Before reviewing a single bank statement, do what Marie always recommends before any tidying festival: pause and breathe. 

Financial topics can sometimes feel heavy and complex, so it’s helpful to set yourself up well. 

Sit down in a quiet spot that feels particularly joyful. Light incense or a candle. Make yourself a cup of tea. These rituals signal to your mind and body that addressing your finances can feel supportive and empowering.  

When you’re ready, ask yourself these questions: 

• What does your ideal relationship with money look and feel like? 
• When you imagine a life of “financial freedom,” what do you see? 
• What are some thoughts you have about money that you would like to release? 
• What expenses are priorities for you, your family, and your goals? 

Pursuing answers to these questions will give you a clearer idea of your priorities. Now, you are ready to begin the process of financial decluttering.  

A core principle of The KonMari Method is to gather all items from a specific category before evaluating them. Your finances are no different. 

Pull together your bank accounts, credit cards, subscriptions, loans, and savings – every thread of your financial life. 

If seeing everything gathered together feels overwhelming, remember that you cannot tidy or organize what you cannot see. You are taking a powerful step toward supporting your future self. 

Now comes the KonMari signature step. You will take time to hold each expense, commitment, or financial habit up to the light, then ask whether it still serves you. Does it align with the life that sparks joy for you? 

The streaming service you haven’t used in months, the gym membership tied to a previous version of yourself – each one is an opportunity to let go in order to find more space and financial freedom. 

Just as you would thank a sweater before letting it go, you can release financial obligations with gratitude – for what they once offered – and without guilt.

Going forward, apply the same question to any purchases you’re considering. Invest your money into what genuinely supports your wellbeing and your vision. Let go of the rest. 

Marie believes that every item in our lives deserves a designated place. The same is true for your income and expenses. 

Similar to the “pay yourself first” concept often championed by personal finance experts, consider moving money right away into an account for its designated use. When each dollar has a purpose – paying off debt, nourishment, savings, experiences, joy – a budget becomes less about lack and more a form of self-care. 

Sometimes tidying your finances reveals not only where money is going, but where it could come from. 

Once you have tidied up your finances, you may find that you have more space – intellectually, emotionally, creatively – to consider other opportunities.

Having a better sense of your financial standing may empower you to ask for a raise at work or apply for a new position with a higher salary. Or perhaps you’ll find you’re suddenly inspired to start a side project or even launch a business. 

After tidying up your finances, set aside time to spend an afternoon journaling about new opportunities that sound joyful to you. 

A tidying festival is the beginning of a more joyful life, where priorities often shift in different chapters. The same is true when you KonMari your finances. 

Set aside time each month to check in, adjust, and feel gratitude for what you’re building through a better relationship with money. Make sure to celebrate wins, no matter how small. 

By making these personal finance check-ins into ritual, you’ll find that your confidence around managing your finances grows – and that you’re better prepared to welcome in new money with a sense of purpose and empowerment.