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Exploring yes stress, listening, and saving more
Logan
November 06, 2025
In partnership with
Exploring yes stress, listening, and saving more
Happy Thursday! Thanks for reading Intentional Dollar — where we look at old money ideas through a new perspective.
What’s inside?
One idea to experiment with
Two quotes from others
Three questions to dig deeper
Four lines of poetry for the point
Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. These weekly posts represent my simple thoughts, a few quotes, and some questions — for educational purposes only.
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One idea to experiment with:
Yes Stress:
Our inability to say no quietly drains our time, money, and peace of mind.
We say yes to a purchase and feel the pinch later when the budget’s blown. We say yes to a night out and feel the anxiety of the tab. We say yes to plans after work and then stare at the undone chores and lost rest we desperately needed.
Saying yes feels easier in the moment. We don’t want to disappoint anyone, seem boring, or miss out on something fun. But every time we say yes to one thing, we are at the same time saying no to something else, often something that matters more.
This trade-off is clearest with time because it’s finite. Time spent scrolling, chatting, or going out is time not spent with family, recharging, or making progress toward goals. The same holds true with money; every unnecessary yes chips away at your future financial freedom.
The key is to realize no isn’t rejection. It’s a protective boundary, a way to safeguard your time, energy, and money, so they can be used with purpose instead of guilt.
Learning to say no doesn’t make you selfish; it makes you disciplined. It’s how you build a life you’re actually present in, rather than one you’re constantly trying to catch up with and recover from.
Five Ways to Say No
“Thanks for thinking of me, and I’ll have to pass this time.”
“That sounds fun. I’m keeping this week free to recharge, so I won’t make it this time.”
“I can’t make it work right now, maybe another time.”
“I’m focused on another project at the moment, so I’ can’t this time.”
“I need to pass this time, not in the budget right now.”
We don’t want to be rude, so we spend days crafting a thoughtful rejection, or flat delaying responses to avoid a potentially awkward conversation. But it’s your time, your money, your life.
Saying no is hard, but the reward is freedom from financial strain, from overcommitment, and from the quiet resentment that builds when you say yes too often. More no’s to the externals means more yes’s to your needle movers.
are your yes’s leaking time and money?
Two quotes on listening:
I love this old nursery rhyme about an owl:
A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw, the less he spoke; The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?
“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.”
“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”
Three questions on saving more:
Have I been balanced with saving and consumption, or fallen victim to the ambiguous save more trap?
Do I have a precise amount that I need to save?
How much more clarity would I have in my financial life if I operated from standard rules: “I save 20% of every dollar I make and spend the rest.”
Which question stuck with you? Questions like these are spotlights for the mind. Reply to this email and let me know which one shined light on a previously dark cave.
Four lines of poetry for the point:
Yes is no
No is yes
Yes is stress
When I must do less
Contact Me:
Content ideas, questions? Reply to this email or reach out to me at [email protected]
Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. These weekly posts represent my simple thoughts, a few quotes, and some questions — for educational purposes only.
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