If the universe had an award for “Most Inconsistent Human,” Janessa would’ve been giving an emotional thank-you speech by now.
At 24, Janessa considered herself environmentally conscious, ethically driven, and mildly allergic to fast fashion—or so her dating profile said. In reality, her room was a kaleidoscope of impulse purchases: sequin boots (never worn), five duplicate water bottles, and a subscription box of dog treats for a dog she didn’t own.
Janessa knew deep down that her shopping habits didn’t align with her personal values, prompting her to reflect on the importance of spending with values.
Her downfall? Late-night scrolling. That, and TikToks titled “Amazon Finds You Didn’t Know You Needed”—spoiler alert: she didn’t need them.
One Sunday morning, Janessa stood in front of her closet, bracing for the avalanche. A yoga mat tumbled out first, followed by a neon green coat that looked like a highlighter had a meltdown.
As she surveyed the chaos, she realized that her habits reflected a disconnect between her values and her spending. It was time for Janessa to start embracing spending with values.
She groaned. “Okay, Marie Kondo, let’s do this.”
As she sorted the chaos, she muttered, “Does this spark joy? Nope. Guilt? Yup.”
That afternoon, she dragged two trash bags of regret to the donation center. On her way back, she passed a thrift pop-up that claimed “Curated Slow Fashion with Purpose.” Intrigued—and conveniently carrying emotional baggage—she wandered in.
Inside, a woman with silver-rimmed glasses and very chill vibes welcomed her. “We source everything locally, pay fair wages, and support textile recycling. Each item here has a story.”
Janessa picked up a vintage jacket. “This is cooler than anything I’ve ever panic-bought online at 1 a.m.”
“You’d be surprised what shifts when you start spending with values,” the woman said, folding a hemp scarf. “Your closet and your conscience breathe easier.”
Something about that hit Janessa square in the credit score.
That night, she couldn’t shake it. Spending with values—not just random crap, but purchases that aligned with who she claimed to be.
She opened her banking app. It glared back at her like a disappointed parent.
– $86: “Eco-friendly” lunchbox she never used
– $47: Monthly makeup subscription (she barely wore eyeliner)
– $11.99: Monthly app to track the moon phases? Why?
She sighed. “The moon doesn’t even know I’m broke.”
Janessa decided to try an experiment. One month. Every dollar she spent had to align with her values: sustainability, creativity, community—and iced coffee, because let’s not get dramatic.
Week One: She almost relapsed over a giant “Witches Love WiFi” tapestry, but remembered she wasn’t actually into witchcore. Crisis averted.
Week Two: Instead of UberEats, she signed up for a community-supported agriculture (CSA) box. She promptly Googled “What is a turnip?”
Week Three: She skipped the sale at FastWear (the world’s cheapest leggings, made by unpaid ghosts probably) and splurged instead on a hand-knit sweater from a local artist. It was beige and oddly shaped—but warm and full of soul.
Week Four: She started tracking every purchase with a note about why she bought it. A second-hand book = “feeds my brain.” Candle shaped like a frog = “nope, just chaos.”
At the end of the month, she noticed something wild: her bank balance was actually higher. More importantly, her guilt balance was lower.
Even her friends noticed. At brunch, her best friend Maya raised an eyebrow. “Why do you look… centered? Did you start meditating?”
Janessa grinned. “Nah, just started spending with values.”
Maya blinked. “That’s the most adult thing you’ve ever said.”
“I know. I feel like I should be wearing linen pants and using phrases like ‘intentional consumption.’”
“Okay, let’s not go full Pinterest guru.”
Janessa laughed. But she felt good—better than any random haul ever had. She wasn’t just saving money. She was spending on purpose.
As she walked home, she passed a sidewalk bin full of clearance signs and vinyl decals that read “Buy Now, Cry Later.” She smirked.
Been there. Bought that. Regretted it.
Final Reflection:
Embracing Spending with Values:
Spending with values isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making choices that reflect you, not an algorithm’s idea of who you should be. Your budget? It’s basically your diary in receipts. So what’s it saying about you?
Maybe… it’s time to rewrite a few entries.
