Personality-based budgeting with budget coach Erin Britt / 86
What if the reason budgeting feels so frustrating has less to do with willpower and more to do with personality?
Some people genuinely enjoy spreadsheets, detailed plans, and checking off financial goals. Others feel boxed in by rigid systems and need more flexibility to stay consistent. Neither approach is wrong — they're just different.
In this conversation with Erin Britt, we unpack how type A and type B personalities influence our money habits and why the most successful budget is the one you'll actually want to use.
Episode highlights
[00:00] Why personality type has more to do with budgeting than you might think.
[02:00] Can type B personalities actually budget? Why everyone needs a money system, even if you hate structure.
[06:00] Breaking down the common traits of type A and type B personalities, plus how each one influences money habits.
[09:30] Why traditional budgeting advice often feels designed for type A personalities — and what type B budgeters need instead.
[11:30] The freedom of giving yourself permission to change your budget every month as your life changes.
[16:30] Why personalizing your budget categories can make budgeting feel more motivating and aligned with your values.
[19:00] Budget "rules" you can let go of, and why flexibility doesn't mean giving up financial boundaries.
[23:30] How different budgeting styles — from detailed categories to broad spending buckets — can all be successful.
[26:30] How to tell whether a budgeting method simply needs more practice or genuinely isn't the right fit for you.
[32:00] What type A and type B personalities can learn from each other, and why comparison rarely helps your financial journey.
There's no "right" personality for budgeting
Somewhere along the way, a lot of us picked up the idea that there's one "right" way to budget. You know the version: perfectly organized spreadsheets, color-coded categories, and a spending plan that never changes.
If that's your thing, amazing.
But if you're already feeling stressed just thinking about it, you're in good company. 👋
One of the biggest themes in this episode is that your budget should fit your personality, not the other way around. Some people love structure. Others need flexibility to stay consistent. Neither approach is better; they just come with different strengths.
Instead of asking yourself, "Why can't I budget like that person?" try asking:
What kind of system feels realistic for me?
How much structure actually helps me?
What makes me want to keep coming back to my budget?
Those questions are much more likely to lead you to a budgeting system you'll actually stick with.
Your budget is allowed to change
This might be one of our favorite reminders from the episode: your budget isn't supposed to stay exactly the same every month.
Because life certainly doesn't.
Some months you're planning a vacation. Some months you're replacing tires. Some months you're buying birthday gifts for what feels like every person you've ever met. 🫠
Your priorities shift, your expenses shift, and your budget should be able to shift, too.
That's not a sign that you've failed… It's actually a sign that you're using your budget the way it was intended — as a plan that supports your real life.
Giving yourself permission to adjust your categories from month to month can make budgeting feel a whole lot less overwhelming and a lot more sustainable.
Make your budget feel like your budget
Budget templates are helpful. Budget rules? Not always.
One thing Erin talks about is personalizing your budget categories so they actually reflect what matters to you. If a category motivates you to save, spend intentionally, or feel excited about your goals, that's a good thing.
For example, Cassidy has a budgeting category for “cozy home things” because she loves nothing more than a happy, welcoming home. 🏡
Your budget doesn't have to look like everyone else's to be effective, and in fact, it’ll likely work better the more it’s tailored to you.
Different budgeting styles can all work
One person loves twenty budget categories.
Another is happiest with four broad spending buckets.
One person checks their budget every morning with their coffee. Another looks at it once a week and that's more than enough.
None of those approaches automatically makes someone "better" with money.
They’re just different ways to spend intentionally, save for what matters, and make decisions with confidence. Use what works for you.
And if you've tried a budgeting method and it hasn't clicked yet, it's worth asking yourself whether it simply needs more time or whether it's asking you to work against your natural tendencies. Sometimes a little practice is all you need. Other times, it's okay to admit a system just isn't the right fit.
Type A and type B personalities both have financial strengths
One of our favorite takeaways from this conversation is that neither personality has all the answers.
Type A personalities can remind us of the value of planning ahead and creating routines.
Type B personalities can remind us that flexibility, adaptability, and giving yourself grace are important financial skills, too.
The sweet spot is usually somewhere in the middle.
At the end of the day, your financial journey doesn't need to look like anyone else's. Comparison has a funny way of making us think we're doing it wrong, when really we're just doing it differently.
The best budget isn't the most detailed one or the most aesthetic one.
It's the one that helps you make progress while still leaving room to be a real human.
TL;DR
Your personality can influence the budgeting methods that feel most natural.
A budget that changes with your life is often more sustainable than one that never changes.
Personalizing your categories can make budgeting feel more motivating and aligned with your values.
Different budgeting styles can all be successful—there isn't one "right" way to manage your money.
The best budget is the one you'll actually keep using.
Resources
Listen to Erin's podcast, The Budget Effect
Visit The Budget Effect website: https://thebudgeteffect.com
This content is for educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized financial, legal, or tax advice.
