Creating a Budget That Reflects Your Values and Priorities
- Neil Dissanayake
- Jun 26
- 6 min read
💬 “The heart's willing, but the wallet's gasping for air.”
— said a recent survey respondent on navigating the cost of greener choices.
We hear this a lot.
People want to do the right thing — drive less, eat better, invest ethically — but it feels hard to square that with the realities of everyday life. Rising costs. Confusing choices. A climate crisis that can feel overwhelming in scale.
It’s time to reframe the conversation — and by the end of this article, I hope you’ll agree too.
We all know budgeting is a good thing to do — we just rarely get around to it. But what if your budget wasn’t just about tracking numbers — but about reflecting your values? What if it became a tool to fund the life you really want — one that brings fulfilment, security, and a lighter impact on the planet? If framed like that, does that give you the impetus to give it a serious go?
This article is your practical, no-nonsense guide to doing just that.
Why Budgeting and Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand
A good budget does two things:
🟢 It puts you back in control of your money
🌍 And it helps align your everyday choices with the kind of future you believe in
And make no mistake — our everyday choices matter. I was at a London Climate Action Week event last night, and the one statistic I heard that jumped out the most: globally households are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions (see link). What we heat, eat, drive, wear, and invest in is shaping the climate story significantly — but it also means it is huge opportunity for driving impact.
Firstly, here’s the myth we need to bust:
💬 “Sustainability is expensive.”
Yes it can be, if you choose to buy a Tesla and designer handbags made of mycelium (a plastic substitute).
But in reality, at its core, sustainability is about wasting less, consuming less, or choosing better once. Moving towards a world where we only need 1 planet, instead of 1.7 planets to support us. That’s budgeting in its truest form. And in most cases, living more sustainably saves you money over time.
Reimagining the 50/30/20 Rule — for Planet + Priorities
This classic budgeting rule — 50% Needs, 30% Wants, 20% Savings — still works. But we can bring it to life in a more values-led, sustainable way:
✅ 50% Needs — Spend Better, Not More
Covering essentials like housing, food, transport, and utilities.
Sustainable swaps that save:
Switch to a green energy tariff – can save up to £150/year, while cutting your indirect emissions.
Improve insulation – start with low-cost steps like draught excluders, thermal curtains or a DIY loft blanket.
Cook more plant-based meals – even reducing meat by half can save around £600/year.
Ditch the tumble dryer – air drying your clothes can cut £60–100 off your bill annually.
Use your car less – walk, cycle or car share one day a week. You’ll save on fuel and feel better for it.
💡 Tip: Affording Green Home Upgrades
We often get told that making green upgrades to our home – installing solar panels, switching from a gas boiler to heat pump (including the £7,500 UK government discount), installing insulation and LED light bulbs – saves us money over the longer term. But they do require up-front cashflow. This is often the stumbling block. One way to get round this, is to tie this in with your mortgage renewal. This could be a win-win financially:
Green home upgrades often increase the value of a property, more than the money spent. See research from RightMove, Knight Frank and RICS. By doing so, you can justify increasing the value of your property for the purposes of a mortgage valuation.
Energy bill savings can end up being more than the additional monthly mortgage payment. The net effect on your monthly cashflow could end up being positive (i.e. a net saving).
This depends on specific circumstances, and websites such as Energy Savings Trust can be useful in assessing these.
💡 Tip: Question the Need for Car Ownership
The need for car ownership clearly depends on where you live. Sacrificing a car (even an electric vehicle) can be one of the most positive things you could do for your bank balance and the planet.
Question your regular short-trips. Can the school-run be safely done on a bike or public transport? Did you know that the highest air pollution hot spots are often the school gates? So it is also a question of improving your children's health.
Can the regular weekly shop be done using a car-sharing scheme instead?
What about the commute to work? Can an electric bike or public transport work for you? Think of the health benefits.
How many long-distance trips did you make this year? Would public transport of electric car-hire for all of them have been cheaper than the amount you spent owning a car?
💚 30% Wants — Align with What You Love + Value
This is the space for joy, meaning, and choice.
Ask yourself: What brings me joy without draining the planet?
Planet-positive pleasures:
Buy local, seasonal food – fresher, often cheaper, and supports your local economy.
Embrace second-hand – apps like Vinted, Olio, and Freecycle make it easy to shop (or swap) preloved. Switching your phone? Use Back Market to buy the penultimate generation as second-hand refurbished, and save money. Upgrading an appliance? Check out refurbished second-hand models on Appliances Direct to again save you money.
Support experiences, not stuff – local gigs, a countryside walk, or volunteering can be more fulfilling than retail therapy.
Book low-carbon getaways – the UK is full of slow travel gems. Trains over planes, and you often get more holiday for your money.
💬 “It’s like being stuck in a sustainability maze with no signposts…”
You're not alone. Start where it feels manageable. That's enough.
🌱 20% Savings and Debt — Future-Proofed Finances
This is where your financial resilience and your values can really meet.
Do this first:
If you have debt, firstly prioritise high-interest repayments (e.g., credit cards or buy-now-pay-later).
Once your high-interest debt is paid off, set up an emergency fund (aim for 3–6 months’ regular expenses).
Do not use a mainstream bank for your emergency fund. They are all guilty of financing fossil fuels. If you really care of the planet, really question who you bank with. An emergency fund doesn't need to be touched regularly, and so there is no need for you to have a local branch. There are reasonable interest rates to be found away from the mainstream banks.
For ethical banks and building societies – check BluePatch, Ethical Consumer and Good With Money to find the greenest option.
Tracking What Matters: Budget and Carbon
Want to see the impact of your changes?
Money tools:
Carbon footprint tools:
Giki Zero – UK-based and values-driven, helps you track and reduce your personal emissions.
The Commons – helps you earn rewards from sustainable living.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Many clients tell me they feel overwhelmed. I hear things like:
“There’s just too much information… One minute it’s oat milk, the next it’s almond milk from Spain. I want to make good choices, but I don’t have time to be an expert.”
You don’t need to be.
Here’s how to keep it simple:
Batch decisions: Use one Sunday a month to make 1–2 changes. Cancel unused subscriptions, meal prep for the week, or switch energy suppliers.
Focus on what you can influence: Heating. Eating. Driving. Spending. These aren’t abstract — they’re daily.
Make it personal: Tie your goals to something meaningful. “I want my grandkids to breathe clean air” is a more powerful motivator than “reduce emissions by 20%”.
Your Budget as a Quiet Form of Protest—and Possibility
The truth? Big shifts start small. Household change scales up to community change. And markets follow what people do with their money.
UK emissions are already down 43% since 1990 — and that’s not just from power stations. It's people like you choosing to insulate, switch, reduce, re-use.
We don’t need a million perfect eco-warriors — we need millions of us doing what we can, when we can.
Final Thoughts
A values-aligned budget doesn’t just keep you financially secure — it helps you live with integrity in a world that desperately needs more of it.
Whether you’re managing rising costs, planning for retirement, or just trying to tread more lightly, your money has power. Make it count.
🌿 Start Here:
Choose one of the following this month:
Switch to a green energy supplier
Cook one plant-based meal per week
Move your cash savings account to a green bank
Take a no-buy month for clothes
Spend one Sunday afternoon setting up a budget you can actually stick to
Then share it with a friend. I would love it if you were to send me an email with your story (neil@planetpositiveplanning.com), or share what you've done on Planet Positive Planning's social media account. Let's inspire more ripples!
Because when you align your money with what truly matters, you’re not just budgeting. You’re building the future.
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