The Magic of Financial White Space And Finding Wisdom in the Pause
Sometimes the best money moves happen in the quiet moments
I used to thrive on being “busy” and checking as many things off my to-do list as possible.
The more I accomplished in a single day, the better.
I’d say much of my self-worth was tied to how much I accomplished and did for others.
Today?
You couldn’t pay me to squeeze that much into a single day… the mere thought of it exhausts me 😂 (even if I had the energy to “do it all.”).
I first learned the term “white space” when I was building WordPress websites. There’s something about white space that makes it easier to see what really matters (not to mention, eventually, you realize that as important as it is for a website to look good, the copy and content matter more).
Then I heard the term “white space” used when someone said they needed “a lot of white space in their week.”
It felt like a massive weight off my shoulders.
I need to see the white space in my calendar, unlike this 30-yr-old female multi-millionaire whose schedule looks like this👇:
To each their own, but looking at that hurts my brain.
There’s a level of toxicity in productivity culture that’s dangerous (I despise it)- but we’ll save that for another day.
*makes you wonder how anyone ever accomplished anything without being a part of the 4 am club, having systems, and optimizing every minute of their lives. Think of how much more they could have done! Stephen Hawking, Shakespeare, Marie Curie, Madame CJ Walker… what a waste.* <sarcasm>
Back to white space.
The same principle, I'm discovering, applies beautifully to our finances.
Financial white space isn't about having endless reserves (we’re seeing the danger of what happens in society when the only desire is more money).
It's about creating mental and emotional space around our money decisions. It's the pause between the impulse and the purchase, the reflection between the paycheck and the plan.
Between stimulus and response,there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
- Victor Frankl
It’s that space that saved Victor Frankl’s life during the holocaust.
Creating space isn’t a luxury (like rest isn’t a luxury); we need it.
Warren Buffett has said that he spends a lot of time sitting and thinking, and that he believes this is uncommon in American business. He has said, "I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think". He also says that he does more reading and thinking, and makes fewer impulse decisions than most people in business.
Reflecting on 2024, my biggest money lessons haven't come from spreadsheets or savings rates. They've emerged from the spaces where I allowed myself to step back and feel into my financial choices.
Without judgment (which is vital if we’re to learn from our experiences).
Remember my adventure moving back to Costa Rica, only to return five weeks later?
That expensive lesson taught me more about my relationship with money than any book or course could. The white space after that experience—the time I gave myself to process without judgment—revealed insights about what truly matters to me at this stage of life.
Sometimes, our most valuable financial wisdom comes wrapped in what looks like mistakes.
Although I don’t think in terms of mistakes anymore… that’s how we learn.
We make the best decisions at the time based on our knowledge and experiences. And sometimes - we make impulsive decisions.
Which is OK, too.
What if we viewed our money journey through this lens of spaciousness?
What if we left room for discovery instead of cramming every dollar into a rigid plan? For evolution? For the wisdom that can only emerge when we're not gripping so tightly?
As we close out 2024, I invite you to find your own financial white space. Maybe it's:
A regular money date with yourself where nothing needs to be "fixed"
A savings account with no specific purpose (gasp!)🤯
Permission to sit with a purchase decision longer than feels necessary
Time to reflect on your money stories without trying to change them
The magic isn't in the white space itself - it's in what emerges when we create it.
And speaking of white space…
You may (or may not) have noticed I didn’t send a newsletter last week (Christmas week). I fully intended to, but I completely spaced once my daughter got into town.
Which I think is pretty fantastic.
I was so present, enjoying my time with her and getting ready for Christmas, that work was the last thing on my mind.
And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
Women You Should Know
Maggie Lena Walker
(1864-1934) - The first Black woman to charter a bank in the United States. At a time when both women and African Americans faced severe economic discrimination, Walker founded the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, Virginia, in 1903. Her vision went beyond banking - she saw financial independence as a path to civil rights and women's rights. Under her leadership, the bank helped hundreds of Black families buy homes and start businesses. Her famous quote, "Let us put our money together; let us use our money; Let us put our money out at usury among ourselves, and reap the benefit ourselves," still resonates with women's economic empowerment today.
Money Moves
Year-end is a perfect time for a gentle money audit - not to judge, but to understand. Try this: Instead of looking at your bank statements with criticism, review them curiously.
What patterns do you notice?
What purchases brought you joy?
Where did you feel alignment between your spending and your values?
This isn't about fixing anything but gathering wisdom for the journey ahead.
Resources
For Your Mind 📚
"Sacred Success" by Barbara Stanny (now Barbara Huson) - This book beautifully explores the intersection of financial growth and spiritual principles. Perfect for women ready to embrace both wealth and wisdom.
An excellent article on life as we age - and what we’re willing to do, let go of, and rebel against. “Rejecting the Rules of Aging and Embracing Authentic Living.”
For Your Spirit 🌻
Have you discovered Insight Timer? It’s a free meditation app I love.
They have thousands of incredible meditations. I use one for sleep almost every night. They also have tons of money meditations, including affirmations, money blocks, mantras, mindfulness, and more. Download Insight Timer here.
A Gift to Myself
I have a feeling this may become one of my ‘favorite things’ - but I’m treating myself to a “Head Spa” experience this week. If you’re not sure what a head spa is (it’s a new trend, but ya’ girl LOVES massages, and I have a ton of hair, so I am super excited about this):
It also includes a facial and upper body massage. I’ve added a blowout because it's a “hell yes” anytime I can get someone to dry my hair.
I’ll report back next week. 😉
Anyone else feel this from Christmas to the first week of January? 😂
At least we’re on the upward trajectory of more sunlight.
I recently texted my sister that I felt like it was “twenty o’clock” (at 4 p.m.).
To wrap up the last newsletter of the year, I want to say Thank You for being on this journey with me and letting me show up in your inbox.
I appreciate you more than you know.
Here’s to a very Happy and prosperous New Year… whatever that looks like for you. 🥂
Kim