While I was sipping coffee at a local café, I found myself reflecting on something that rarely gets written down but quietly shapes so much of our day-to-day: our family’s money rules.
These rules didn’t come from a finance book or a YouTube guru. They emerged over time - through life, kids, mistakes, wins, occasional fights, tears including “silent treatments” and a fair bit of spreadsheet tinkering. It’s not a rigid system. It’s more like a shared understanding. A social contract that’s evolved with us.
Here’s a glimpse into how we think about money as a family.
💸 We invest a set amount every month into broad-based index funds
Rain or shine, market up or down - we invest. It’s boring. It’s consistent. And it’s been one of the most powerful habits we’ve built. And when it’s stormy for whatever reasons and if the market goes down - we buy more. Trump tariffs and war threats doesn’t scare me anymore.
🍜 We don’t do takeaway food
Years ago, we ordered a takeaway meal that arrived late and soggy. We paid good money and felt worse after eating it. That was it. Since then, if we can’t cook, it’s Maggi noodles or Katoomba parotta from the freezer. Cheap, fast, no regrets. And most importantly our kids doesn’t know that we could even order take away food as that’s not in their scope of thinking. Worst case will be to get a drive in from McD / KFC.
💰 Anything over $100? We wait 24 hours
It’s amazing how many things feel unnecessary after a day’s wait. This one rule has saved us more than we can count — in money and clutter.
✈️ Travel is something we spend on freely
We place a high value on experiences - especially the kind that create lasting memories with our kids. I’ve always imagined that one day, when we’re retired, it’ll be just the two of us (Me and Mrs) flipping through google photos of holidays, laughter, and messy moments from trips we took as a family. That thought alone makes every trip worth it.
So yes, we prioritise travel. While we’re happy to cut back on other areas, we do prioritise travel on seeing new places and making memories. To make it sustainable, we often travel during off-peak times or take the kids out of school for a few days -avoiding crowds and inflated school holiday prices.
👫 Our finances are fully transparent
We share everything. Joint accounts. Shared spreadsheets. We trust each other with every transaction, and that clarity reduces so much friction.
🛒 Groceries: Frugal but not obsessed
We chase half-price deals and 10% discount, but we don’t obsess. If it’s food, it’s fair game - as long as we’re eating what we already have. No stockpiling things we forget in the back of the pantry.
🧥 The CPO (Chief Procurement Officer) is my wife
Clothes, accessories, household goods - she owns it. And damn she does really well! Hats off! Especially with her access to Chinese platforms, we often bypass the middlemen (Temu, Shein, Amazon) and buy direct from horses mouth. Better prices, better quality.
🧾 The CFO hat is mine
Spreadsheets, bill payments, Utilities, Insurance, Tax filings, investment tracking - that’s my domain. I genuinely enjoy it, and it gives us a clear rhythm for managing everything from mortgage repayments to yearly bonus allocations.
Bill Payments
As much as possible - I avoid making payments via auto debit - I want to have control, hold and check to see if there are other options (egs., Insurance) often get value when we switch. There are places I can’t avoid auto debit - so, yeah accept in those places.
If car rego is due - I set a calendar invite for that date to make the payment. I know there are options like sniip which can come in handy - but this works well for us at this time :)
I always shop around when insurance renewals are due. Small effort for a great reward!
I also keep a record of all the claimable expenses throughout the year for when it’s time for filing taxes - it’s set and ready to go!
🛒 Amazon tip: Add to cart, but don’t buy immediately
We’ve noticed prices often drop on items just sitting in our Amazon cart. So now we wait - and watch before we pull the trigger.
Through money mindset - we developed delayed gratification - which has been game changing. Want to buy a pair of shoes - look for the right one and add to the cart or wait for the deal and you’d almost always get the best price when you wait.
🛟 We keep an emergency fund - always
We aim to keep at least 3–6 months of expenses tucked away. It’s our cushion. We hope we never need it, but we’re glad it’s there.
🧠 Big decisions take time
Anything that affects our long-term goals or requires a big outlay gets discussed, slept on, and re-evaluated. No rush. No pressure. We’re in this for the long haul.
💸 Credit cards are always paid off in full
We don’t set any budgets - we know how much our monthly expenses are on an average and when the numbers are around that mark - we move on. There is no point in setting up a limit on a certain category and fret over it when it goes above.
And we always ALWAYS pay off credit card debts in full!
These rules didn’t show up overnight. They came from trial, error, honest conversations, and figuring out what really matters to us. And while they’ll probably evolve, this is what works - for now, for our family. This is not a prescription - it’s more of what works for our family - you can take some of it for your own or build something on your own try, fail and learn from it.
If you’ve been thinking about your own money rules, try writing them. You might be surprised what shows up.
And finally, a heartfelt thank you to you - the readers.
What began as a small passion project on the side has now grown into a community of over 100 subscribers in just three months. Your support, your encouragement, and your quiet presence here mean more than I can say.
This journey is no longer just about me - it’s about something far bigger. It’s about helping people build clarity, confidence, and calm around their money. I promise to keep showing up, sharing what I know, and writing with my whole heart - all in service of that purpose.
If this resonated with you, don’t keep it to yourself.
Share it with someone who needs to hear it - a partner who’s hesitant about money, a friend feeling stuck, or a colleague looking for direction. A small act could spark a big shift.
Pay it forward. Let’s grow this movement - one conversation at a time.