Soft Life on a Budget: How to Romanticize Adulthood Without Going Broke!

Brief Summary:

Embracing a soft life isn’t about spending recklessly—it’s about creating ease, joy, and luxury within your means. This guide helps Black women romanticize adulthood on a budget through affordable self-care, mindful indulgences, and small daily luxuries that make life feel softer without breaking the bank. ✨💸 

As a Black woman, I have realized that between the ages of twenty and thirty, we often try our hardest to build a lifestyle that honors who we are as humans and where we hope to get to later in life.

During this period, we may try different jobs, work towards financial stability, and romanticize our adulthood experience amid the chaos.

One word that has been quite popular on social media and is often used to describe the actions taken during this time is “soft life.”

We are trying to build a life of sustainability, happiness, and peace without losing our minds. But, this is not always easy because although social media teaches us what a “soft life” looks like, it doesn’t often tell us how to get there.

Therefore, tonight’s guide is to help us embrace adulthood with intentionality, show how to romanticize daily life through affordable self-care, discuss budget-friendly indulgences, and address how a slight mindset shift may make adulthood feel less like survival and more like living – because no one has time to be stuck in “survival mode.”

💡 Embracing a soft life isn’t about spending recklessly—it’s about creating ease, joy, and luxury within your means.

#1. Having a soft life doesn’t mean owning everything designer or going to the most expensive steakhouses every weekend. While it is fantastic to be able to do these things, we want to ensure we are not living beyond our budgets.

If you can afford it, do it. But, if not, don’t lose money to keep up with the Joneses.

A soft life means elevating your daily experiences, such as buying a lovely candle from TJ Maxx that you light while having a bubble bath. Or taking a sip of your favorite beverage in a fancy glass. It can even look like paying for a trap yoga class or playing calming music during a stressful moment at work.

Small rituals make every day feel luxurious without overspending because superabundance is not luxury; it’s overcompensation. Ask yourself, “Am I overcompensating to mask the areas of life I feel empty in?”

#2: Having a soft life on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have moments where you indulge. Instead, it requires mindful indulgences to still add to your emergency fund.

Ladies, it’s essential to treat yourself, but please do it wisely. Instead of Dunkin’ Donuts every morning, purchase a coffee maker at home and create your cafe moments.

Instead of purchasing the most expensive bag on the website, purchase one that is affordable and long-lasting.

Prioritize the splurges that bring the most joy and cut where it doesn’t matter.

I live by the rule, “If the item does not bring me joy in thirty days, six months, or a year, I don’t purchase it. If it will, I immediately add it to my closet.”

#3: Let’s prioritize ease over hustle in 2025.

A soft life is about working smarter, not harder. Therefore, let’s simplify our tasks to focus more on peace.

For example, let’s work on automating our bills. It’s a good feeling when you don’t have to ask yourself, “Did I pay the bill this month?”

When you have already budgeted for the month, knowing how much will come out is also a good feeling. Therefore, you’re not worried if an unexpected expense pops up because they will.

Let’s meal-prep more; this is a goal I am actively working on. After working all morning, it can be quite exhausting to have to ask myself what I will have for lunch.

If you meal-prep, the option is already available. Adulthood doesn’t have to feel as ghetto as it does – small shifts in routine can create ease without extra cost.

Sis, you deserve luxury. You have a right to joy. You’re entitled to peace on your terms. Therefore, let’s create it together.

Please let me know in the comments: What’s one thing you do to create a soft life in your world?

I’ll speak to you next week as we prepare to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Whether you’re single, healing, or booed up, I want to give you the ultimate guide to thriving on Valentine’s Day.

Peace and Prosperity, as always!

Jadis DeShong-Venay

P.S. If you have any tips for meal-prepping, I’d greatly appreciate it. ☺️