$pent Millennial

It’s here, the March Madness. Not the basketball thing. I don’t know anything about that. That might be over for all I know. No, I am talking about a different March Madness, a more personal frenzy. It happens to me every year as February melts into March. 

As the first hints of spring peek through the thawing ground, there’s a peculiar urge that arises within me—an urge to spend. It’s almost as if a little spending bear inside of me has been hibernating between New Year’s and March 1st, only to awaken with the changing of the seasons.

Is it just me? Am I alone in this impulse to shred my budget and spending tracking notebooks, jump in my Jeep with the windows down, blasting throw back tunes on my way to hit the nearest Target for pastel mugs, bunny plates, fake grass and anything else that looks like Spring? 

Well, this year, I’m going to try to rein it in if for no other reason than the fact that I am running out of apartment space to stash mugs and seasonal dishes. Just in case I am not as alone as I feel, I’m going to share a few strategies I am exploring to  keep my March spending impulses under control. 

Based on a deep belief I have that money and spending is a tool that is used (and sometimes abused) to achieve root needs (yes, even those ‘wants’ stem from deeper needs), each strategy includes the deeper need I believe I am seeking to meet along with a budget-friendly solution to meet that need- even better than a $90-$240 bill from Target could. 

1. Accept Your Limits, Embrace Rest:

Have you tried sleeping your days away to avoid spending? Blob the day away on the couch with a cup of tea or coffee and a good book or a True Crime limited series. It’s pretty effective. 

But in all seriousness, sometimes the deeper need we seek and try to spend our way out of is the need to actually do less and rest. 

My kryptonite for this type of spending comes in the form of: motivational mugs, journals with inspirational cover art and basically any version of a to do list sticky note. I once even bought meal prep note pad, me who NEVER meal preps (not bc it isn’t great, just a personal limitation). 

Some combination of the peppy music pulsing through overhead speakers, infused fragrance and the crowds of perfectly coiffed and manicured athlesiure moms (no hate, you’re killing it) drives me to believe that if I purchase enough of these mugs, journals and to do lists, I too can achieve more, do more, be more. And when better to dig in than spring? After all, I’m not buried. I’m planted! 

Well, I have been trying that for the past 10-15 years. So, it might be time to admit to myself that it isn’t it. Maybe what I really need is not another pastel pink You Got This mug, but instead… a nice, cozy, uninterrupted nap. Maybe the root need behind my desire to be more motivated, organized and ambitious is balance and rest. 

Root Need: Balance and Rest- Taking time to recharge and rejuvenate can fulfill deeper needs for rest, re-energization, and motivation.

Budget Solutions: 

• Take a nap
• Have a do-nothing day (see my blog post on rest as a form of resistance)
• Take a bubble bath
• Set and keep boundaries – with yourself and others (That 6pm email is actually a 9am the next day email, trust me) 
• Balance time at work or in the home office with wellness time taking walks, recharging in nature

Now, I say this as a childless 30-year old with tons of privilege and adequate free time. If you have like 3 kids and parents you care for living in your home, maybe just buy all the mugs and note pads and hope for the best. Sorry. I don’t know. I’m a very limited being. 

2. Spring Hygge Your Space- Redecorate on a Budget:

After a few months of sparse winter (barren trees, grey skys, short days and cold weather), I am ready for some color and life to be re-infused into my days! I want to sit under a lush tree, breathe in its fresh oxygen and feel the golden sun warm my skin and hair. 

While I cannot buy my way to that, no tropical vacation budget here, that doesn’t stop me from trying. 

My kryptonite for this type of spending comes in the form of: fake lemon wreathes, pastel seasonal dishes and decor. 

I convince myself that if I build it, spring will come. I don’t have to wait for real flowers, sunshine and tree buds. I can make my own Springtime. 

And I’m actually not going to dispute this. It works. I meet a deep-rooted need for mood-boosting comfort, warmth and light by faking it until I make it to real flowers and sunshine. However, buying out the seasonal department of Target or Home Goods isn’t necessary. You can be intentional in spring-ifying your space without falling for each season’s new finds. 

Root Need: Comfort – Boosting mood and energy through warmth and light. 

