didn’t change. The more I made, the more I spent.
That didn’t shift until I started exploring something deeper: my money mindset—the beliefs, emotions, and habits that shaped my financial decisions.
What Is Money Mindset?
Simply put, your money mindset is the lens through which you view money.
It’s how you think, feel, and behave with it.
In recent years, we’ve seen more talk about money mindfulness and conscious spending. These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re about awareness. When you become mindful, you start noticing your patterns, triggers, and the “why” behind your choices.
Because here’s the truth: when we’re stressed, tired, or unfulfilled, we often make financial decisions that compound our stress. Not because we’re irresponsible—but because we’re emotional beings trying to meet deeper needs.
The problem isn’t that we spend.
It’s that we often spend on things that don’t truly matter to us.
Spend on Loves, Not Likes
Forget the old rule for a second—“Choose needs before wants.”
That’s sound advice, but this idea goes beyond budgeting basics.
It’s about shifting how you spend so that your money supports what you genuinely love—not just what you like.
Most of us spend our entire paychecks on things we like—temporary pleasures that give us a quick boost but fade fast. We rarely prioritize what we love—the things and experiences that create lasting joy, meaning, and memories.
I once came across an acronym called WANELO, short for Want, Need, Love.
It helped me see how out of alignment my spending was.
So I tried something different.
I started tracking my “likes” versus “loves.”
One month, I calculated how much I was spending eating out with friends. The total? $1,200.
That could’ve been an all-inclusive trip to the Dominican Republic—something I said I loved but kept postponing because I “couldn’t afford it.”
That realization hit me hard: I wasn’t broke.
I was simply spending on things I liked instead of saving for what I loved.
The Love > Need > Want > Like Framework
This awareness led me to a simple system that changed everything:
Love > Need > Want > Like
It’s not about guilt. It’s about alignment.
- Love – Spend first on what makes you come alive.
- Need – Cover essentials that support your wellbeing.
- Want – Limit these so you have room for what you love.
- Like – Enjoy them, but don’t let them drain your resources.
When you spend most of your money on what you love, life starts feeling lighter and more intentional. When you spend it all on what you merely like, you stay caught in the loop of earning more just to feel “okay.”
A Real-Life Example
Let’s say you need a car.
You like the convenience of having one.
You want a new model.
But you love BMWs—they represent something meaningful to you: design, comfort, and achievement.
If that’s truly what you love, you don’t have to give it up.
You just have to be strategic.
Maybe that means buying a used model, cutting back elsewhere, or starting a side hustle to afford it.
The key is intentionality—knowing why you’re spending and whether it aligns with what you value most.
Sometimes, loving something means making short-term sacrifices. But spending without awareness can rob you of long-term joy.
Mindfulness Is Knowing What You Love
Money mindfulness isn’t about restriction—it’s about awareness.
It’s knowing what brings meaning to your life and aligning your spending around it.
Ask yourself: “Am I spending money to create the life I love, or to feel okay about the life I like?”
When you start answering that honestly, your financial behavior begins to change.
You stop chasing every “want” and start funding your deepest “loves.”
Because money isn’t just for paying bills or collecting things—it’s for creating a life that reflects who you truly are.
Next Steps
If this resonates, explore the concept deeper in my book You Only Live Once, where I dive into how mindset and meaning drive true financial freedom.
Key Takeaway
Spend on what you love.
Save for what matters.
Let go of what just fills the moment.
Because the life you love is built one mindful choice at a time.
Share is caring:
Author Bio
Jason Vitug
Jason Vitug is the founder and CEO of phroogal. His writings explore the intersection of money, wellness, and life. Jason is a New York Times reviewed author, speaker, and world traveler, and Plutus-award winning creator. He holds an MBA from Norwich University and a BS in Finance from Rutgers University. View my favorite things→
Jason Vitug
Jason Vitug is the founder and CEO of phroogal. His writings explore the intersection of money, wellness, and life. Jason is a New York Times reviewed author, speaker, and world traveler, and Plutus-award winning creator. He holds an MBA from Norwich University and a BS in Finance from Rutgers University. View my favorite things→
Enjoyed this article?
Share Your Thoughts Below
Related Articles