Staying Motivated While on a Budget

Regardless of whether you have just started budgeting, or have been budgeting for a while, staying motivated to make and stick with a budget month in and month out can be tricky.  Let’s be honest, putting self-imposed limits on our own spending isn’t always as glamorous as the vacations we see people taking and posting on social media. Not to mention we live in a society that is filled with temptations and surrounded by impulse purchase items that are strategically placed to part us with our hard earned money. achieving success

We always start budgeting with the best of intentions – securing our financial future. But keeping the big picture in mind can be difficult. Let’s look at some strategies that you can use to stay motivated to stick with that budget.

Track your Progress:

Paying off debt? Saving for a vacation? Paying off your mortgage early? There are plenty of printable charts and graphs that are available online that you can use as a visual reminder of just how far you’ve come, which in turn will motivate you to go even further.

Take it a step further and put that chart or graph somewhere where you will see it everyday. Watching the debt that you owe go down or your savings go up is a great reminder as to why you started budgeting in the first place and will motivate you to stick with it.

 

Treat Yourself Every Once in Awhile:

Now I’m not talking about going out and blowing the bank, you do want to keep it modest, but set an increment where once you’ve reached it you’ll give yourself permission to go out and treat yourself to something nice. So maybe after every $1000 of debt that gets paid off, you can pick up your favorite specialty coffee or treat yourself to a nicer cut of meat on your next grocery trip. The key here is that no matter what modest treat you choose, you are rewarding yourself for a job well done.

Read Some Financial Blogs, Watch Financial Vlogs, or Listen to Some Financial Podcasts:

Even though my husband and I have finished paying off all of our consumer debts and student loans, we still listen to Dave Ramsey podcasts to help keep us on track. There’s nothing I’ve found more motivating than listening to hard working people scream at the top of their lungs, “WE”RE DEBT FREE!!” While cooking dinner, I’ll also hop onto YouTube and see what my favorite financial YouTubers are up to and what financial progress they are making.

When trying to stay motivated, I’ve found that it always helps to surround yourself with like minded people who are also working diligently at either paying off debt or saving for their future. If you can’t find people in your everyday life who are motivated and sticking with a budget, we are lucky in this day and age to have such a great virtual community of financially like minded people that can motivate us.

Create a Vision Board:

Remind yourself of your budgeting why by creating a vision board of what your financial goal looks like. If you are saving up for a big vacation, find pictures of your destination and create a collage and post it somewhere where you’re going to see it on a regular basis. If you’re looking to pay off debt, create a collage of what your debt free future looks like. Having a visual reminder will help you keep the bigger picture in mind as you work towards reaching that goal.

Don’t Get Down on Yourself:

We are all going to have setbacks. Life is going to happen and sometimes that will mean that you have to go over budget or dip into that savings that you’ve worked hard to build. The important thing is that you don’t let it get you down to the point where you feel like giving up altogether. Yes it’s painful when you are faced with expenses that you weren’t anticipating, but don’t let that stop you from keeping your head up. Keep moving forward knowing that it will get better and that the end goal is still achievable, even with the occasional setback.

Your Turn!

  • How do you keep yourself motivated while on a budget?
3 Comments
  1. Have others sponsor your experiences or conveniences by requesting them to gift services and experiences that you enjoy. This way you get what you want for free. there are sites like www.giftvolo.com that allow users to create list of favorite merchants or Wishlist of specific services from specific merchants and share with friends and family so that loved ones only gift something that you desire. You can have them gift you a spa day or salon treatment or carpet cleaning or maid service or auto detailing service or pet grooming service. The idea is you get to experience for free and still remain on budget.

  2. Looks like you forgot to link to the debtfreecharts.com website when using the logo up there in your images 😉

  3. Great article! Staying motivated while on a budget can be a challenge, but it’s essential to achieve your financial goals. One way to stay motivated is to break down your goals into smaller, more achievable milestones. Celebrating small successes along the way can help you stay on track and motivated. Another helpful tip is to find accountability partners, such as friends or family members, who can support you in your budgeting journey. Finally, it’s important to remind yourself of the benefits of budgeting, such as reducing financial stress and achieving long-term financial freedom. By focusing on these benefits and using motivational strategies, you can stay motivated and committed to your budgeting goals.

Leave a Reply