A Wellbeing Guide to Happiness: Why Financial Calm Beats Shiny Things
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Jul 25, 2025
- 6 min read
A Wellbeing Guide to Happiness: Why Financial Calm Beats Shiny Things
Happiness isn’t found in the latest phone, the flashiest car, or the daily Costa coffee habit. Those things give a brief buzz, then fade, leaving you chasing the next upgrade. Real happiness is quieter. It’s the feeling of safety when life throws a curveball and you know you’ll be okay.
Financial wellbeing is emotional wellbeing. When your money is organised, your nervous system relaxes. You sleep better. You make better decisions. You enjoy life more, not because you’re spending more, but because you’re worrying less.
Stuff Doesn’t Equal Happiness, Security Does
A new phone feels exciting for a week. A new car feels impressive for a month. Then they become normal, and the bills remain.
Emergency savings, on the other hand, don’t sparkle, but they quietly change everything. Knowing you can handle a broken boiler, a vet emergency, or a sudden drop in income creates a deep sense of calm. That calm is happiness you can rely on.
Small Daily Spending Steals Big Future Peace
Costa coffee doesn’t create happiness. It creates habit. A £4 coffee, five days a week, is over £80 a month and nearly £1,000 a year. That’s not a treat, that’s a silent leak.
If you enjoy coffee, make it at home and put the difference straight into savings. You’ll still enjoy your drink, and future-you will thank you when that money becomes security instead of caffeine.
You Don’t Need Money to Have a Social Life
If you want to see friends but money is tight, invite them to your house. Cook together. Watch a film. Walk the dogs. Sit and talk.
Eating out, taxis, drinks, and impulse spending drain your account fast. Hosting at home can save hundreds over a year and often creates better, more relaxed memories anyway.
Connection creates happiness. Spending money isn’t a requirement.
Clear Debt First, Then Build Peace
Before saving seriously, clear outstanding loans, credit cards, or credit cards. High-interest debt is a constant drain on both money and mental energy.
Once those are gone, the relief is immediate. Then you can move forward with purpose rather than plugging holes.
The Four Savings Accounts That Support Happiness
To create long-term wellbeing, separate your savings into four clear accounts. Each has a job, and each removes a different type of stress.
1. Essential Savings (Top Priority)
This is for things that must be fixed or replaced:
Boiler breakdowns
Car repairs
Essential appliances
Vet bills
This account stops emergencies from becoming disasters. It is your first priority.
2. Emergency Fund
This is your safety net. Aim for six months of essential living costs. Once this reaches six months, move it into a high-interest account and leave it untouched. This fund exists so you don’t panic if income drops or life shifts unexpectedly.
3. Holidays and Birthdays
This is for planned joy .Holidays, birthdays, Christmas, and celebrations shouldn’t create stress or debt. This account goes up and down naturally, and that’s okay.
4. Fun and Non-Essential Happiness
This is guilt-free spending. Meals out, days out, hobbies, treats. You enjoy this money fully because everything important is already protected.
How I Personally Split My Income
I aim to save 50% of my income.
50% of that goes into emergency savings
The remaining 50% is split across:
Essential savings
Holidays and birthdays
Fun and non-essential spending
Once my emergency fund reaches six months, it moves into a high-interest account and stops growing. From that point on, the money that used to go into emergency savings gets redistributed across the other three accounts based on what I actually need.
Some months that means more fun money. Some months it means topping up essentials. The system adapts to life, rather than fighting it.
Self-Insurance for Pets: Calm, Not Panic
Instead of pet insurance, I use my essential savings account for vet bills once it reaches around £10,000.
If insurance costs £300 a month, that’s £3,600 a year. Saving that money yourself builds a real fund quickly, without exclusions, excesses, or stress.
Once this account hits its cap, any extra can be redirected into other areas of life. The money works for you instead of disappearing into premiums.
Happiness Is Feeling Safe Enough to Breathe
True happiness isn’t flashy. It’s knowing you’re covered. It’s sleeping without financial anxiety. It’s enjoying a night in without guilt. It’s choosing how to live, not reacting to money problems.
When your essentials are protected, emergencies planned for, and joy intentionally funded, happiness stops being something you chase and starts being something you live with every day.
Money won’t make you happy, but financial calm absolutely supports it.
A Note on Wellbeing and Sustainability
This guide assumes one thing: you are a professional, not just “someone who walks dogs.”
Your wellbeing is not optional, and it is not selfish. Dog walking is physically demanding, emotionally draining, and mentally taxing work. Without protecting your wellbeing, burnout becomes inevitable, no matter how much you love the dogs.
You are allowed to:
Prioritise your physical health, rest, and recovery
Protect your mental health from stress, overwhelm, and constant availability
Create financial stability that reduces anxiety and pressure
Say no to work, clients, or situations that damage your wellbeing
Build a business that supports your life, not one that consumes it
Wellbeing is not something you “earn” after working yourself into the ground. It is the foundation that allows you to work consistently, confidently, and professionally for the long term.
A sustainable dog walking business starts with taking your wellbeing as seriously as the dogs in your care.
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. Before building my own dog walking company, I worked as a dog trainer and held corporate roles at Pizza Hut’s Head Office in London and at PricewaterhouseCoopers, based at Embankment Place. Business, structure, and people management have been part of my life for a very long time.
With full time, hands-on experience in the dog industry since 2007, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for general information and educational purposes only. It is intended to support pet care professionals in understanding common legal considerations when operating a dog walking or pet care business in the UK.
This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor or legal professional. Laws, regulations and local authority requirements may change over time and can vary depending on location and individual circumstances.
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or applicability to your specific situation.
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If you are unsure about any legal obligations, contractual terms or liabilities, it is strongly recommended that you consult a solicitor experienced in small business or consumer law.
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