Before you make any New Year’s resolutions about money, here’s something to consider. Creativity is just as essential in personal finance as it is in art or science. And no, I’m not talking about the kind of “creative accounting” associated with lying to the IRS.
Money usually calls to mind budgets, spreadsheets, investment returns, and tax brackets. When you hear the word “creativity,” you might think of painting, music, or theater. But creativity is far broader than that. It’s about seeing new possibilities and bringing your authentic self into the moment. It can show up in the way you cook dinner, organize a messy garage, or yes, even how you design your budget.
This topic was the focus of one session I attended at the 2025 retreat for the Nazrudin Project, a group of professionals who focus on the emotional aspects of money. We completed an exercise that was simple but profound. We were asked to draw an image that represented our relationship with spending. Not a pie chart or diagram, but an actual sketch, without regard to artistic merit. The drawings told stories no spreadsheet ever could. A picture of a leaking faucet spoke to money flowing out uncontrollably. A sturdy tree symbolized stability. A balloon showed lightness and joy. These images became doorways to conversations that reached far deeper than “how much are you saving?”
It was a powerful reflection on the limitations of relying only on numbers when it comes to money. Numbers can tell you what you’ve spent or saved, but they can’t tell you how you feel about money or why you react the way you do. Creativity, on the other hand, opens that door.
I’ve seen this in my own life. Whenever I get stuck in a rigid pattern, like oversaving to the point of denying myself, or overanalyzing an investment decision, creativity is what can loosen the knot. Sometimes that looks like drawing the problem, sometimes it’s telling my story to someone else, and sometimes it’s just admitting, “I don’t know the answer, but I’ll try something different.”
The challenge with creativity is that it requires risk. You might worry you’re doing it wrong. I’ve felt that same fear. But the truth is, creativity is about exploration. Almost by definition, it’s impossible to do it wrong. It’s about being willing to say, “What if I looked at this differently?”
One of my favorite statements from this session was, “Simply bringing your authentic self to a situation is adding creativity.” That resonates deeply. When you bring your authentic self to the way you use money, you’re already practicing creativity. You’re including your hopes, fears, and values, moving beyond numbers into meaning.
So here’s something you might try. Instead of asking yourself, “Am I spending too much?” or “Am I saving enough?” ask a different question: “What image represents my relationship with money right now?” Then sketch it, even if you’re not an artist. See what surfaces. You may be surprised at what your picture tells you.
Creativity does not replace financial wisdom and knowledge. You still need to know how to budget, invest, and plan for the future. Creativity adds another dimension, acknowledging the reality that money touches everything you are and everything you do. It reminds you that money is also about life, and life is anything but linear.
Considering money only in terms of numbers can keep you inside a box of “shoulds.” There are countless ways to use money to help you live well. The task isn’t to find the one right way, but to bring in enough creativity to discover the way that’s right for you.
The views and opinions of this article may not reflect the views of The Rapid City Post, its affiliates, or advertisers.
