25 February 2026

It's still the month of love, but today I am going to be talking about turning that love to yourself and your dreams of financial independence.

Today's Money Spark - Money Micro-habits

Little money tweaks can give you the boost you need to stay the course of 2026 on a firmer financial footing. One small win leads to another. The trick is to start somewhere easy and to do it regularly.

Momentum comes from micro-decisions we repeat. Each one is a signal to your subconscious: I’m capable; I’m paying attention; I am worthy of abundance.

You don’t need to wait for perfect conditions and for money to be flowing freely before you try these ideas. A few well-placed nudges can turn February into a launch pad for the rest of your life.

Micro-habits worth adopting from February to Forever

1. Subscriptions are the Devil (ok, not the actual Devil, but still quite evil)

Open your phone. Find one subscription you’re not using. Cancel it today. People pay for subscriptions that they hardly ever use (work out how much that costs each time you use the yoga app). Try get by with the free subscriptions until you are sure you will use the paid version enough to justify the cost.

2. Cook at home

Home-cooked meals are so much cheaper and more nutritious than takeaways (unless your home-cooked meal is 2 min noodles). We reward and console ourselves with takeaways when we are stressed and working long hours BUT takeaways are a killer for the budget and your health.

You may have noticed how I love cooking by all the recipe links I share, and here is another goodie. I own some of Jamie Olivers' cookbooks and they have improved my skills. With practice you can make good food quicker. Here are some of Jamie Oliver's 15 minute Meals.

3. Track your poisons

Choose one budget-busting thing to track very closely:  grocery spend, snacks, Woolies pre-cut veggies, Seattle Coffee. Just track it for 14 days. Awareness brings change.

4. Budget!!!

Create a budget if you don't have one already. These days I use 22seven which is a free app (this one is not evil as far as I can tell). Add a 10-minute money check-in to your calendar every Friday. Look at your week’s money spend without judgement. Consistently looking at what is happening with your budget will drive the change you need.

Yay, its Freebie Time! This one has the chance to really change your micro-habits, just by paying attention to them (and not doing anything about it for now). Magic happens here. If you are serious about having a money transformation in 2026, this one is for you.

"The art is not in making money but keeping it" Dave Ramsey

These micro-habits can be life-changing and it's still early enough in the year to master them. Some months will be better than others, and that's ok. It's like getting fit - most Saturdays I leap out of bed and do the Parkrun, but sometimes I just do not feel like it, and stay in bed.