Prepping mindset: How to stay positive while on a tight budget

By zoeysky // 2021-08-27

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It can be difficult to maintain a positive mindset while you're on a tight budget, especially if you're used to spending your money freely. However, your finances are also a crucial part of your preps and following a budget will help you save money for any emergencies that you might encounter when SHTF. If being on a budget is stressful, read on for tips on how to stay positive while being frugal. (h/t to Survivopedia.com)

Financial preparedness is a must for any prepper

Prepping can be expensive, especially if you don't know how to manage your finances. As a beginner, you need to spend your money wisely to avoid getting into debt. And as you start following a budget, you should focus on your prepping goals whenever you feel down. Remembering why you started prepping and budgeting can help you stay positive when you start feeling like you're efforts aren't enough. Here are five tips that will help you cheer up when you're on a tight budget.

Learn how to improve your finances

Following a budget can make you feel deprived. This can make it harder and frustrating to remain frugal, especially if you see others spending their money freely. But if you take a closer look at your budget, you will realize that some of your regular purchases aren't always worth it. For example, you could be paying for a gym subscription that you don't always use. Review your daily expenses to see where you can free up money. Instead of feeling like you're depriving yourself, change your perspective and look at budgeting as an opportunity to save some money for emergencies. (Related: Prepping basics: A 10-item checklist for beginner preppers.)

Enjoy fun and free activities

When you're on a tight budget, you often find yourself saying no to entertaining activities that cost money, like watching a movie or going to the arcade. But even if you're being frugal there are a lot of fun activities that you can enjoy without having to spend money. Here are some fun activities that are also free:

Read a book. Borrow books from the library or swap books with a friend.
Use your library card to check out a DVD of a movie you've been meaning to see.
Take your family out for a picnic at the park.
Go on a hike on nature trails in your neighborhood.
Visit free aquariums, museums or art centers, or zoos on certain days. In some states, residents can get free entry into aquariums with valid IDs.
Play board games with the whole family.
Try some craft projects.

If you enjoy hobbies like knitting or home canning, you can turn your hobbies into a source of extra income, or to add to your preps.

Save money for occasional splurges

When you're on a budget, you usually stop spending money on frivolous purchases. But giving up on splurges can make you feel unhappy. These changes usually impact kids, especially if they're too young to understand why you have to be more frugal for your preps. Even if money is tight, find ways to save so you can treat the whole family occasionally. This can even motivate everyone to help you save money so start teaching kids the importance of being financially prepared as soon as you can. Here are some ways to save money while you're on a budget:

Host family movie nights at home.
Declutter and host a yard sale to sell things you don't need or use.
Buy clothing at thrift and consignment stores.
Cook at home and eat in.
Eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables.
Buy generic products, which are cheaper and taste or work just as well as name-brand products.
Do your own hair and nails instead of going to the salon.
Cancel subscriptions you don't use.
Compare items and prices before you buy, and shop for specials.

Start a gratitude journal

Prepping can be a tiring and time-consuming lifestyle, but being a prepper means you have a lot to be thankful for. According to studies, people who find time to be grateful are happier than those who don’t and their level of happiness keeps rising the longer they are grateful. This is because being grateful helps you focus more on the positive things than the negative. If you find yourself struggling to remain positive while on a budget, start a gratitude journal and make a list of things that you are grateful for, like the fact that while money is tight, you are getting closer to reaching your savings target for a house or car deposit, or paying off a debt. Being grateful for these milestones can also help motivate you to stay frugal. Focus on two or three things that you are grateful for and write them down in your journal before you go to bed at night. Doing this will help you remember that being thrifty is also for your own good and shifts your focus to the good instead of the bad.

Find inspiration in your reason for being frugal

It's hard to maintain a positive mindset if you're on a budget because of something negative like unemployment. If you're lucky, you may be on a budget because you're saving up for a new house or car. Whatever your reason for being frugal, use it as an inspiration so you can keep going and meet your financial goals.

If you recently lost your job, remember that some things are beyond your control. Instead, focus on things you should be grateful for, like having a loving family and a house that keeps you warm and safe.
If you're saving up for something, like a new car, cut out a picture of it and stick it on your mirror so you have a reminder of why you need to be on a budget.

Whatever your reason for being on a tight budget, turn it into something positive by using it as an inspiration when you're feeling frustrated. It's not easy to always have a positive mindset while you're on a tight budget, especially when almost everything costs for money than it used to. But it's important to try and be positive for your mental health and overall well-being. If you're frustrated because you're not allowed to splurge on whatever you want, remind yourself why you're trying to save money. Start hobbies or keep a gratitude journal to remind yourself that there are many things to be thankful for even if you're on a tight budget. Finally, save for occasional splurges so you don't feel too deprived while trying to be frugal. Visit Preparedness.news for more tips on how to be more financially responsible. Sources include: Survivopedia.com NerdWallet.com CleverGirlFinance.com MoneyCrashers.com