Why Saving is Like Dieting, Part 2

In an earlier post, I mused about the similarities of saving and dieting.  In particular, I talked about how saving and dieting both had a social/emotional component which must be acknowledged.  Just last week, I was reminded of another facet of the saving/diet parallel: big initial progress is (relatively) easy; maintenance is hard. The occasion was having  a friend in town.  After talking for several hours, we noticed it was getting to be dinner time.  Not having planned anything ahead, it was easier to ask the guest what type of cuisine he wanted and go out to dinner.  The result, good company, a rather mediocre meal with too many calories, and a bill that would have bought groceries for the week. Sometimes the default option isn’t great on either the wasteline or the pocket book, but having been relatively diligent about both all month, I welcomed the break from planning and cooking.

In dieting, there is the concept of the golden shot, or the comparative ease that some people have at initially trying to lose weight.  Ease that never repeats itself.   In saving, one of the challenges is that temptations arise regularly and after the initial good feeling wears off, being frugal for the long haul can be wearing.

To keep yourself continually motivated, think about the following:

1) Create a set of concrete milestones or intermediate steps toward your larger financial goals.  The smaller milestones will help to keep the motivation up.
2) If you tend to get bored easily, have a set of default options that are reasonable in price.  For example, keep the pantry or freezer stocked for a dinner emergency.  Have a set of activities to choose from if you are bored.
3) Instead of shopping, drink a big glass of water

see the full Festival of Frugality this week at Gather Little by Little