Intentional Time & Money
Invest Your Time and Money With Intention (Because “Busy and Broke” Isn’t a Brand)
Entrepreneurial life comes with a subtle yet persistent lie we tell ourselves: “When things calm down, I’ll focus on what matters.”
Spoiler: Things don’t calm down. You get better at carrying chaos in a nicer planner.
If you’re an entrepreneurial, high-performing human, you’re managing two currencies every day:
- Time (non-refundable, non-renewable, slightly rude)
- Money (renewable, trackable, and constantly disappearing like socks in a dryer)
Here’s the kicker: your use of time and money shows your priorities, even if your vision board says otherwise.
This post is your focused, actionable guide to making your calendar and bank account reflect what you actually value: relationships, freedom, health, legacy, growth, and a little fun (because joy is a strategy, not a detour).
Why “Time Affluence” Is the New Wealth (And Entrepreneurs Need It)
We often discuss financial freedom, but time freedom is the lifestyle upgrade that most entrepreneurs actually crave.
Research on time affluence (the feeling of having enough time) links it to higher well-being and satisfaction across life domains, including job and family satisfaction. (CloudFront)
Translation: if you’re crushing revenue but starving for time, your “success” might be missing a key ingredient.
High-level truth: Building a business shouldn’t require sacrificing the humans you built it for.
Your Calendar and Bank Statement Are Telling on You
You can say you value family, health, peace, and growth all day long… but your:
- A calendar full of back-to-back meetings,
- late-night doom scrolling,
- and “just a little Amazon” habit
…might disagree.
Entrepreneurial maturity is when you stop asking, “What do I want?” and start asking, “What am I funding with my hours and dollars?”
The Intentional Investor Mindset
Before we get tactical, take this in like a personal manifesto (and yes, you can totally turn it into a daily affirmation):
- I invest my time and money with intention, focusing on what I value most.
- Where I spend time and money doesn’t just reveal my priorities; it reinforces them, so I commit to what matters most.
- I value giving my time and energy because these are my most meaningful gifts.
- By ending wasteful habits, I reclaim time for what I genuinely love.
- I limit distractions to spend more meaningful hours with loved ones.
- I choose meaningful connection and personal growth over empty distraction.
- Today, I ensure that my time and spending align with my most deeply held values.
Cute? Yes. Also powerful? Absolutely. Because identity-based decisions are easier to sustain than “random motivation.”
Step 1: Define Your Values (So Your Schedule Stops Freelancing)
If you’re not clear on your values, your time will get hijacked by:
- other people’s priorities
- your own impulses
- urgent-but-not-important tasks
- “quick favors” that mysteriously cost 3 hours
A fast values exercise (10 minutes, max)
Pick your Top 5 values from this list (or make your own):
- Freedom
- Family
- Health
- Wealth
- Faith/spirituality
- Growth
- Creativity
- Community
- Integrity
- Impact/legacy
- Peace
- Adventure
Now define each in one sentence:
- “Freedom means I control my mornings and can take a Tuesday off without guilt.”
- “Health means energy I can count on, not ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’”
You can’t align what you can’t define.
Step 2: Do a Time Audit (AKA “Where Did My Life Go?”)
Entrepreneurs tend to be “productive”… at everything except the thing that actually moves the needle. So let’s make time visible.
Harvard Business School resources on time management emphasize the importance of scheduling priorities and identifying time-consuming habits before allocating time intentionally. (Harvard Business School)
The simple time audit method
For 7 days, track your time in 30–60 minute chunks. Categorize each block:
CEO Tasks (high value)
- strategy, partnerships, sales, product, leadership, creative direction
Operator Tasks (maintenance)
- admin, email, errands, basic ops, scheduling
Leak Tasks (time drains)
- doom scrolling, procrastination, “busywork,” unnecessary meetings
Life Tasks (what makes success worth it)
- loved ones, health, rest, hobbies, learning, spirituality, joy
Then ask:
- Where is my time going by default?
- What’s being neglected that I say matters?
- What needs boundaries, delegation, or deletion?
Step 3: Do a Money Audit (Your Bank Account Has a Personality)
Now let’s look at the second currency.
Expense tracking and budgeting aren’t just “finance tasks”; they can increase financial self-awareness and influence future spending behavior. (Consumer Interests)
The 30-minute money audit
Pull the last 30–60 days of spending and bucket it:
- Essentials (housing, bills, food)
- Growth (books, coaching, skills, tools)
- Joy (experiences, hobbies, travel)
- Convenience (delivery, outsourcing, time-savers)
- Leaks (impulse buys, unused subscriptions, “treats” that aren’t even treating you)
Which expenses truly match my values?
- What spending is emotional, impulsive, or identity-driven in the wrong way?
- What can I cut without feeling deprived?
