Is it normal to feel guilty for spending money?
I feel upset whenever I spend money on things that are not absolutely necessary. I am a postgrad living in student hall with catered dining and only have to cook when the canteen doesn't offer dinner in the weekend.
It causes me lots of anxiety to order snacks including cup noodles from Amazon as they tend to be sold in packs that cost over £10, like I can procrastinate in front of the screen for hours over how to make up a sum total of less than £30. Even so, I am a frequent buyer on Amazon since you always need enough food in your flat for cooking in the weekend.
My parents often tell me to do travels saying they would pay for me, but I seldom because I feel travels aren't necessary. The last time I traveled was already in October 2022 and it's only a day trip.
Do you have the same kind of feelings as I do?
It causes me lots of anxiety to order snacks including cup noodles from Amazon as they tend to be sold in packs that cost over £10, like I can procrastinate in front of the screen for hours over how to make up a sum total of less than £30. Even so, I am a frequent buyer on Amazon since you always need enough food in your flat for cooking in the weekend.
My parents often tell me to do travels saying they would pay for me, but I seldom because I feel travels aren't necessary. The last time I traveled was already in October 2022 and it's only a day trip.
Do you have the same kind of feelings as I do?
Budgeting is a delicate balance as you need to live within your means, save a bit but also enjoy spending the money you have and not get stressed by minor purchases. I save a set amount each month, reflect a while on significant purchases, say over £100, but otherwise try to be relaxed
Original post by Zarek
Budgeting is a delicate balance as you need to live within your means, save a bit but also enjoy spending the money you have and not get stressed by minor purchases. I save a set amount each month, reflect a while on significant purchases, say over £100, but otherwise try to be relaxed
How much do you spend (excluding rent) per month?
Original post by MummyMum2019
I feel upset whenever I spend money on things that are not absolutely necessary. I am a postgrad living in student hall with catered dining and only have to cook when the canteen doesn't offer dinner in the weekend.
It causes me lots of anxiety to order snacks including cup noodles from Amazon as they tend to be sold in packs that cost over £10, like I can procrastinate in front of the screen for hours over how to make up a sum total of less than £30. Even so, I am a frequent buyer on Amazon since you always need enough food in your flat for cooking in the weekend.
My parents often tell me to do travels saying they would pay for me, but I seldom because I feel travels aren't necessary. The last time I traveled was already in October 2022 and it's only a day trip.
Do you have the same kind of feelings as I do?
It causes me lots of anxiety to order snacks including cup noodles from Amazon as they tend to be sold in packs that cost over £10, like I can procrastinate in front of the screen for hours over how to make up a sum total of less than £30. Even so, I am a frequent buyer on Amazon since you always need enough food in your flat for cooking in the weekend.
My parents often tell me to do travels saying they would pay for me, but I seldom because I feel travels aren't necessary. The last time I traveled was already in October 2022 and it's only a day trip.
Do you have the same kind of feelings as I do?
I've moved your thread to "Money & Finance". Please refer to the sticky thread at the top of the Advice On Everyday Issues to check if you're posting in the right place.
Original post by -Eirlys-
I've moved your thread to "Money & Finance". Please refer to the sticky thread at the top of the Advice On Everyday Issues to check if you're posting in the right place.
Thanks and sorry for my mistake!
Original post by MummyMum2019
I feel upset whenever I spend money on things that are not absolutely necessary. I am a postgrad living in student hall with catered dining and only have to cook when the canteen doesn't offer dinner in the weekend.
It causes me lots of anxiety to order snacks including cup noodles from Amazon as they tend to be sold in packs that cost over £10, like I can procrastinate in front of the screen for hours over how to make up a sum total of less than £30. Even so, I am a frequent buyer on Amazon since you always need enough food in your flat for cooking in the weekend.
My parents often tell me to do travels saying they would pay for me, but I seldom because I feel travels aren't necessary. The last time I traveled was already in October 2022 and it's only a day trip.
Do you have the same kind of feelings as I do?
It causes me lots of anxiety to order snacks including cup noodles from Amazon as they tend to be sold in packs that cost over £10, like I can procrastinate in front of the screen for hours over how to make up a sum total of less than £30. Even so, I am a frequent buyer on Amazon since you always need enough food in your flat for cooking in the weekend.
My parents often tell me to do travels saying they would pay for me, but I seldom because I feel travels aren't necessary. The last time I traveled was already in October 2022 and it's only a day trip.
Do you have the same kind of feelings as I do?
Original post by YatoSan
Very relatable, I get really guilty spending money most the time. I also spend a while (it can take up to an hour...) staring at my screen on checkout if I'm ordering something 
You aren't the only one!
You aren't the only one!
When you people feel guilty is it your savings your worried about or actual guilt for being materialistic.
The former means your just focussed on your savings goals but should remember your money is there to enjoy.
The later means youve allowed yourself to be indoctrinated into a socialist line of thinking.
Original post by Rakas21
When you people feel guilty is it your savings your worried about or actual guilt for being materialistic.
The former means your just focussed on your savings goals but should remember your money is there to enjoy.
The later means youve allowed yourself to be indoctrinated into a socialist line of thinking.
The former means your just focussed on your savings goals but should remember your money is there to enjoy.
The later means youve allowed yourself to be indoctrinated into a socialist line of thinking.
Haha, I wouldn't look into it too much. Just the first option; 'the cutting into savings' guilt.
