Here's Everything You Need To Know About The Viral Financial Cleanse
Struggling to save, drowning in subscriptions, or constantly wondering where the hell your money went? You’re not alone—and TikTok might just have the answer. In a world where one in three adults doesn’t have £500 saved for an emergency, a 30-day money challenge might sound gimmicky. But Seema Sheth’s now-viral “Financial Cleanse” is different.
Sheth—a TikToker, financial educator, and Federal Reserve Bank employee—launched the cleanse on her channel @bobeema in 2023, offering bite-sized, relatable advice in daily videos under three minutes. Her goal? To help viewers “live in harmony with their money” by reshaping how they think about spending, saving, and planning—without the guilt trip.
And it’s working.
Meet Amy, and the Cleanse That Changed Her Outlook
Take Amy, a 27-year-old graphic designer juggling rent, student loans, and the odd impulse Zara shop. “I thought budgeting was just for people making six figures,” she says. “But Seema’s tone felt real. Like she was talking to someone just like me.”
By Day 5, Amy had cancelled two unused subscriptions and started automating her savings. By Day 30, she knew exactly what she earned, owed, and needed to stash away monthly to afford her dream of traveling Japan within three years.
The foundation of the cleanse is the 50/30/20 rule:
-
50% for essentials
-
30% for wants
-
20% for saving or debt repayment
Simple—but not easy. That’s where the cleanse breaks it all down, one task at a time.
How the Cleanse Works
The cleanse begins with a simple but crucial task: auditing your income and categorizing your expenses. Sheth encourages viewers to break spending into three main buckets—fixed costs like rent, utilities, and insurance; variable costs such as groceries and transport; and discretionary spending, which includes non-essentials like takeout, clothing, and streaming subscriptions.
Once you've mapped out where your money is going, the next step is to compare those figures against your income. If you're spending too much in certain areas, Sheth offers grounded, practical suggestions for cutting back. That might mean reframing purchases as a percentage of your take-home pay to better understand their impact, ensuring your housing costs stay below 30% of your income, or simply shopping around for better deals—or going without certain extras altogether.
What makes Sheth’s advice resonate is her non-judgmental tone. “This isn’t about cutting out all joy,” she reminds viewers. “It’s about being intentional.” That mindset shift—from restriction to conscious choice—is at the heart of her cleanse.
Tackle Debt and Build Your Safety Net
Sheth’s advice doesn’t stop at simple budgeting. A big part of the 30-day financial cleanse is about confronting debt head-on and creating a cushion for when life throws you curveballs. She emphasizes starting with the most expensive debts first—the ones racking up the highest interest. By prioritizing these, you can reduce long-term financial strain and free up cash flow sooner.
Another crucial step is automation. Automating payments helps you avoid missed deadlines and late fees, and creates a steady rhythm in your finances. Sheth also suggests something surprisingly old-school but effective: create a physical or digital “bill folder.” Keep all your payment reminders, invoices, and statements in one visible place. That way, your financial obligations stay front-of-mind rather than buried in unopened emails or forgotten apps.
As for building a safety net, Sheth encourages viewers to aim for an emergency fund that covers three to six months of essential living expenses. For many, that number feels daunting—but she’s quick to point out that perfection isn’t the goal. Start with one month. Build it gradually. Momentum, she says, matters more than speed.
Turn Dreams into Monthly Goals
Once you've begun tackling debt and built a financial buffer, Sheth’s cleanse shifts toward the long game—transforming abstract goals into measurable monthly targets. Start by writing down what you want your future to look like. Whether it’s buying your first home, taking a dream holiday, or retiring early, the key is turning those big dreams into concrete numbers.
Sheth recommends splitting your goals into four timeframes: short-term (within 1–2 years), mid-term (within 5 years), long-term (within 10 years), and very long-term (20 years or more). Then, take each goal and divide its total estimated cost by the number of months in that timeframe. This gives you a clear, monthly saving target—and more importantly, shows you what’s realistic.
When you put your goals in numbers, you gain clarity. Saving for a £20,000 deposit might feel overwhelming until you realise it’s £335 a month over five years. Suddenly, the future doesn’t seem so far away.
🔍 Curious how celebrity estates are managed? Don’t miss our deep dive into Paris Jackson’s $150M net worth and complex inheritance from her father, Michael Jackson.
People Also Ask
What if I can’t follow the 50/30/20 rule exactly?
That’s okay. The percentages are flexible. Focus on covering essentials first, then work toward reducing wants and boosting savings over time—even saving 5% monthly is progress.
Should I still save if I have debt?
Yes—just split the 20%. Pay down high-interest debts while building an emergency fund in parallel. It prevents falling deeper into debt later.
How do I raise my credit score?
Pay on time, keep your credit utilization below 30%, and check your credit report for errors. Sheth also suggests automating bills to avoid slip-ups.
Is it okay for couples to have separate bank accounts?
Yes, and Sheth encourages it. Separate accounts can help preserve autonomy and reduce conflict, especially when paired with shared goals and regular check-ins.
The Bottom Line: One Day, One Habit, One Big Change
There’s no shortage of bad money advice on social media. But Seema Sheth’s 30-Day Financial Cleanse cuts through the noise with honesty, clarity, and empathy. You won’t find overnight riches or lottery-style miracles here—just smart habits, better awareness, and a future that feels a little more in control.
You don’t need to be rich. You just need to start.
One day at a time. One habit at a time. You’ve got this.
