How to cope when you have had enough of money saving!

squeaky

I agree on small treats. If you remove all treats from your life you're going to make yourself miserable for sure.

And when it comes right down to it - don't call them "treats" or "indulgences"... call them REWARDS !! After all, you've been working hard on your budget and spending - so you've EARNED this.

If you really want free treats... wandering around you-tube; either music or humorous videos can be fun, or pop onto https://www.gutenberg.org and read a humorous/light book. P.G. Wodehouse is always worth a smile or three

Last thing... when I'm really feeling the pinch on my budget I deliberately screw it down absolutely as tight as I can. For a couple of weeks. THEN I relax it a bit. Basically I'm going down really hard - and then easing back up to what I can afford/manage... however low that is it just leaves me feeling that I'm still in charge IYSWIM?

MummyDrusilla

I'm with you OP. I'm a bit fed up of meal planning, researching the cheapest brands, shops and never having any leeway for the odd treat. I very much often just fancy going into the orange supermakret and throwing caution to the wind, buying all the lovely things we used to enjoy and spending whatever I like on the ever so cute clothes for my little boy.

But then I remember why we're doing it and feel guilty for even considering it!

Some good ideas here

red_devil

oh to win the lottery and be able to buy something without looking at the price tag.

CH27

Mortmain_Dreamer wrote: »

My first post on MSE! This thread is exactly the reason I joined.

I am thoroughly fed up with penny pinching at he moment. I don't mind the lack of money, in fact we seem to have a better quality of life and spend more time together as a family now.

What does get me down is the amount of time it all takes. I seem to live in my kitchen, constantly cooking to feed a very hungry family. Most of my friends seem to just throw something in the oven ready prepared, but I could never afford to do this for my hungry lot. I love cooking, but not constantly! If I'm not cooking, I'm meal planning or researching the best deal on something we need or mending clothes or fixing something else... I have to say that I am probably happier than I have ever been, I feel so content most of the time, but it is tiring.

So today is my birthday, and DH is cooking MY dinner for once...and a cake! I am so excited to have a meal put down to me and not having to clean the kitchen afterwards. And my best friend is taking me out for a meal on Saturday to celebrate. So as rubbish as it is sometimes to feel so tired from all this effort, it really makes the rewards more worth it I suppose.

It's great hearing everyone else's points of view, as I often feel quite alone in my quest to live debt free.

Happy birthday:)

I try to build treats into our budget.
I buy supermarket pizza or make my own rather use domino as son prefers.
I buy the supermarket takeaways when they are on offer as it works out much cheaper than the actual takeaway place.

taplady

Happy Birthday Mortmain Dreamer:bdaycake:I hope you enjoy your meal and have a lovely day.
Thankyou everyone for some great ideas of free or cheap treats:T

We also like the pound shop - DH gets very excited about a visit there! plus I treat myself to some chocolate and nice smellies there too.

Other things are coffee and cake with a friend - take turns to be hostess - go out for a walk somewhere pretty, a bit of fresh air works wonders for your morale - take a flask and a snack too and its a great day out. Use your library too.

Keep up the good ideas!:)

gailey_2

I probably feel like this at least once a month as everyone around me seems to be more affluent.

Hubby feels the same as the other day eldest had a party to attend and freinds parent paid for the kids meals in restaurant but the parents who stayed and dident drop and run stgayed and had a meal while hubby sat there drinking his water!

Because we have kids is not always treats for ourselves its saying no a lot to eldest over small things like we go in corner shop and shes like i want choc, drink and a comic.
Im pretty good at saying no or comprimise. unless drinks on multibuy or cheap then no. and choc just get them 17p milkybar or 20 cadburys freddy each yesterday they had large cadbury bar to share.
Also right now shops selling reduced xmas choc so kids had few weels of lindt choc bear for £1.

If we go supermarket I tell them they can have a treat as long as its reduced,

so one day was trifle
another day iced buns -25p
yesterday was reduced choc brownies
other day was croissents and reduced berries.

occasionally if down i go sainsburys coffee shop and have cappacuino.
use some davantage points in boots to treat myself.
yesterday brought kids a toy each in charity shop 50p each.

brought them few thinsg at nearly new sale but in summer go carboot with tenner give kids a quid each everyone comes back happy!

was in farmshop other day but dident buy anything kids fed the piggies said would go back on payday and treat ourselves.

we recently reduced the food budget but takes a lot of time as shop in 5-6 different shops a month
always on hunt every other day for reduced.
do farmfoods froze, lidls weekend deals and aldi super six.
we hoping in time that this might allow us odd takeaway treat but will see.

poundshops are great.

my fave cheap treats is

choc bar and magazine with coffee
watching a film
bubble bath or even bettr lush bathbomb with cheap wine.
special meal with wine and dessert for me and hubby
roast sunday lunch is a treat once a month.
pamper evening where have facemask and deep condition hair
home hairdresser but even dying my own hair gives me a boost
new cheap makeup for £5 can give myself new look.
new clothes well nearly always 2nd hand find ebay even with postage cheaper than charityshops.
sign up on freebies board.

I do get satisfaction making things and saving money so gives me happyness too.

rachbc

I often feel like this - and indeed was complaining about it to dear hubby. Imagine my shock when he gave me £100 to treat myslef to some new clothes!!! He had bought and sold a few things and made a bit of profit on them. HOWEVER - so far I have spent £4.49 ona charity shop blouse and 50p on a CS cook book!! I tried on a cardi in marks sale last night for £3 but couldn't bring myself to buy it (regretting that now - might pop back and see if its still there this evening). Its been so long since I bought new clothes for myself that I'm finding it hard to justify the expense!

madnotstupid

Another vote here for the saving bits of loose change for a reward! Bags of wonky chocolates from the pound shop are fab - you never know what you're going to get

When money's tightest I tend to avoid going near shops / ebay / amazon as much as I can - what you don't see you don't want.

HM chili Nachos and ice cream cones in front of a movie - even a late night one taped off the TV, or a dvd borrowed off a mate, is a good night in

Oh - and beer:D

lolly_896

I feel similar quite often, today i wandered into charity shops and found nothing - bought myself a can of full fat coke and some fake tan So tonight i will have a long bath, can off coke, exfoliate, fake tan and make myself feel a little better - hopefully

I also like watching youtube tutorials on makeup :S (Real guilty pleasure) then the next day i try the hints and tips ive picked up.

I spend one day a week batch cooking ready for the week normally can make the majority of "meat" meals and then the rest is easy once home from work and school!

lostinrates

Do something nice for free every now and then....e.g. This morning the garden has yielded a bit of a non traiditonal flower arrangement of ivy and berries for the sitting room. Its not as colourful as a bunch of flowers or three, but it was free, its fresh,its environmentally friendly and the tree i have been removing ivy from is grateful. Thereis a small posie of snowdrops in a shot glass in the bedroom.