Does anyone else treat their disposable income like a subscription service?

Or basically, just budget for everything, including vanity stuff?

I.e. every month you drip a small amount of money into different piles for the most innucuous of things. I have a pile for new gym clothes, a pile for new headphones I'll probably need in 2 years, another pile for a new phone I'll need in 3 years, a pile for gifts, etc.

Each of these piled gets topped up by a small amount each month (in some cases, just $10), so when I want to buy something in that category I've got a little fund to draw from.

I've started doing this and it's been really helpful (mostly because my banking app let's me). Means that ad hoc purchases never really feel ad hoc.

If Im honest, I dont really have to think about what Im spending and budget at all. Its a fortunate position to be in.

Glob posted...

If Im honest, I dont really have to think about what Im spending and budget at all. Its a fortunate position to be in.

I'm really guilty of lifestyle creep, I've been in the position before where I felt no better off while earning a 6 figure salary than earning $20k a year. So I'm trying to get on top of that.

No, I just spend what needs to be spent as it pops up. I don't think I've ever budgeted something like that.

Disposable income?

nope

pinky0926 posted...

I'm really guilty of lifestyle creep, I've been in the position before where I felt no better off while earning a 6 figure salary than earning $20k a year. So I'm trying to get on top of that.

In the last couple of years my income has gone up dramatically and my lifestyle quality has too, but my actual outgoings are probably lower than before that.

Only thing I do is make sure I put money into my index funds at the start of the month. If I wait until the end of the month I generally have nothing left! I tend to spend what I have so unless I put it away as soon as I get it goes.