The Rachel Cruze Show - 9 Tiny Habits That *Actually* Improved My Life (And Money)

Episode Date: July 21, 2025

💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free! You don’t need a secret formula to win with money—just some consistency! In this episode, you’ll learn nine simple habits that will totally transform your life and money. Next Steps: 🎥 Watch my video How I Budget, Invest, Save and Spend My Money. 📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan. Connect With Our Sponsors: Learn more about Christian Healthcare Ministries. Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. Explore More From Ramsey Network: 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 🎙️ The Ramsey Show   💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 💰 George Kamel 🪑 Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman  📈 EntreLeadership   Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that if you don't buy coffee for three years, you'll become a millionaire in five years? Did you know that? No, not exactly, obviously, but it feels like that's all the financial advice out there where it's like, just don't do this small little thing, and then you're going to be a gazillionaire, and it's going to be so great. And it can feel like really unrealistic. So today, I am not going to share any overnight magic tricks, but I am going to share nine tiny habits that actually can improve your life and your money because I have done these. Now, make sure to drop a comment.

if you have any habits that you have that you feel like are game changing so that we all can know and make sure to like, subscribe, and show this episode with a friend's. All right, starting off, my number one, which is true, it has benefited my life greatly, is doing a budget every single month. There is something about having control over your income and for me knowing where my money's going because it not only helps me spend and actually enjoy spending and having fun with money, so I know I'm not completely out of control, but there also says something about like the things I want to do, like giving and saving and, you know, looking for the future of like,

okay, we're going to take this trip in eight months. So like, we need to start saving for that. How much do we need to put away every month? Like, there's just something about planning out your money that allows you to do the things you want to do and have control over it, which ultimately gives you peace. So I use the every dollar app. I think it's one of the best budgeting apps out there. And I'll put a link down below so you can check it out. But it is fantastic. Number two is I track my transactions daily. So this has to do with the budget. But this is a habit that I do. I'm like every day, I usually open up the every dollar app and I track to see, okay, what have we spent in the last 24 hours? And it pulls money over. So whether it's Venmoing someone or an Amazon order or whatever it is, I just know where my money's going. And tracking it in the app helps me stay on top of it. Number three is prioritizing sleep. So I go to I've started doing this more and more because I'm waking up early. And there is something about not feeling rushed in the mornings to be able to say, hey, I have

like capacity to do things I need to do in the morning. That feels really good. And also, I don't know if I'm just getting older, but like having sleep is so key. It like changes the game in so many levels. So I think there's a reason that like literally people that are sleep deprived are like, I felt this like with a newborn. You feel crazy. Like you really do.

So sleep is so. crucial, so crucial, and this is a routine that Winston and I both are in. We go to bed early, and I love it. It's great. Number four is having moments of solitude throughout the day. So this has been big for me to kind of like put in, and it's pretty organic throughout my day. But this is a practice I've started doing more and more, and I swear it just gives me this capacity. I have more patience. I think it gives me a level of just being present and knowing exactly where I am. So whether it's like even in my car. Sometimes I'll just like turn off podcast or books or like do nothing and just be in my car and silence. There's something about that if I can get those little moments throughout the day,

even if it's just a few minutes, it has given me so much more peace versus feeling like I am like running ragged 24-7 that I look up to go to bed and it's like, my gosh, today was just a blur. It really does help me stay in the moment. Now the next item on the list is something that I actually do with those moments of solitude. So I'll tell you about that in a second. But first I want to tell you about delete me. If you do not remove your personal data from the internet, it is basically like a billboard with your name, your address, your email, even your kids' names. And then sketchy data broker websites will take your data, they will sell it to make money off of you, and then that puts you at risk for scams and fraud. But here's the good news. Delete me removes your data

and helps protect you from fishing, harassment, and other online threats. Winston and I use Delete Me, and it saves us so much time and worry. So you guys, your family's safety and and financial security are way to important to leave exposed. So sign up for DeleteMe and take control. Go to join DeleteMe.com slash Rachel for 20% off, bringing your monthly cost to under $9. Or just click the link in the description. Number five is to practice gratitude and contentment.

