This Is How Financial Chaos Starts And How to Stop It Early

The Domino Effect in Your Finances. Issue #20

Hi friend,

Thank you so much for all the love and encouraging messages in reply to last week’s email. Honestly, it felt like a warm hug and I needed it more than I realised. If you reached out, just know I truly appreciate you ♥️.

So, continuing from last week’s theme — “the domino effect” — this time I want to talk about how it shows up in our personal finances.

Here’s the thing: most financial stress doesn’t come from one big thing. It comes from a series of small, almost harmless decisions that slowly spiral into chaos. And because they feel so minor in the moment, we don’t realise how much damage they’re doing until it’s too late.

It looks like:

• “I’ll update my budget later.”

• “It’s just £20 — I’ll top up savings next month.”

• “Rent’s due in 10 days, so I’m fine.”

But these small actions start a chain reaction that can derail your entire month.
Before you know it, you’re in Week 3 wondering why your account is gasping.

So how do you break that pattern?

You meet each moment with a small, intentional fix 🔨.

This photo has absolutely no connection to this email 😂

Domino #1: You delay making a plan.

You get paid and think, “I’ll do my budget tomorrow.” But tomorrow becomes next week, and random spending creeps in.

Fix:
Do a 10-minute check-in on payday. List out your essentials, your goals, and what’s left. It doesn’t need to be perfect . It just needs to happen before money starts moving.

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Domino #2: You leave important money sitting in your main account.

Your rent or council tax isn’t due yet, so it chills in your main account — until Uber Eats, groceries, and life start dipping into it.

Fix:
Move non-negotiables into a separate account the moment you're paid. This protects you from accidentally spending what isn’t yours to spend.

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Domino #3: You keep saying “it’s just £20.”

But it’s never just £20. Five lirru spends and you’ve entered dipped into your savings again 😅

Fix:
Automate your savings. Even if it’s £10. This is called decision automation, a psychology-backed way to reduce reliance on your willpower and help you stay consistent.

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Domino #4: You have no financial boundaries.

You’re buying another asoebi you don’t need, chipping in for someone’s birthday, sending urgent 2K and paying for the dinner no one offered to split — again 🥲. You don’t realise how much is going out until it’s too late.

Fix:
Set a realistic monthly limit for generosity or “Extras.” If it’s not in the budget, it’s not happening or at least, not right now. Boundaries don’t make you selfish. They keep you sane.

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Domino #5: You spend money you haven’t received yet.

You say yes to plans and spend on things with money that’s yet to arrive in your bank account. Then it arrives… and it’s not enough.

Fix:
Only make spending decisions based on money that’s actually in your account. If it’s not there yet, it doesn’t exist - it’s “audio money” 😩.

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Domino #6: You wing it every month.

Sing with me:
🎶 Minister of enjoyment, intercontinental, monumental, you go live forever 🎶

No structure, no rhythm, just vibes. But vibes are not a financial plan 🧎🏽‍♀️ (I’m on my knees here). Before you know it, the guilt kicks in by week 3 and you’re wondering how you got here.

Fix:
Build a payday routine. That’s exactly what this week’s video walks you through — the 7 steps I follow in the first 30 minutes of getting paid that help me stay in control all month long.

So here’s the question I want to leave you with:

What’s one small thing you can do today to stop a financial domino from falling?
Move your rent? Automate £10 to savings? Set a boundary with someone?

Whatever it is — do it today.
That one small action might just save you from a cascade of money stress later.

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That’s it from me this week.

Remember: small decisions add up — whether it’s in your favour or not. Start catching those dominos early… and you’ll thank yourself by month-end.

With love,

XOXO
Chidera

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