From Budget Stress to Spending Confidence: Tips for Moms in Tech

If there’s one topic that can raise heart rates and spike anxiety, it’s money. Especially when the holidays are approaching and our calendars (and credit cards) are filling up fast.

This week’s Moms in Tech session with Domain Money couldn’t have been more timely. We enjoyed a productive and engaging conversation that centered on a refreshingly human approach to money management. The session, led by Adrianna Adams, CFP®, Head of Financial Planning, helped our community learn vital tips on how to emphasize clarity over confusion and replace financial guesswork with confidence and calm. 

While much of the session’s content is exclusive to the Mints community, there are some takeaways that felt too good to keep to ourselves. Here are the top five ways to give yourself the clarity you need to leave uncertainty behind in 2025 and start the new year with a fresh financial outlook. 

Adopt a Spending Plan

We discussed a simple first step that is the building block upon which all other good financial moves can be made - adopting a spending plan. The word “budget” can come with the dreaded feeling of a list of “can’ts,” and reframing this can make all the difference mentally. A spending plan is a system that ensures that your dollars align with your values and long-term goals. It’s not about restricting, but about intention.

Cash flow confidence comes when we feel our money reflects what matters most to us. Gain this sense of grounded control by reframing the conversation in your mind as you get started on this work.  

Simplicity is Underrated

So many of us have our money spread across multiple accounts. Think about it: multiple savings accounts that haven’t been touched in years, unconsolidated retirement accounts, those checking accounts you opened in college to get a free gift. When our money is spread out and hard to track, we make things harder for ourselves. Consolidating accounts and giving each one a purpose will not only save time but also reduce stress and mental clutter.

We discussed viewing our financial organization the same way we’d streamline our family logistics or calendars. Everything should have a home, a label, and a reason to exist. If not, it’s adding unnecessary complexity to a process that works best when it’s simple. 

Avoid Holiday Traps

Adrianna walked us through some of the most common holiday “spending traps,” like shopping without a clear gift budget in mind, hidden costs like decor and travel, and the couple’s communication gap (when partners aren’t on the same financial page about what is reasonable for holiday spending). 

The recommended fix is simple! Plan a 15-minute “money date” with your partner before the holiday rush to go over expectations and ensure you’re on the same page. Grab a beverage of your choice, set a timer for your chat, clear away any uncertainties before grabbing the remote to dive into whatever you’re binge-watching.

Real Fixes for Real Families

Our community is unique, with many of us dealing with complex financial situations that include stock vesting cycles, exits, and multiple income streams. Rather than trying to create a basic monthly budget, people in this situation can benefit from smoothing their cash flow by creating separate buffer accounts and automating transfers. 

Even complex financial lives can become predictable with the right structure. This resonated well with our community of moms who know all too well how powerful systems are that can be automated and work for us in the background while we focus our time on things that matter most.

Use Recommended Tools and Tech

Does this resonate? Ready to dive into your finances with a refreshed mindset? We all love a good app, and Adrianna was ready to recommend a few popular ones that will help create new routines and systems. Check out YNAB, Monarch Money, Copilot, or find one that works best for you. We were reminded that the best systems are the ones that we’ll actually use, so whether it’s spreadsheets, apps, or something in between, find what works for you and stick with it. Consistency builds confidence. 

Empowerment through Clarity

Perhaps our most valuable lesson was the importance of taking control of our financial future by clarifying our goals and ensuring that our decisions are aligned with our future plans. The session felt like a permission slip for us to see our money as a tool that supports our values and families, rather than something that controls us. Money may never feel simple, but after our session, it definitely felt simpler. 

We hope this post will help you tap into this confidence and clarify ways that you too can be empowered to craft the financial future that works best for you. Small changes can create big results, and such changes can be a gift to yourself as we head into a new year.

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About Domain Money

Domain Money’s mission is to help their clients live their best lives through expert financial planning and innovative technology. Learn more on their website. 

Disclosure: Mints is supported in part by sponsors who share our mission. Partners featured here provide financial support or other benefits to help keep our community free. Any descriptions of sponsor offerings are based on information they provide and are not endorsements or guarantees by Mints.

Investment advisory services are offered by Domain Money Advisors LLC (Domain Money), a registered investment adviser with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Moms in Tech received a one time partnership fee and thus has an interest to promote Domain Money's services.