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When Is It OK To Treat Yourself?

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When Is It OK To Treat Yourself

Treat yourself. We see this advice all of the time. And yet, it’s all too easy to mistake the meaning. In other words, it’s easy to go overboard with spending as you “treat yourself” which only leaves you later regretting those choices. So, when is it OK to treat yourself? I’d argue that it’s okay any time, all of the time, but only when you keep certain boundaries and considerations in mind.

What Does It Mean to Treat Yourself?

The problem with this idea really stems from the fact that marketing has taken over its meaning. With my own eyes, I’ve seen “treat yourself” (or the more popular “treat yo’self”) on signage and websites for everything from ice cream to spa retreats. Don’t get me wrong – I love ice cream and spa retreats. However, the underlying message here is “buy our thing and you will feel happier.” When we fall prey to that kind of messaging, we’re never truly satisfied.

So, it’s critical that you dig deep inside yourself to ask what it even really means to treat yourself. What actually makes you feel good? When you’re having a hard day, what type of experience lightens the load? Brainstorm the biggest list that you can think of. Keep adding to it every time that you think of something. Then, do me a favor: divide that list into three categories: free things, cheap things, and expensive things.

When is it OK to treat yourself? Anytime. However, focus on using the free and cheap means of treating yourself. Only on rare occasions will you treat yourself with the expensive things. And then, only if you truly feel like that’s the only one thing that will make you happy.

When Is It OK To Treat Yourself?

When is it OK to treat yourself? Any time – under the following conditions:

  • You understand what you really need. In other words, don’t treat loneliness with ice cream. Don’t treat work frustration with Netflix binges. Ask yourself what you really need and then meet that need.
  • You’ve explored a variety of options and chosen the best way to treat yourself in the moment.
  • If the treat costs money, you can afford it. In other words, it’s within your budget or you have discretionary funds to cover the costs. Going into debt won’t make you feel better in the long run. It’s not a way to treat yourself.

In my opinion, based on personal experience as well as my education in psychology, it’s absolutely okay to treat yourself well and often. In fact, I think you should give yourself little treats every single day. Just make sure their the right kind.

Free and Cheap Ways to Treat Yourself

Load yourself up with idea of free and cheap ways to treat yourself. Here are some of my favorites, although they’ll be different for everyone:

  • Pausing everything to snuggle with my pup.
  • Making a phone call to someone who uplifts me.
  • Sending adorable text messages to someone I care about.
  • Looking through old photos.
  • Reading a book in the middle of the afternoon.
  • Taking a nap.
  • Walking through a park, even a small one.
  • Going on a photo walk, letting my camera notice all of the little things around me.
  • Grabbing a coffee with a friend I haven’t seen in awhile.
  • Browsing online through new books available at my library. Then adding them to my “for later” shelf.
  • Listening to True Crime podcasts.
  • Watching reality TV.
  • Making myself a really cozy meal.
  • Scrolling through Instagram, which I’ve carefully curated to include only inspiring things.
  • Listening to music.
  • Crocheting or collaging.

These are all cheap or free things that I like to do. When I do them, I feel better. Therefore, I try to incorporate them into my days. I try to “treat myself” regularly to things that give me pleasure. As a result, I feel less lack in my life. And as a result of that, I don’t get tempted to “buy” experiences or items in order to feel good.

When Is It OK To Treat Yourself With Costly Things?

I believe that if you’re treating yourself daily with small things, then you’ll desire fewer costly things. But, let’s face it, sometimes the treats we both want and need do cost money. For example, I absolutely love getting spa massages. In fact, I love them so much that I work them into my quarterly budget. By figuring out in advance how to pay for that treat, I can enjoy it without any regrets.

Many people like to treat themselves with travel. Some people like to treat themselves with fancy meals. Other people enjoy treating themselves with tickets to concerts, symphonies, etc. These are all great things that you can do for yourself. And you should. Depriving yourself of the joys of life makes life less fun. Moreover, you risk going on a spending binge if you withhold those things from yourself too often.

So, when is it OK to treat yourself with these more expensive things? When you know that it’s the thing that you truly want / need plus you’ve figured out how to pay for the cost.

