The Mindset Shift That Helped Me Stop Feeling Broke
Introduction — Feeling Broke Isn’t Just About Your Bank Balance
Have you ever looked at your bank account and felt a sick pit in your stomach? Like no matter what you do, you’ll never catch up?
That used to be me — constantly stressed about money, stuck in a cycle of worry, and waiting for “something big” to change. I thought fixing my finances was about getting a raise, winning the lottery, or stumbling into a perfect side hustle. But none of those happened.
What did change everything wasn’t a financial strategy (at first). It was a mindset shift — one simple change in the way I thought about my money and myself.
This post isn’t just another budgeting guide. It’s about the internal shift that finally helped me stop feeling broke, even when money wasn’t flooding in.
1. What “Feeling Broke” Really Means
To understand the shift, we need to unpack what “feeling broke” really is.
Feeling broke isn’t:
Just having a low bank account
A lack of income
A temporary lack of savings
It’s a mindset. It’s:
Constant fear about money
Feeling like you’re not enough
Believing you’re always behind
Seeing the world through a scarcity lens
You can make $50,000/year and still feel broke.
And you can make $30,000/year and feel financially confident.
Why? Because how you think about money matters as much as how much you make.
2. The Mindset That Kept Me Stuck
Before the shift, my thoughts went something like this:
“I don’t make enough.”
“There’s never enough.”
“I’ll catch up someday.”
“Why bother, I’ll just fail.”
Sound familiar?
These thoughts did two things:
They reinforced fear, which made me avoid facing my finances.
They became excuses, stopping me from taking action.
I wasn’t broke because of my income — I was broke because of my beliefs.
3. The Shift: From Scarcity to Strategy
The mindset shift that changed everything was this:
“I am not broke. I am budgeting, learning, and creating more control over my money than I had yesterday.”
Let’s break that down:
Scarcity: “I don’t have enough.”
Strategy: “I can take manageable steps to improve.”
Before the shift, my brain equated money with worthiness — as if my self‑worth depended on how much I had.
After the shift, I began to see money as data — information I can analyze and improve.
4. The 3 Core Beliefs That Changed My Money Mindset
Here are the beliefs that replaced the fear:
Belief #1: Progress, Not Perfection
I stopped beating myself up for not having the “perfect budget” or “perfect plan.”
Progress looked like:
Saving $20 this week
Tracking my expenses without judgment
Trying one new side hustle idea
Each small win built confidence.
Belief #2: Money Is a Skill, Not a Mystery
I used to think money smarts were innate — something other people were born with.
But money is a learnable skill:
Budgeting
Saving
Earning
Investing
I became a student of money — not a victim of circumstance.
Belief #3: I Have Agency
Agency means recognizing that even if you can’t control everything (like income or rent), you can control:
How you track money
Where you spend first
What income actions you choose
I stopped feeling at the mercy of money and started seeing opportunities.
5. The Actions That Supported the Shift
Mindset shifts are powerful, but they need action to stick. Here are the exact steps I took:
Step 1: I Tracked Every Dollar
I used a simple spreadsheet — not to guilt myself, but to see where my money was really going.
Seeing numbers without judgment gave clarity.
Step 2: I Created a Small “Win” Savings Goal
Instead of aiming for $10,000 right away, I started with:
Save $50 this week
Save $100 this month
Big goals felt overwhelming. Small wins felt possible.
Step 3: I Defined What “Not Broke” Means for Me
For me, it wasn’t a number — it was confidence.
I wanted to wake up without a pit in my stomach when I checked my bank account.
Everyone’s definition can be different:
A cushion of $500
A debt‑paydown plan
Extra income from a side hustle
Define yours.
Step 4: I Created an Income Action Plan
Instead of waiting for money to magically appear, I:
Listed income ideas
Picked one to focus on
Took imperfect action
Momentum started from doing, not perfect planning.
6. Reframing “Broke” to “Becoming”
Here’s the real transformation:
Instead of:
“I am broke and stuck.”
It became:
“I am becoming someone who understands and manages money better every day.”
The money didn’t change overnight — my identity did.
When you see yourself as becoming, you:
Stop comparing
Reduce shame
Learn faster
Take action without fear
7. Why This Mindset Works Long‑Term
This mindset shift helps in three major ways:
1. It Reduces Stress
When money is data, not judgement, it stops feeling like a threat.
2. It Builds Confidence
Small wins stack into belief.
3. It Opens Up Action
You stop waiting for a “perfect time” and start doing today.
This kind of belief is the foundation for:
budgeting success
wealth building
consistent income growth
8. Common Questions About This Mindset Shift
But what if I really don’t have enough money?
Shift your focus from scarcity to control. You may not control income yet — but you can control how you use what you have.
Does this mean I ignore problems?
No — you acknowledge them and take action instead of shrinking from them.
Can this really change my life?
Yes — when your thoughts align with actions, you build a cycle of confidence and results.
9. Real Examples of Mindset in Action
Here are three real ways this mindset shift shows up:
Example 1:
Instead of “I’m broke because I can’t afford this,” you think
“I’m broke right now, but I’m choosing one small step toward income.”
Example 2:
Instead of “I’ll never catch up,” you start saying
“I’m learning money skills that will benefit me permanently.”
Example 3:
Instead of “I failed,” you think
“That was feedback — I’ll adjust and try again.”
This way of thinking changes both your emotions and your behavior.
10. Tools That Support This Shift
Here are some tools that helped me build confidence while learning money:
A simple budget tracker
Automatic savings transfer
A small side hustle checklist
Books/ebooks on mindset & money
A planner with daily financial goals
If you already use my Tools & Resources page, these likely feel familiar.
Conclusion — You’re Not Broke, You’re Becoming
If you’ve ever felt like you’re just barely keeping your head above water, I want you to know:
Feeling broke isn’t a life sentence — it’s a signal that your beliefs about money need tweaking.
The shift isn’t:
About getting rich fast
About earning more than everyone else
About having perfect finances
It’s about thinking differently:
Seeing your finances as something you can learn, grow with, and improve — one choice at a time.
Ready for Action?
Here are three ways to take your next step:
👉 Start with your freebie: 10 Side Hustles You Can Start with $0
👉 Check out tools that support confidence and earning on my Tools & Resources page
👉 Consider the Income First Blueprint — focus your efforts on income before complicated systems
