‘Loud Budgeting’ Has People Saying No to Friends. Here’s How You Can Save Thousands

The rising cost of living has made it increasingly difficult to save money, buy essentials, and even make it to the end of a pay period without running out of funds. Amid growing expenses, creating and maintaining a budget can be the difference between just getting by and saving toward life goals. For some, that means doing it loudly—part of a trend that emerged on TikTok in 2023 and spread to other social media platforms.

Scott Bishop, managing director and co-founder of Presidio Wealth Partners, says sharing your financial commitments with others can help boost your success. “I think being ‘loud’ or at least vocalizing your plan can help make it a reality,” he told Investopedia. “A good parallel is telling everyone you are trying to lose weight. It may help keep you accountable.”

“And you may find that you have others who will support you,” he added.

What Is Loud Budgeting?

“Loud budgeting,” a term coined in a TikTok video by Lucas Battle in December 2023, refers to being vocal and unapologetic about your financial goals. It involves declining invitations to spend money, such as going out to dinner with a friend, and then explaining why—that’s the “loud” part.

The phrase has since been celebrated as a way to take pride in saving money, which can add up over time. It’s also seen as a way to help people overcome the difficult task of sticking to a budget. When you’re vocal about the fact that you’re trying to save money, other people could help hold you accountable as you cut back on nonessential spending.

“If you…want to go on an expensive trip or buy an expensive car, then you will have to be able to find a way to still hit your loud goal when others see you going off track,” Bishop said.

How Budgeting Could Save You Thousands

According to the results of two 2019 surveys, Americans spend an average of $697 to $1,497 per month on nonessential items, including dinner at a restaurant, drinks out with friends or coworkers, and takeout or delivery. Cutting back on some of those nonessential expenses could save you thousands over the course of a year.

Budgeting requires financial discipline, but the ultimate goal is to have more money. Generally, this requires either earning extra income, reducing spending, or both. Ideally, you’d earn more, but that’s not always an option. In many cases, cutting discretionary expenses is the core strategy.

According to a 2024 survey by the Bank of America Institute, Gen Z spent nearly twice as much as they had in savings, suggesting that young people have struggled to save money and keep up with the high cost of living. By comparison, Gen X and Baby Boomers had more in savings than they spent. Gen Z also spent more on travel, retail, restaurants, and entertainment than the overall population. But to offset growing expenses, two-thirds of Gen Z reported making lifestyle changes like cutting back on dining out and skipping events with friends, according to the survey.

Beyond being vocal about your plans, effective budgeting strategies include tracking progress and celebrating milestones, adjusting for changes in your income or bills, and prioritizing having an emergency fund.

Need some motivation to get started? Research has found that those who don’t budget are less motivated and less confident about planning for their financial future. A 2025 survey by Discover found that a majority of Americans (64%) did not create a budget. But the 22% of Americans who created a budget and stuck to it reported feeling accomplished, secure, confident, and prepared for the unexpected.

The Bottom Line

A key way to gain financial confidence and security is to create and maintain a budget. And it can help to be “loud” about it. For many people, the power of loud budgeting lies in transforming what feels like a negative thing—declining invitations or saying “no” to fun things—into a positive affirmation of their financial priorities, which can save thousands of dollars over time.