What are the unique elements of Hilary Erickson's approach to financial planning during family outings?

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

From what I’ve shared on Pulling Curls and the podcast, a few unique elements stand out in how I think about money around “family outing” type spending (eating out, kids’ activities, trips, etc.):

• Values first, budget second: I like starting with “What actually matters to our family?” rather than a generic formula. For example, I realized I valued a functional roof and reliable home more than a Pinterest-perfect kitchen, so the roof won over cosmetic remodels.

• Tradeoffs are intentional and named: I often frame choices as, “If we say yes to this dinner out, what are we saying no to?” That might be a vacation, savings, or just peace of mind.

• Real-life convenience matters: I’ve noticed I enjoy takeout at home more than restaurants with kids because it’s less stressful and messy. That’s a money decision, but also an energy and sanity decision, which I factor in.

• Periodic “big picture” check-ins, not constant micro-managing: My husband and I look at broad percentages and goals together and then I handle more of the day‑to‑day categorizing. We revisit the big picture when things seem “off,” rather than fussing over every small outing.

Would you like help setting up a simple system to decide which outings or extras are really worth it for your family?