A 5 Week Plan To Get Better At Money, Inspired by James Clear's Atomic Habits
Spring is not just for cleaning your home: it is the perfect time to refresh your finances. A spring reset gives you the chance to take stock, clear out financial clutter, and build habits that make money feel less stressful.
Instead of trying to overhaul everything at once, this plan uses small, science-backed changes that build lasting habits over time. Inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, it focuses on realistic, manageable steps so your financial reset actually sticks.
Why it works: habit science shows that small, consistent changes are more likely to last than drastic overhauls. Each week builds on the last, so by the end of five weeks, you will feel more confident, organised, and in control of your money.
Week 1: Track What You Spend
Before you can make changes, you need to understand your habits. Tracking spending gives you a clear picture of where your money goes. You also can’t improve what you can’t see. Do not overthink it: just start capturing every purchase.
Action Steps:
- Use the table below to record all spending this week. Copy it into Word, Notes, or grab a pen and paper.
| Day | Purchase | Amount | Daily Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Coffee | 4.90 | |
| Meal Deal | 4.50 | 9.40 | |
| Tuesday | |||
| Wednesday | |||
| Thursday | |||
| Friday | |||
| Saturday | |||
| Sunday |
On Sunday evening:
- Take 10 minutes to review your table.
- Total each day and category.
- Identify repeat purchases or habits that surprised you.
Habit Science Tip: Recording your spending is a “cue” that triggers awareness. Small awareness steps reinforce behaviour change over time.
Week 2: Reduce Unnecessary Spending
Now that you have seen your spending patterns, it is time to make one small, manageable change.
Action Steps:
- Pick one spend you want to reduce from your Week 1 review.
- Set a clear written limit. Example: “This week, I will only treat myself to one takeaway coffee on Friday.”
- Note this in writing. Making your goal visible strengthens commitment.
Small Wins Tip: Focus on one habit at a time. Habit science shows that targeting a single, specific behaviour increases the likelihood of long-term change.
Week 3: Review and Optimise Your Bills
With unnecessary spending reduced, it is time to make sure your regular bills are working for you.
Action Steps:
- Choose one bill to review this week:
- Energy or utility plan
- Insurance (home, car, travel)
- Phone or broadband
- Bank fees or loan interest
- See if there is a way to save or optimise. Even small savings add up.
Small Wins Tip: Focus on just one bill. If bills feel overwhelming, try the free financial support and guidance available through Plane Saver Credit Union. Our budgeting tools could make a big difference in managing your income. Read the [financial support blog].
Habit Science Tip: Clear triggers and small actions—like checking one bill—make building money habits achievable and less intimidating.
Week 4: Set Goals for The Future
Now that your habits are forming, it is time to plan for the future. Use the SMART method to make your goals clear, actionable, and achievable.
Action Steps:
- Create at least one goal this week using the formula:
- Specific: What exactly are you saving for?
- Measurable: How much will it cost?
- Achievable: How can you fund this? E.g. save monthly
- Relevant: Why do you want to do this?
- Time-bound: What date do you need the money by?
SMART saving goal example: I will save £[Measurable] for [Specific] by [Time-Bound] date. I will save this money by [Attainable] because it is [Relevant] to me.
Habit Science Tip: Writing goals and connecting them to a meaningful outcome reinforces the habit loop of cue, action, and reward, making you more likely to achieve what you set out to do.
You can download and print Plane Saver's SMART Goals Planner to make this easier.
Week 5: Automate Your Savings
Now that you know your goals and your weekly spending limits, it is time to make saving effortless.
Action Steps:
- Decide how much you can save each week or month to reach your goals.
- Set up an automatic transfer to a dedicated savings account.
- Label your savings for motivation. Example: Holiday Fund or Emergency Cushion.
Small Wins Tip: Start small. Even £5 a week counts. Consistency beats size, and automation removes the temptation to spend.
Habit Science Tip: Making saving automatic removes decision fatigue and embeds the habit into your routine for long-term success.
Time to make it happen!
Discover how being intentional with your money can give you confidence, clarity, and control.
You can do it alone, or by signing up to Plane Saver's email reminders. They’ll nudge you every week through the challenges, and provide a full FREE Spring Financial Reset workbook to guide you through it.
Good luck!
