Elizabeth Ayoola

However, because of this, I often don't go out, go on fun trips, aka treat myself.

I usually stay inside, eat cheap meals, and shame myself on any money that I spend.

What do you recommend I can do to help me enjoy life a little and not obsess about my savings goals to my detriment?

Thanks.

Kim, it sounds like Michael is experiencing a term called frugal fatigue, and that's essentially a burnout that can happen when you're perpetually cost cutting or have a restrictive budget.

Now, the issue with frugal fatigue is that it can lead to impulsive shopping or this kind of cycle of saving and then shaming yourself, as Michael seems to be experiencing.

Saving is not always fun, I know personally, but it definitely shouldn't feel like punishment.

Now, Michael said they often shame themselves on the money that they spend.

So Kim, what is money shaming and what are some causes?

And I empathize with Michael's question so much because I've been there.

And I think something people don't realize enough is that money is so values based.

So a money story that comes to mind that I had to unlearn is that I don't deserve a lot of money.

And I found that that money story come up for me maybe about five years ago.

I was having to negotiate my pay and I was looking at just how to expand my finances and create some kind of financial freedom.

And I just found it so difficult to negotiate higher pay or to even imagine myself earning a certain amount.

Some exercises that I did to help was I did a lot of journaling.

I did a lot of affirmations saying that I deserve money.

I deserve good things.

And also I had to identify where those money stories came from.

Where did this belief that I don't deserve money come from?