Brewing Better Money Habits: Lessons from My Morning Coffee

I'm a coffee lover. Every morning, the first thing I do—even though I know I should have a glass of water first—is make myself a coffee. Recently, my coffee routine was upgraded after my husband gifted us a fancy Breville espresso machine for Christmas. Before that, we were firmly in the pour-over camp, using a kettle that felt very high-level at the time. But now, with the Breville, I'm making flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes that rival my favorite café. Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about being your own barista every morning.

I’m not particularly good with mechanical tasks, but I mastered the Breville quickly. I highly recommend it—not just for the coffee, but for the joy of the ritual itself.

This new coffee maker—and my morning coffee habit in general—got me thinking about habits. Specifically, could I apply the same joy and ritual I find in making coffee to other habits I want to build?

If you've ever read James Clear's Atomic Habits, you know he talks about layering habits—pairing something you already enjoy with a behavior you're trying to cultivate. For instance, I could resolve that before I boot up the Breville for my morning espresso, I drink a full 8-ounce glass of water. Then, after I finish my coffee, I could head downstairs to prepare for the day. By linking these steps, I could turn the ritual I already love into a launching pad for healthier habits.

This got me thinking about money habits, too—and how we engage with our finances in general.

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Why Money Habits Matter

Here's the thing about money: it's always in the background of our lives, whether we like it or not. Bills get paid, paychecks or Social Security checks arrive, and subscriptions renew. Before automation, we were forced to sit down and attend to these tasks, which often led to more awareness of our finances. But now, with most financial tasks on autopilot, there’s no forcing mechanism to take a moment, sit down, and think about whether we’re headed in the right direction.

People tend to get very motivated to dive into their finances when something big is happening—planning a wedding, buying a house, starting a business, or dreaming about quitting their job. During those moments, they're all in, analyzing every dollar. But in the day-to-day, money management tends to be more of an afterthought.

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Make Money Management a Ritual

What if we treated our finances like a morning coffee ritual—something we actually enjoy?

It doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. It could be as simple as setting aside 15 minutes once a week to check in with your money. During this time, you could:

• Look over your spending for the week. Did anything surprise you? Some people like to use budget apps to manage their spending.

• Check your savings progress. Are you closer to that big goal?

• Think about your priorities. Are you spending in a way that aligns with them? Here is a fun ebook to inspire you.

Even small check-ins like these can help you feel more connected to your money. And when you're in the habit of engaging regularly, the big financial moments—like buying that house or taking that dream vacation—feel less overwhelming because you've been paying attention all along.

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Don’t Wait for a Financial Milestone

Just like drinking a glass of water before coffee, getting into the habit of engaging with your money is a small action that builds big results over time. We all know that staying hydrated is one of the pillars of good health (and good skin!) just as we know that head-in-the-sand behavior around money can lead to trouble. But when you're checking in regularly, you're prepared for whatever life throws your way.

So here's my challenge: Find a way to make money management part of your routine. Whether it's Sunday mornings with coffee or Friday evenings with wine (or sparkling water!), make it something you do regularly. You might even find yourself looking forward to it—and who knows, you could become your own financial barista in the process.

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