Nicole Lapin

Anti-goals are the things that you refuse to do.

These are non-negotiables.

Think of these like financial boundaries, but with teeth.

Here are some anti-goals that work insanely well.

I will not let my checking account drop below $500.

This prevents overdraft fees, keeps you from living paycheck to paycheck, and forces you to slow down spending before things get messy.

or I will not carry a balance on high interest credit cards.

This one role can save you thousands of dollars in interest and regret.

I will not buy anything on sale that I would not buy at full price.

Well, this eliminates emotional sale shopping and the fake frugality trap.

I will not invest in anything I can't explain to a friend.

If you can't explain what the investment is, how the investment works, how it makes money and what the risks are,

You honestly shouldn't touch it.

Anti-goals make money management easier because you're not deciding in the moment.

You already decided.

Anti-goals create clarity, simplicity, and peace.

three things we all need more of in our financial lives.

Why are these things the three strategies that will help you win in 2026?

Well, because they remove reliance on willpower.

Willpower is a terrible tool for long-term change.