Whenever something costs more than $10 I have to really think about if I want it. And when it comes to clothes, if something isn’t on sale or marked down in any way, I really hesitate before I purchase it. I tend to feel unreasonably stressed and guilty when I buy most things, even something as simple as a $10 lunch at work.
I’ve been this way for about as long as I can remember! But recently, I found myself buying things that were full-price or booking trips that cost hundreds of dollars without feeling as guilty or stressed about it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a fairly cheap person and it’s still not super easy for me to spend money on things but I think I’ve definitely gotten better at spending over the past few years.
Here are some of my best tips for spending money without feeling guilty and stressed.
Figure out what YOU believe is worth your money
This is is the big one! Once you realize what you personally feel best about spending money on, it’ll be a lot easier for you to make purchases that you feel really good about and likely won’t regret.
Do you feel best when you invest in a pair of jeans you know you’ll wear a lot of? Are you happiest buying cheap, fashion jewelry in bulk? Do you open your wallet for travel no matter what? Does buying lunch every day lift a weight off your shoulders?
Look over your past purchases and think about how they made you feel. Use these feelings to figure out what you think is truly worth your cash. And don’t worry if what you like spending on feels silly or dumb, it’s valid! What you like is valid!
For me, I’ve found that spending money on travel always feels worth it and so does buying clothing I know I’ll wear often (only when it’s on sale or under $50, though) (also, usually this applies to polka-dot clothing only). I also feel pretty good about spending money on my cats and on beauty products I often repurchase because they are a staple (like my Maybelline Fit Me foundation! Holy grail!).
Also figure out what you don’t feel super great about buying
Aside from true essentials, what are some things you really hate spending money on? What are things that don’t exactly seem worth their price tag to you?
This can also be a bit kind of tangential or specific. For example, I feel good about spending money food BUT I don’t feel good about dining out when I’m alone or spending cash on food that I don’t actually want to eat or that I know I will not like (ie: Vietnamese food, giant ice-cream creations that look better on Instagram than they taste in real life).
Once you realize things you truly don’t enjoy spending money on, you might feel more inclined to avoid buying certain things or to say no to more plans.
For example, if you truly hate spending money on movie tickets and realize you don’t enjoy the whole experience that much, you might not say yes to seeing films with friends every weekend. Or you might just only see films when there are cheaper tickets or it’s a matinee. Or if you hate spending money at fancy restaurants, you might convince your friends to eat at more affordable places instead of endless-mimosa brunches.
Keep better track of the money you currently have and what you make to determine the amount of additional spending you’re comfortable with
Once you’re aware of how much you have in savings and how much you make each month, you might realize that you can spend some “fun” money and still be OK. You could also realize that perhaps you should cut back a little bit.
Either way, figuring out how much you have and how much you can spend each month so you feel comfortable (comfortable is the key) is the goal.
For example, if you want to save a certain amount each month, take your income into account and what you spend on essentials (ie: rent, food, transportation), how much do you have left to spend? This process helped me realize that I’m comfortable spending a little more each month than what I had been spending before and so I was able to make more purchases without feeling guilty. Plus, I am still squirreling away a chunk of my paycheck each month.
Read More: 12 Money Saving Shopping Tips
Determine things you’d like to save for, but also consider how fast you ought to be saving for these things, no need to rush
Using “I’m saving for X” is a reasonable and fair reason not to spend money, it’s one I use often. But sometimes the things you’re saving for might not require you put away so much money so quickly. For example, if you want to save to travel to Japan for a week in five years and you save $100 from each paycheck, perhaps you’re saving too much too soon.
I’m not telling you to stop saving money or to lower your goals, but I am saying that maybe you can live in the moment a little bit more. I mean, a part of me is like “Wow, better start saving for a house and a wedding!” Those are both things I will not have for YEARS and YEARS even though I know both will be expensive. So I can relax a little bit. I can still save, but I can have a little more fun with my money at the moment. You get what I mean?
It’s great to save and set goals, but don’t force yourself to cut out extra spending entirely just because you have a goal in mind. Calculate if your goals have some wiggle room and let yourself spend a little while you save.
Be reasonable … stick to your goals but let yourself have a little bit of fun and spend on what you enjoy. Remember to use some of your money instead of shoving it all away in your bank account. No need to go rogue, just remember that saving money is not a sprint, it’s more of a slow, even-paced jog.
And keep track of your passive spending, too
If you have anything that automatically charges to your card each month like a beauty box, Netflix subscription, meal plan, Spotify membership, etc … keep track of it!
Set reminders each month/the time the subscription is set to renew so you remember to reflect on whether or not these charges are still worth it to you. You can also use this opportunity to see if there are any new discount codes or deals you can take advantage of!
Passive spending that is useless or not worth it to you is an easy way to tie spending money to guilt and stress. So stay ahead of any recurring charges so you can avoid any purchases you don’t deem worth your cash.
Read More: 11 of the best ways I save money post-grad
Let those around you know where you stand when it comes to spending money on certain things
Money doesn’t need to be so freakin taboo! Be honest with people close to you. If someone invites you to something you really don’t want to spend money on, say it. Say no! Propose something else! Be honest!
If you’d prefer to do a cheaper alternative to something, suggest it. You don’t need to become the “cheap friend who says no to everything” but establish your boundaries and ~be real~. No need to feel guilty about spending a bunch of money because you’re scared of FOMO or saying no to something. Declining an invitation because of your budget or even comfortability level is not a bad idea and it might not be easy to do, but it’s OK to do it!
And lastly, do your research before making purchases, even if that research is checking reviews or looking for a coupon
The best way for me to not feel guilty about a purchase is if I know I put time and thought into it. For example, before I buy a product I will swatch it in the store, watch reviews about it, and see if it ever goes on sale. If I book a trip, I’ll fudge with dates and flight times to see when the most affordable time to go is. Before I make a plan, I’ll check happy hour deals or Groupons.
Even if I don’t get a killer deal, I’ll still book a trip or buy a lip gloss. But I always feel best knowing I did just about everything I could before spending my cash. It leads me to feel way less guilty about any purchase when I know I really looked around to see if I was making the smartest money-move possible, even if it’s in regards to something as small as a pair of flip flops.
