Why Do People Feel Bad About Spending Money?

[cschin4]

It seems for the more frugal or savers, that they often cannot enjoy the fruits of their hard earned labor. Or, if they do, they don't allow themselves to enjoy it too much. But, why not? If you have been responsible, worked hard and planned, why not take some enjoyment. Instead of looking at something as a "waste of money" I look at it as something that enhances my life and makes it more enjoyable whether treating myself to a latte or buying a new guitar that I don't "need". Someday I want to buy a Mustang and down the road I plan to do just that when the time is right.

[ceejay74]

I think if you've been unfrugal in the past, and are trying to get yourself on track by cutting most frivolous spending, then when you feel OK making a luxury purchase, you still question your judgment. Like "have I really improved my position enough to afford this, or am I just falling back into old habits?"

I'm trying to pay off a ton of debt and then catch up on savings, but I also try and live a balanced life. I see a path out of the wilderness and I think I have room for some luxuries along the way. But once in a while I do feel guilty making that kind of purchase when I'm still in debt and still behind on savings. Luckily I can always shake it off and enjoy the purchase! As long as I see myself making progress, I realize I'm not just revisiting my irresponsible past.

[BTC]

I keep all of my money in my wallet. Women dig the bulge. Maybe I'll spend some when I settle down.

[Ima saver]

That is why I don't feel badly when we buy the type of new car we like. My husband's motto is "life is too short to drive an ugly car" However, we did not indulge in a new corvette until we were completely out of debt, including the house.

[VooDoo Chicken]

Feeling

Buying things does feel good. I just bought a Mtn Dew.....ahhh now that feels good:

[snshijuptr]

We started a Frivolous Spending account and started budgeting for "Wants", and I still have problems thinking of that money as anything other than an additional E-Fund. It helps if I plan big events like vacations. I'm just too worried about making my ambitious saving goals in my goal time. I know I can meet these goals, but only if I try really hard...I almost wish they were entirely unattainable.

[Phenomenal Woman]

For me, I still feel terribly guilty for making terrible finances choices in the past even though I paid every penny of the incredibly large debt that I incurred. It is almost like I don't trust myself with how I spend the money anymore. If I had clutched my purse string much tighter instead of squandered under pressure of another person, I would have been able to purchase a house or something equally large on my own. Now I am just trying to save up the money again in the large sum that I lost so I can do what I wish I could have done sooner and still getting over the fact that I can't change my past. (It was a traumatic past)

[segmond]

because they don't have it. we won't be feeling bad if we had $100k and spent $10. but if you have $1000 and spend $100. that's a heartache right there!

[snafu]

I avoid impulse buying [always have] but no problem with something researched and thought out. We try to do a simple cost benefit analysis to avoid buying 'regrets.'

[kork13]

I avoid impulse buying [always have] but no problem with something researched and thought out. We try to do a simple cost benefit analysis to avoid buying 'regrets.'

Definitely the way to go, though even that doesn't necessarily make it much easier to lay down the cash. For a little while now, I've been doing a bunch of research toward buying a bicycle for myself, and today I finally pulled the trigger to order it through my local bike shop. Even though I've saved the money for this kind of a "want" purchase, and know that I've done my homework to get a quality, good-value bike, it's still not easy to lay down nearly $1500 for a single purchase.

As to the "why?", I would say that it's simply because we know how much and how long we've worked to accumulate that money, so we're not always eager to let it go.

[kenyantykoon]

we all want all those things but the thing is that we do the math and see that they are going to be more of expenses than assets and decide to for go them. Like fore instance there was a time that i wanted a range rover but after some time, realised that i would rather invest that cash(in the event i get it) and when i can free up some cash i rent one for the week end. It is not that we dont want to enjoy life, it is just that we are more in tune with the consequences of our actions than most

[TheStreetCeo]

I just plain ol' don't like spending money. My wife just called me and asked if I thought an $8 toy for our 8 month old son to play with on our flight tomorrow is a good idea. After some quick thought i tallied our already $2500.00 vacation to Vegas and said "no".
I later texted her and said go ahead, it will be worth it to keep him busy.
With thta said, i'm still thinking about that $8.
it kind of sucks being like this ALL the time. I wish i could spend money like some of my firends do if only for a weekend.

[bjl584]

I don't know. I often find myself unwilling to part with money even when I know I can afford something.

[jasonnoguchi]

You only feel bad about spending money when you are not sure if spending that money puts you into trouble financially. If you have a budget and stick to it, you will be spending what you intended to spend in the first place and would only need to feel bad when you spend outside of the budget. Have a budget, stick to it and enjoy spending money!