Original post by Rakas21
When you people feel guilty is it your savings your worried about or actual guilt for being materialistic.
The former means your just focussed on your savings goals but should remember your money is there to enjoy.
The later means youve allowed yourself to be indoctrinated into a socialist line of thinking.
The former means your just focussed on your savings goals but should remember your money is there to enjoy.
The later means youve allowed yourself to be indoctrinated into a socialist line of thinking.
Haha it's hard to say I'm not sure if I've an inherent hate of spending money
Original post by MummyMum2019
Haha it's hard to say I'm not sure if I've an inherent hate of spending money
If you don't spend it then what is the point?
I think it's common, although I'm not sure I'd say it's "normal" - I'd argue that how common it is would be a sign of definite abnormality within our social structure that so many people will be consistently struggling to makes ends meet and feeling anxiety or guilt over spending.
I think unfortunately also a very common theme these days in rhetoric is the continuing implication that poor(er) people should not spend money on non-essential items - for example the cliche suggestion that millenials are poor because they spend money to have avocado toast, rather than any structural issues depressing wages and limiting social mobility. It's quite unhelpful and not accurate anyway - people getting starbucks isn't why they can't afford rent, they can't afford rent because parasitic landlords and development companies are buying up all the properties and setting rents at sky high levels and/or only renting them out as airbnbs etc.
The first thing to realise is that those "non-essential" items are, in a sense, usually "necessary". Because if you live without engaging in any kind of activity for yourself, only working/studying and staying at home, never spending money on yourself for your own enjoyment, you are going to cause significant harm to your wellbeing and mental health. Humans aren't meant to just grind away all day long every day. Of course, there are limits - if you're spending thousands on expensive champagne and caviar or something then that's probably unrealistic, but buying yourself pot noodle is not unreasonable and you shouldn't feel bad about that. Likewise just taking the opportunity to buy yourself a book, film, other form of media, going out for a day to do something, are not normally going to break the bank and are important.
As long as you budget suitably and make sure you are aware of how much you can potentially spend on yourself for random bits and bobs that are maybe "non-essential" by some metrics (and I would strongly recommend setting aside a chunk of your budget as just "me" money for that purpose!) it's not a problem
I think unfortunately also a very common theme these days in rhetoric is the continuing implication that poor(er) people should not spend money on non-essential items - for example the cliche suggestion that millenials are poor because they spend money to have avocado toast, rather than any structural issues depressing wages and limiting social mobility. It's quite unhelpful and not accurate anyway - people getting starbucks isn't why they can't afford rent, they can't afford rent because parasitic landlords and development companies are buying up all the properties and setting rents at sky high levels and/or only renting them out as airbnbs etc.
The first thing to realise is that those "non-essential" items are, in a sense, usually "necessary". Because if you live without engaging in any kind of activity for yourself, only working/studying and staying at home, never spending money on yourself for your own enjoyment, you are going to cause significant harm to your wellbeing and mental health. Humans aren't meant to just grind away all day long every day. Of course, there are limits - if you're spending thousands on expensive champagne and caviar or something then that's probably unrealistic, but buying yourself pot noodle is not unreasonable and you shouldn't feel bad about that. Likewise just taking the opportunity to buy yourself a book, film, other form of media, going out for a day to do something, are not normally going to break the bank and are important.
As long as you budget suitably and make sure you are aware of how much you can potentially spend on yourself for random bits and bobs that are maybe "non-essential" by some metrics (and I would strongly recommend setting aside a chunk of your budget as just "me" money for that purpose!) it's not a problem
(edited 1 year ago)
Original post by Kutie Karen
If you don't spend it then what is the point?
That's an interesting question
Original post by MummyMum2019
That's an interesting question
yes. what are your thoughts?
Original post by Kutie Karen
yes. what are your thoughts?
I do an excel to track my monthly expenses
Hi, this is common, but I don't think it's mentally healthy. Your spending is not unreasonable at all and you deserve to treat yourself
Original post by Labradoodle1
Hi, this is common, but I don't think it's mentally healthy. Your spending is not unreasonable at all and you deserve to treat yourself
I agree
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Is it normal? How does your life differ?
- feeling bad about spending money at uni
- What are you doing with your child trust funds?
- Guilty for spending money on birthday
- what do i do? answer is probably obvious to everyone else but me
- What can I spend 16-19 Bursary on?
- Should I feel guilty?
- Is it bad to hate spending money?
- Anybody else sometimes feel guilty about having attended a private school?
- too much to ask for?
- bf got mad at me for giving food to homeless guy
- I'm scared about budgeting and my finance for uni
- Argument with Father
- I'm not lending my mum money anymore
- Family keeps borrowing money from me and i don’t know what to do
- Breaking up
- should I feel guilty?
- Summer Holidays
- I’ve received tips from my old job - is it illegal if i keep taking it?
- Hooking up and feeling guilty
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 week ago
I think I have a Cifas Marker on my name , can I still open any banks ?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Has anyone had their student finance paid into their partners or parents bank?Last reply 1 month ago
Introduction to UK Financial regulations and professional integrity SCAMTrending
Last reply 1 week ago
I think I have a Cifas Marker on my name , can I still open any banks ?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Has anyone had their student finance paid into their partners or parents bank?Last reply 1 month ago
Introduction to UK Financial regulations and professional integrity SCAM
