Do you want to be a financially responsible person who can effectively manage finances? Or do you want to treat yourself without any restriction? Choosing one of these can be tricky, especially when you want both.
In fact, who doesn’t want to have their finances well backed up and yet enjoy having those little wishes fulfilled?
You must have often heard that to be financially responsible, you have to live by a strict budget and live within your means. While this is a fact, there are some ways to attain both above.
In this article, we will be sharing with you some of the simplest ways to be financially responsible and yet be able to treat yourself simultaneously.
1. Plan out a Budget
Of course, we are starting with the most obvious one. Plan a budget for yourself. This can help you to figure out your unavoidable monthly expenses and also if there are areas where you can improvise.
Planning out a budget is also essential when you want to become financially independent. By being financially independent, you can entirely rely on your finances while having the freedom of doing what you have slept for in the future.
2. Save, Save, and Save!
That’s right! To be financially responsible and be able to do what you desire would mean savings and savings. This can become easier if you keep a reasonable amount from your monthly income for savings: a portion of it for your nest egg and another for your “fun times.”
3. Set up Your Emergency Fund
Before preparing for all those fun activities you have planned, remember to have enough stored in your emergency fund. This is what will help you in times of uncertainty. It usually is recommended that you have at least six months of your expenses covered as your emergency savings.
4. Avoid Debt
Whether you want to be a financially responsible person or a financially independent person, you must avoid debt as much as possible. And if you are currently in debt, try to get rid of them at the earliest.
5. Track Your Expenses
Another tip for effectively spending your money is to track your expenses. You must always keep track of your debit and credit card bills and figure out if all your expenses are useful and necessary or not. This way, you can understand if you are spending money on useless things and how you can avoid doing this.
6. Use Credit Card Rewards
One smart way of spending on yourself is by using your credit card. You can earn attractive rewards and cashback when using your credit cards to buy your monthly necessities like groceries. You can pay off the balance monthly to be free from the debt burden and use the rewards for treating yourself.
7. Look for Promos and Rewards
There may be several activities you want to do and places you wish to visit. Before making plans, look for ways to get discounts and rewards. This way, you can enjoy what you like at a lower price while also, in a way, strategically saving for your next “treat” on the list.
8. Find Cheaper Alternatives
By saying look for cheaper alternatives, we mean spending less for the same. For example, you may want to treat yourself to a great meal after a hectic day. In this case, you can look up the same meal at a lower price from a local restaurant instead of opting for it from an expensive restaurant.
Another example could be going to the movies. Whether it’s the long-awaited movie or just a means of lightening up after a long and tiring week, you can always consider going to the morning show when the price of the tickets is relatively low.
9. List and Prioritize Your Wishes
Yes, not just your monthly expenses, but you should also list your wishes. Of course, we don’t mean those spur-of-the-moment wishes, but those that you have wanted for the long term. This way, you can know which ones you want more and sooner than the rest and make your plans accordingly to fulfill them.
10. Stick to Quality Over Quantity
You may want to treat yourself with all those fancy things around. When trying this with a budget, it is essential to choose quality over quantity. For instance, you may be eyeing those beautiful dresses or those designer bags that would go perfectly with your outfits. Avoid buying in bulk and compromising on the quality of the items. Instead, aim at limiting yourself to buying some of them every month.
This way, you can get the joy of buying what you like every month, with the satisfaction of not having to compromise on the quality.
11. Bring the Party to You
Another idea to have fun without spending more is by bringing the “fun” home. You may want to catch up with your family or friends, and you can invite them home, where everyone may take responsibility for bringing something home. This way, everyone can catch up and spend quality time without spending much.
12. Learn the “DIY” Method
While you may be wishing to do so many things, look for ways if you can do it yourself first. For instance, the idea of getting fit may inspire you. While getting a membership and hitting the gym is a great idea, you could also consider if jogging or exercising at home could help to accomplish your goal or not.
If you wish to treat yourself with some exciting parlor services, such as a fancy haircut, nail art you have been craving to get, or relaxing head massages and pedicures. You could try to learn to do it for yourself or invite a bunch of friends to do it for each other. This could be a great way to indulge in fun activities while saving bucks.
Treat Yourself Today, Save for Tomorrow
You must know there is nothing wrong with pampering yourself every once in a while, provided you keep your budget accordingly. It is a great idea to indulge in treating yourself now and then, and it keeps your mood uplifted, you live a life of satisfaction, and you maintain a healthy financial condition.
