Why “treating Yourself” Undermines the Habits You Are Trying to Develop
When you develop a new, responsible habit, it’s sometimes tempting to give it up as a reward for good behavior. The problem is, it actually undermines good behavior. Instead, try building the reward into the system itself.
As the personal finance blog First Quarter Finance explains, the idea of “treat yourself” (no matter how well-intentioned Tom and Donna’s advice may be) tells your brain that the “good” behavior you build is not real fun. the life you want to live. There are treats. It teaches you to hate the time between meals. Rather than feel like a reward for good behavior, the treat is perceived as a respite from punishment:
And please stop saying, “I will heal myself.” You might as well say, “I hate my normal life, so today I will heal myself by living the way I would like to live every day.” Sad, don’t you think?
I know you might be thinking … “But spending money on money is fun! Sometimes you just want to go crazy! What about vacation ?! “I know, I know … but I’ve read a lot about how to create the perfect life. Ruin really doesn’t matter much. Being incredibly happy in your daily life, which is important. And yes, being lean doesn’t mean giving up everything. If you want to have a pedicure every two weeks – go ahead! Just make sure it’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine. You should never stress over these costs.
This does not mean that you cannot have special, planned times when you break the rules. It simply means that these points should be part of your plan, not contradict it. A budget for “waste money ” so you can spend it responsibly. Save time wasting money when you are away from your usual routine, such as on vacation. However, when you’re just feeling overwhelmed in your day-to-day life, changing your mindset is likely to benefit you more than an expensive dinner.
Thrift only works if you let it penetrate your subconscious | First Quarter Funding via Rockstar Finance