I always thought I was pretty reasonable with money. I didn’t buy expensive clothes or splurge on anything major—just the usual Starbucks every couple weeks, boba with friends, random snacks after school. But one day I added it all up. That $6.25 iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso I get twice a month? That’s over $160 a year—on just one habit.

Out of curiosity (and maybe a little surprise), I tried a 7-day spending freeze—no extras, just essentials. It didn’t sound hard until I had to skip the little things I was used to. No drinks, no delivery food, no online impulse buys. I didn’t realize how often I leaned on those small purchases until I had to pause.

But something unexpected happened: I didn’t really miss them. What I did think about were the things I could’ve done with that money instead. Like last year, I spent $95 on concert tickets, and it ended up being one of the best memories I made all year. Looking back, if I had just cut my Starbucks runs in half, I basically could’ve covered that concert ticket—without really giving up anything that mattered.

That week helped me realize how the little stuff adds up—and how much more meaningful it feels to spend on experiences I’ll actually remember. It also reminded me how much control we actually have over our money, even as teens. When we stop spending out of habit, we make space for smarter choices—whether that means saving for something big, supporting something important, or investing in our future.

Kashvi Garg

June 2, 2025