The truth is that you work hard for your money, so it's only fair that you get to reward yourself every now and then, right? Well yes! You definitely deserve to treat yourself and have fun. What girl doesn't love to look good, take nice trips, and enjoy life?!
However, when it comes to rewards and spending money, you want to make sure you are doing it the right way by spending money wisely and not derailing your financial goals or blowing your budget.
Tips on budgeting when rewarding yourself
So, how do you reward yourself and still stay on top of those goals you set? Planning accordingly will prevent you from overspending and keep you on track. Let's get into some key tips!
1. Budget your fun money
All work and no play is never any fun, especially if you are working so hard to earn your money. That being said, working hard and playing excessively can be detrimental when it comes to your finances.
If you are always thinking, "I'm going to get a reward for myself," and feel like you deserve something constantly, it can lead to overspending. This is the biggest culprit for the derailment of many financial goals.
You can avoid this by building your rewards A.K.A your fun money into your monthly budget (once all your essentials have been met in each budget cycle).
This way you don't find yourself feeling like your budget is a punishment because you haven't given yourself any wiggle room.
If you want to purchase something that costs more than your monthly fun money allocation, then plan to save part of your fun money over a few months towards the purchase you want to make. This will result in guilt-free spending, and your financial goals will remain intact.
If you have debt, a great approach is to reward yourself in a small way each time you pay off a chunk of money.
2. If you don't need to spend it, save it
Ever find yourself not wanting or needing to reward yourself all the time? Take that money you have from your budget and repurpose it towards your financial goals.
Put it in your savings or investment account or be charitable. Just because you have put aside money in your budget towards a reward doesn't mean you need to spend it all if you don't really have to.
3. Don't get caught up in comparison, be grateful for what you have
Don't feel like you need to spend money to impress anyone. You've probably heard the saying that comparison is the thief of joy and it really is.
Don't spend money you don't need to spend to impress anyone; otherwise, you'll find yourself competing with them and buying things you don't like or need, and they probably won't even notice (and they won't be helping you pay the bills).
Budget-friendly ways to reward yourself
Do you ever think, "I'm going to get a reward for myself," then get caught up in feeling guilty afterward? It's actually important to reward yourself when accomplishing goals.
Doing so makes you happy and can help motivate you to do more. Check out our ideas to treat yourself within your budget!
1. Reward yourself with the things that matter to you
It's important to ensure that you are spending your money on things & experiences that you really want / like and are of value to you as you reward yourself.
Why? Because the more in-tune you are with spending money on the things you value, the less likely you are to feel discontentment, which can lead to overspending.
For example, if you value spending time with loved ones, your fun money can go towards experiences with them, e.g., dinners, movies, etc.
Keep in mind that you don't need to spend money to have a good time. Cue the Netflix and homemade popcorn! You are very likely to find yourself feeling happy, grateful, and content.
However, if you spend your fun money on things you don't really care about, you might end up spending more and more to find that the next best thing doesn't exist because you are not spending your money on what you truly value. You'll still find yourself wishing for the experiences you want to have with your loved ones.
2. Reward yourself for free
As I mentioned above, rewards don't always have to be about spending money. You can reward yourself for free in so many ways!
Examples include finding free entertainment (free museum days and events in your city), having potluck nights in with your friends and family, using any loyalty or rewards points you have accumulated instead of spending cash, etc.
3. Reward yourself with some me-time
One of the best ways to reward yourself is some quality "me-time"! Taking time to do some self-care or try a hobby you've always wanted to do is a great way to treat yourself without spending a bunch of money.
There are many ways to pamper yourself on a budget, such as taking a bubble bath, reading a book, or simply taking time out to relax.
There are also many budget-friendly hobbies to start! Painting, crafting, or even writing a novel are fun inexpensive ways to reward yourself. The important thing is to do something you enjoy with the time you take for yourself.
4. Take a staycation
One of the ultimate ways to reward yourself is to take a staycation. Not only is a staycation less expensive than a traditional vacation it can be more relaxing too.
For instance, not having to hustle through the airport or drive long distances can take quite a bit of stress out of vacationing. Touring your hometown can be quite fun too!
There are also so many great things to do during a staycation that will have you feeling relaxed and refreshed.
For example, you could spend time gardening, going hiking, or visiting a park. However, if you decide to treat yourself to a vacation, be sure to reduce costs by using your cashback rewards and create a vacation budget to prevent overspending.
5. Take a day to do nothing
We live in a nonstop world, and one of the best ways to reward yourself is to take a day and do absolutely nothing. Give yourself permission to be "lazy." Watch movies, sunbathe in the backyard, or nap all day.
You may even take advantage of a digital detox and give yourself a complete break from the outside world, which can reduce stress. You'd be surprised at how much better you feel after taking a do-nothing day.
Try these budget-friendly ways to reward yourself
When you ask yourself, "What's a good reward for me?" be sure to determine if it's going to really make you happy. Again, some of the best ways to reward yourself can be free!
Finding ways to treat yourself that don't blow your budget can help motivate you to achieve more tasks.
One of the biggest rewards you can give yourself is learning how to become financially successful. You can learn how to achieve success with our completely FREE financial courses and worksheets!