To think budgeting culture has become joyless?

[ByNattyFinch]

Budgets are good.
Financial literacy is good.

But AIBU to think some people treat buying a hot drink like a moral failure? Life shouldn’t feel like a spreadsheet.

It’s a shame that people see contributing to their local economy as ‘a waste’. I keep a budget, but I enjoy eating out, going to events and buying things I want so it’s part of my budget.

IME it’s the opposite.

now I am on top of my finances, have clear goals & priorities, I am much more relaxed about my spending decisions. I don’t worry about being frivolous etc sometimes as I’ve planned for it in my budget.

I spend a lot less day to day as I have my eyes on long term financial goals.

Ha, I got called an “over consumer” the other day.

Sent from my brand new iPhone 17 pro max 🤣

I consume just the amount I like thank you, tacky and proud 😂

Seconded, massively.
Buying a coffee every time you leave the house, is really not comparable with the horror that is alcoholism.

This. You don’t get a vote on how others reach their financial goals.

I don't think anyone is saying not to spend money, more a matter of spending it wisely on things that actually matter and enhance your life. That will be different for everyone. I think the problem is that a lot of people waste money on things that don't actually enhance their lives and aren't worth the money, things they could easily do without or buy cheaper alternatives.

Yes, localism is vitally important, but that doesn't mean spending money on crap you don't need. I support local businesses by buying things that I value from them, using local restaurants, pubs, shops and other venues, but only when I actually need those things and will derive pleasure from them. I certainly won't buy something or attend an event that I don't need/want to just to support a business/organisation as that's nonsense. I won't be emotionally blackmailed into buying something I don't need - it's up to the business/organisation to provide things I do need - that's the way to keep a sustainable business going, not via artificial means.

My way of support is using local as opposed to online/national or a place in a different town/county for no obvious reason. I also support local businesses by offering discounts on my professional services to local clients so they can get their tax returns/accounts done cheaper than by them using a bigger firm or national firm in a bigger town/city.

Try the coffee at Caffè Nero. Pretty good and their loyalty scheme is great. Also, have you heard of independent coffee shops, where the coffee is often excellent?

It’s possible to buy good coffee in coffee shops, several times a week, enjoy the experience AND save hard for other meaningful experiences.

Quite. And I'm not a high earner. But we have been overpaying the mortgage and saving since 2010 and been working (full time in DH's case) for 20 years. We don't have a fridge at work, so if I want to get a coffee once or twice a week to have at my desk I will! There's a brilliant one-man coffee van outside my office on a Tuesday and I'm sure he appreciates my weekly £3.50.

Sounds like us really. Being in control gives a really warm feeling inside, whether you're on minimum wage (or less) or are well paid. We've been both, and applied the same budgeting principles whether at times we've had money or times when we havn't. It's a good habit to get into. Especially in the longer term when you find you have the money to buy something really special (again different things at different times of your life), simply by long term saving/control. A couple of years ago, we bought a very expensive car outright, and we still smile when we see it as it's so special, having taken us several years to save for it and then several months of shopping around to find exactly what we wanted and could haggle to buy it at a good price! I know my DH felt the same when he bought his first "banger" for a couple of hundred quid back in the 80s when he first started working and saved a fiver per week in his "car fund" by walking/cycling to/from work instead of taking the bus!

Me too! I have a huge TikTok shop order coming and I really couldn’t care less 😂

I understand this - I think a lot of young people these days are told that the reason they can’t buy a house etc is because they buy things like avocado and hot drinks, so it’s a bit of a sore point for some!!

I agree, people saying that are deluded and out of touch with reality of modern cost of living, but that's nothing to do with the principles of budgeting, it's the person saying that about avodados being an out of touch dickhead!

Budgeting is joyless and soul destroying although some people do seem to really enjoy it. I do understand what you mean though, and honestly I can't understand why any one would even comment on what other people spend or don't spend. Seems rude

I have a better range of teas/hot chocolate flavours in my tea cupboard (which is currently stuffed to the gills) than most cafes ever will. However I do make a pilgrimage to Starbucks when it's pumpkin spice season and ask for a pumpkin spice hot chocolate. 😋

As a nerdy accountant, my finances and spreadsheet are pretty complicated. Every penny is accounted for and I have a cashflow forecast for the next 10 years. I love it but I'm fully aware that this is not normal.

You are free to spend your disposable income on what you want, especially if you are not borrowing to get by. I find spending habits really interesting.

I rarely get a hot drink out of the house, mainly because I'm usually always at home and I have an excellent bean to cup coffee machine and prefer my own coffee and tea in big proper mugs to takeaway drinks. We only eat out/ get takeaways on birthdays.

We each have some spending / frittering money each month and I like to spend on beauty and hair treatments, DH has his hobbies.

That’s why you need a budget category called buffer- for all the things you hadn’t thought of!

I am really careful with money. I don't have much and that's a driver.

However I have had several bereavements in the last few years. None if us will be taking anything with us when we go. And we don't know when we are going.
So there is a balance to be had. Money is for the here and now which is all we have. I save in hope for a manageable retirement, but I know from experience not everyone gets a retirement.
So save some but don't be afraid to live and use some funds to do it. We are here for a good time ( whatever that means to each and every person) not a long time x

As always there's a middle ground. I make tea/coffee at work because it's cheap.
But on the other hand I would never refuse to go out for a coffee with a friend as that's a treat and a social thing. I'll probably have a cake too.

Is this your DH @ByNattyFinch ? Is he the 'budgeter' making you feel joyless?

When my hot drink is nearing £5, you bet your hat I’ll be budgeting. And it’s not only because I’m tight on money (I’m not really) but I think some places are taking the piss (lots of chains for example).

@LoveWine123 , they have overheads.

Quite.

Every business has overheads. Some of the smaller local coffee shops manage to sell hot drinks at decent prices and still keep a high quality. Not sure why the likes of Starbucks and Costa charge what they do for the shite they serve.

Can bots get married?