Victoria Goldsberry's Budget & Beyond

🧠 What if your "future self" spoke to you?
A unique experiment using virtual reality. Participants put on special glasses and, through virtual reality, saw an older version of themselves, aged 10 to 30 years older, reflected in a mirror. In this setup, they could interact and talk with their future selves.

Many participants described the experience as very powerful.

After the experiment, participants took a test.
They were asked what they would do if they received $1,000 to spend it right away or save it for the future, like for retirement.

The results were striking. People who met their older virtual selves chose to put about twice as much money into long-term savings compared to those who didn’t have this experience.

Seeing their future selves made them more likely to save rather than spend right away.

Why?
When the future feels far away, it’s easier to spend without thinking.
But when we feel connected to who we’ll become, we make more thoughtful, future-focused choices. The more connected we are to our future selves, the wiser our financial decisions today.

💬 Next time you’re about to make a financial decision, pause.
If you knew your decision today would directly impact your well-being in 20 years, would you make the same choice?

I feel inspired every time a client pays off a big debt. Yeah! 🎊

It’s never just luck or a quick fix. Instead, we review the situation together, create a realistic plan, and the client follows it step by step. Clients' effort, choices, and discipline make the result meaningful.

🔑 Paying off debt changes numbers in the bank account and allows people to stop worrying about the next payment and start looking ahead.

Now, they can make plans instead of always dealing with money problems. The stress of running out of money fades, and new options emerge, such as changing jobs, investing, or focusing on new goals.

They get to feel that sense of achievement - I did it.'

That's why I love my work.

🔎Here’s a question to consider.
When you think about managing your money, is it easier for you to start by calculating your expenses, setting up a budget, or making a list of what you’ll spend next month?

I have some exciting news - I’ve launched my YouTube channel 🎥

My first video is up now!
In the video, I share three signs that your money might be getting out of control.

I’d love to see you there.
Subscribe and join me! ❤️

Personal Budgeting - 3 Signs Your Money is Getting out of Control Hi, I’m Victoria Goldsberry, a personal finance coach.This video explains three common financial warning signs: not knowing your monthly number, making money...

🧠 Payday Loans. Quick Relief or Debt Trap?
Imagine this situation.
Payday is still a week away, but a problem shows up today: a broken car, a medical bill, or an urgent expense. Credit cards are already maxed out, and anxiety rises fast.

In situations like this, some people turn to payday loans for quick cash with little paperwork. Usually, borrowers get between $100 and $1,000 and have to pay it back by their next paycheck.

📉 These loans are very expensive, with APRs often higher than 300 to 400 %. Even worse, people end up rolling the loan over and paying much more than they originally borrowed.
Even a small emergency fund can provide real financial security.

When I work with clients, we talk through all the options so they can pick what works best for them.

✍️Feel free to ask me any questions about this topic. https://goldsberryfinance.com/contact/

How to spend a weekend and not go broke

Modern retail is designed to naturally provoke impulse purchases. Limited-time offers, countdown timers, and a simple checkout process make it very easy for us to spend money before we have a chance to stop and think.

🤫In the US, people spend about $300 a month on unplanned purchases because the system pushes us all in that direction.

When we're stressed, tired, or simply having a tough day, small purchases can seem comforting in the moment. The only catch is that this feeling often disappears faster than the money in our account.

🔑If this resonates with you, here's an experiment you can try this weekend. Instead of shopping automatically, simply pay attention to what's happening inside you before you click "buy." You can try closing open tabs with online stores or turning off notifications from shopping apps for a couple of days.

If you still want to buy something, you can set aside a small amount of "fun money" in advance so that the decision is thoughtful, not hasty. You can also keep a wish list of wants and needs.

❓And if you're up for it, quickly review your receipts from the past week and note one unplanned purchase. It might surprise you.

Blind Spots in Donations

Imagine this. You’re scrolling through your phone when you come across a sad story, a countdown clock, and a big “Donate now” button.
You decide to give. An hour later, you find yourself wondering, “Wait, who did I just send money to?”

Have you ever thought about what happens to your donations?

Most people donate because they care, out of compassion, a sense of responsibility, or a real desire to help. Your money really can make a difference. But sometimes it can be wasted, mismanaged, or directed to organizations that are very skilled at playing on your emotions.

That’s why transparency is so important.
Without it, you can’t be sure what your money really supporting.
When we give on impulse, our donations can end up scattered and less meaningful, rather than thoughtful and intentional.

Last week, I talked to a client who wanted to support a cause she cared about. She donated quickly, but later found out it was a scam. She didn’t have enough information, and this experience left her feeling disappointed and mistrustful.

💬 Ensure your donations reach the right place.
You can choose one organization you support and check its financial report to see how your donation is used.

Which account is right for your child❓

Some of my clients ask how they can help support their children financially. But there’s no one-size-fits-all account.
Families might use different types of accounts as their child grows, depending on their goals and the child’s age.

Saving for children is more about intention, timing, and the level of control parents want to retain.

In my opinion, the reason for saving is more important than the specific account parents choose. And if you’re not sure which account fits your needs, the framework below can help.

✍️Feel free to ask me any questions about this topic. https://goldsberryfinance.com/contact/

Automation can help you reach your financial goals easily 🎊

Streaming services, music apps, food delivery, etc. - all of these are very convenient and save us time and energy.

🤫What I often notice in my work is that people are very comfortable automating spending but rarely think about automating savings and investing.

But with automatic saving, you don’t have to decide every month whether now a good time is to put money aside.
That decision is made once, and the system handles the rest.

This works especially well when there’s a clear goal and a deadline. Moving, vacation, a home purchase. I usually suggest starting with a simple calculation: how much is needed, how much time you have, and what a realistic monthly amount looks like.

🔑Once automatic transfers are set up, the process becomes surprisingly smooth. So the system just does what it’s designed to do. There’s no monthly debate with yourself: "Should I save and how much?"

From my own experience and working with clients, I've seen that having a system works better than relying on motivation alone.
This is especially true when life gets busy or stressful.

❓Does the idea of “set it once and forget it” sound appealing to you?

When love meets financial reality ❤️

I once worked with a client who wanted to move in with her partner and came to discuss the financial questions to address before they made that decision.
As she joked, it was “for love and... to save on rent.” 😁

On the surface, it made perfect sense.
But many couples move in together without clear agreements.
And that can end up costing them more, emotionally and financially.

I genuinely admire couples who talk openly about money before moving in together. These conversations are much harder when finances are already tight.

At first, it may seem like you’re just saving on rent. 🤫
But soon you’re discussing groceries, furniture, debt, and very different money habits. And it can be surprising to realize your partner sees money differently.

🔑In my experience, there are a few important topics worth talking through before you move in together.
1️⃣ How will you split expenses — equally or based on income? Fair doesn’t always mean equal.
2️⃣ Will you keep finances separate, or open a joint account for household expenses?
3️⃣ What debts does each of you have, and how will they affect your shared budget?
4️⃣ What’s your backup plan if income changes or the relationship doesn’t work out?
5️⃣ Do you have a clear plan for the money you’ll be saving together?

🎊When couples discuss these questions and understand each other’s perspective, moving in together tends to go more smoothly, and with fewer financial tensions.

❓Do you believe couples should talk about these things before moving in together?