Mel Robbins, author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast, released an episode in January 2026 titled, The #1 Money Habit That Sets You Up for Financial Freedom, featuring David Bach, a 10-time New York Timesbestselling author and entrepreneur. During the conversation, the two discussed everything from debt and rent to retirement planning and what Bach calls the “automatic economy.” Bach shared several simple money habits and resources to help listeners take control of their finances and firmly said, “Either you have a plan for your money, or someone else does.”
 
The statement is both powerful and shocking. Bach explained that if money is coming into your bank account whether from a paycheck, IRA distribution, inheritance, or another source, you must allocate every dollar to something specific or it disappears. 
 
Were you thinking: How can I lose money if it’s in my bank account? 
 
Let’s play a game and find out. Take out a piece of paper and write down all of your “must have” expenses. This includes things like rent or mortgage payments, health care, car payments, groceries, and utilities. Next, make a list of your subscriptions and recurring expenses. This might include streaming services like Netflix, gym memberships, Amazon Subscribe & Save deliveries, monthly charitable donations, and any other automatic charges.
 
For many Americans — 7 out of 10 whom report living paycheck to paycheck — income arrives and quickly flows back out the door through various automatic payments. Businesses design their models this way. They don’t just want you to buy something once; they want you to subscribe. They want you to set it and forget it, so you remain a customer for life and participate in the automatic economy that is so easy and attractive for the consumer. 
 
However, the automatic economy isn’t inherently a bad thing. In fact, when used intentionally, it can be one of the most powerful tools for building healthy financial habits.
 
Organizations like the American Legion Auxiliary operate in this environment as well. Just as companies hope you’ll become a loyal customer, mission-driven nonprofits hope you’ll become a long-term partner in the work they do. The Auxiliary doesn’t just want you to be a member for one year — we want you to remain part of this community for life. When members choose to support the mission financially, recurring gifts allow that support to grow steadily over time.
 
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you control how many people have their hands in your piggy bank. 
 
Let’s do one more exercise. On that same piece of paper, write down a list of your personal values. This might include things such as honesty, kindness, generosity, service to others, supporting veterans and military families, or contributing to your family and community. 
 
Now compare that list of values to your spending and subscription list. Do they align? If they do, congratulations! You are perfect and are living with intentionality. If they don’t, consider what changes you could make to bring your spending closer to what matters most to you.
 
Bach says two things typically happen to people that force them to reconcile their financial situation — pain or clarity around what’s important to them. Pain might come from financial stress or unexpected hardship. Clarity comes from intentionally deciding what matters most and building a financial plan around those priorities. Our hope is that you can skip the painful part and jump right to clarity.
 
For many Auxiliary members, that clarity includes supporting veterans, military, and their families. When you choose to align your finances with those values — whether through membership, volunteer service, or a recurring charitable gift — you’re making a conscious decision about where your dollars go and the impact they create. 
 
If the automatic economy is going to touch our finances anyway, we might as well use it as a force for good. Consider making space for supporting the ALA’s mission work in your financial plan. Every ALA member deserves financial freedom that reflects their values, and when those values include service and generosity, the entire American Legion Family benefits.