Devin Dornbrock There’s a lot of things we can buy that are more than just the necessities. Video games, trips with friends, gourmet meals, little trinkets that just make you smile. The things you want to buy and the things you actually buy, though, are probably pretty different.
I, for one, have a hard time spending money on myself. Looking at something that costs more than $20 usually makes me pause and decide not to buy it. Somehow, I have a much easier time spending twice that on gifts for my friends. From the number of videos I’ve seen on TikTok making jokes about similar situations, I can’t be the only one.
Even after deciding to spend money on myself, it can be hard to ignore the buyer’s remorse. I have to rationalize spending money that I can comfortably use, even on things I enjoy. To get over this in preparation for tax returns, I’ve come up with a list of things that can help change your thought process and make it easier to spend money.
Budgeting for the good stuff
I’ve been told I can be hard to shop for because there aren’t a lot of things I usually want. At any given time, though, there is usually one expensive thing on my mind. So, if you really want something but don’t want to deal with rationalizing it so much, you can budget for it.
Budgeting for a large purchase is a good way to take your mind off how much it really costs. By waiting a long time for what you want, you also trick your brain into thinking the purchase is more worth it. You aren’t dropping hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on something all at once. You can feel responsible while still getting something for yourself.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to spend money on yourself for a little pick me up, check out our list of ways to spend your stimulus check! The stimulus may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save up $1,400 to buy yourself something nice.
Treat yo’ self
Think about the things you like and want. Do you collect anything? Is there something you’ve had your eye on for a while but have kept putting off for whatever reason? Money is meant to improve our lives; if we don’t use it, there is no point in even having it.
Using your money wisely can even be good for your health! Doing things like getting new clothes and good quality shoes are essential in life. They can even lower your stress levels which is proven to be better for your heart and blood pressure. You want to have better blood pressure, right? Of course you do! So go out and get yourself a new pair of kick*ss shoes!
You can also buy fun things to make your life easier. We live in a very technological age where automation is king. I can’t be the only one who wants to have a pet Roomba, right? Owning a vacuum is very handy and saves you a lot of time not having to deal with cleaning your home. A robot and vacuum in one? It’s pretty fun and very functional.
You can also get a fancy new mattress or a new kitchen appliance. I realize that it sounds a little sad to qualify those things as “fun,” but hey, I promise you they are more fun than you think. When you’re living by yourself, no one can tell you not to jump on the bed or make homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch at 2am.
If it makes you happy, it’s worth it
It’s easy to put yourself down and feel guilty over spending money, especially if there isn’t much to go around. As long as you are responsible and don’t put yourself into debt buying everything you possibly can try your best not to sweat it too much. Buying things that make you happy is not a waste of money.
Whether it’s big or small, it can feel kind of wrong to buy things for yourself; trust me, I get it. It’s a lot easier to spend money on someone else because you care about them, and they’re worth it. Well, you are too! Whether there’s a trip you really want to take or a new computer you really want, you should be able to spend your money however you want.
You don’t need to rationalize every purchase. If you have the money and you want it, then you should go for it. That isn’t to say you should spend frivolously but take a look at what you’re spending and think about how much money you’ve spent lately to make yourself happy. Regardless of where you are in life or how much money you have, you deserve nice things.
If you’re still having a hard time getting over the guilt of buying something for yourself, check out this article by Business Insider. They’ve got a list of times when it’s actually better to spend money than it is to save it.
What item have you gotten for yourself for no other reason than you wanted it?
