Take Back Your Money

Objectives

Spend with intention. Support local businesses and keep money circulating in your community.

Cancel what you don’t need. Avoid debt traps and predatory credit.

Say no to debt-as-a-lifestyle. Use cash, debit, or trade instead of credit.

Explore community lending, co-ops, and mutual aid as alternatives to big banks.

Shop at farmers’ markets, independent bookstores, or use tools like Buy Local First directories to keep wealth in your community.

Move your money from “too-big-to-fail” banks into local credit unions or community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that reinvest locally.

Use services like Trim, Rocket Money, or Bobby to find and cancel subscriptions you don’t need.

Avoid payday lenders and predatory credit. Try debit-first living or budgeting apps like YNAB (You Need A Budget) or EveryDollar to stay in control.

Experiment with a week or month of using only cash or debit to break the debt-as-default cycle.

Join or start a co-op, mutual aid fund, or time bank to share resources and reduce dependence on corporate credit.

If you have savings, consider platforms like Localstake (local investing) or Swell Investing (impact-driven portfolios) to align money with values.

Take free courses like Coursera’s Personal & Family Financial Planning or community workshops that teach money skills outside the credit/debt system.