Money Dials for Leaders: What Your Spending Reveals About Your Career Priorities
- Maya Gudka
- Feb 26
- 5 min read
There's a concept I come back to again and again when I'm thinking about money, careers, and financial decisions.
Ramit Sethi calls them money dials.
The idea is straightforward: Money dials are the areas of your life where spending feels good - or at least, you don't resent it.
We spend lots of time in leadership development thinking about our values, but the question of how we like to spend our hard earned cash is often overlooked; yet it often has a much more tangible impact on how our life and work feel.
When I first encountered the idea, I didn't immediately think it applied to me. I've never seen myself as someone who overspends, and I wouldn't have said I had strong "preferences" in this area.
But when I looked more closely - at what I genuinely don't resent paying for - a pattern was obvious.
Ramit often says: "Show me how someone spends their money and I'll show you what they truly love." Whether or not you agree with the phrasing, there's something useful there. Our spending is already telling a story.
The ten money dials
Ramit identifies ten common money dials: convenience, travel, health and fitness, experiences, freedom, relationships, generosity, quality, social status, and self-development.
Most people recognise more than one.
For me, like Ramit, a key one is convenience.
Anything that reduces friction and protects time and mental space - outsourcing to within an inch of my life, being able to walk to errands and activities, minimal transit friction.
Once I saw that clearly, two things happened.
First, my own spending made much more sense to me. Second, other people's choices that previously baffled me made much more sense. Not everyone cares about convenience as much as me!
Where the real power lies
As a coach, this becomes particularly interesting at the overlap.
The most powerful money dials are often the ones that combine multiple things you care about. These are the places where you get the highest return in terms of how your life actually feels.
For example, convenience and health overlap strongly for me. We chose to live within walking distance of a leisure centre / gym. One decision, two dials supported. The scruffy clothes I tend to wear to that gym? Clearly part of a money dial that I have no interest in!
Relationships and experiences also naturally go together. Or freedom and self-development. When you find these intersections, spending in those areas feels obvious - and cutting back elsewhere stops feeling like deprivation.
The clarity understanding your money dials brings
Once you know your dials, you can turn them up unapologetically - and be far more decisive, even ruthless, about cutting everything else without it feeling like a restriction.
For example, for me, I could easily cut eating out at restaurants. Of course, I enjoy a great restaurant every now and then, but for frequently seeing friends (and relationships are another key dial for me) I'd much rather do coffee, or a walk (ideally both) or a gallery.
Instead of asking "What should I be spending and cutting back on?" a more useful question is: "What do I genuinely not resent spending money on, and what could I easily cut without it feeling like restriction?"
It's also one of the most revealing conversations you can have with a partner. Where do your dials overlap? Where are they different? What assumptions have you been making about each other's choices?
These can be deeply orienting questions — especially if you're thinking seriously about the kind of life, career, and financial structure you're building over the long term.
Key takeaways
• Your spending already tells a story - What you don't resent paying for reveals what you truly value
• Overlapping dials are most powerful - Finding areas that satisfy multiple values gives the highest return on how life feels
• Clarity enables ruthlessness - Once you know your dials, you can cut other spending without it feeling like deprivation
• Partners need this conversation - Understanding where your money dials overlap and differ prevents assumptions and conflict
Ready to get clarity on what matters most?
If you've been nodding along thinking "I need to understand what actually drives my decisions," you're not alone. High achievers often spend time on values work without connecting it to the tangible reality of how they spend money, time, and energy.
Work with me
If you're looking for clarity on your career and life dials:
Vision Unblocked - A focused 3-day programme for busy executives who need clarity on what's next without the time commitment of full coaching. Three days, designed to fit around everything else.
Vision Builder - My signature programme for creating a compelling 10-year vision and 3-year plan. Perfect for senior leaders who know there's something more but aren't sure what that looks like yet.
Executive Coaching - Bespoke 1:1 coaching for C-suite leaders navigating complex career transitions, building executive presence, or preparing for board-level roles.
Listen to the podcast
🎧 This wraps up the February series on The Refreshing Leadership Podcast - we've covered goals, morning routines, FIRE, and now money dials. Catch up with the series on Youtube or listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Frequently asked questions
What are money dials?
Money dials are the areas of your life where spending feels good - or at least, you don't resent it. Ramit Sethi identifies ten common ones: convenience, travel, health and fitness, experiences, freedom, relationships, generosity, quality, social status, and self-development. Most people recognise more than one dial as important to them.
How do I identify my money dials?
Look at what you genuinely don't resent paying for. Your spending is already telling a story. Once you see the pattern clearly, your own spending makes much more sense - and other people's choices that previously baffled you also make more sense. Not everyone cares about the same things you do.
Why are overlapping money dials more powerful?
The most powerful money dials combine multiple things you care about. These are the places where you get the highest return in terms of how your life actually feels. For example, convenience and health might overlap - choosing to live near a gym supports both dials with one decision. When you find these intersections, spending in those areas feels obvious.
How can knowing my money dials help with career decisions?
These questions are deeply orienting - especially if you're thinking seriously about the kind of life, career, and financial structure you're building over the long term. Once you know your dials, you can turn them up unapologetically and be far more decisive about what to cut without it feeling like restriction. This clarity directly informs career choices about location, lifestyle, and work structure.
Should I discuss money dials with my partner?
It's one of the most revealing conversations you can have. Where do your dials overlap? Where are they different? What assumptions have you been making about each other's choices? Understanding this prevents conflict over spending and helps you build a financial structure that genuinely supports both of your priorities.
What if I don't think I have strong spending preferences?
You might be surprised. When you look more closely at what you genuinely don't resent paying for, a pattern often becomes obvious. Track your spends backwards and see how each one makes you feel, and what you see the benefits of your spends being.
About Maya
Maya Gudka is an executive coach specialising in C-suite career progression and leadership development. She works with senior leaders in major organisations on strategic career planning, executive presence, and building sustainable influence. Maya hosts The Executive Coach Podcast, which ranks in the top 2% of podcasts globally and has nearly 300 episodes exploring the challenges faced by ambitious professionals.
Connect with Maya on LinkedIn
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