You work so hard to earn money and may tend to deprive yourself out of the fear of what will happen if you don’t have money.
Fear is a great motivator to keep working or do business but you are not really doing yourself a favour if you do not use some of this money to have some fun.
You must budget for some fun and this is why
You Need Some Me Time
If all your money is going towards food, rent and transport every month or paying off debt and other unexpected expenditures like car repairs or a relative’s medical bills, you’ll begin to get frustrated or even resentful. You need a time out, so take one.
This does not mean go on a spending binge and throw all your hard work out the window. Having fun does not have to mean be reckless and careless with your money just to compensate for how deprived you’ve been feeling working all the time. A spending binge will set you back far more than treating yourself occasionally, so go for the occasional time out.
The time out may be as simple as buying that pair of shoes you were admiring in the shop window, taking your partner or children out for a fun day or inviting friends over for some drinks and a braai. Just remember to keep those fun diversions within your spending limits and the amounts set aside for fun in your budget.
The budget as you know is a simple tool that helps you keep tabs on the money you have or do not have. If you have placed fun things in the budget you will be able to make realistic choices about what kind of fun your money can pay for. Also, if you have a category in your budget set up for fun things, you will not deep into other monies.
Remember, any time you change amounts you will see a corresponding change in your finances for other things. So stick to the budget.
Your Mental Health Matters
Your mental health matters so take a break because a few moments of relaxation are really important- if you do not, all your previous hard work would have been for naught.
Besides your mental your physical health is the most important thing so consider what would happen if you didn’t take that occasional time out from the grind. Of course, the repercussions may be different for different age groups and will depend on what you consider fun. In any case, no matter your age and stamina, if you do not take out time for fun you will eventually be so exhausted and of no use to anyone.
Plan that fun day and enjoy it on occasion but don’t make it one you will regret, mentally physically and financially. Being mentally and physically rested will inadvertently help with your financial situation because you are able to think clearly and rationally. Although be aware that sometimes being a healthier person doesn’t equate to healthier finances too. However, if you do not have your health, you do not have anything.
