A friend asked a question in a group chat recently:

“Has anyone ever driven a Benz — and is it worth it?”

She was asking two excellent questions:
What is your experience? And is it worth it?

I haven’t driven one myself, but my first thought was:
​Yikes, the cost of maintenance must be brutal?

A couple of friends chimed in and confirmed — yes, they liked the car, but it requires premium gas and higher maintenance costs.

What we don’t know

Most people ask for feedback before making big purchases — cars, homes, major upgrades.

And even then, we still miss things.

I often say: we sometimes don’t know what we don’t know.

When I bought my home, I focused on the mortgage.
“Okay, I can afford this.”

What I didn’t fully account for were all the other costs: insurance, appliances, maintenance, taxes… 🫤 I thought I was asking the right questions, but I didn't know the bigger picture. Fortunately, there are more tools now that can help. And nothing replaces a friend (or family, coworkers) group chat for advice. 😊

After the decision comes the “want”

Once we decide we can buy something, the question often becomes:
​Do I want it? And when?

This is where having a plan really helps.

In the YNAB world, there’s a concept called a Wish Farm — a way to intentionally save for things you want.

Typically, you choose three items:

• Small (under $50)
• Medium (around $500)
• Large ($1,000+)

You fund them over time, and when you reach the goal, you can buy without stress or second-guessing.

It’s a great system — and it works well for many people.

What works for me

I like the idea, but I’ve found a slightly different approach works better for me.

Instead of focusing only on a wishlist, I plan my month.

I ask:

• What events are happening this month?
• What gifts do I need to prepare for?
• What do I want this month?

This helps me stay intentional — not just about what I want, but about what’s actually happening in my life right now.

For larger or future purchases (like a car), I use sinking funds instead. Those take longer than a month, and that’s okay. More on sinking funds another time. And for the things we don't know, that's why it's always best to include a buffer in any big purchases. Life is full of surprises, so plan for them.

Find your way

There’s no one “right” way to do this.

You might prefer the Wish Farm.
You might prefer a monthly approach like mine.
You might even use a mix of both.

By the way, my friend is still considering her options. But now she has more information to make an intentional decision. If it's in her budget and she really wants it, awesome. If not, she can move on to research another car and see if it's a better fit.

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s awareness and intention.

If you already have a system that works for you, I’d love to hear about it. Just hit reply and let me know.

Warmly,
Litsa

P.S. This is just one part of the bigger picture when it comes to your money. If you ever want help looking at the full picture, feel free to reach out — I’m here. 💛