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149. Voting With Your Dollars – Practical Ways to Align Your Spending With Your Values
Feb 8, 2026

In a world that feels increasingly polarized, we explore how to use your capital as a tool for change without losing your mind or your net worth in the process. We dive into the practicalities of “voting with your dollars,” acknowledging that while consumer spending drives nearly 70% of the U.S. GDP, achieving total moral purity in a global economy is nearly impossible. We share our personal guardrails for boycotting, the “one more place” rule, and why we prioritize progress over perfection when it comes to where we bank, shop, and invest. Whether you are navigating the nuances of ESG funds or just trying to find a local alternative for household essentials, we help you align your outflows with your values while keeping your financial goals on track.

Liz joins this week’s podcast as we talk about:

– Understanding the power of collective action

-Practical steps for boycotting businesses, including deleting apps, reviewing past spend, and pre-planning your alternatives

– Implementing the “one more place” rule to support local businesses

– Setting personal financial guardrails to decide exactly how much extra time or money you are willing to spend to stand by your values

– Navigating the nuance of sunk assets and how some decisions can hurt your family more than a corporate CEO

– Why we aim for “progress over perfection” and avoid giving ourselves—or others—a hard time for imperfect consumption

– The pros and cons of ESG investing and whether investing in ESG funds drives meaningful change

 

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