And during those pockets apiece that I have some quiet in solitude, this is something sometimes I will go over because it is amazing. I think gratitude and contentment are things you kind of have to practice. It doesn't just like magically show up. I think it's where our thoughts are. It's where our mind is. Our expectations, all of it. So there is something about gratitude that helps center you and contentment is a byproduct of that. When you are grateful for what you have and you're aware of those things, like top of mind, there's something about having more peace in the present moment and having that contentment, which is huge, not only for your soul and your satisfaction for your life, but also it helps you with your money.

because when you're content, you're less likely to try to compare and keep up. All right, number six is connect with people regularly. So this is something that I probably do naturally because I am just a social person, but whether it's like Marco Polo, which is an app that I feel like all millennials use. I don't know if Gen Zers use it, but we use it as millennials. I keep up with friends, even friends that are out of town, but like I have those things going. And if I'm not able to see people, because that's what's been hard.

Like in the season of life, schedules are just packed. And I hate to say it's true, though, mostly kids' stuff. And so you see people out and about, you know, with kids' sports and all of it. And we have some great friends that, you know, we're part of different teams. So you see them and connect with them, which is awesome. But sometimes those friends that you, like, know you and love you and know everything about you, you don't get to, like, have lunch with every day, right? Or get to see even once a week, depending on where they are.

And so connecting continually with them, I think is so, so important to be known. It's huge. And Dr. John Deloney talks about loneliness and all of this lack of connect. happening today, and I think it does affect our lives. So connecting with people regularly, so key. Number seven, working out. Okay. I have been up and down this roller coaster constantly. And so now I'm in a rhythm where I'm like, it's been good. It's been two and a half years, very consistent, usually three to four times a week. And there is something about it that gives me energy. Like it is something that's taking care of my body and knowing like what it can do and that it's

strong. It feels good over time. It really, really does. It's sometimes miserable. It's not one of these things. I'm like, oh my gosh, I just love it every moment of every time. No, I complain and I cheat a lot too and don't count out what I'm supposed to count out my reps sometimes. All those things are very true. But for me, overall, what is done to like everything, I would say, is really big. Like, it really is. So I don't know what that looks like for you. Again, I didn't work out for a year. So, like, I feel like you kind of go through a workout era different times. But right now I'm in it. Don't always like doing it, but I love the result and I feel good, which is really cute. All right, number eight is have a no phone block every day. So what I have tried to do, again,

not perfect at this, but I try to put my phone on my nightstands from five to seven every night. And this is especially like during the school year, like when we're in a rhythm. If we are home, I try to put my phone away because I am tempted to like check out. And it's like, oh my gosh, and I'll just scroll Instagram reels and just kind of like, oh, numb out. And that feels good sometimes if I'm like tired. But just putting it away, it's like out of sight, out of mind is really true. So if I can just have it plugged in somewhere where it's not around, it is so helpful.

And so we are all attached to our phones and technology. And I think we keep seeing reports and studies out more and more about how addictive it is. And it's very true. So if you can kind of have rhythms that you're not with it 24-7, really important. All right. Number nine, going back to some of this money stuff, but a rhythm that I am in,

and I've stayed true, is buying generic brands as often as possible. Now, this will save so much money when it comes to your groceries, and I was even just at Aldi recently, and I, like, bought all the Aldi brand stuff, and it was so inexpensive, y'all. I'm telling you, like, there's something about it

that is so true that you don't have to have the name brand. Now, if it's like the peanut butter, like there's a couple of things that my crew is, nope, I don't want like the off-brand Cheerios. I want the honey-nut Cheerios, like the real Honey-Nut Cheerios. Like, right, we're going to have our things that we have preferences. But overall, if it's stuff that you can, like, get away with, yeah, buy generic all day. So those are just some of, like, the little habits that I have in my life right now. And the funny thing about life is I can come back on in six months and they could all look totally different. But being aware of your life and

what you need, I think is really important in carving the time out to make these things possible. it does give you a level of control and an outcome of what you want that you don't feel like life is just at you, that you actually have a say over your life, which I think is really important. So we've talked a lot about lifestyle today, but again, there is so much when it comes

to managing your money well. So to get the scoop on financial habits that have changed my life, check out how I budget, invest, save, and spend my money. You can click here to watch that, or if you're listening on podcast, I'll put a link below.

All right, you guys, remember, to take control of your money and create a life. you love.