Keep Refining How You Treat Yourself Well

The most important thing about all of this is that you keep checking in with yourself. Regularly ask yourself if the “treat yourself” experiences are really doing what you want.

For example, sometimes I treat myself with reality TV. If I’ve worked hard, my brain is fried, and I don’t want to do anything except zone out, then that works for me. However, I can also easily go too far with this. I can watch episode after episode to the point where I feel totally numb and brainless and don’t actually feel good anymore. If you don’t feel good, it’s no longer a treat.

Similarly, some people can enjoy a terrific cocktail or two. Other people find that if they’re honest with themselves, it doesn’t feel all that good in the long run. So, that’s not the way they treat themselves.

Whether big or small, expensive or free, your self-treats should be things that really satisfy you. That’s when you’ll feel good. That’s how you’ll know when it’s OK to treat yourself.

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5 Mind-Blowing Secrets About Costco

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Mind blowing secrets about costco
Aisle in a Costco store. Costco Wholesale Corporation is the second largest retailer in United States.

Costco is everyone’s favorite warehouse store, and for good reason. They sell everything from bulk groceries to flatscreen TVs to designer clothing. It’s truly a one-stop shop and offers some of the best deals of any grocery store. Costco even loses money on a few of their items to keep customers coming back year after year.

If you want to save even more money and have a better shopping experience, here are 5 mind-blowing secrets about Costco that you need to know.


5 Mind-Blowing Secrets About Costco

The Best Deals Are in the Center of the Store

Costco doesn’t mark up their products as much as other grocery stores, so you can feel confident you’re getting a good value. For example, supermarkets usually inflate their meat prices by 30%. But Costco only marks up their meats a maximum of 15% higher than the wholesale price.

However, if you want to get the absolute best deals Costco has to offer, try to stick to the center of the store. Employees say that the items with the lowest prices are usually in the heart of the store, while the ones with the highest markups are located in the front.

Pay Attention to the Price Tags

Costco’s price tags have lots of hidden messages you should pay attention to if you want to score great deals.

If you see an asterisk on the sign, that means the item won’t be restocked, so you should load up your cart while it’s still available.

Costco also has a special pricing structure that you may not know about. The last two digits of the price indicate whether an item is on sale or not. Items ending in .99 are regular price, but ones ending in .97 are marked down.

You should also look for prices ending in .88 or .00. They’re items that the manager is trying to get rid of, so they may be an even better deal than the other sale items in the store.

Costco Offers Price Adjustments

Although Costco doesn’t price match with other retailers, they will give you a price adjustment if something you bought recently goes on sale.

Anything you’ve purchased online within the past 30 days may be eligible for a price adjustment. Just put in a request online to get the difference refunded.

Costco Has a Generous Return Policy

Costco has one of the most generous return policies in the business. They’ll usually take back any item you’re unsatisfied with and give you a full refund. There isn’t a hard time limit on returns either, so you may be able to get your cash back even if you bought an item several months ago.

One of the most mind-blowing secrets about Costco is that they’ll refund your annual membership fee if you don’t end up liking the store. Since trying out Costco is truly risk-free, you should definitely sign up and give it a shot.

Costco Loses Money on These Items

Did you know that some of Costco’s items are such a great deal that the company actually loses money on them? In 2015 the CEO said that the company sacrifices $30 to $40 million in gross margin by keeping their rotisserie chickens priced at $4.99.

The chickens are one of Costco’s most delicious and popular items. They weigh up to two pounds more than their competitors’ rotisserie chickens and are free of preservatives, MSG, and artificial flavors and colors.

Another item that Costco reportedly loses money on is the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo. The meal has remained the same price since 1985. If the price had been raised to keep up with inflation, it would be $3.65 today. So if you want to feed your family on the cheap, bring them to the Costco food court and buy a round of hot dogs.

Hopefully these 5 mind-blowing secrets about Costco will help you save money and enjoy the store even more.

Are there any surprising secrets we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments section below.

Read More

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How to Wisely Spend Saved Money

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How to Wisely Spend Saved Money

During the pandemic, the average American’s savings rate increased from 12.7% to 32.2%, so you may have a small nest egg that you’re wondering what to do with. It’s important to wisely spend saved money instead of blowing it so you get the most benefit from it. Here are some responsible things you can do with your money to improve your financial position. 

