Comments on: Rewarding Yourself

By: allena

allena — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:34:24 +0000

My reward is always travel, from a day on Lake Michigan and hour away to a couple months in the family home in Mexico.. . Sometimes I have to work while traveling and I'm ok with that… I read a study that said people are happier with spending money on travel versus STUFF, psychologically, and I can attest to that.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:10:14 +0000

Oh Krista, I wouldn't be sure, either! When a job affects you that much, it's not worth having. But I'm glad you were able to splurge a bit. :)

Paula, good for you! Glad to hear you're starting to take time for yourself. And I was at Five Below two days ago -- I bought (and now use) a hula hoop. :)

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:02:07 +0000

I'm getting better about not working weekends, and I always take the last week or two of the year off (easy, since no one else seems to work then, either), but last weekend I put in two very full work days because of a last-minute assignment for a summer issue with a drop dead deadline is tomorrow. That's a quick turnaround for a 2,500-word feature - one I'd pitched - so I had a lot to do. I rewarded myself by ordering a working dinner on Saturday - green papaya salad and shrimp spring rolls from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant.

Yesterday I meant to write the article, but I goofed off (without guilt). I didn't start until late afternoon, but got about 1,500 words knocked out.

But big splurges? Totally out of the question. I had pangs of guilt over a $20 dinner. I do like the idea of nail polish as a splurge. Do you have Five Below? That have great wild colors of polish that are 2 or 3 for $5.

Like Devon said - spending comes after the bills are paid. Right now I need to scrape together the second property tax payment and still somehow pay for all these poorly timed repairs. (Oh! Yesterday, despite no strong winds, a large branch fell out of a maple tree in back, crushing the already drought-stressed hedges it fell on. I guess now even nature breaks when I'm around.)

I don't know what landing a $12K project would feel like, but I did a $4,700 article 12 years ago. I'm sure I must have spent a little of that on something that wasn't a necessity.

By: Krista

Krista — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:38:46 +0000

I also have a stock pile of books I need to read. There is a second hand shop close by run by individuals with disabilities that sells soft covers for 50 cents and hardcovers for $1.00. Such a treat for 4 or 5 bucks!

Last year I took on a project where I made about 10 grand in six weeks. It was, I can honestly say, pure hell. I was stuck inside for most of August, worked day and night, and had some serious sleep deprivation issues.

At the end I bought myself a nice camera, got hubby a suit, went out for a nice meal, and bought a second hand car with cash (once again dodging the car payment we've managed to avoid up to now). I'm STILL not sure it was worth it though. LOL

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:13:01 +0000

I have to agree — books are a great reward. I'm up to my eyeballs in them. We've nine bookcases crammed full (one custom-built one takes up an entire wall in the basement) and are about to create a library for more bookcases. I need to make more money so I can take a few months off to read them all!

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:18:29 +0000

Some months, when the bills are paid, I can reward myself. Other times, when they're not, I have to scramble those extra hours.

Usually, I'll take a day to do something fun in the area, or I'll buy books. Buying books is the best reward.

At the end of a good workday, I usually sit on the deck with a glass of wine to watch the sun set. That's the best reward for being a freelancer -- knowing it's all up to ME, and I get to pick and choose most of what I want to and love doing.