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✨ MONEY MOMENT

Ever feel like you’re doing everything “right” with your money, but still not getting ahead? Like you’re juggling credit cards, chasing rewards, and making payments… but the balance never seems to budge?

You’re not alone. And you’re not failing. You’re just stuck in a system that’s designed to keep you spinning. Using credit cards regularly, even for points, isn’t moving you forward towards your goals. It’s financial quicksand that slowly swallows your momentum.

Here’s a radical idea: pause. Step away from swiping the card. Give yourself a six-month break. No credit cards. No balance transfers. Just you, your goals, and a fresh perspective.

Your financial future is worth fighting for.

When you spend only what’s in your checking account, something shifts. You become more mindful, more grounded, more in control.

Then something amazing happens...​
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Your balance starts to drop. Maybe faster than you expected. Because the truth is, you were adding to it every month without even realizing it. That’s not an accident. It’s the plan. Designed by credit card companies who profit when you don’t notice. Until it’s too late.

Then one day, you look at the balance. And you wish you’d been more intentional years sooner. But you can’t change the past. You can change the pattern.

As C.S. Lewis said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

So, let's switch things up and PAUSE. It's one small step that shifts the story and helps create a beautiful ending. I’ll be right here, cheering you on every step of the way.

With heart and aloha, ~ Shanalei ~💖🌺

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🪙Financial Fun Fact...

💰 Did You Know? The word salary comes from the Latin word salarium, which referred to the money paid to Roman soldiers for the purchase of salt. Back then, salt wasn’t just a seasoning. It was essential for preserving food and was so valuable it was practically currency. So next time you get paid, just remember you're earning your salt!

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🧺 Budget Bites & Life Hacks

Before SanityCents.com, I had a blog called Real Food Reality, inspired by a life-changing shift my family made—ditching processed foods and embracing real, whole ingredients. That journey transformed more than our meals; it reshaped our mindset, energy, and connection to what truly nourishes us. The same is true with money. Real change takes a shift in mindset, renewed energy, and a deeper connection to your goals.​
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So, in keeping with that spirit, here’s a fast family favorite I’ve snagged from LiveSimply.me: Instant Pot Chicken and Homemade Yellow Rice. This one’s a total lifesaver on busy nights even if you don't have the veggies on hand. Just toss in rice, broth, spices, and chicken thighs, then let the Instant Pot work its magic. In about 30 minutes, you’ve got a one-pot meal packed with flavor. The turmeric and paprika give the rice a golden glow, and the shredded chicken blends perfectly with the rice. It’s real food, real simple, and totally yummy.

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🎧 On the Podcast

If you want to dive deeper into this week's Money Moment topic, listen to Episode 57: Money Detox—The 6-Month Credit Card Debt Cure to Fast-Track Your Payoff & Build Financial Freedom.

In this episode, I share the mindset shift and practical steps to stop juggling debt and start building real momentum. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the credit card cycle, this episode is your reset button.🔴

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📣 What's New on Facebook

Stop by the Facebook page for continuous inspiration, fresh challenges, and real conversations with people who get it. Whether you're starting your money detox or celebrating a small win, your story matters here.

👉 Follow SanityCents on Facebook to join a community that’s rewriting the money story, one empowered choice at a time.

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📍Don't Forget...

The Ultimate Life Hacking Bundle is coming soon, available from September 8 to 11. It’s packed with over $4,000 worth of digital tools to help you simplify, organize, and elevate your life.

I’m excited to be part of it again this year. My featured product, Piggy Bank Playbook: The Savvy Savings and Money Mindset Guide, is included for free. This printable guide helps you jumpstart $1,500 in savings, shift your mindset using my 3R Money Method, and set meaningful financial goals. Normally $27, but yours at no cost, F-R-E-E inside the bundle.

👉 Register now because you don't want to miss out on this fantastic opportunity to snag multiple tools to have in your back pocket to hack life. Click here to join​

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🎉 Coming Soon:

You’ve been waiting for something different. Something that your current budgeting method hasn't delivered—clarity. Clarity to know if your bills are always covered, throughout the year. Clarity to know how small changes to your spending can impact your future bank balance.

In as little as 14 days, you’ll know more about your financial future than you’ve ever known before. After 4 weeks of using my new tool, you’ll be modeling scenarios like a pro. Over time you’ll realize you’ve made the most confident money decisions of your life. This is your moment to forecast, to model, to know and to finally reclaim your financial power.