Start a Business

Although there are businesses you can start with very little or no money, having a cash infusion will open up a lot more options. 

It’s a great time to launch an online store because everyone is shopping from home due to the pandemic. You can use your savings to buy inventory or craft supplies to make your own handmade products. Any extra money you have can be spent on marketing to spread the word about your new shop.  

Commercial cleaning businesses will also be in high demand as restaurants, gyms, and salons begin to reopen. Employees may not have time for the strict cleaning protocols that are required, so companies may bring in outside help to ensure the health and safety of their customers. 

Starting a commercial cleaning business usually costs a couple thousand dollars, but could earn you $100,000 per year or more. So this is definitely a way to wisely spend saved money. 

Buy a House

Buying a house is a great way to make your money work for you. You’ll be building wealth with every housing payment instead of lining your landlord’s pockets. 

Although many people believe you need a 20% down payment saved to buy a house, there are cheaper options. FHA loans, for example, only require a down payment of 3.5%. Some conventional loan programs even allow you to put down 3%. 

If you don’t have enough money saved for closing costs, there are grants that can help you cover them. So you may be able to get into a home for much less money than you thought and start building equity. 

Make Upgrades to Your Current Home

If you already own a home, making repairs and upgrades is a way to wisely spend saved money. Improvements can increase the value of your home and reduce the amount of capital gains tax you have to pay when you sell it. 

Kitchen and bath remodels are some of the most profitable renovations. They can net you up to 182% more than what you paid for them in resale value. Replacing your home’s roof, upgrading the siding, and landscaping are also good investments. 

Invest in Your Career

Another way to wisely spend saved money is investing in your career. Going back to school and getting a master’s degree could increase your lifetime earnings by as much as $620,000. Taking a course that teaches an in-demand skill like data analysis, user interface design, or cloud computing can also help you get a better job and earn more. 

Although it’s tempting to spend your savings on tech gadgets or a vacation, wisely investing it in your career or home will pay off more in the long run.

Read More

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
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5 Supermarket Psychological Tricks That Make You Spend More

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Supermarket Psychological Tricks

We’ve all gone into the grocery store for just one or two things and come out with a full cart and a much bigger bill than intended. But why is it so hard to stick to our shopping list once we get inside the store? 

Supermarkets are set up to part you with your hard-earned cash, from the layout to the size of the shopping carts. Grocery stores are designed to get you to buy more than you really need, which is why it’s so easy to end up over budget. 

If you want to lower your food costs, you’ll need to be aware of the supermarket psychological tricks that are driving you to spend too much. Here are five of the most common tricks and some tips on how to resist them. 

5 Supermarket Psychological Tricks to Watch Out For

Scent Marketing

Have you ever walked by the bakery at a grocery store and gotten hit with the smell of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies? Some grocery chains actually pump scents into their stores to make you hungry and get you to buy more. 

And studies have shown that it works. When a Brooklyn grocery store called Net Cost started using a grapefruit scent machine in their produce department, sales jumped by 7%. Indulgent aromas like the smell of fresh baked goods are even more effective and can triple sales. 

So the next time you walk by the grocery store bakery, try to hold your nose and resist the temptation to stray from your shopping list. 

Ten for $10 Deals

One of the pricing strategies grocery stores use to get you to spend more is ten for $10 deals. Although it would be simpler to say each item costs $1, supermarkets display the discount as ten for $10 to get you to put extra items in your cart. 

Believe it or not, this is one of the supermarket psychological tricks that actually works. Studies have shown that people buy more items when the price is displayed as ten for $10 rather than one for a dollar. 

To resist this trick, make a grocery list at home and write down how many of each item you need. Then it will be easier to resist the temptation to buy higher quantities just because things are on sale. 

Snacks in the Checkout Lane

One of the most common supermarket psychological tricks is putting candy and other snacks in the checkout lane. We’re all a little hungry by the time we get done shopping, especially since we’ve been around tons of delicious food. So grocery store owners hope that we buy a couple extra Snickers bars on our way out.

