Lately I’ve really been reflecting on my spending habits, and to be completely honest, I’m disappointed in myself. Yes, I do pay down my debt and make progress little by little, but at the same time, I’ve been spending money on things that don’t matter. The kind of purchases that feel fun or harmless in the moment, but when I actually look back, I realize they’re adding up way too quickly.
The wake-up call came when I decided to check my Whatnot purchases. In just two weeks, I had spent $300 on that app alone. That number really hit me because $300 could have made such a big difference somewhere else. It could have been an extra car payment, an extra credit card payment, or even a boost to savings. Instead, I basically threw it away on stuff I didn’t need. And that’s not even including the Steam games my son asked for, which are their own little category of spending.
The thing is, I always find myself wondering, “Where’s all my money going?” And the truth is, it’s going exactly where I put it—on random, useless things that I don’t even use. I have to face it: I have a spending problem. Like—did I really need another food scale when I already had one? No, that purchase was just plain useless.
But here’s the thing—I don’t necessarily regret buying things. A lot of the time, those purchases gave me a quick boost of happiness, and honestly, sometimes we all need that. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying something new or treating yourself once in a while. The problem is when it becomes constant, when you’re chasing that little bit of temporary happiness over and over until suddenly you’ve drained your bank account. That’s when it stops being fun and starts being stressful.
What I’m realizing is that I want to focus on better purchases. Things that not only make me happy in the moment but continue to bring me joy or usefulness long after. Like kitchen tools I actually use, ingredients for my food videos, or even a game I play regularly with my son. That’s different from buying something that sits on a shelf untouched or gets tossed aside after a week.
So, starting next week, I’m taking a break from the random buying. I’m not cutting myself off completely—this isn’t about punishing myself or refusing to spend at all. It’s about being intentional. There’s a big difference between useless stuff and things I can actually use every day that bring me joy. I’m still going to make food videos, gaming videos, and buy things that help me do what I love. But the pointless impulse buys? Those need to stop.
My goal moving forward is to stop sabotaging myself with spending that only makes me happy for five minutes. Instead, I want to use my money in a way that makes me feel proud, reduces my debt, and gives me real financial breathing room. I want my happiness to come from progress, stability, and from purchases that actually add something meaningful to my life.
It’s not about never spending—it’s about smarter spending. And I think that’s something a lot of us can relate to.
