How to Find Motivation to Save Money When You’re Surrounded by Reckless Spenders

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

It takes some serious willpower to forgo instant gratification for a long term reward. Saving money is hard enough. But when you’re surrounded by reckless spenders, the task becomes even tougher. 

Whilst you’re updating your budget spreadsheet, trying out different investing courses to become more financially stable, and generally fighting the urge to spend money recklessly, your friends are living their best lives, burning through money like there’s no tomorrow and giving you a serious case of FOMO. 

What can you do to avoid the temptation of a big night out or a fancy dinner? Firstly, if it’s at all possible, try to spend a little less time with people who encourage you to spend more than you want to. It will really make a difference to your motivation and the light in which you view your saving journey. 

However, unless you are planning on becoming a social pariah, avoiding your profligate friends and family members is not something you can be doing forever. Check out these tips for keeping your motivation to save money even when you’re surrounded by reckless spenders: 

1. Be Up Front With your Friends

Firstly, be honest with your friends about your financial situation and why you’re trying to save money. People get accustomed to their level of disposable income and forget that not everyone can have the same standard of living. 

Reminding your friends that you might not have as much cash to splash as they do might mean they’re happy to pick a budget restaurant every now and again. And they’ll understand when you want to itemise the bill rather than split it (especially when you’ve just had a starter and a soft drink). 

2. Allow Yourself a Blowout

You might be the type to plan a no-spend month and live particularly frugally for a short space of time. But there’s always the risk of saver burnout. 

In order to avoid completely falling off the budgeting wagon, it’s wise to allow yourself a modest blowout every now and again. Be a bit freer with your spending for a week, spend some time with those reckless spenders and, once you’re done with letting your hair down, rein the spending back in. 

3. Think of Low-Cost Activities to Do Together

If your friends tend to enjoy expensive activities, you may feel like you’re missing out on time with them when you can’t afford to go along. 

In order to get in some quality time, think of low cost activities you can enjoy together. For instance, a picnic at the beach or the park. A night when you make a homemade takeaway and play board games. A thrift store shopping trip. Or a hike in the countryside. 

If spending time together is as much of the priority to your friends as it is to you, it won’t matter where you go or what you do. 

4. Just Say No

If the reckless spenders around you really aren’t willing to accommodate your budget, you have to learn to just say no, regardless of how much they try to persuade you to join them. 

Saying no is easier when you have your long term goals clearly in mind. If your goal is a house, a car or the holiday of a lifetime, cut out pictures of these things and stick them somewhere you see them every day. 

Keep a spending diary so you can keep track of every penny and know how much you are saving. And if your saving goal seems a long way off, try splitting it into smaller milestones that feel more achievable. 

 5. Automate Your Savings

When you get the urge to spend (or your friends are twisting your arm), it’s much easier to give into the impulse when you have money easily to hand. Be sure to prepare for those times when your motivation takes a nosedive. 

Automate as much of your saving process as possible. Set up a regular bank transfer, so that as soon as your pay check reaches your account, a proportion is sent straight to your savings, your mortgage or your lenders. 

If you don’t have the cash in your current account to begin with, you’re much less likely to spend it. 

Finding the motivation to save money when you’re surrounded by reckless spenders requires a huge amount of willpower. 

However, by encouraging your friends to embrace alternative activities, keeping a clear eye on your long term goals and remembering that sometimes you just have to say no, you’ll get ever closer to your budgeting goals. 

About the author:

Michelle Arios is a self-improvement enthusiast and an avid blogger who often writes about things connected to education and careers. If you ever wish to say “hello” to Michelle, feel free to find here here: @MichelleArios.