12 Tips On How To Overcome Frugal Fatigue

Getting out of debt isn’t easy and it’s not for the faint-hearted.  When we first start our get-out-of-debt journey…or better yet, our path to financial freedom, we can be super pumped and full of determination.  We have our plan laid out, our budget is in place and our spouses are right there with us.  Nothing can stand in our way!  But sooner or later, we begin to feel it.  You know what I mean.  It’s what I call “frugal fatigue”.

What is Frugal fatigue?

What is “frugal fatigue”, you ask?  Frugal fatigue is when you’re exhausted by constantly pinching pennies.  Frugal fatigue can surface when the process of paying off your debt starts to seem tiresome and when you feel that your debt is a mountain in which you’ll never get to the top, let alone, to the other side.

Maybe you’re not seeing the balances go down as quickly as you like.  You’re making all these sacrifices, day in and day out but you just can’t see the end in sight.  You don’t eat out, you’re making your own laundry detergent, you tell your friends “No” on a weekly basis, but yet there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

One of the many potential pitfalls to frugal fatigue is that eventually you simply get tired of being so deliberate with your money. As a result, you might start splurging unnecessarily, perhaps as a one-time weakness, or as a chronic pattern that threatens to obliterate your savings.

It’s important to recognize frugal fatigue if it begins to affect you, but I want to let you know that there is hope.  Yes, getting out of debt will require sacrifices and many of those sacrifices will be long term, depending on how deep your hole is and how big of a shovel you have.  But, let me tell you, my friend…it is so worth it.

There are several things you can do, while your on this journey, to help you stay motivated and fight frugal fatigue, over the long term.

How To Overcome Frugal Fatigue

Know Your Why

It is so important to KNOW and remember WHY you are doing this.  Is your goal to be debt free?…Build up your emergency fund?…Fully fund your retirement?  Maybe your goal is to have a nice down payment for the home you’ve always dreamed of.  Whatever your motivation is, keep it front and center at all times.  When frugal fatigue begins to set in, you’ll be able to see down the road and know you have a plan to achieve your goal(s).

Make Your Budget

It’s always easier to get where you’re going if you have a plan…a roadmap of sorts. That’s exactly what a budget will do for you, no matter how much or how little you earn.  A budget tells your money what to do.  Without one, who knows what is happening to your paycheck.  I’ve always felt that a budget is permission to spend.  When you allocate your financial resources into groups, you’ll know how much money is there and if you’ll be able to afford what ever it is you want or need to buy.

You’re budget will always be the first step in gaining control of your finances.

 

Break Down Your Debt

When you look at your debt, as a whole, it may be so overwhelming, that you want to run away from or just totally ignore it.  This is quite common, but it can be a costly mistake that will make it even tougher, down the road, to recover from.  Come face to face with it sooner rather than later and devise a plan to get out from underneath it.

If you’re familiar with Dave Ramsey and his concepts, Baby Step #2 is to list your debts smallest to largest, irregardless of the interest rate.  Step #2 is working the debt snowball.  The debt snowball allows you to focus your energy on one debt at a time.  You knock out the first debt, then move on to the second.  Again, it’s a “Plan” for your money.  Focusing on one at time allows you to have intensity, thereby ensuring success.  If you try to do too many things at one time, sometimes you end up completing nothing.

The old saying, “How do you eat an elephant?” comes to mind.  We all know the answer…”One bite at a time”.

Set Reasonable Goals

If you’re experiencing frugal fatigue when it comes to getting out of debt and saving money, you may need to step back and reevaluate your goals.  Goals that stretch your limitations and abilities are great, but if you’ve made them too difficult to reach, you’ll feel frustrated and give up. That’s why it’s good to have short-term goals. This is why the Baby Steps are so beneficial.  It allows you that “WIN”.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have long term plans or goals.  We all need those!  It’s just that having some goals that can be reached in the near future can serve as a huge motivator. You’ll likely be able to push yourself harder knowing that this will be a short sprint rather than a long marathon.  And what’s more, these short term goals will help to propel you toward those long term goals.

Celebrate Achievements

This is so important to staying motivated.  When you reach a savings goal or you pay off a debt, no matter how small, by alls means, celebrate that achievement!  I’m not talking about taking a cruise or buying yourself a new car.  Not yet, at least.  I’m talking about a reasonable splurge.  That might be a nice meal out or a good bottle of wine. You certainly don’t want to set yourself back, but you do deserve a pat on the back and a small reward.

