Why Saving Money Feels as Good as Spending Does

Why Saving Money Feels as Good as Spending Does - picture of woman smiling and holding up cash

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Let’s face it. Some people are born “savers” while others are born “spenders.” For some, saving money goes against every instinct in their body. They just love to spend. It feels so good to them. Some of them even report getting a high off of it. That’s not to say that there’s no hope! Even born spenders can become financially responsible savers with a little work.

Saving money is something that can easily be taught. Spenders can be taught how to budget. They can learn to have the proper income protection coverage. They can even learn why they need to think “long term” instead of focusing only on how they feel in the present. But, they still might have a difficult time becoming a saver. Why? Because of the way that saving money makes them feel.

Today, I am going to make a very bold statement. It’s uber bold. So bold, I’ll even put it in boldface type below. Seriously, I hope you used extra hold aquanet this morning because I’m about to blow your hair back. Are you ready ’cause here it goes!

Saving money can feel just as good as spending it.

OH NO I DIDN’T!

I just did. (mic drop)

How to Become a Saver

The most important aspect of evolving from a spender into a saver is learning that saving money can feel as good as spending. Not only can it feel as good. It can feel better!

Before you get comfortable changing your habits or lifestyle, you gots ta feel good about what you’re doing. Why do you think so many people have trouble going to the gym regularly? Because working out sucks…that’s why. It is painful, time consuming, and boring. Since it isn’t bringing them immediate pleasure, people usually give up after a few months. They get burnt out and revert to seeking pleasure from other vices – like, in my case, junk food.

Whether it is getting in shape or learning how to save, changing your habits has to feel good if you are to succeed. That can be easier said than done. So, what are some ways that a natural spender can find bliss by saving money? I’m glad you asked!

Saving Money = Less Stress

Remember all those bills you have to pay each month? Remember how stressful it was not knowing how you were going to pay your rent? Ever had no work, no money, and no food because you had no savings? Do you remember how it felt to look at your bank account and realize that you were spending more money than you were making each month?

I do…and I’ll never go back. Even though I was enjoying eating out and partying, I was seriously stressing over my bills each month. At that time, I had both a spending and an income problem. It was then that I decided enough was enough. I enrolled in school to increase my income, and my future wife taught me that my impulse spending was actually making me feel worse over the long run.

Stuff Won’t Make You Happy

As a spender, it always appears that the next new thing is going to bring you happiness. The marketing geniuses on Madison Avenue play to that instinct, making you believe it even more. Newsflash: no matter how much crap you buy, somebody is always going to have more. Buying those 6 blouses may excite your joy buzzer, but after you’ve worn them a few times the high is gone. Buying that new gadget may make you feel cool. Unfortunately, it is already out of date.

No matter how it may seem, stuff will never make you happy. Happiness can only come from within you. (Too cheesy?)

Saving Money = Freedom

Saving money gives you the freedom to do things that you may never have even thought possible. You can save for that “trip of a lifetime” you’ve always dreamed about, or even quit your job and retire early. Perhaps you’d like to start your own business. Or, maybe you want to follow your favorite band on a world tour. When you stop spending, you have the freedom to start living!

Do it today! Check EVERY item off of your bucket list…then start a new one! Now that is something that feels better than good…it feels great!

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43 Comments

  1. Saving money definitely makes me happy. Makes me happier than when I buy material things!

  2. Great post! I could not agree more. I learned my lesson years ago that saving is the way to go. Sure, I might be happy for a few minutes or days because of the shiny new whatever I bought, that high, just like you said, diminishes quickly. I think a big key is having motivation to save. Whether it be for retirement or a vacation I find having that incentive makes the saving just a little more easier.

    1. I would agree that having motivation is a big key. It always makes it easier to achieve a goal if you have a clear understanding of what you are working towards.

  3. I thoroughly enjoy saving money and it has been a great blessing in our life. Not having the financial worries that we once had allows us to focus our energy and concerns on more important matters.

    Redefining how you view happiness was a big part for us. We quickly learned that material things and money isn’t what really makes you happy.

    1. Good point Jason. Only you can define what happiness means for your family.

  4. I think I’ve always had that savers mentality, but I got away from it when my income prospects were looking very promising. For a while I just didn’t think I had to make the effort to save money. Now I’m back in saver mode and it is incredibly rewarding to see my savings building up.

    1. I think that I’m in the same boat Jeremy. I think what I said in the article may have been a bit misleading, albeit unintentionally. I have never been one to spend a lot of money on material things. However, I did have a problem with impulse spending on food/booze/sports gear/etc. Now, I’m back to my roots as a stingy ‘ole curmudgeon.

  5. I definitely feel at least 2X more joy saving than spending. I get MORE joy watching others spend, like on a trip to a mall, and I don’t spend for some reason. Kinda addicting saving! Things add up over time!

    1. It is addictive to watch you bank accounts grow. For people like us, we have to be careful not to get too addicted to the savings part so that we still remember to live our lives as well.

      1. True. Tis why I tried to live it up in Europe for 2.5 weeks last month. Damn, I love Amsterdam and St. Petersburg!

  6. I have always been a big saver. Like you said it puts me at ease. While I might splurge every now and then (mostly on Birthday and Christmas gifts for my wife) I enjoy seeing my net worth rise.

