How I Kept Budgeting Even When the Money Got Better

by Henrik Bacilieri

There’s this strange lie people tell themselves:

“Once I start making real money, I won’t need a budget.”

It’s funny, because when I was broke—or at least just getting by—I thought the same thing.
I believed that once I hit a certain income, discipline would become less important. That I’d feel freer. That things would just “work themselves out.”

But if 2017 taught me anything, it’s this:
Budgeting doesn’t stop when you make more money—it becomes even more essential.

In fact, the more money I made, the more intention I needed.
Because it’s not the amount—it’s the decisions that matter.

💰 What Changed With Higher Income?

Let’s talk numbers without flashing them.

This year, I went from managing tens of thousands to over $1 million in client portfolios.
My personal income jumped too—more than any other year in my life.

With that came new temptations:

  • Fancier tools, tech, and travel

  • The urge to upgrade my car or wardrobe

  • Random Amazon “rewards” after a long week

  • Even “good problems” like reinvesting into my growing business

I realized very quickly that without structure, I could still end up broke—or worse, directionless.

📒 My Budgeting System (Still Basic, Still Works)

I’ve tried all kinds of apps and tools, but I’ve stuck to a simple combo:

1. Google Sheets + Cashflow Calendar
I built a monthly spreadsheet that tracks:

  • Fixed expenses (rent, insurance, utilities, subscriptions)

  • Variable expenses (food, fuel, misc)

  • Income (both fixed and client-based)

  • Savings & Investments (manual tracking by category)

At the top of every month, I update it with projected numbers.
At the end of each month, I update it again with actuals.

2. 70/20/10 Framework (Give or take)
While I’m not super rigid, I follow something close to this:

  • 70% for living and reinvesting into business

  • 20% into saving/investments

  • 10% into generosity or giving

Some months the “savings” jumps to 30% if crypto performs well or clients come in strong. But the habit matters more than the math.

3. Weekly Money Check-In
I have a calendar reminder every Sunday night: “Review $$”
I sit down with a tea or espresso and go over:

  • What came in

  • What went out

  • Any red flags or surprises

It sounds nerdy. It is. But it keeps me aware—and awareness builds self-trust.

🧠 The Mindset Shift: Budgeting as Power

When you don’t budget, money becomes mysterious.
You don’t really know what’s happening—you just hope it works out.

But when you do budget, you feel grounded.
Every expense becomes a choice. Every goal becomes trackable.

The power isn’t in restriction.
It’s in alignment—knowing your money is flowing toward the life you’re building, not away from it.

🛠️ A Few Hacks That Helped Me

  • “Play money” envelope – I give myself a small monthly budget for guilt-free indulgence. Keeps the impulse buys in check.

  • Crypto is outside the spreadsheet – My long-term plays (like Bitcoin and ETH) live in a different mental bucket. I still track them, but I don’t count on them for budgeting.

  • No lifestyle creep – I didn’t change apartments, cars, or wardrobe this year. Just because I could doesn’t mean I should.

  • Sinking funds – I pre-save monthly for things like travel, taxes, or tech upgrades, so I’m not surprised when the time comes.

🧾 Bottom Line

Making more money doesn’t replace the need for budgeting.
If anything, it tests how seriously you take your goals.

Budgeting is a mirror. It shows you what you really value—not what you say you value.

And for me? That value hasn’t changed.

  • Freedom

  • Legacy

  • Family

  • A life that builds, slowly and surely

That’s what I’m budgeting for.
Not just survival—but stability and intention.

If you’re making more now than you used to—don’t loosen the grip.
Strengthen your systems. Protect your principles.
And remember: budgeting isn’t a burden. It’s your blueprint.

Henrik Bacilieri

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