No late payments no impulse spending actually stuck to my plan and yet no real sense of achievement I’ve been consistent for a while now, doing everything the right way and staying disciplined even when it’s boring or tempting to slip back into old habits but instead of feeling proud it just feels like more pressure and more responsibility.
Just more responsibility, sometimes it feels like good financial behavior goes completely unnoticed, even by yourself. There’s no instant reward no excitement, no visible moment where it feels like you won. It’s just quietly doing the right thing again and again, and somehow that almost feels harder than struggling. It makes you wonder why being responsible feels so empty sometimes, even when you know it’s the smarter path.
Stayed disciplined for months and got… nothing
byu/FoodFine4851 inFrugal
Posted by FoodFine4851
12 Comments
You still need to decouple your sense of enjoyment from spending. It may take more time. There are a lot of ways to feel excitement or reward without sacrificing your commitment to being frugal. I applaud your commitment and encourage you to keep going!
Great job! These are really hard habits to change! You gotta celebrate your wins. Find ways to celebrate yourself and be proud of yourself. I like using a little habit tracker and coloring in every day I don’t overspend or putting stickers in my planner. I also will make myself a favorite meal or get a treat at the market to celebrate things. You gotta celebrate your wins. It really helps to keep the momentum going.
Not sometimes lowkey all the time
Is this post written by AI?
“good financial behavior goes completely unnoticed” I see my bank account growing. Do you not?
i get u it is like u follow all the rules, but there is no applause, no pat on the back, just more “adulting.” itss exhausting ig we just have to deal w this lol
maybe try a new hobby or something
It’s a very long and slow process but hard work, extreme frugality, and creative thinking actually do make a big difference. I’ve spent over a decade on this and I was finally able to buy property (with my husband and I both on very low incomes.) we haven’t been on a vacation in many years, haven’t been to a restaurant in years, and can’t even afford some bean burritos at Taco Bell, but every year is a little better than the last and we are investing what money we do get into our business so someday we won’t have to live like this. It really does pay off but in these times you can’t do it the way the boomers did it. You have to get creative.
I learned to get my rush by being frugal, but it’s hard. I still give in to myself every once in a while. Otherwise it’s just unfun.
How did you get nothing? Did you not set any goals?
You have to have specific targets in mind. Little sacrifices can add up to big savings that you then use to achieve something that can be transformational. But you have to plan it and see the vision.
I mean… Did you end up not hitting a Savings goal?
Able to enjoy money planned for a holiday?
A nice meal out for your birthday?
No stress over bills?
Bigger bank account.
I like to periodically reward myself with better quality purchases, ideally in the BIFL category.