Scenario: I overspend on going out with friends. I enjoy going out, but I don’t like the feeling of guilt every time I spend money. How do I get over this?

What I’d do:

Totally relate to you here - I’ve felt the same way!

There are 2 ways to help conquer this feeling.

1. Take a step back and ask yourself what you want your money for.

If you want to save for the long term and you currently aren’t then this could be a source of guilt for you.

Zoom out to the big picture. Align your spending habits to your goals.

If quality time with your friends is important, then align the spending to the goal. Partying at the clubs may not be the quality time you’re looking for. Maybe you feel greater connection at dinner and shift the spending to that category?

2. Build your budget in YNAB

Instead of looking at your bank account and seeing you have money, you’ll look at your YNAB account and see what job the money has.

If you’ve got more money assigned to your going out category, then go for it!

If you don’t have the money and still want to go out, then move money from elsewhere in your budget to cover the spending.

See, budgeting isn’t restrictive…it’s just a dynamic, freeing plan for your cash!

When you think about budgeting as chains that prevent you from enjoying life, then yes it’s a burden.

But when you think of a budget like bowling bumpers for your finances, you can bounce off them and you’ll eventually achieve the goal of hitting the pins (or retiring or whatever your goal is).

Budgeting creates freedom.

It aligns your spending habits to your goals. Remove the feeling of needing to be perfect with your budget.

It’s just a plan that helps guide you.

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