I Hit Rock Bottom Over a $6 Shampoo Bottle—Here’s What I Did Next

By Beelinger Staff
Estimated read time: 6 min

It was aisle 8. I remember it like a financial horror movie.

I was holding a $6 bottle of shampoo, trying to calculate if I could afford it without overdrawing my checking account. The fact that I even had to do that math out loud—in public—was the moment I knew something was seriously wrong.

I didn’t cry because I couldn’t buy the shampoo. I cried because I had no cushion. No margin. No freedom. And honestly? No idea what I was doing with my money.

When a Tiny Price Tag Hits Like a Brick

It wasn’t about the shampoo. It was about the mental exhaustion of constantly choosing between bills and dignity. That $6 was the tip of the iceberg. Beneath it: debt, bad spending habits, zero savings, and a mountain of financial anxiety.

So I made a decision. A tiny, defiant decision right there in the aisle: This won’t be my story anymore.

What I Did Next (That Actually Helped)

• 1. Faced the numbers: I opened my bank app and wrote down every recurring expense. I was shocked how many auto-renewing subscriptions I had forgotten.
• 2. Downloaded Rocket Money: It immediately spotted three unused services that were draining $70 a month. (And yes, you can try Rocket Money here if you’re ready for the same wake-up call.)
• 3. Built a 72-hour rule: No spending unless it’s been on my list for 3 days. This saved me from countless “just because” purchases.
• 4. Started a spending journal: I wrote down how every purchase made me feel—especially the shampoo. It helped me connect emotion to my money choices.

Rock Bottom Is a Foundation

The shampoo breakdown was the best thing that ever happened to me financially. I stopped pretending everything was fine. I stopped hiding from my bank account. And I started rebuilding—$6 at a time.

Now? I buy that same shampoo without blinking. Not because I make more money (though I do), but because I spend with intention and a plan.

If you’ve had your own “shampoo moment,” you’re not broken—you’re just being invited to build something stronger.

One Tiny Step You Can Take Today

Download a budgeting app like Rocket Money, use a Notion budget tracker, or just write down everything you spend this week. Don’t judge—just notice. Awareness is the first step toward freedom.

Rock bottom was just the beginning. And honestly? I’m grateful for the shampoo.