Budget Solution: Give your space a refresh without  breaking the bank. Whether it’s rearranging furniture, adding some spring-inspired decor, or scouring thrift stores for hidden gems, a simple makeover can invigorate your surroundings and elevate your mood.

• Be sure to utilize what you already have BEFORE going to the store.
• Supplement any needs with budget-friendly finds. 
• Get creative with DIY projects and explore second-hand options to breathe new life into your space.

3. Guilt-Free Spending Bucket:

Okay, but don’t I deserve just a little something?! I made it through A LOT! Winter was tough. I worked hard, rarely saw the sun, couldn’t get warm, got 3 colds and the flu…and still I kept on keeping on, doing my best! I think I have earned some joy… 

You’re right. You did. We did. 

For better or worse ( I tend to believe worse), as a society we share and express value largely through capital- money. When we do a good job at work, we expect a raise or bonus (although sometimes it feels like we just get more work…). When we achieve milestones like marriage, buying a home, having children, etc. people shower us with love and… gifts. So, we are conditioned to expect and desire rewards in such a form. We want to spend to reward ourselves for a job well done. And, to me, making it through such a bleak, cold, dark season seems like just the feat to celebrate. 

My kryptonite for this type of spending: Iced coffees, cafe treats, road trips and shopping sprees (anything from clothes to books or refrigerator organization bins). 

How does Avril Lavigne say it “All my life I’ve been good, but now I’m thinking, ‘what the Hell?’ “

And again, I’m not going to dispute it. I (we) do deserve to spend money on myself (ourselves) and celebrate making it to March! 

In fact, as long as all bills and needs are taken care of and emergency savings and long-term plannig are accounted for, a monthly line item for guilt-free spending is important for meeting the root need for joy, spontaneity and adventure. 

Root Need: Joy, Spontaneity, Adventure- Set aside a dedicated portion of your budget for guilt-free indulgences. Whether it’s treating yourself to a fancy coffee or splurging on a small luxury, having a designated spending allowance can help satisfy cravings without derailing your financial goals.

Budget Solution: Allocate a specific amount each month for discretionary spending. This allows for occasional treats and spontaneous adventures while maintaining overall financial discipline.

Now, let me admit how horrible I am at this.

I have long struggled with feast or famine, all or nothing spending – note past March seasons of splurge. And that’s one reason this guilt- free allowance is so important. It will make it less likely to “fall off the wagon” or declare “What the Hell” two months into budgeting/ financial planning. 

My long struggle with this is topic is for a whole other post (or posts), but I want to leave you with some ideas of how to find the money for a guilt-free line item if you struggle like me: 

• Start small. Cut a monthly savings by $5 or $10 or whatever makes sense for your #s. A small cut probably won’t derail the timeline by much and will likely be more effective in supporting your overall goal than giving it 110% but being unsustainable because you become resentful or bitter. 
• Re-assess your other expenses. Maybe you feel like you have absolutely NO money for guilt-free spending, but you spend $13/ month on a subscription you no longer use or could do without. Take the time to cancel that and add the $13 to your guilt-free spending to get something you actually enjoy. Or maybe you drive through for morning coffee every morning only to let it get cold (or warm) throughout the day, not really enjoying it. (This was me. I did this.) Take that $5-$7/ day and reallocate it to guilt-free spending. After a week you have enough for a picnic in the park, or whatever brings you joy. (I am not telling you to stop your morning lattes if that is actually your most joy-filled way of spending your guilt-free spending. I am just suggesting you think critically about it. Don’t come for me.) 
• See if you can negotiate or switch providers to lower bills. (Fun fact: My guilt-free spending for each month ($70) is coming from money saved by switching to Mint Mobile and cutting my phone bill!) 
• Roll over unused guilt-free spending. If you don’t use all of your guilt-free spending in one month, add it into the next month’s budget. This allows you to make more from small guilt-free budgets. 

While it’s tempting to succumb to the allure of springtime spending, these strategies offer practical ways to satisfy cravings and meet root needs while staying within budget. By addressing our deeper needs we can navigate the season of renewal with financial mindfulness and balance.