To prevent yourself from falling for this one, keep a high protein snack like trail mix in your glove compartment. If a bag of chips starts calling your name, remind yourself that you have a healthier option waiting for you in the car. 

Bigger Carts

Research has shown that the size of our shopping cart has a huge effect on our food purchasing habits. In a recent study, simply doubling the size of the cart made consumers buy 40% more. 

Grocery stores have taken notice of this and have steadily increased the size of their carts over the years. Between 2009 and 2011, Whole Foods nearly doubled the capacity of their trolleys to try to boost sales.

So if you’re having trouble sticking to your grocery budget, shop with a small basket instead of an oversized cart. 

Store Layout

Last but not least, the store layout can trip you up and cause you to impulse buy. Dairy products are all the way in the back, which forces you to walk through the whole store even if you just need a carton of milk. 

Supermarkets usually advertise sales on the endcap of each aisle so you see them as you walk past. These deals may cause you to put extra items in your cart and draw you into the main aisles of the store where all the processed foods are. 

It’s hard to impulse buy milk, but easy to pick up a bag of chips you weren’t planning on getting. That’s how supermarkets get you to fill your entire cart even if you just planned on running in for one or two essentials. 

I recommend always shopping with a list and trying your best to get in and out of the store quickly. The more time you spend inside, the more temptations you’ll be exposed to. You may even want to bring along a friend who can hold you accountable and tell you to put back that container of Oreos you don’t really need. 

Resisting these supermarket psychological tricks is hard. But if you stick to your grocery list, both your wallet and waistline will be better off. 

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Recession Worries? What To Do

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On January 28, 2021, the Washington Post ran a headline asking, Is The U.S. Still In A Recession? 

And in February 2021, FoxBusiness.com ran a headline stating, US Economy Poised To See Historic Gains In 2021 After Covid. Yet another headline, this one from March 2021 on Yahoo!Finance, stating, The 2021 Recession Will Be Long And Lingering.

That’s a lot of worry in those headlines. There’s just one problem with skimming headlines like these–context is EVERYTHING. For example, the “long and lingering” recession mentioned in the Yahoo!Finance headline above? If you felt a wee bit of panic after reading that, know that this particular headline refers to AUSTRALIA’s economy.

And that is one reason why I continually advise people who worry about their finances in the troubled economic times we’re experiencing in 2021 to take a deep breath, avoid panic, and examine the facts.

Diversify Your Savings And Investing Plans

And what are those facts? Those who want to save money and secure their financial futures know or will soon learn that diversity in their economic plans is key. If you do not have a diversified financial plan for your income and debts, one that does not rely on a single factor or a small number of steady factors to maintain the status quo, you are at a disadvantage with or without a recession. What does this mean? Let’s examine the panic-inducing word “recession” first.

The National Bureau of Economic Research defines “recession” as follows:

“A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.” In the context of this definition, a recession starts after a peak of activity and ends “as the economy reaches its trough.”

And what do people do when these economic conditions hit? They shift their priorities to being more frugal. Eating in restaurants drops in a recession, the interest in buying new vehicles and other high-dollar items diminishes…people simply start trying to hang on to their money. Why?

What It Means To Be In A Recession

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics these measures are taken because consumer priority shifts in a recession to a conservation of cash. Scarcity of disposable income forces consumers to revise their indulgences, their long-term plans, etc. Manufacturers and consumer goods companies may hold off on investing in infrastructure and other areas as they wait out the recession and hope for rising sales in the future.

What should you do in anticipation of or in mitigation of a recession? The “don’t panic” advice is sound, as is all the other advice you have read on this blog about cutting corners, reducing indulgences in favor of long-term savings plans, etc. are all sound advice.

Don’t rush into brand new austerity plans for your personal finances–examine what you are doing RIGHT NOW and see how you can up your game from where you are currently at. It may make sense to revise your financial plans if you don’t really have them well thought out or organized, but if you are already following some saving advice, make sure you really need to alter that plan first–you may just need to add some tweaks.

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How to Stop Paying Money for Others

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paying money for others

Do you regularly find yourself paying money for others? There are several scenarios in which this problem might occur. However, you can deal with all of them by implementing two key tricks. And the best part about these tricks is that they don’t require the other people to make changes; it’s stuff that you can do yourself.

