Lunch Money is proudly Canadian! Read more on how we're designed to support how Canadians bank, budget, and save. →

posted on March 30, 2025 by Carley Clark

What's Behind the Loud Budgeting Trend?

Loud budgeting is a TikTok trend that empowers you to be open and honest with your loved ones about your money goals and limits. The approach gives you permission to decline social invites that are outside your budget so you can save more, pay off debt, and reach your financial goals.

Loud budgeting has created a lot of buzz on TikTok lately, but what exactly is loud budgeting, and why is there so much excitement?

@lukasbattle Replying to @operelly ♬ original sound - Lukas Battle

Many people consider it taboo to talk about money, often avoiding the subject at all costs. But loud budgeting encourages you to break the status quo and be upfront with friends and family about your financial priorities.

By openly acknowledging your budget limitations, you hold yourself accountable to your financial goals and create opportunities for healthy conversations with loved ones about money.

What is loud budgeting?

Loud budgeting typically refers to declining social invitations and other spending opportunities that don’t align with your budget or financial goals.

But instead of coming up with some lame excuse, like “Sorry, I’m feeling under the weather… fake cough, fake cough,” you simply tell your friends or family that the activity just doesn’t fit your budget.

For example, your sister asks you to go to dinner with her, but you tell her you can’t because you’ve hit your monthly spending limit in your restaurant budget category.

By refusing social pressure to spend money, it’s easier to stay on track with long-term aspirations, such as getting out of debt or buying a home.

How to get ahead with loud budgeting

So how can you implement the loud budgeting TikTok trend successfully? Here’s our top tips:

Set your financial goals and create a budget

To know which invitations to accept and which to pass on, you need to understand your financial goals and set a budget to meet them.

The S.M.A.R.T. goal framework is one of the best ways to set practical objectives. To follow it, ensure your financial goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

Next, create a budget so you know how much to allocate toward expenses, debt, and savings. Consider using the 50/30/20 method, zero-based budgeting, or the envelope method.

Once you have your budget, you’ll know exactly how much you can spend on fun while still hitting your financial goals within your specified timeframe.

Communicate directly without details

It’s important to be honest with your friends and family when you decline their invitation to spend. Just remember that you don’t owe anyone a detailed explanation.

Are you the type of person who avoids confrontation like it’s a sick person on the subway? If so, you will likely find this the most challenging thing about loud budgeting. But don’t worry, the more you do it, the easier it will get.

Being honest with your loved ones may feel empowering and freeing. Just keep your tone positive and your explanation brief.

While you should cite your money goals or budget as the reason for declining their invitation, you don’t need to provide specifics.

Share only what you’re comfortable sharing. You don’t have to divulge all the gory details about how much (or how little) you’ve saved, whether you’re in credit card debt, or anything else you’d rather keep to yourself.

Suggest budget-friendly alternatives

Here’s where you get to be creative. Think of some budget-friendly activities that you can suggest to your friends or family as an alternative.

Just a few ideas:

  • Have a picnic in the park
  • Suggest a nature walk
  • Instead of meeting at a restaurant, host a potluck at your place
  • Instead of going to the movies, host a movie or game night (with plenty of snacks!)
  • Attend free local events like concerts, art walks, or open museum days

Check out these 12 frugal-living tips on our YouTube channel for more money-saving hacks!

Surround yourself with like-minded people

The people you hang out with can significantly influence your thoughts and actions.

If your friends’ version of fun involves regularly going clubbing, booking expensive vacations, or buying out department stores, it’s easier to fall into that same lifestyle.

On the other hand, finding people who also want to improve their financial situation can be incredibly powerful. You can motivate each other to stick to your budgets and celebrate your successes together.

Struggling to find these like-minded people? We know plenty of people who hang out in the Lunch Money Discord community — come join the party!

Regardless, if anyone tries to shame or guilt you for trying to save money, consider spending less time with them.

Budget for fun

Loud budgeting doesn’t have to mean depriving yourself, so make sure to leave some room for fun.

You don’t need to decline every social invitation — just those outside your budget.

So, once you’ve taken care of your expenses and paid yourself first, you can say, “Yes, I can go to Chili’s with you for mozzarella sticks!”

Or, reward yourself once you’ve reached a goal, such as paying off a credit card or saving your emergency fund! Buy that video game you’ve been wanting, or enjoy a self-care day with a bubble bath, facial, and maybe a glass or two (or four) of wine.

Who should consider loud budgeting?

Anyone can benefit from the loud budgeting trend, whether you’re tackling debt, building an emergency fund, or working toward any financial goal!

If you regularly overspend because of social pressure, loud budgeting can help you set financial boundaries that align with your long-term goals, like saving for retirement or taking your dream vacation.

Vocalizing your money aspirations will also help reinforce them in your mind, making you more likely to keep your eyes on the prize.

And who knows? By opening a healthy dialogue with your loved ones, you might inspire them to consider their own financial goals.

How to practice loud budgeting with Lunch Money

Following the loud budgeting trend is made easier with Lunch Money. Here are a few of its features that can help you monitor your budget more closely:

  • Unlimited budget categories: With Lunch Money, you can create limitless budget categories and subcategories to easily organize your transactions. It even lets you set a savings category to pay yourself first.
  • Custom budget periods: While a monthly budget planner is the most common budgeting period, some people work better planning on a biweekly basis instead. Since Lunch Money supports both, you can experiment with each option to determine which is right for you.
  • Supports multiple budget methods: If you’re new to budgeting, you may not know which method to use for your situation. Or, maybe you’re a die-hard zero-based budgeter and want to make sure no dollars go to waste. Either way, Lunch Money supports multiple budgeting methods so you can take control of your finances the way you want.

The loud budgeting TikTok trend encourages people to set clear financial boundaries to help them avoid overspending due to peer pressure. After years of keeping money matters private, many people find it refreshing to talk openly with their loved ones about their finances.

If you’d like to learn more about budgeting to hit your financial goals, try Lunch Money’s 30-day free trial today!

Carley Clark is a financial writer with 5 years of experience creating content for brands like CNN Underscored, FinanceBuzz, ConsumerAffairs, and more. She holds a bachelor's degree in business and previously worked in the finance department of a casino. Her goal is to offer practical advice that helps readers manage their money effectively and make informed financial decisions.

Back to blog

Start mastering your finances today!

Try it free for 30 days
No credit card required to get started

Lunch Money is optimized for a laptop/computer (we're proudly web-first!)
and we offer a companion mobile app for on-the-go finances!