Pro tip: Digital payments can reduce the psychological “pain of paying,” making it easier to spend without conscious consideration. (MDPI)
If your wallet feels like it has a ghost in it, this might be why.
Step 4: Cut the Leaks Without Cutting Your Joy
Let’s be clear: the goal isn’t to become a minimalist monk who only eats lentils and stares at the wall for entertainment.
The goal is to stop funding things that don’t serve you so you can fully fund what does.
Common time leaks for entrepreneurs
- Over-meetings (meetings about meetings, the corporate nesting doll)
- Context switching (tiny tasks scattered like glitter)
- Perfectionism masquerading as “quality.”
- Social media “research” (bestie, it’s not research)
Common money leaks for entrepreneurs
- Subscriptions you forgot you had
- Convenience spending that isn’t actually saving time
- Purchases that signal success rather than support it
- Tools you don’t use (hello, abandoned software dashboards)
Step 5: Reallocate Toward What Actually Makes You Happier
Here’s where it gets fun.
Research suggests that money tends to bring more happiness when spent in specific ways, such as purchasing experiences over material goods, helping others, and even outsourcing tasks you dislike to free up time. (Harvard DTG)
Make these “high-return” investments.
1) Experiences over stuff
Stuff becomes normal fast. Experiences become stories, memories, and part of our identity. (Harvard DTG)
2) Time-saving purchases (when strategic)
If outsourcing frees up time for your highest-value work or meaningful relationships, it can be a legit quality-of-life upgrade. (Harvard DTG)
3) Spending that fits who you are
Evidence suggests spending can boost happiness more when it aligns with personality and values (aka psychological fit). (foxfellowship.yale.edu)
Translation: Stop copying someone else’s “rich routine.” Build your own.
Step 6: Build Systems That Make Alignment Automatic
Motivation is cute, but systems are faithful.
1) The Weekly “CEO Meeting” (with yourself)
Every week, block 30 minutes to review:
- What you did with time
- What you did with the money
- what mattered
- What needs adjusting
Put it on your calendar as if it were a client meeting, because you are the asset.
2) Values-Based Time Blocking
Create recurring blocks for:
- Deep work/creation
- Sales or revenue actions
- Health (non-negotiable)
- Relationships (scheduled joy)
- White space (buffer for being a human)
3) Values-Based Budget Categories
Instead of generic budgets, use categories that match your life:
- “Growth & Skills”
- “Family & Connection”
- “Health & Energy”
- “Time Freedom”
- “Joy & Experiences”
When your budget aligns with your values, spending becomes clearer, and feelings of guilt drop significantly.
4) Add Friction to the Bad Stuff
If digital spending is too easy, make it slightly annoying:
- Remove saved cards from shopping sites.
- Add a 24-hour rule for non-essential purchases.
- Use one “fun spending” card with a set weekly limit.
Slight friction = fewer regrets.
Relationships Are a Real Asset Class (Invest Accordingly)
You said you’re entrepreneurial, so you understand the concept of ROI.
Your relationships pay dividends:
- support
- perspective
- emotional stability
- joy
- resilience
- better decisions
So yes: make room in your schedule to nurture relationships.
Not when you “have time.” Please add it to the calendar, as it matters… because it does.
Self-Reflection Questions (Journal These Like a Boss)
- How do I feel about the way I currently spend my time?
- How can I make room in my schedule to nurture my relationships?
- What does my bank account say about my values?
Bonus prompts (because you’re ambitious, I can tell):
- What am I doing out of habit vs intention?
- What am I avoiding that keeps me distracted?
- If my calendar were a mission statement, what would it say?
Conclusion: Aligning Time and Money Is the Ultimate Entrepreneur Flex
Intentional living isn’t just doing less; it’s deliberately spending your resources, time, and money on what matters most.
Because success isn’t:
- packed schedules
- constant hustle
- aesthetic productivity
Success is:
- a business that supports your life
- money that reflects your values
- time spent on what you love
- relationships that don’t get leftovers
Align your time and spending with what you value most, not someday, not after a project, but right now.
FAQs
What is values-based budgeting for entrepreneurs?
Values-based budgeting is organizing your spending categories around what you genuinely care about (growth, freedom, family, health) so your money supports your priorities, not random impulses.
How do I stop wasting time as an entrepreneur?
Track your time for a week, identify “leak” activities, then replace them with time blocks for high-value work and life priorities. Scheduling priorities is a core time-management principle. (Harvard Business School)
Does tracking expenses really change spending habits?
Research suggests that expense tracking can increase financial self-awareness, which in turn can influence subsequent financial behaviors. (Consumer Interests)
What should I spend money on to increase happiness?
Research-backed patterns include spending more on experiences, helping others, and outsourcing disliked tasks when it supports overall well-being. (Harvard DTG)
How often should I review my time and money goals?
Weekly is ideal (quick course-correction), with a deeper monthly review for strategy and budget adjustments.
