I think many people feel that putting themselves on a budget will restrict their lifestyle and keep them from being able to spend money on the things they like to have and do. My experience has been the opposite: creating a budget has actually felt quite freeing.
Before, whenever I wanted to spend money impulsively, I always hesitated, thinking, “But we have debt. But we should save more. But I really shouldn’t.” If I bought it anyway, sometimes I felt guilty, even if it was something that I believed added value or functionality to our lives.
I don’t shop a lot, but my weakness is second-hand stores. How can you pass up a good bargain! I have gotten a lot better, mainly in the interest of not bringing more stuff into my house. But even when making small purchases, a little voice in the back of my mind would say, “Is this really a good idea?” Often times, it was a good idea. But it was like I bought it despite myself, despite that miserly little voice on my shoulder making me question every time I handed over the debit card.
Creating a budget and designating amounts for my cash envelopes has freed up those questions for those variable purchases, especially the ones I might make on the fly because it’s “too good a deal to pass up”. It’s allowed me to treat myself occasionally because, Hey, it’s my blow money! It’s helped me to spend money consciously, which takes away the guilt of impulse buys.
It also eliminates the question for unexpected expenses: Do we have the money for this? Because I’ve created a budget, I know exactly where the money will need to come from, be it savings, debt elimination, or simply another envelope.
This month, I decided to put a massage for myself into the budget. It’s definitely a splurge, but hey — sometimes you gotta live a little. Yes, it’s a treat for myself for us reaching our goal of eliminating our (first) debt snowball; but I’ve also been feeling under the weather (hence the dearth of posts lately)(and yes, mom, I wasted my time going went to the doctor) and am getting rather desperate trying to get over this slump already.
If we weren’t focusing on getting out of debt and making great strides to achieve our goals, I probably wouldn’t be able to justify the expense of a massage. As it is, knowing exactly how this expense will affect our financial goals has actually freed me to splurge on myself.
If I had to reach for the credit card to pay for it…? That would be another story. Thankfully, we are not in that position.
Related posts:
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Did you know that there are two massage schools near your house? They each have student clinics, and massages there are HALF of what you would pay at a spa. It would be a two-for-one in your budget! It’s definitely my guilty pleasure, but like Jerilyn said, it really is a good health tool as well.
[Reply]
jolyn Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Where, exactly? A friend of mine has a neighbor who does them out of her house for $60, that’s who I was planning on going to.
[Reply]
I have two categories in my budget that is like the grease the keep the wheels turning 1) my blow money, 2) wife’s blow money. It is only $20 a month for each of us, but it is ours to spend however we want!
[Reply]
jolyn Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Ah, yes. The blow money. I think it’s essential. Funny, we’ve only started having it recently! And we’ve been married 15 years. We should have started it years ago.
[Reply]
I totally agree! Now that I have a budget and cash envelopes, it’s easier for me to spend on (tiny) splurges, like if we are too tired to cook and want to order some cheap Chinese food. Also, we really wanted to go into Washington D.C. (about a 6 hour drive from where we live) after New Year’s to visit friends and announce our engagement. Before, I would have put in on a credit card and felt terrible about it. Now, I just took money that I would have put toward an EXTRA debt payment, and we went on our trip debt free! It’s amazing!
[Reply]
Good for you! I don’t know that I feel we have more money now, but I feel like we make better choices, and we talk through purchases or plans with the kids etc, and the guilt isn’t there anymore. We are more aware of where the money is coming from, and what our goals are. It’s nice, and “freeing” does seem like a good word.
[Reply]
A massage is a great “feel better” tool as well as a great health tool.
And for the record, I rarely encourage anyone to go to a doctor; but when strep is a possibility, it’s time to check it out.
[Reply]
I totally agree having a budget has mad eme stop spending uneccesarily therfore i havemore money in my pocket at the end of themnth, this is helping me save and pay off debt so much better than before
[Reply]
Go get your massage. You deserve it! You reached your first debt snowball and you are holding it down by yourself while dear hubby is deployed. I know how that is and you definitely have to take care of yourself so that you don’t get run down.
By the way, I’ve found budgeting to be freeing too. I know it sounds crazy, but it seems like we actually have more money for things now…
[Reply]