    1. It is a ton of fun isn’t it. Dreaming about what you can do with all that money is a ton of fun.

  7. Saving really does give you a sweet endorphin hit! I remember, as a kid, I would cash all my check from my first job and put the cash in a box. At one point, I had over $1,000 in there, and man, it felt awesome every time I opened that box. A great psychological lesson for my 16-year-old brain. Though, I wasn’t as motivated once I put all that cash in the bank and started spending on credit cards.

    I hope to get in the saving game again someday. For now, I need to make some more cash!

    1. You’ll get there man! You’re doing great so far.

      There is a definite disconnect when you spend using a card. It is almost like it isn’t real money. You get to keep the card, so the purchases are just numbers. There is no exchange physical currency, so there is no pain. I think that is where a lot of people can get into trouble with cards.

  8. Even if it doesn’t feel that way at first, you can train yourself to like different things (up to a point), and I think saving is one of them. Imagine saving as buying your freedom – so it hits the “spend” pleasure center in your brain!

    1. I love that idea! Saving is “buying” your freedom. I’m gonna steal that one Mrs. Pop:)

  9. I only recently jumped on the savings bandwagon. Until now it hasn’t been a main concern for me but the recent unemployment of my bf has proved to me why it’s important to save.

    1. Savings can really increase that feeling of security…and when you feel secure you’re less stressed, you can live off of your EF for a while, and you don’t have to take that first job offer that comes along. There is a lot of freedom with saved money.

    1. I agree – The making money part is great! However, if you don’t know what to do with the money, it is all for naught.

  10. Definitely love to save. When I do spend, I like to spend money on things that have potential to help me make more money, like investing money into my blog, house (this one can be tricky as there are so many gray areas!), or skills (such as a book about using visual basic with excel.

    1. Well, according to “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” you’re doing the right thing. Invest in things that make you money, not in things that are liabilities.

  11. What a great post. I am well and truly a born saver.

    It is possible to change – My wife was born a chronic spender and when we first got together she didn’t understand the high I got from saving.

    However, after seeing how much money we are saving on our mortgage each month, she has become the biggest savings convert.

    1. Nice! Gotta love that! Luckily, the two of you can balance each other out and work as a financial team.

  12. I think I’m a natural saver. Sure, when I go on a big shopping trip to the states I definitely get a bit of a spending high, but I always get buyers remorse the next day. I love to save, it definitely does feel just as good as spending.

    1. So, I assume that when you go shopping here it is difficult to return things to the stores, right? That would make for even worse buyers remorse, I would think.

  13. Greg, totally agree on 2 of your points above. (not that I don’t agree on the others).. Some people are born “savers” and some are born “spenders”, and that savings = freedom. My dad is a perfect example of this. He is a big time saver, but is also living his dream in retirement.

    There is also huge benefits of being a son of a saver, you also get to enjoy the wisdom of your parents. Next week I go on an all expenses paid trip to Colorado, just me and my dad hanging out in the mountains. Why? Because he saved for 35 years and now has more money than he knows what to do with and essentially lives free to do whatever he wants.

    When we make wise decisions with our money, not only do we benefit, but those around us do also. I think this is great, and look forward to doing more of the same with those around me.

    1. Thanks Jason! I hope to be just like your dad someday:) In fact, we’d love to take my adult children on trips around the country/world with us. Hopefully, our plan will work and we’ll be able to do that in our debt-free future!

  14. I learned how to save through my mom. She told be when I was still a teen 😉 that if I want something, I can buy it as long as I have the money. But if I don’t, I got to save for it. No matter how expensive it is. And she emphasized that I should never borrow money from anyone. I grew up remembering her words. And every time I buy something after saving money for it, it just feels oh so good.

  15. Jason Roland says:

    I agree with this article. I have a friend that gets a savings account for her kids when they are born and they have to put at least 20-40% of all the money they get in it. The kids like to see the balance go up and when they are older will get everything out of their account that is mentioned in the article. Start the habits early!

  16. Great points in article. The feeling you get when you have that extra savings you did earlier and then you want to buy some other stuff is very pleasing. We all should maintain a balance in our Shopping spending and change our habits if we are doing it at extreme. Thanks!

  17. Saving money makes me feel a million times better than spending money does! (And for all of the reasons you mentioned).

  18. Yup, I pretty much LOOOOVE saving money 🙂 hehehhee. And I agree with pretty much all of your points and what you said. Bank/Credit card spending… it just is so addicting sort of, and I mean, especially like you said, it’s like you didn’t lose anything! it’s just numbers on the screen :O! Which feels like nothing when you dont have to pinch and lose your physical material money, bills and coins. One of the reasons I save cash a little more easier than bank money.

    I just love the feeling of hard earned cash, hard times misery when I’ve been saving it. Then I can see to my wallet and feel the papers…. CASH… Yum yummu yummoohhhhh yum yum. Delicious nice cash, feels so good in my hand. I remember once I reached into my wallet just like I do often, and I got an erection because of how good it felt; having saved quite some money and feeling the cold hard saved cash paper currency there. Phew. feels nice.

    1. Whoa! TMI alert 🙂

      It does feel pretty freakin’ good though, doesn’t it?!?

  19. Holly, I am a converted saver. I told myself I will make it up later. I plan for my future a lot better.

  20. marc emery says:

    I have always had high paying jobs and spent all my money. I learned to save about a year ago. I love to save new crispy $100 bills. 1 also mark each one with the number they are in order. I also like to hold them when watching tv.

  21. i just got on the savings bandwagon 2 years ago at 50 years young..It.s feels aoooooo good.

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