Loud budgeting has become a popular social media trend, encouraging people to speak openly about their financial goals rather than quietly overspending. This money-saving technique went viral last year with one video garnering over 1.6 million views.

At its core, loud budgeting is about transparency and communicating when something doesn’t align with your financial priorities. By loud budgeting, you can build better spending habits and work towards your financial goals without all the pressures of social opportunities. Here’s how loud budgeting can make a difference. 

What is loud budgeting?

Loud budgeting is a trend centered around being upfront and unapologetic with friends and family about your financial goals and limitations. It empowers you to prioritize your budget while still making room for what is important to you. By being clear and saying “no” to the events that you cannot afford, loud budgeting is a tool to help you set healthy boundaries and make more intentional, value-driven spending decisions. 

Loud budgeting in practice.

It all starts with setting clear financial goals to make loud budgeting truly effective. Being vocal about your budget only works if you know exactly what you are working towards. Without a defined budget, it’s easy to overspend or say “yes” to things that you can’t afford. Whether you’re focused on paying off debt, building savings, or reaching long-term financial goals like retirement or starting a business, a clear plan gives your loud budgeting strategy purpose and helps hold yourself accountable.

To start, keep track of where your money is going, including monthly expenses such as rent, groceries, social outings, and savings. You can set up mobile banking alerts to be notified when money comes out of your account and sign up for various free budgeting apps to help hold yourself accountable. When invited to something that doesn’t align with your budget, don’t feel pressured to say yes to avoid missing out. Instead, be honest and straightforward — let your friends or family know it’s not in your budget, and that’s why you choose to opt-out. 

Set realistic, achievable goals.

When creating any budget, set achievable goals that you can consistently meet. A budget based on your goals will help you monitor progress over time. Review your budget often to hold yourself accountable and stay within it. If you’re consistently going over your budget, that’s a signal to reassess, not a reason to give up. Remember there’s not one-size-fits-all budget. Your plan should evolve with your needs, and it’s okay to pivot when necessary.  

Bottom line.

Loud budgeting is especially helpful for those who struggle to say “no.” It creates space for open conversations about affordability, normalizing financial boundaries in social situations. With more people embracing this trend online, you’re in good company.

For more financial-savvy tips, visit our Savings Tips page at efirstbankblog.com.

This article is for informational use only. FirstBank is not providing financial advice. Please consult a financial planner or tax advisor.

“This page may contain links to external websites. These links are displayed for your convenience. FirstBank does not manage these sites and assumes no responsibility for the content, links, privacy policy, or security policy.”

Published: May 9, 2025