Next time you open Instagram, make a mental tally of how many people on your feed are encouraging you to buy something new. How many Stanley cups does one person need? The endless drumbeat led TikTok creator Lukas Battle to coin the term “loud budgeting,” which involves being loud and clear with friends and family about what you’re not willing to spend money on.
“It’s not ‘I don’t have enough,’ it’s ‘I don’t want to spend,’” wrote Battle.
Loud budgeting was a popular trend in 2024, especially for people who were looking to save money and get out of debt. While trends come and go, loud budgeting could—and should—be here to stay as consumers continue to wrestle with higher prices and the challenge of saving for big goals.
“I first heard about it during a financial wellness seminar where the speaker focused on how chatting with others about money could increase accountability and reduce stigma,” says Rebecca Leigh, educator and editor at Academized.com. She said that the combination of transparency and community made her want to try it out—and you might give it a shot, too.
What is loud budgeting? How does it work?
When more people know about your financial goals, you have a greater chance of sticking to them. By telling a wide circle about your goals, there are more people holding you accountable to those goals.
“My wife and I decided to give it a go with more family and friends, and honestly we enjoyed the accountability it brought on,” says Darian Shimy, CEO and founder of FutureFund. “We set clear priorities, openly discussed where we wanted to cut back, and even tracked our progress together on a shared app.”
Then there’s habituation: The more you practice and get used to something, the easier it becomes. The more you openly talk about what you’re turning down, the easier it will be to actually save money.
It can feel obnoxious to always be the friend or family member talking about what you can’t do because you’re trying to save money, so instead, try focusing on what you’re saving money for. Think of the larger story you’re trying to tell.
“You can consider loud budgeting as purposeful storytelling,” says Martin Mulyadi, Ph.D., professor of accounting at Shenandoah University. “Rather than reeling off line-item specifics, you can focus on how your choices reflect your values.”
Some people value experiences, like concerts or sports events, over material goods. If you're paying off a student loan, reducing credit card debt, or saving for an emergency, illustrate your accomplishments so that others can understand the story behind your budget.
“It was embarrassing at times,” says Leigh. “I didn’t feel like stating ‘It’s not in my budget,’ when I turned down invites, or explaining my money choices in front of the group. I was afraid people would perceive me as desperate or poor. However, those exchanges regularly triggered questions and positive dialogues with people who valued my field or wanted to learn how to better control their money.”
“We have certainly not been afraid to push back on friends who perhaps propose a restaurant above our price range, for example. It’s led to some more awkward moments if you will, as it caught close friends off guard, but that comes with the territory of loud budgeting!” says Shimy.
How you can be a loud budgeter—without being a jerk about it
So, want to give it a go? Here are tips from folks who have found success with loud budgeting and made big savings wins:
Create a clear budget first
Come up with a budget and stick to your plan, then be loud and proud about your vision and goals. Consider using a budgeting app, pre-designed spreadsheet, or see if your bank has any budgeting tools built in to your account.
“The concept of normal budgeting also applies in loud budgeting, in that life curveballs—say, an unexpected illness—serve as an opportunity to emphasize the need for a financial safety net,” says Mulyadi.
Be open and honest about your financial situation
Instead of waiting until someone asks you to spend a bunch of money, state your plan up front so people close to you can get on board.
“I began by discussing financial plans with close friends instead of arguing with everyone,” says Leigh. “So, I got the message out there too, pointing out that budgeting was my road to eliminating credit card debt and saving for a vacation.”
Share your “why”
Instead of just making loud budgeting about what you can’t do, clearly state what you plan on doing with the money you’re not spending.
“I often explain by saying things like, we don't eat out much because we want to travel the world and see other places,” says Heidi Clemons, a financial coach located in Hawaii. “I do enjoy hanging out with friends over dinner or drinks, but I almost rather have them bring a dish to share and have them over to the house. I want my story to inspire others to dream big with their finances and know that they can also achieve their money goals.”
Read the room before oversharing
Loud budgeting is less about being preachy and more about finding accountability with like-minded people.
“I find loud budgeting works best in environments where open communication is valued and judgment is minimal,” says Shimy. “With close family, friends, or teams for example, it can foster unity and clarity around goals. However, in social settings, it’s important to read the room before sharing too much.”
Ignore the haters
Not everyone will understand or value your decisions, and not everyone has to.
“One challenge was dealing with criticism from friends who accused me of being ‘cheap’ or money-obsessed,” says Leigh. “It hurt but I told myself their comments didn’t dwarf the good that was coming to me.”
Celebrate your wins…
No matter what type of budgeting you’re trying to practice consistently, it’s important to acknowledge your progress, pause, and feel good about your accomplishments.
“One of the things we did that worked well for us was creating budgeting wins,” says Shimy. “These were just celebrating small achievements like saving X amount of dollars on a grocery bill or finding a creative way to save on entertainment-related purchases. It made the process fun and rewarding rather than so restrictive.”
…but talk openly about your failures, too
Especially if you’re in it with a few friends, sharing your pitfalls or where you’ve struggled can also make a huge difference in curbing shame around spending and staying on track long-term.
“In loud budgeting, sharing about failures along the way can and will be more instructive than bragging about perfect results,” recommends Mulyadi. “As most of us perhaps experienced, say you discovered you've accumulated half a dozen subscription services you rarely use. This kind of story inspires conversations.”
Let loud budgeting help you build community
The more you share openly, the more likely you are to get (at least some of) your friends on board—then you can all decide on low-spend activities together.
“It may feel odd at first, but once you start sharing how you are making plans for the future with your money decisions today, you may end up with a group who also are interested in sharing these goals, too,” says Clemons.
The bottom line on loud budgeting
You can be loud and proud about your financial goals without being distasteful.
“When others can see both your goals and your mistakes, they realize that personal finance is about making modest progress and reflecting thoughtfully,” encourages Mulyadi. “When done correctly, loud budgeting can feel more like an open invitation to learn from one another's experiences.”
