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TIL that budgeting for 'fun money' isn't just about self control, it's about math
I keep seeing people say that if you really want to save money, you should cut out all your fun expenses like eating out or hobbies. But honestly, I've been tracking my numbers for the past 6 months in Dallas, and I've noticed something. When I budgeted $150 a month for stuff like movies or takeout, I actually spent less overall because I didn't feel deprived and then binge spend. But when I tried to cut it all out, I somehow ended up spending $300 on random impulse buys. Is it just me or does giving yourself a small allowance actually work better than going cold turkey?
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ryantorres1mo ago
Isn't that just a fancy way of justifying spending though?
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Respectfully, I gotta push back on that. Calling it "justifying spending" misses the point, I think. For me, it's like the difference between eating a small candy bar every day or starving yourself for a week and then inhaling a whole cake. Math wise, if I set aside $40 for a dinner out with friends, I'm not hiding that receipt and I'm not impulse buying a $60 video game later because I feel deprived. That $150 becomes a cap, not a guilt trip, and my spreadsheet at the end of the month actually shows a lower total.
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