Envelope of Air

She labeled each envelope with intention, letting clarity replace anxiety. Financial organization has been linked to reduced stress and improved mental well-being, especially when individuals feel a sense of control over spending and saving (Netemeyer et al. 71).

Budgeting practices also support long-term financial resilience, which correlates with lower psychological distress and better health outcomes (Sweet et al. 24). When the last envelope was set aside, her shoulders relaxed. Freedom did not arrive as excess. It arrived as order, choice, and breath.

Works Cited (MLA)
Netemeyer, Richard G., et al. “How Am I Doing? Perceived Financial Well-Being, Its Potential Antecedents, and Its Relation to Overall Well-Being.” Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 45, no. 1, 2018, pp. 68–89.
Sweet, Elizabeth, et al. “The High Price of Debt: Household Financial Debt and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Health.” Social Science & Medicine, vol. 91, 2013, pp. 94–100.