This year, keeping track of where my money goes has been harder than usual. Sometimes, it feels like my money just vanishes, especially with all the easy ways to buy things these days. Before I know it, I’ve spent more than I planned.
That got me thinking about a simple question whenever I look at my bank account or bills:
“What if I hadn’t spent money on this?”
It’s about taking a step back and really thinking about where my money’s going. This idea has helped me see that sometimes, I spend money on things that don’t really make my life better.
Let me share a simple way to do this:
Start by looking at things you’ve spent money on but maybe wish you hadn’t. It could be stuff you bought on a whim online, a fancy coffee you didn’t really enjoy, or even a big purchase that now feels unnecessary.
For example, after buying something online because it was on sale, I sometimes wonder, “Did I really need this?” At the time, it seemed like a good idea, but later, when I see how much I spent, I question if it was worth it.
Each time you find yourself questioning a purchase, ask, “What if I hadn’t spent money on this?” If you feel like you would have been just fine without it, that’s a clue you might want to think more carefully about similar purchases in the future.
This isn’t about feeling bad for every purchase or never treating yourself. It’s about making sure your spending actually adds something good to your life, not just more stuff or more bills.
Slowly, you’ll start to notice which spends really matter to you and which ones you can skip. And by thinking about your past spends this way, you help keep your future money for things that really count.
Being mindful about spending can really change things. It can help you save more, cut down on stress about money, and make your life happier because you’re spending on what truly matters to you.
Many times, we buy things thinking they’ll make us happy, but they don’t always. Asking ourselves if we really needed these things can help us make better choices next time.
I encourage you to give this a try. Take a look at your past spends, ask if they were really worth it, and start making more room in your life and your budget for the things that truly make you happy. It’s a simple step that can lead to a lot of good changes.