Most household budgets include the utilitarian financial categories — mortgage or rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, health care, or spending money.
What about budgeting for self-care?
As the pandemic continues, self-care practices can evolve — and can come with a price tag. Whether as simple as taking a daily walk (adequate shoes and mask), giving yourself an at-home spa day (moisturizing mask, aromatherapy, a new book and that meditation app), or investing in an at-home gym or ongoing counseling services, budgeting both time and financial resources is important. Bonus: Planning how you’ll fund your self-care practices can help manage stress.
Some itemizations to consider:
- Ongoing expenses — counseling services, gym memberships or health classes, academic or skills classes, beauty or health treatments, vitamin or weight-loss regimes, and other regular expenses
- One-time expenses — Travel, at-home fitness equipment, gear or clothing upgrades, crafts, journals, travel, a fancy takeaway meal, or other “treats”
How you spend your money reflects your values. Valuing self care means including it in your budget.
Tags: Self-care