Purchasing Independence
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash.
Join the Project of the Week Community!
Every Thursday, I share a simple yet powerful action, habit, or project to help you boost your health, happiness, and overall well-being.
If you’ve been enjoying the Project of the Week newsletter, I’d love your help in spreading the word! Invite your friends and family to join us on this journey—just click HERE to sign up.
Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity and growth!
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
(Inspired by Morgan Housel)
Not long ago, I heard Morgan Housel say something that stopped me in my tracks:
“Saving is the gap between your ego and your income — and what you’re really buying is independence.”
I must have replayed that line three times. Because that’s exactly it.
I’ve always found it easier to save than many people around me. It’s not that I love watching numbers grow in a savings account (although I won’t lie, it does make me happy). It’s that saving, for me, has always been about something deeper — freedom.
I keep a 12-month emergency fund, and yes, it sits in a plain old savings account. Every time I hear someone remind me that an S&P 500 index fund would earn more, I smile and nod. They’re right — it would. But that account gives me something the market can’t guarantee: security, choice, and calm.
That savings is what allowed me to start my own business. It’s what lets my income ebb and flow without sending me into panic mode. Even before I was self-employed, it gave me a sense of choice. If I didn’t like my job, or if a new boss wasn’t the right fit, I knew I had options. I wasn’t trapped.
That feeling, that sense of I can choose, is priceless.
And what’s interesting is that so many of my clients crave those same things: independence, freedom, flexibility, choice. Yet many also struggle to save. For years, I chalked it up to executive functioning challenges: difficulty planning ahead, managing impulses, prioritizing long-term rewards. For clients with ADHD, all of that can be especially hard.
But lately, I’ve been wondering something:
What if saving doesn’t have to feel like deprivation or discipline? What if we reframed it as purchasing independence?
Getting Started
Every dollar you save isn’t just a number in an account. It’s a vote for your future freedom. It’s a down payment on choice.
Maybe if we thought of it that way, not as “money I can’t spend”, but as “money I’ve spent buying myself options”, it would feel different. Lighter. More motivating.
I value my emergency fund. I value my retirement account. I value owning my home, knowing my “rent” won’t suddenly double.
Because the truth is, the value of that savings isn’t just in the dollars sitting there. It’s in what it represents: independence, choice, and freedom.
If saving feels hard, try this mindset shift: don’t think of it as putting money aside, think of it as purchasing your future freedom. Every dollar you save is a tiny step toward the kind of life where you get to decide, not react.
That, to me, is the best purchase you’ll ever make.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're feeling excited about putting this strategy into action and could use a little extra accountability and support, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak is here to help! Designed to set you up for success, it’s the perfect tool to keep you on track and moving forward.
Let’s make progress together—because great results start with great planning!
A Note from Happy Spaces
Our goal is simple: to add value to your life. If you think this project will be helpful, here are some steps to set yourself up for success:
Estimate how long it will take—then double it. Giving yourself extra time helps reduce stress.
Schedule it on your calendar for the week ahead. Setting a specific date increases follow-through.
Break it up if it will take more than an hour. Tackling it in smaller steps makes it more manageable.
Make a list of every action needed before you start. A clear plan helps keep you on track.
Do what works for you—you don’t have to complete every part, just what adds value to your life.
Find an Accountability Partner—having support makes it easier to stay committed.
We understand that building new habits and systems can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. For additional support, visit HappySpacesBySarah.com and let’s make organizing and planning easier together.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
As the oldest of nine kids with two working parents, I grew up juggling many responsibilities at home. Organization and time management became my lifeline amidst the chaos.
I attended the Cornell Hotel School and pursued my childhood dream of working in the hospitality industry. In 2016, I launched Happy Spaces, combining my passion for structure and efficiency with helping others.
I love working with students to develop essential organizational, time management, and study skills. These skills empower them to reach their full potential, build confidence, and create a future they feel good about.