4 Ways to Trick Yourself into Saving More Money Without Even Realizing It

When you score a stable income, it can feel like you’ve hit the disposable spending lottery. But just because you’re bringing in more money than you need to pay the bills doesn’t mean you can spend it all freely. Saving money can feel like a responsibility that belongs to a future version of us — you know, the new and improved us that have a higher salary and more willpower. But here’s an idea: What if we are already the people we need to be to start setting money aside? Why wait to find out?

Using our own psychology and a little creativity can turn saving money from a dreadful obligation to a point of pride that we enjoy, even on a starting or freelance salary. We enlisted some experts to share their best hacks for saving money without sucking the fun out of getting paid.

Temptation bundling

Elyssa Kirkham, a money-management guru who writes for the website Student Loan Hero, shares a straightforward way to stop hemorrhaging money every time a paycheck hits our bank accounts. “A trick I learned is to pair tasks that are potentially unpleasant or boring with something else that’s rewarding — also called ‘temptation bundling.'” A saving hack that involves giving in to temptation? We’re already in.

Kirkham explains it this way: “Every time you stop an impulse buy, maybe you reward yourself with a barista-prepared latte instead of the office drip coffee. You get to buy your latte guilt-free, knowing you avoided unnecessary spending. And it will probably cost much less than the pair of boots you were eyeing.” By pairing an indulgence with working toward your savings goal, we train our brains to associate saving with a reward. Kirkham goes a step further, suggesting that setting up rules that follow this principle can super-charge our savings’ potential. “Make a rule that you can go out for your usual weekend brunch or night out, but only if you first transfer enough into your savings account to meet your weekly goal.”

Meditation

Meditation alone isn’t enough to make our savings swell, but it can be an important first step. Meditation and mindfulness aren’t necessarily about money, and we can engage in those practices for their other benefits while we practice some wellness for our wallets. Holly Kindel, a financial advisor at Mosiac Financial Partners, emphasizes the difference a meditation practice can make in how we manage money. “Yeah, meditation isn’t saving, [but] there is plenty of science which suggests that regular meditation enhances emotional regulation through improvements in executive control.” Awareness and acceptance are the primary tools we have to improve our spending habits, both of which are improved significantly when we meditate regularly.

Willpower Preservation

Kindel also has some interesting thoughts on ways to maximize our willpower, schooling us in the latest research on how it works. “In 2007, Duke University completed a landmark study that suggests that environment, and not willpower, was the primary determinant of successful habit change,” she says. “Subsequent studies reinforce, observing that willpower is a finite resource that you need to preserve.” So, when we journey through the outlet mall “just to browse,” we’re already using up some of our willpower, even if we feel like we scored a #win by not buying anything. This makes us more likely to make an impulse purchase in the near future.

So to reduce wasteful spending, your best bet is to limit your time in venues where you could “potentially” be spending money and focus in on experiences where there’s less opportunity to binge on stuff you don’t need. And engaging in experiences that are less consumer-oriented will probably improve your mindset overall.

Automation

We’ve all heard this advice a thousand times before, but the benefits of automating our savings through an app or online banking cannot be overstated. By “paying ourselves” (that is, our future selves, the ones sipping a marg on the deck of our Bermuda vacation homes) first, we take the thought of “saving” out of sight and out of mind. The goal is to make saving feel like just another bill we have to pay, instead of a conflicted choice we need to make between having fun and being an adult.

If you’ve always been bad at saving money, don’t despair. Kindel concludes, “We’ve all heard the phrase ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,’ and it’s time dispose of that belief system. Modern neuroscience has turned that belief on its head: Humans are change machines. What often stands between folks and change are personal beliefs and tools. Surround yourself with people who agree that you can change, have tools you can use, and are interested in helping you.” With technological savvy, an empowered attitude, and a sense of modern agency at our disposal, millennial women have an opportunity to be better prepared for retirement than any previous generation.

Have you found the key to make saving money less painful and more automatic? Share them with us on Twitter @BritandCo!

(Photo via Getty)

Bill Nye The Science Guy and neuroscientist and Emmy-nominated actress Mayim Bialik join Brit for a supersized episode about the science lessons all adults should know. First up, listen in to my conversation with Bill as we cover science hacks for everyday life, how to stay healthy according to science, and his thoughts on climate change.

Then, catch our special bonus segment with Mayim as she connects science and mental health. To learn more about all the things with Brit, subscribe to Teach Me Something New on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

  • Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
  • The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
  • Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."


Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”
What did you think of The O.C. season 3 finale? Let us know on Facebook!

Dr. Crystal Dilworth (also known as Dr. Brain on the popular CBS show Mission Unstoppable) is a neuroscientist, addiction expert, and a vocal advocate for women in STEM. Today she's teaching us about social media dependency, the chemical messengers in the brain that influence our mood, and the science behind habit building, stress, and getting better sleep. It's a fun and stimulating conversation sure to leave you feeling smarter and more in tune with what's really happening in your brain.


To learn more about all the things with Brit, subscribe to Teach Me Something New on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

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On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

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Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

  • Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
  • The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
  • The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

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Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

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Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

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Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

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This post has been updated.