“It’s not about not spending anything, but it’s about focusing on things that bring you joy and that bring value for you and your family.” That’s the philosophy driving Katia Chesnok, a mother of four who’s built a following of over 40,000 people on TikTok by breaking down the “moneymaxxing” trend—a viral movement focused on smarter financial habits like cutting unnecessary expenses and maximizing savings account interest. Now she’s sharing the exact strategies that transformed her family’s finances.
With summer winding down, there’s no better time to reset your wallet. Here are some of Katia Chesnok‘s most useful insights to start leveling up your money right now.
Disciplined Spending
TikToker Katia Chesnok (@economikat) laid out a reality check about the one daily habit standing between most people and actual savings.
“Your life will change when you stop buying more junk,” she said. “You do not need more stuff. Look at your garage, look at your closets, look at your whole house—it’s full of junk. Once I realized that all the clutter I was buying used to be money… and once you realize that, your life will change.”
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5 Things That Are Not Worth Your Money
In a July TikTok video, Chesnok called out five specific purchases she considers wasteful. An iPad tops the list. “At this point, you’re only using the iPad to play games,” she said. Daily Starbucks runs came next: “How are you paying eight dollars a day when you can make your own coffee at home for cents every single day?”
She also flagged Kylie Cosmetics, the iRobot vacuum, and high-end athleisure brands. “Anything Alo or Lululemon, especially if you’re paying $200, $300 for a hoodie. It’s not worth the money.”
Shop Your Home First
When the urge to shop hits, Chesnok suggests a different approach: look around your home first.
“This is a reminder that you do not need anything from Walmart today,” she said in an unpopular opinion post last month. “You do not need anything from Aldi today. You do not need anything from Trader Joe’s today. You are just bored, and you don’t need more stuff. Go shop your pantry.”
If boredom is the real issue, her fix is simple: take a walk.
The “Worth Every Penny” List
While she’s quick to call out overhyped products and impulse buys, Chesnok isn’t against spending where it counts. She named specific items in a follow-up video worth the investment.
“Toyota vehicles, a Breville coffee machine, going to the dentist, Costco executive membership, ETFs [exchange-traded funds], Olay moisturizers and serum, Brita water filter, a walking pad, and a library card,” she specified.
Low Buying Challenge
In July, she launched a low-buying challenge encouraging followers to avoid “useless stuff” but spend intentionally on things that genuinely make them happy. For Chesnok, it’s all about balance. During the month-long challenge, she shared her own routine: cooking simple meals at home at least five days a week, waiting a full day before buying anything (aside from necessities), committing to three no-spend days every week, and getting a dopamine hit from walks or time outdoors instead.
How to Start Saving More Money
One of the easiest ways to save, according to Chesnok, is to make your money work harder by opening a high-yield savings account (HYSA).
“If you don’t have a HYSA in 2026, what are you even doing? You need to have a HYSA because they pay you higher interest rates than a regular savings account,” she said. She also suggests waiting before any online purchase. “The longer you wait, the more you will be sure that it’s not an impulse purchase. And actually, 50% of the time when you wait at least 24 hours, you end up not buying the item.”
Chesnok also advised limiting doomscrolling—the compulsive habit of endlessly watching negative news on your phone. “I noticed the longer I doom scroll, the more temptations I have. So limit your doomscrolling and get busy,” she said.
Her final piece of advice: take care of your health and clean your living space. “When you do, you will bring more abundance to your life. If you take care of things you already have, you will wait longer to buy new things.”
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