Free up Space for “bullshit” in Your Budget
You may have started 2020 with a carefully crafted and flawless budget that will ensure your financial success. You’ve come up with a few ways to save on your monthly bills, or maybe how to save some extra money for a rainy day.
So what budget have you spent on entertainment ? You know, things that don’t really fall into any category with a reasonable budget, but still end up in your shopping cart?
If you are not planning the slightest frivolity, you may have set your budget to fail.
This is a common relationship that gets in the way of many budgets: you make it so tight that any deviation from the plan feels like a failure. This is why you need to set up a small bribery fund. For what? It honestly doesn’t matter.
Here’s how Anna Marquardt reported it in a recent tweet, explaining that she has set a $ 200 monthly limit on whatever the hell she wants.
In her conversation, she defines “Online Nonsense” as “clothes, accessories, excess beauty products, and generally anything I really don’t need.” She gives an example of buying a new moisturizer that she probably uses on a daily basis, compared to buying new eyeshadow, which would not be as helpful. Only the latter would be considered nonsense.
If you think $ 200 is too much for a “casual fun” budget line, rest assured that you can choose any amount that suits your budget. Money may not be enough, but you can find $ 10 or $ 20 in your budget for something that will make you happy.
Nor does this rule mean you have carte blanche for random whims, as long as you stick to the amount that suits you. It’s not like that at all. You should still consider every purchase before making it, especially those online add-ons that can quickly end up in your shopping cart.
What a bribery foundation really does is remove the blame for a tight budget and give you some freedom. At its best, it will help you prioritize your budget. And at least it keeps you in check so you don’t overdo it and wonder where you went wrong.