Hang Out With Like Minded People

If your friends are constantly asking you to go out to eat or take trips, it’s sometimes difficult to resist these temptations. They probably don’t mean any harm, but it can be financially dangerous to be in this spot.  You may feel that if you never accept, they won’t want to associate with you any longer.  Unfortunately, that might be a good thing.

You want to surround yourself with people that are encouraging to your plight, will hold you accountable and cheer you on.  I’m not saying you can’t be friends with the free spenders, but you may want to limit your time with them.

Listen To Dave!

Listening to The Dave Ramsey show has given me so much motivation and encouragement over the years.  When you listen to the stories of how far average people have come to overcome their debt and are living the debt free dream, how could you NOT be motivated?

I have learned so much from listening to the Dave Ramsey show and I could not recommend it enough.  We are living proof that his method, which is the same as God’s and grandmas, WORKS!  These principles can be applied to everyone.  If you don’t listen to much radio, then I highly recommend his book, The Total Money Makeover.  It’s life changing.

Make A Game Out Of It!

The best way to fight frugal fatigue is to make frugality a way of life rather than a burden and to make a game out of it. Okay, that’s really two, but they work together. If you consider being frugal somehow demeaning, unpleasant or oppressive, then it is difficult to do all the time. If you consider it a lifestyle and the end result is financial freedom, it is much easier.

I have grown up living with frugality.  I really know no different.  And being the competitive person that I am, I have spent most of my life challenging myself to get the most value of things while spending the least amount of money.  It has become a game to me and when I “score”, it’s such a thrill.  There’s no shame in being frugal. Period!

Look For Low Cost/No Cost Entertainment

If you’re feeling the pinch and feel that frugality is like living a life of boredom, well, that can’t be further from the truth.  There are so many things to do for fun that are either free or very low cost.  I even wrote a post on it called Fun and Frugal Date Ideas That Won’t Drain Your Wallet.  

When your trying to save and/or get out of debt, it’s important to build in a little fun.  This will certainly help to overcome frugal fatigue.

RELATED POST:  Frugal Ways To Spend Your Free Time That Are Fun!

Spend Less Time On Social Media

If you’re constantly comparing your life to those on Facebook, you’re going to have an extremely difficult time, not only with frugal fatigue, but also with self confidence and contentment.  It has been said many times, that social media is notorious for only showing other peoples highlight reels.  You’re getting a small glimpse into the lives of your friends, but you aren’t necessarily seeing the whole picture.

If Facebook makes you feel bad about your life, get off it!  Stay focused on your own goals and keep your eye on the prize!

Get Mad!

Someone once said, “Only when we are sick and tired of being sick and tired do any of us do something different.”

That’s what we need to feel to attack debt.  Unfortunately, many people rock along for years accepting the burden of debt as “normal”.  It’s only when we realize that we are never going to get ahead, let alone, save or be able to retire that we do something drastic.

This is what Dave talks about when he says attack your debt with “gazelle intensity”.  Go after it like you’ve never gone after anything, before.  Sometimes, it takes getting so angry that only then are you motivated to do something about your situation…like throwing a stick of dynamite into it!

Practice Contentment

Contentment plays a big role in living the frugal life.  It’s so much easier to avoid frugal fatigue if you are happy and contented with your life.

But, contentment isn’t a matter of being content with your situation in life and never trying to improve it.  It’s a matter of being content with what you have, but at the same time, realizing that as humans, we will always try to improve, no matter how happy we are. If we don’t, we have given up on life.

When we practice contentment, we are able to see the blessings that God has so generously bestowed on us.  It helps us to view life with a different perspective, like seeing what we do have instead of what we are lacking.  Contentment help us to find joy in our everyday life and keeps us from feeling like we’re missing out.

The road to financial success isn’t always easy.  Sometimes there are bumps along the way, but finding ways to stay motivated will help you stay the course.  I hope that some of these tips will show you how to overcome frugal fatigue and reach your financial goals, because in the long run, it will be so worth it

What are some of your tips for keeping yourself motivated on your get-out-of-debt/save money journey?

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