Sneaky budget: Tip #4

Let's face it - sometimes we are all going to go "off budget" for a treat, a cheat, or a splurge.  The sneaky budgeter approach is to make the "cheat" a part of the budget!  That's right -- build the cheat right into your plan.

Sweet, sweet anticipation!

Research suggests that people get as much (or more) enjoyment out of planning a vacation and looking forward to it than they do the actual event.  The same dynamic can apply to other uses of your household finances.  You really like that fancy coffee drink?  Pick an occasional schedule for enjoying it and do not splurge in between.  By choosing to schedule the occasional budgetary indulgence, to plan it out and to approach that spending with intention, your budget benefits in several ways: you spend less, enjoy more, and exhibit more discipline.