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New York Post
04-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Gen Z turns to ‘old-school' money hack to curb spending: ‘Helps create awareness'
Cold hard cash is making a comeback — at least on weekends. Swipe, sip, splurge, repeat — that's the usual weekend drill for many debit-card-happy spenders. One latte turns into a shopping spree, a boozy brunch and suddenly your bank account's begging for mercy. Advertisement Enter the latest TikTok-approved money hack: the 'cash-only weekend.' The idea? Hit the ATM on Friday, pull out a set amount of cash, and make it stretch through Sunday. @ how using cash has helped me grow my savings 💰💵💸 granted, this might not apply to everyone and all of our financial situations are different but this is what has helped me this year and I wanted to share! it has truly changed EVERYTHING when it comes to my money and in my opinion we SHOULD be purchasing conciously!!!! if you have any tips feel free to leave them in the comments 🖤🧚🥰 #cashisking #savingmoney #moneytips #cash #financialliteracy ♬ original sound – Alright Hey 🇦🇺🍉 No cards. No Apple Pay. No exceptions. When the cash runs out, so does the fun. Advertisement With tap-to-pay making it way too easy to blow through your budget, this analog approach is catching on fast. As Nadia Vanderhall, a financial planner and founder of The Brands and Bands, told Bustle in a recent interview, 'Most people are used to tapping with Apple Pay or Google Pay — you're not even pulling out your wallet anymore.' She continued, 'You just tap and keep it moving. But that's the issue: when the money leaves that fast, you're not tracking what you're truly spending.' 3 Cash is king again — at least 'til Monday. For weekend warriors with swipe-happy fingers, it's all too easy: one latte, one brunch, one 'treat yourself' spree — and boom, your bank account's in cardiac arrest. Syda Productions – Advertisement This old-school hack isn't just about saving bucks — she explained — it's about spending with purpose. A 'cash-only' weekend doesn't just curb your impulse buys — it forces you to slow your roll and put some thought behind every dollar that leaves your wallet. 'You decide how much you want to spend for the weekend, pull that amount in cash on Friday, and that's all you allow yourself to use through Sunday,' she added. When you're forking over cold, hard cash and watching it vanish faster than your willpower at a sample sale, you're way less likely to blow your budget on impulse buys. Advertisement The paper-in-hand panic? That's the point — it forces you to think twice before splurging on that extra oat milk latte or random checkout-line trinket. Vanderhall stressed, 'If you swipe without thinking or tend to overspend on food, convenience, or random little things, this can help create real awareness.' 3 'You decide how much you want to spend for the weekend, pull that amount in cash on Friday, and that's all you allow yourself to use through Sunday,' she added. .tiktok/@yellerwelle If you want to give a 'cash-only' weekend a whirl, first, check your bank balance, eyeball your plans — birthdays, brunches, booze runs — then hit the ATM and take out just enough to cover it all without raiding your savings or skipping the rent. Stash the cash in an envelope and swear off your swipe — though Vanderhall says it's smart to keep a backup card buried so deep in your bag you'll need a search party to find it. As previously reported by The Post, Gen Z-ers are also trying the 'treat yourself tax' hack and '1% rule' to save money and prevent overspending. Earlier this spring, the 'treat yourself tax' hack had spenders doing double takes — one at the price tag, and one at their savings app. The rule? For every impulse buy — whether it's a $7 iced coffee, a $30 plumping gloss, or a $250 'emotional support' purse — you match it with a deposit into savings. Advertisement 3 This old-school money hack is making a comeback. Pixel-Shot – Splurge now, save now. Guilt optional. As for the '1% rule,' over the past few months, this has been making waves with wallet-watchers — and it's so simple even your shopaholic BFF could pull it off. Advertisement Thinking about blowing big bucks on front-row concert seats, a bougie espresso machine, or a luxe weekend getaway? If the price tag is more than 1% of your annual income, pump the brakes. Make $50K? Anything over $500 means it's time for a 24-hour cooling-off period. Still craving it tomorrow? Fine. But if not, congrats — you just saved a chunk of change (and your credit score).
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
‘Treat Yourself Tax' is the money hack that will kill your overspending guilt: ‘Helps you stick to your budget'
Buy the latte — but pay the price. No, not in guilt. In savings. The 'Treat Yourself Tax' is the latest budget-savvy hack sweeping social media, and it's got impulse shoppers doing double takes — one at the receipt, and another at their savings account. Advertisement The hack? Every time you splurge on something nonessential — say, a $7 iced coffee, a $30 plumping lip gloss, or a $250 'emotional support' handbag — you immediately transfer that exact amount into savings. Spend it, save it. Guilt-free gratification. 'It's about looking at your money, figuring out what brings you joy — big or small — and building that in on purpose,' said Nadia Vanderhall, financial planner and founder of The Brands and Bands, who shared her expert take with Bustle. Advertisement Unlike hardcore budgets that make you feel like you're grounded for life, this one lets you live a little — and still stash cash for the future. 'This is the kind of hack that works because it's flexible and real,' Vanderhall explained. 'It helps you stick to your budget without it feeling like punishment.' It's a concept tailor-made for a generation who knows their coffee order better than their 401(k) balance — and whose shopping carts are often fuller than their bank accounts. But Vanderhall says this simple mental money match-up can help shoppers pause before hitting 'buy now.' Advertisement The deal? Whenever you drop cash on a nonessential, you also stash the same amount in savings. Lazy_Bear – 'When you think about the tax, you start to check in with yourself and ask, 'Do I really want this or am I just stressed or bored?'' she said. 'You get more intentional with your money.' That moment of reflection echoes other recent money-saving tips that have gone viral, like the 'screenshot hack' — where TikTokkers suggest screenshotting tempting products instead of buying them immediately, to give your brain (and budget) time to cool off. Advertisement And don't forget the '1% rule,' which advises that if a non-essential item costs more than that percentage of your annual income, take at least 24 hours to think before pulling the trigger. If you make $60K, as originally shared by Glen James of My Millennial Money via CNBC, that means sleeping on any purchase over $600 — no matter how chic the trench coat. These hacks all share a common goal: cutting spending without cutting joy. 'If you can't enjoy your money at all, it's harder to stay consistent,' Vanderhall told Bustle. 'Not enjoying it can make you resent it. It's about staying grounded and connected to your why, even when you're saving. You get to connect with your money and build a relationship.' This viral savings trick joins the ranks of TikTok-famous hacks like the 'screenshot rule' and the '1% rule' — all designed to curb overspending without the guilt. Robert Peak – Best of all, the 'Treat Yourself Tax' works for any income — whether your splurge is a $4 lip balm or a $400 Dyson Airwrap. Buy something — bank something. Advertisement 'This gives you breathing room,' Vanderhall said. 'It's also good for impulse shoppers because now you've got a plan. No guilt, no guessing, just structure. Everyone, no matter the income, can implement this.' Over time, you might even redefine what counts as a treat. 'The treat also doesn't have to break the bank,' Vanderhall added. 'It can be a solo movie date, that $12 mascara mini you love, or just something that makes you feel good.' So, go ahead — treat yourself. Just don't forget to tax yourself, too.
