Happy and guiltfree spending
Life is not only about saving and thinking of the future. No, life is for living. You only live once, so enjoy while you can.Unfortunately, enjoying life comes with a price. Sometimes, spending lots of money can make you feel guilty.
I will give you five tips on how to spend money on yourself without feeling guilty.
Plan your spending
A common reason people don't want to spend money on themselves is that they don't have a plan in mind. A plan can mean having a budget, goal, target, or even a discussion with your partner about spending money.
We live in a consumer world where instant gratification is almost a must, and people are forced to buy and buy to fit in with society. You are tempted almost 24 hours with online ads, with online shops that are open 24 hours a day, ....
Instead of spending money on many small impulsive purchases, you'd better set money aside every week or month for a 'planned' purchase.
Set a target or goal for what you dream of buying. See this spending as a reward to yourself. Don't go for one big purchase, but treat yourself occasionally by rewarding yourself for your hard work or achievements.
This not only works motivational, but you'll enjoy your purchase much more than an ordinary thing you buy via an online app.
Note from the author: I received a nice bonus every year when I was still working. And every year, I treated myself with buying something nice. Over the years, I did buy a new Playstation, a drone, a decent camera, ...
When I put this blog online, I rewarded myself (and my wife) with a relaxing weekend out in a lovely Airbnb.
We live in a consumer world where instant gratification is almost a must, and people are forced to buy and buy to fit in with society. You are tempted almost 24 hours with online ads, with online shops that are open 24 hours a day, ....
Instead of spending money on many small impulsive purchases, you'd better set money aside every week or month for a 'planned' purchase.
Set a target or goal for what you dream of buying. See this spending as a reward to yourself. Don't go for one big purchase, but treat yourself occasionally by rewarding yourself for your hard work or achievements.
This not only works motivational, but you'll enjoy your purchase much more than an ordinary thing you buy via an online app.
Note from the author: I received a nice bonus every year when I was still working. And every year, I treated myself with buying something nice. Over the years, I did buy a new Playstation, a drone, a decent camera, ...
When I put this blog online, I rewarded myself (and my wife) with a relaxing weekend out in a lovely Airbnb.
Mindful spending
Think about what really matters to you in life, find out what your values are, your interests and passions.
When you spend money on things that align with your values, you'll get more happiness from these purchases. You increase your happiness if you spend extra on things that improve the quality of your life.
You love playing padel or pickleball? You will enjoy buying new sports shoes or a racket much more than buying new designer jeans where you already have 4 or 5 lying in your closet.
Or it's better to spend 200$ on a comfortable chair you sit on a few hours a day than on spending it on a designer bag you probably will use only a few times.
When you spend money on things that align with your values, you'll get more happiness from these purchases. You increase your happiness if you spend extra on things that improve the quality of your life.
You love playing padel or pickleball? You will enjoy buying new sports shoes or a racket much more than buying new designer jeans where you already have 4 or 5 lying in your closet.
Or it's better to spend 200$ on a comfortable chair you sit on a few hours a day than on spending it on a designer bag you probably will use only a few times.
Be grateful
Show gratitude for the things you have rather than always longing for more.
As long as your spending aligns with your values, there is no reason to feel guilty.
Don't go for the easy way and max out your credit cards; this way, you will never know the real value of something. If you have to work three weeks to afford something you want, you will see the real value of this item. It's just an ordinary item when you buy it in installments or by maxing out your credit card.
A long, long time ago, there was a Greek philosopher (I forgot his name, please leave his name in the comments below) who once said, 'In order to appreciate big things, you must first appreciate smaller things in life'.
Being grateful is not only aimed towards yourself but also towards people close to you.
You will be surprised how good it feels offering your friend a free coffee in your favorite coffee shop. Just try it and experience the feeling.
It is scientifically proven that shopping can give a burst of dopamine, but it also true that you get the same happy dopamine boost when you spend money to help others.
As they say 'Giving feels better than taking'.
As long as your spending aligns with your values, there is no reason to feel guilty.
Don't go for the easy way and max out your credit cards; this way, you will never know the real value of something. If you have to work three weeks to afford something you want, you will see the real value of this item. It's just an ordinary item when you buy it in installments or by maxing out your credit card.
A long, long time ago, there was a Greek philosopher (I forgot his name, please leave his name in the comments below) who once said, 'In order to appreciate big things, you must first appreciate smaller things in life'.
Being grateful is not only aimed towards yourself but also towards people close to you.
You will be surprised how good it feels offering your friend a free coffee in your favorite coffee shop. Just try it and experience the feeling.
It is scientifically proven that shopping can give a burst of dopamine, but it also true that you get the same happy dopamine boost when you spend money to help others.
As they say 'Giving feels better than taking'.
Spend on your future
Instead of spending money on physical things, invest in yourself.
Invest for growth in your talents, hobbies, skills, or knowledge. These will have a completely different impact on your life than material purchases.
Investing in an online course, better equipment for your hobby, or even hiring a personal coach will not only improve your life (you get less stress) but also help you in your personal development (the better you get at things, the more confident you get).
Invest for growth in your talents, hobbies, skills, or knowledge. These will have a completely different impact on your life than material purchases.
Investing in an online course, better equipment for your hobby, or even hiring a personal coach will not only improve your life (you get less stress) but also help you in your personal development (the better you get at things, the more confident you get).
Spend on experiences
It has been proven that experiences bring more happiness than material possessions.
Much better to spend money on a concert or a nice holiday than on an iPhone or a new pair of sneakers.
Material stuff gets worn out, or you lose interest in them; they can easily be replaced. Memories and experiences last a lifetime.
Note from the author: I still remember the smell of the flowers when I had a summer in the south of France years ago; I still feel the pain and the joy from a trip to the Rinjani volcano, I still feel the vibes from the first Ramones concert I went too, ...
All these can never be replaced by material purchases I made.
Much better to spend money on a concert or a nice holiday than on an iPhone or a new pair of sneakers.
Material stuff gets worn out, or you lose interest in them; they can easily be replaced. Memories and experiences last a lifetime.
Note from the author: I still remember the smell of the flowers when I had a summer in the south of France years ago; I still feel the pain and the joy from a trip to the Rinjani volcano, I still feel the vibes from the first Ramones concert I went too, ...
All these can never be replaced by material purchases I made.
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