[Yajaira]

I second allocating some of that $100 for yourself. I would start off small at $20 and send the other $80 to the cards. Get those cards paid down and free up some money to be able to give yourself a bit more free money (still within reason though.) Like say you pay off a card with a $50 minimum. Bump up your free money to $30 and snowball the other $40 into your debt. Rinse and repeat until you’ve found yourself at a good level

We didn’t have budgeted fun money when we were in the heavy part of our debt pay off and getting rid of our credit cards and car payment but once those were all paid off, I started budgeting in fun money.

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[Sarah]

You’re right — you have two jobs and you work hard! Do you have “fun money” built into your budget?

We found that even $20 to spend on whatever we wanted helped alleviate SO much of that spending guilt. Over the summer we increased it and we’ve actually put more in savings and towards debt! Just make sure it’s only the amount you’ve set — I got pre-paid debit cards from my bank for me and my husband. I reload them every pay period with whatever we’ve budgeted.

And whatever isn’t used one pay period just rolls into the next.

Maybe something like that would help?

[Angie]

I understand your struggle. My best advise is short-term sacrifices pay off big time in the long run and will free up more money for doing the things you want or like.

Reducing your debt as early as possible will liberate you so much.

Maybe switch from a splurge once per week to one per month so you can find balance.

[Ashley]

You need to have something for fun, or else you’ll feel deprived. Everything in moderation!

You could also do a reward system for yourself, do a no spend challenge and reward yourself with a treat?

I did Noom for weight loss and they were all about this, if you starve yourself for too long, you’re definitely going to binge! Small treats and rewards helps it be sustainable.

[Author]

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