The Habit of Finding Money: How to Game the System and Win at Personal FinanceBuilding the Habit of Finding Money

Inflation has been relentless since 2019, rising over 20%. What cost $1 back then now costs around $1.20 today. Even though inflation has slowed, prices remain high, making it more important than ever to get creative with your finances. Enter the habit of finding money—a mindset shift that turns savings and earnings into a game you can win.

We’re not talking about digging through the couch for spare change (though I did just find 33 cents for my son’s piggy bank). We’re talking about strategic ways to find extra income and minimize financial burdens—while making it fun.

The “Found Money” Mindset Shift

Think of every unexpected savings or earnings as found money. Once, I stumbled upon $50 on a manhole while crossing the street—it felt amazing. That’s the feeling we want to replicate through small, intentional financial habits.

Every habit has three parts:

1. Cue – The trigger that starts the habit
2. Routine – The action you take
3. Reward – The benefit you gain

By designing a system around these elements, you can consistently find money and build momentum toward financial freedom.

Step 1: Setting the Cue

Choose a trigger to remind you to find money. A simple way is to set a phone reminder for the first Sunday of every month. When it goes off, sit down at your kitchen table or home office (avoid leisure spaces) and spend 5-10 minutes on a quick financial review.

Focus on one area at a time:

• Monthly subscriptions – Are you paying for services you don’t use?
• Online shopping history – Any unnecessary impulse purchases?
• Credit card rewards – Are you maximizing cash back or points?
• Work benefits – HR programs might have hidden perks.

Step 2: Building the Routine

Now, let’s take action. Here are some easy wins:

• Credit Card Perks – My wife and I discovered that by switching from a standalone Disney+ subscription ($12/month) to a Hulu/Disney+ bundle covered by a credit card perk, we’re now paying just $2/month for both services. That’s found money!
• Insurance Incentives – Many insurance companies reward healthy behaviors. My wife’s health insurance offers $40 a month for hitting 10,000 steps for 12 days and $250 per person per year for completing checkups, webinars, and financial literacy tasks. That’s an extra $1,000 a year just for participating!
• Employer Benefits – Don’t know if your company has these incentives? Ask HR or Google your insurance provider with the words “incentive program” to see what’s available.

Step 3: Enjoying the Reward

Once you start finding money, track it! Set achievement levels, decide how to use it, and be intentional.

• Splurge wisely – One year, we bought a set of high-quality pots and pans, and every time I use them, I remember how good it felt to buy them with found money.
• Invest for growth – Recently, we started putting $20/month from our found money into a brokerage account to buy dividend-paying ETFs—small steps toward passive income.

Your First Steps to Financial Wins

Ready to get started? Choose one of these actions right now:

1. Write down: “I am the best at finding money and will keep getting better with every attempt!”
2. Google your insurance provider with the words “incentive program” and see what financial opportunities you can claim today.

Don’t wait—take action now! Then, share your findings with me by emailing baddayexcellence@gmail.com or connecting on Instagram at WalshMeGrow.

Top 10 Actions You Can Take To Start Finding Money:

• Conduct a Financial Review: Spend 30 minutes each month reviewing bank statements for recurring charges you can cancel.
• Use Cashback Apps: Install and use one cashback app like Rakuten or Honey for online shopping.
• Review HR Benefits: Spend 10 minutes reviewing workplace benefits to find wellness programs, commuter benefits, or other perks.
• Check Credit Card Rewards: Review your rewards program and plan how to use points for essentials like groceries or travel.
• Audit Subscriptions: Use a tool like Trim or manually list all subscriptions and cancel unused ones.
• Sell Unused Items: Commit to selling one unused item each month on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or similar platforms.
• Set Alerts for Deals: Subscribe to newsletters like Groupon or Slickdeals for savings on planned purchases.
• Negotiate Bills: Call your service providers (e.g., cable, phone) to negotiate better rates annually.
• Track Found Money: Start a “found money” tracker to record and motivate your progress.
• Celebrate Wins: Use a portion of found money as a reward (e.g., a coffee treat or small luxury).