[USER]

I got a job!!
I’m so grateful that this season of unemployment is coming to an end, I lost my job due to health issues and it’s been rough finding another one.

My question now is, how much should I allow myself to splurge?

I’ve got a list of 7-8 things I’ve been wanting to do that I absolutely couldn’t justify without an income, but I also have a lot of credit card debt now and pulled money out of retirement to live on.

I’m trying to figure out how to be reasonable about my various goals.

Obviously financial stability is the first priority but even saving dramatically it’ll take a while to dig myself out of this hole. So how do I set smaller goals at the same time?

Things I want:
1. To take my disabled brother out for sushi
2. To fix my ice maker
3. To fix the screen on the porch
4. To get a more comfortable office chair
5 To get a passport

How should I allow myself to make space for things now without getting away from my goals?

[Kate]

In this climate, get a passport. $130 plus pictures. I see that as a safety / must have.
If you’re working from home, your office chair is arguably an expense for health / ergonomic comfort.

I’d prioritize this as well pending how much you use. If it’s just esthetic, move it back to the non essential.

Pending how damaged the screen, watch a YouTube video and buy a kit on amazon.

The others? Set goals. Pay off X, do Y. Like anything, if you don’t build in some wants, you won’t stick to the plan / goals.

Can you sell things to get some spare cash for these things? Can you petsit, house sit, etc for spare cash?

Run the numbers on if consolidating is better pending interest rates you’re fighting or 0% interest cards now that you’re employed again for some breathing room if you can’t just snowball and pay off things quickly.

[Frank]

Sounds like you have a money discipline problem, where you use “life events” as a financial management tool.

Stop doing your finances that way. “Something good happened” should not be a reason to spend more money and “something bad happened” should not be a reason to spend less money.

Instead, put some set amount of money aside every month for splurging on wants, and no more than that.

I suggest $50 or $100. So, you can do all those things, just not right away.

But 2-4 might not cost anything at all if you DIY them or get something from free-cycle.

[Jenny]

Personally, I’d get a passport asap…for reasons others have mentioned. Screw the icemaker…ours has been broken for 4 yrs…I just bought ice trays with lids and make ice

we go through 4 trays a day but oh well. Get a free office chair off of buy nothing groups.

Then I’d donate plasma or some other side hustle to save up for fixing the screen on the porch and no eating out until all credit cards are paid off.

We didn’t eat out for years as we paid off our mortgage. Absolutely no splurging til debts are paid off (we hunkered down for 10 yrs as we paid off our mortgage – lived like broke college students).

[Fara]

I agree that getting a passport is of the utmost importance at this time.

Regarding the office chair, do you have a “Buy Nothing” group in your area?

If you’re not sure, search on fb for one in your area and join it.

You can post there to ask for an office chair for free.

[Sheila]

Get used items/ look how to fix the screen on your porch with YouTube and go on Groupon to get a deal for sushi. I got my office chair for $40 at a thrift store and it’s practically new.

Or go on Facebook marketplace. Also, surprisingly our grocery store has good sushi made fresh by authentic chefs.

Maybe buy that and do a picnic?

Personally, as it is now a safety issue, I would prioritize the passport and get any items totally free (make post on a buy nothing group- I just donated a lot of free items to someone).

Or Download the freebie alerts app someone mentioned.

Then I would pay off debt but do the sushi- just look at your grocery store they might have good ones.

[Kim]

FB marketplace has some great gently used chairs. Just expand your mileage radius a bit and you’ll get more options

[Christina]

How much of a cc debt are we talking about? How long will it take you to pay it down with your new job?

1. Sushi can wait
2. Buy ice in a bag for $3 and put them in your ice maker dispenser
3. DIY
4. Do you work from home?
5. Passport is like a driver’s license to me, so I’d get that.

[Suzanne]

Congratulations on the new job opportunity.
Family first! Take your brother out for sushi and celebrate your new job.

Financial goals sb to snowball debt. Next priority, a passport.

Ask a neighbor to barter a screen repair for some baked goods.

Use ice trays instead of an ice maker and search local buy nothing groups or Marketplace for office chair.

[Brenda]

I would figure out my net paycheck and bills that are necessities. If possible, max my 401k. The rest gets targeted for savings.

Decide that some percentage of that savings is denoted for splurges.

Then, when you have enough for each item in that category, go for it.

I would manage to do many of these the way others have outlined. Get the app Freebie Alerts, and you’ll find a free office chair pretty quickly.

Most screen repair is incredibly simple and can be done for a few dollars in supplies.

Buy ice cube trays at Dollar Tree for now. I really like the idea of grocery store sushi and a picnic especially at this time of year.

[Cris]

Make getting a passport top priority. That will be the most valuable item you’ll ever own in your life.

The other things on the list are nice but can do without until your finances are in order.

[Nicole]

Congrats on the new job!
Ice is a want not a need. Get Ice trays from the dollar store.
Sushi: Plan for it.

Save $X monthly. Be patient and diligently watch for coupons, BYGO nights, Black Friday deals, discounts, etc for the top 3 Sushi places on your wish list.

Don’t order drinks, just water (or bring your own tea bag) Combine it as his birthday present/graduation gift/etc from you

Chair: if you WFH, this should be a priority. Again: Plan + save $X monthly.

Be patient and diligently watch for coupons, holiday furniture sales, Black Friday deals, discounts, etc.. Make a post & carefully watch your Buy Nothing Group, community groups, and Marketplace.

If you *don’t work from home… bottom of the list, and keep scavenging until it works out.

Screen: how bad is it? We replace our screens all the time, DIY. Youtube it.

Ask in groups to borrow the tools. Barter: Trade the job out is another idea- if Bob can fix your screen, you will make a dinner or clean their house or use your gifts to help them w/ something

Passport: Will you be traveling in the near future?

I don’t want to be tone deaf, but I must be out of the loop on this subject bc I see lots of people prioritizing this.

Personally this would be a want not a need for me but you obviously have reasons so I would place that accordingly on your list.

Best of luck on your journey!

[Sarah]

Relationships first! When you get your paycheck, take your brother out for sushi!

Then, prioritize the other “wants”, price them, and save a little money each month toward getting those items, one by one.

[Caro]

After your first check…
1. Passport
2. Office chair – ask in a buy nothing group first
3. Dinner with your brother
4. Other things can be done after debt repayment plan figured out / job is for sure something you can stick with

[Jodi]

If you are working from home, I would prioritize the office chair. I got a great one on amazon a few years ago.

It’s held up very well and is very comfortable. Previous chair was uncomfortable to sit in after about 2 hours.

Current one is still comfortable after a 10 hour shift. If not working from home, I would push that to a later priority.

After that, sushi with the brother.
I would check online to see if you can get a part to repair your ice maker.

We added one to our last fridge and it was pretty inexpensive.
As far as the passport goes, are you planning to travel in the next year?

If not, I feel that is an unnecessary expense.

Since you said it will take you a while to get back to where you were, that makes me assume that you won’t be spending extra money on traveling hence the passport is unnecessary.

[Michelle]

Prioritize and then schedule splurges. Might have to spread over a year.

But the higher priority must be paying off debt AND especially an emergency fund starting now.

Get the passport immediately, not a splurge.

Pay cash for splurges.

[Tamara]

I would go out to dinner to celebrate with your brother … Everything else can wait until you have more stability and have taken care of your debts and put some savings away.

[Author]

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