One of the most challenging parts of sticking to a budget can be curbing spending. Saying no to dinner out with friends or putting that super fun but much-too-pricey jacket back>The $1 rule
"The $1 rule is simple," Joy says. "If an item comes out to>The 80/20 rule
The 80/20 rule is another way to think about how much use you will get out of a product. If you believe you'll use a product 80% of the time, it's worth it to buy, Joy says.
"I was complaining to a friend that I didn't want to buy a new phone and laptop because both cost a lot of money," Joy says. "But since I am using both daily, it removed the guilt of the cost, because it's something I need every day."
If you'll data-test=”Pullquote”>If an item comes out to>Focus on buying what you 'really love'
Remember, cutting back on spending doesn't have to mean cutting out everything fun. Don't deprive yourself of items that really bring you happiness, Joy says: "Constantly tracking every penny and slapping myself on the wrist didn't make me want to spend less."
Instead, her and her partner allocated money to spending that brought them satisfaction. "We became adamant about spending on the things we really love," she says.