Scenarios When You Might Be Paying Money For Others

When are the times that you are paying money for others? Here are some common scenarios:

  • Your name is on a lease or utility bill. Therefore, you pay the bill and others are then supposed to pay their half to you. However, they don’t always pay you. As a result, you’re paying the entire cost for others.
  • The check comes at a restaurant or other shared event. Somehow the total doesn’t add up. You pay the extra to resolve the problem.
  • The check comes at a restaurant or other shared event. You say, “I’ve got this.” You do this more often than not.
  • You’ve offered to share your streaming services with others. Then you want to cancel or downgrade. However, you feel guilty for nipping their services in the bud. Therefore you just keep paying.

These are just a few of the scenarios that play out where you might find yourself paying for others. Brainstorm a list of others that apply to your own life. The more you know about the situation, the easier it’s going to be to resolve.

2 Key Things You Can Do To Stop Paying Money For Others

Each of these situations is different. However, they share a common denominator: you. You have choices. You can make changes. Therefore, it’s up to you to figure out what to do. And there are two key things that you can begin doing right now:

1. Work Through Your Own Money Issues

Many of us have psychological and emotional issues about money. We have received messages from our families and our culture that affect the way we deal with financial issues. This shows up in all sorts of ways. However, it especially shows up in our relationships. If you’re having problems paying money for others, then chances are that there is some underlying emotional stuff coming up for you that’s making it hard for you to set appropriate boundaries.

For example, if you’re the one at the table who always pays extra to settle a shared check, then dig deep to figure out why that is. How were financial conflicts handled in your family? Are you avoiding conflict because it’s a trigger for you? If so, what can you do differently in these situations to feel safe without having to foot the bill?

Conflict avoidance could be at the root of issues like covering rent for roommates as well. On the other hand, perhaps money represents security to you. Is that why you chose to be the leaseholder? If so, then what can you do differently to feel secure without people taking advantage of that?

Similarly, if you always pick up the check at a shared event, then it’s worth asking yourself why that is. What do you feel that it says about you that you pay for everyone? Is it a self-esteem issue? Is it a belief that you’re responsible? What’s going on underneath?

2. Learn to Talk About Money

This goes hand in hand with working through your own money issues. Once you know what’s going on with yourself, the other aspect is learning to properly communicate that information to others. Talking about money isn’t easy. But you can learn to do so with practice.

Start by discussing money issues with the people you find it easiest to do so with. They’ll help you strengthen your skills. You can even work with a therapist to help you learn to set boundaries and communicate them to others.

Obviously it helps if the other person will join in the conversation with you, but if all you ever reach is the goal of communicating your feelings then you’re still doing great. It will still help you stop paying for others when you don’t want to.

Additional Tips to Reduce The Problem of Paying for Others

Working on your own underlying issues, including learning better money communication, is truly the way to resolve this problem forever. But, of course, that might take some time. Here are some tips and tricks that you can implement in the meantime to minimize the problem in your life:

  • Promise yourself that you’ll always say no first if someone asks you to pay. You can always change your mind and decide to pay later if that’s a choice you consciously want to make. Saying no (or saying that you need to think about it) will help buy you some time.
  • Make use of apps like Venmo. People can instantly pay you right from their phone. Therefore, you should ask that they do so in appropriate situations such as when splitting a bill.
  • Set up weekly or monthly money meetings. Whether these are family meetings or get-togethers with roommates, this is a way to address financial issues. Sometimes just setting aside the time to talk resolves the issues. Once it becomes a habit, it will be easier for everyone.
  • Ask someone you love to hold you accountable. For example, if you always say, “we’ve got this” at the restaurant, ask your spouse to remind you not to do that. Ask for support in letting the situation unfold as it will.
  • Set a budget that includes paying for others. If you enjoy paying sometimes, then work that into your budget. Don’t exceed it. Monitor it closely.
  • Let everyone in your life know that you’re working on your personal finances. Say outright to everyone, “hey I’m just trying really hard to save money right now.” You can say this during a neutral time so that they know it’s not about them. This helps set the stage for all future conversations about money.

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