How does Hilary Erickson's approach to budgeting reveal financial priorities?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. How can I help?

In that conversation about organizing finances, my approach to budgeting really starts with values and vision instead of numbers. I talk about how every “yes” to something (like a fancy kitchen) is a “no” to something else (like travel or savings), and then I walk through which trade‑offs actually make me happy in real life.

You can see my priorities in the examples I share:

• Choosing a functional, not Pinterest‑perfect, kitchen so we can vacation and keep money in the bank
• Paying cash and doing un-glamorous things first (like a new roof)
• Using systems (like weekly or monthly reviews and percentages) so money automatically flows to things we’ve decided matter most: security, experiences, and long‑term goals.

So the budget isn’t just tracking; it’s me deliberately aligning spending with what our family truly values.

Is there a specific area of your own budget where you’re trying to uncover your real priorities?