Why Do 90% of Budgets Fail?
I’ll say it—most budgets are set up to fail.
It’s not because you’re lazy or “bad with money.”
The whole system ignores the real you.
You’ve sought out help, but what if the problem isn’t you?
What if it is the system?
I’ve seen it in my own life and in families I’ve worked with.
We’re told to “just stick to the plan,” but nobody talks about the emotional landmines hiding under every dollar.
I remember trying to budget.
I had all the spreadsheets, but by month two, I was off track.
Why?
Because my budget did not account for the stress and I learned growing up, or the guilt that made me hide receipts.
My “plan” was just numbers on a page—my reality was a whole lot messier.
The Emotional Cost of Financial Bondage
You know the feeling: That pit in your stomach when the bills come.
The shame that makes you hide purchases from your partner.
The anxiety that keeps you up at night, running the numbers.
That feeling is the manifestation of your money wounds—old, invisible scripts about money.
Let’s look at the Thompsons—a real couple I worked with.
Two good jobs, two kids, and still, every month ended with the question: “Where did all our money go?”
Their budget was a constant source of stress.
Claiming Your Abundance
Who taught you that money was a source of shame?
Who profits when you stay stuck?
You were born into and built for freedom.
Why are you letting a spreadsheet keep you in chains?
The enemy isn’t your math skills—it’s the lie that you’re not worthy of abundance.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
Your financial bondage is the enemy’s attempt to steal your peace and destroy your legacy.
It’s time to fight back by building systems rooted in truth, not fear.
STOP BLAMING YOURSELF!
Wealth is built on systems, not willpower.
Let’s get you a system that honors your story and your future.
3 Steps to Break the Cycle
1. ACTION: Track Without Judgment (The Recognition Step)
For the next 7 days, write down every dollar you spend—no shame, no excuses.
This is your “Liberation Map.”
We aren’t restricting; we are simply recognizing the truth.
2. REFLECTION: Ask the Real Questions (The Healing Step)
Look at your spending and ask:
What was the emotion behind the purchase?
Is an old-money story running the show?
This is where healing starts.
“After tracking my spending, I realized I was buying comfort, not just groceries. That awareness changed everything.” —Alicia, Antioch, TN.
3. REVOLUTION: Make One Bold Change (The System Step)
Pick ONE thing to change this month.
Maybe it’s setting aside $20 for joy.
This single step builds a new, sustainable system.
The Bottom Line: Be the Ancestor Who Breaks the Cycle
If nothing changes, what will your kids inherit?
Another generation of anxiety?
Or a new story of freedom?
You can be the ancestor who breaks the cycle.
You can be the first in your family to build wealth with peace, not pain.
Imagine a year from now: You’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.
Don’t wait for another crisis.
For additional tools and resources, download the 1863 app on Android and Apple today!
Freedom is a Right, but liberation is a choice. Get Right, before you Get Left.
Dr. Zac Talley | The 1863 Collective
