The Little Treat Economy ☕🛍️
Guest Blog by Money Healing Club Moderator, Melissa Jensen
You know those moments when life feels like it's playing a never-ending game of tug-of-war with your emotions? Enter the world of "little treats." It's the delightful McDonald's Diet Coke you crave when you step out, and the coffee trip that rescues your 3 p.m. office slump. Little treats can be our secret weapons against life's stressors. 💪
But here's the scoop, little treats often dance hand in hand with emotional spending. We indulge in them after conquering a mammoth project, enduring a rough day, or surviving the workweek. They're the spontaneous purchases that light up our day, seemingly harmless in the moment, yet sneakily chipping away at our wallets as well as our ability to feel lasting contentment.💸
Now, I'm not here to rain on your treat parade. Lord knows we're all teetering on the edge right now, and those little indulgences can be lifesavers. However, let's chat candidly about managing our splurges.
🌟 Prioritize Your Delights
Take a moment to consider which little treats truly set your heart aflutter 💓. If coffee isn't your true love, skip the daily Starbucks ritual and embrace the office brew. But if those lattes are your morning muse, savor them without a hint of guilt. Me? I’m obsessed with a nightly skincare ritual, so I splurge on luxe serums. Yet, if skincare's not your groove, drugstore brands are equally fabulous!
💰 Budget for Bliss
We've all heard the absurd advice about skipping lattes to buy a house, but here's the real deal: a daily latte adds up! Think back to point one: if your treat sparks joy and your wallet agrees, budget for it! Allocate a specific amount for your little luxuries each month. For me, it's $50 for coffee, added to my Starbucks and Dunkin' accounts. When that cash runs dry, so do my treat coffees. I also stash another $50 in my phone wallet for random delights like drinks, fast food, or adorable Target finds. Same rule applies: once it's gone, it's gone. Remember, saving your money is also self care.
🤏 A Dash of Moderation
Consider a tiny tweak. Ask yourself, are these things still special if I do them every day? Skip your treat once a week or every other day. It won't cramp your style too much, but it'll trim your spending.
🌈 Free Delights
Hold the phone! Little treats don't always require money! What if you rewarded yourself by listening to a favorite podcast after finishing a brutal task? Or you took a refreshing nature walk post-awful day? How about celebrating Friday with homemade cookies (and bonus: you'll have treats all week!)? Sure, it might not be the instant thrill of buying, but our brains crave a variety of dopamine and serotonin. Distract yourself and the cravings will go away. Mixing in some cost-free rewards can be just as satisfying.
🎭 Unmask Your Motivations
If your treat spending feels like it's spiraling out of control, there might be more beneath the surface. Could it be tied to money trauma or other life challenges? Joining a supportive group like the Money Healing Club can provide a safe space to discuss your journey. I joined because impulse shopping had me in a headlock, and it turned out I was using spending to cope with depression. Exploring these habits within the MHC helped me uncover my motivations and learn strategies to rein in my spending.
Little treats can be the sprinkles on life's cupcake, but with a dash of mindfulness and a dollop of budgeting, you can enjoy them guilt-free. Embrace the joy, savor the savings, and remember, you've got this! 🍰🛍️
P.S. Tired of feeling like spending is the only way to cope with stress? The 7 Day Mindful Spending Challenge will guide you in noticing and understanding those patterns, one day at a time. It’s not about cutting back—it’s about finally feeling at ease with your choices.
