Listen to this episode here:
Bougie on a Budget: How to Make Your Bank Your Personal Assistant (with Shayna + Vanessa)
If the word budget makes you want to close every tab, light a candle, and pretend money isn’t real… you’re not alone.
On this episode of Passports, Profits, and Pixie Dust, I sat down with Shayna and Vanessa—best friends and master financial coaches (aka your new favorite “B-word” hype women). They help women who make good money but somehow feel like they have nothing to show for it finally take ownership of their finances… without living on rice and beans or tracking every Target run.
And their approach is honestly a breath of fresh air: simple, intentional, and built for real life (including Disney trips, busy schedules, and irregular income).
Let’s break down the biggest takeaways.
Wanna watch this episode on Youtube? Head here!
The Big Idea: Your Bank Can Be Your Personal Assistant
Shayna and Vanessa teach a budgeting system where your bank accounts do the work for you—paying bills, separating spending, and setting aside savings automatically.
Because let’s be real: most of us don’t need another spreadsheet that looks like it was designed in 1997 and comes with words like “fixed vs. variable.”
Their system is built around something way more doable:
- bills
- spending money
- saving
- (and a few other simple categories)
No complicated tracking. No guilt. Just clarity.
Step 1: Simplify Your Numbers (One Page = Less Scary)
The first thing they have clients do is put everything on one sheet of paper.
Not because it’s fun… but because it’s powerful.
When your money is scattered across accounts, apps, and mental math, it feels like a mystery. But when it’s all in one place, you can finally see what’s real—without fear.
Their Favorite “Peace of Mind” Move: Separate Bills from Spending
This was their #1 no-brainer automation tip:
✅ Open a second checking account.
One account is for:
- bills
- debt payments
- recurring expenses
The other is for:
- everyday spending
- fun money
- the “Friday night” budget
- business spending (if you’re an entrepreneur)
They described most people’s current setup as a black hole account where everything happens and you’re constantly guessing what’s safe to spend.
When bills and spending are separated, you stop guessing—and you instantly feel calmer.
“Digital Cash Envelopes” (Without the Envelope Chaos)
They take the old-school cash envelope system and modernize it:
- multiple accounts
- clearly labeled categories
- automatic transfers
- no tracking required
Instead of tracking every expense, you assign money a job on purpose. When that category runs out… that’s your guardrail.
Which brings us to one of my favorite quotes from this episode…
The Spicy Truth: “If You Can’t Afford It, the Answer Is No.”
We went there. 😅
In a world where the coaching industry (and honestly, culture in general) pushes “invest even if you have to go into debt,” Shayna and Vanessa had a very different take:
They believe in growing at the speed of cash.
Their phrase?
“No making, no spendy.”
Meaning:
Your business expenses grow as your business income grows—not because someone online said you “need” a tool.
They even shared how long it took them to move monthly subscriptions to annual payments (to save money), because they waited until they could actually afford it.
So refreshing.
Budgeting Isn’t Restriction. It’s Freedom.
They work with women who often carry guilt and shame around money—even successful women.
And their approach is rooted in grace:
- Nobody taught you this.
- Finances are more complicated than ever.
- You have 47 subscriptions and 12 “random” annual expenses you forget about until they hit.
They don’t start with: “What should we cut?”
They start with:
- What’s important to you?
- What brings you joy?
- What do you want your money to do?
Their goal is to give you permission to spend—while still building wealth and paying off debt.
They literally call it:
“Being bougie on a budget.”
Yes please.
For Entrepreneurs: Build the Budget Backwards (And Pay Yourself)
This part was gold for business owners.
They shared that many entrepreneurs build a “business budget” around expenses… and completely forget the most important line item:
Paying themselves.
They recommend:
- Build your personal budget first (what you actually cost)
- Build your business budget next (what the business costs)
- Add your paycheck as a non-negotiable line item
- Use that number to calculate what you need to sell each month
And then?
Shayna said she often ends sessions with:
“Your only job is to go make money.”
Because once the system is set up, everything else becomes automatic.
Irregular Income Tip: Make Commission Months Feel Consistent
If you’re a travel agent, commission-based, or in a season where income fluctuates, they recommend a simple system:
Open a “holding account.”
All income goes there first.
Then you “pay yourself” the same amount monthly—regardless of whether you had a huge month or a slow one.
High months fund the low months.
This reduces stress massively.
Travel Tie-In: The Disney (or Bali) Account Trick
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was how seamlessly this connects to travel planning.
Their advice for affording trips without panic-booking:
- Open a savings account (they call it a “savings bucket”)
- Rename it something fun:
- Disney
- Greece
- Bali
- European Summer
- Decide the full trip cost
- Divide by the number of months until you go
- Automate that transfer monthly
Now you’re saving with purpose—not randomly tossing $25 somewhere and hoping it becomes a vacation.
The Best “Baby Step” You Can Do Today
If you’ve avoided budgeting for years and you’re ready to start small, their answer was clear:
Open a separate checking account for spending.
Keep bills and spending separate.
It’s simple. It’s doable. And it will change everything fast.
Where to Find Shayna + Vanessa
🎧 Podcast: Financial Coaching for Women (on all podcast platforms)
💻 Budget system: BudgetBesties.com/lindsay (with an A—don’t forget it 😉)
🔥 Budget Bootcamp: BudgetBesties.com/bootcamp
They mentioned it kicks off December 30 and is designed to help you reset after the holiday spending and start 2026 strong.
Final Takeaway
This episode wasn’t about restriction.
It was about clarity, intentionality, and building a system where your money supports the life you want—whether that’s paying off debt, growing your business, or taking the Disney trip without the post-vacation financial hangover.
Because yes…
You can be bougie.
And you can do it on a budget. ✨
Connect with the Budget Besties:
Connect with Lindsay: