Saving money is fine, but investing in yourself is fun

Don't you sometimes give in to temptation and spend money wastefully?

I used to spend my days like that, too.

But now, I am rethinking how I interact with money from a slightly different perspective.

Using money wisely starts with investing in yourself.

Everyone, this may be sudden, but is saving money really that important?

Certainly, using money carefully is important.

However, just enduring and saving money will only tire out your heart, won't it?

I have been living with depression for many years while working at a Type A continuous employment support office.

My life is barely getting by.

From that experience, I have come to think deeply about how to face money.

Recently, I saw some very interesting survey results.

It seems a certain media outlet conducted a survey of 500 men and women nationwide about "things they dare not do for the sake of saving money."

What became clear from these survey results was that, in fact, many people are searching for a wiser way to use money than just simple saving.

Surprisingly common? The reality of saving fatigue

According to the survey, the ages of the respondents ranged widely from teens to those in their 60s and older, with the prime working generations being the core, specifically 32.8% in their 30s and 27.8% in their 40s.

What is interesting is the point that many people are conscious of "using money wisely" rather than just "saving money."

I myself go about my daily life while visiting cardiology and diabetes departments.

In the midst of that, what I realized is the importance of thinking about where to spend money rather than not spending it at all.

For example, expenditures for health management lead to reducing future medical expenses.

Couldn't this also be called a fine form of self-investment?

Is it actually a loss? The pitfalls of bulk buying

An interesting finding in the survey results was that 'bulk buying or stocking up' was the clear number one choice for things people intentionally avoid to save money, gathering 91 votes.

Comments were shared from a man in his 20s saying, 'I sometimes buy things I don't need and end up not using them,' and a woman in her 30s saying, 'Even if buying in bulk is cheaper, I end up not using it, it passes its expiration date, and I have to throw it away.'

I myself used to stock up on large quantities during supermarket sales, only to end up disposing of them because I couldn't use them all.

Especially for those living alone, bulk buying is often counterproductive.

I realized that, in fact, buying only what you need at the right time results in less waste.

Come to think of it, my doctor at the diabetes clinic also advised me, 'Be careful, because if you stock up on too much food, you'll end up overeating.'

From a health perspective as well, shopping for the bare minimum might be the wiser choice.

Is a household account book really necessary? Thinking about how to spend your time

The second place in the survey results was 'keeping a household account book' with 61 votes.

Opinions were shared from a woman in her 20s saying, 'It's stressful and I think it's a waste of time,' and a woman in her 50s saying, 'If I'm in the black, I tend to just spend that surplus.'

This was a very understandable result.

I used to keep a household account book meticulously, but now I just check my bank balance and credit card statements periodically.

Instead, I use the free time to focus on self-improvement, such as writing on note and reading.

I read books during my morning routine and write articles for the next day in the evening.

This habit is making my life richer.

Thinking about how to deal with online shopping

The third place in the survey was 'online shopping' with 48 votes.

Comments from a woman in her 20s saying, 'I end up buying all sorts of things,' and opinions from a man in his 40s saying, 'I end up buying unnecessary things. Many items are overpriced,' stood out.

Since I started sharing information on social media, I have also had more opportunities to face the temptations of online shopping.

Certainly, the convenience of being able to get what you want immediately is attractive.

However, that also increases the risk of impulse buying.

That is why, instead of avoiding online shopping entirely, I have started using "whether it counts as self-investment" as my criteria for judgment.

For example, I make sure to secure a budget for books needed for learning web design or marketing, as well as tuition for online courses.

On the other hand, for hobby-related items, even if I put them in my cart, I make it a rule to wait until the next day before deciding to purchase them.

With this small adjustment, I have been able to significantly reduce unnecessary spending.

Actually, this habit was sparked by a conversation with my doctor.

The advice, "How you spend money is the same as how you eat. If you don't reach for things immediately but take a little time to think about it, you can see what you truly need," left a deep impression on me.

Just like controlling blood sugar levels, balance is important when it comes to how you spend money.

I have been updating my note every day since the beginning of this year, and what I realized in the process is that self-investment does not necessarily have to involve large sums of money.

For example, even an online tool that costs around 1,000 yen per month has sufficient value if you can utilize it to improve the quality of your articles.

What is important is to think about how the money you spend connects to your own growth.

The new quality of life that self-investment leads to

As a comment from the company regarding the survey results, there was a point made that "many people are working on saving money by comprehensively judging not just money, but also time and effort."

I feel this is a very important perspective.

In my case, due to lower back pain, it is difficult for me to sit and study for long periods of time.

However, instead of using that as an excuse, I purchased an e-book reader.

At first glance, it might seem like a luxury purchase.

But with this, I can read while lying down, and as a result, I have been able to secure a significant amount of study time.

Also, I do not consider the time spent going to the hospital for the treatment of my arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation to be a waste at all.

By using my waiting time at the clinic to read marketing articles on my smartphone or draft notes, I am able to turn that time into self-investment.

In this way, by being creative with how I use my money and time, I can lead a fulfilling life even with restrictions.

For example, the dietary restrictions for my diabetes were difficult at first, but now I see them as a good opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle.

In fact, this shift in perspective might have been the greatest self-investment for me.

Previously, I only focused on my illness and financial constraints.

However, by reframing them as opportunities, I have been able to see new possibilities.

The same applies to how I handle money.

By switching my perspective from simply 'not spending' to 'spending on things with more value,' I have gained peace of mind.

And I feel that this peace of mind leads to a greater desire for learning and growth.

Conclusion: For self-investment starting tomorrow

The survey concluded with the comment, 'It is important to cut out waste while also taking breaks, as pushing yourself too hard is not sustainable.'

I deeply resonate with this idea as well.

How we spend money in our daily lives is a very important choice.

But even more important than that is whether or not that spending leads to our own growth, isn't it?

While dealing with depression, I started sharing information on social media and now live a life where I update my notes every day.

What I realized in that process is that by putting the money I earn into self-investment, further growth is accelerated.

For example, taking online courses or buying new books might look like expenses at first glance.

But the knowledge and insights gained there will always return to you as your own nourishment.

In my case, I consider spending on health management to be a form of self-investment as well.

This is because only by being healthy can I continue to learn and grow.

Perhaps what is important is to distance yourself a little from an obsession with money.

Saving money and spending money are both means, not ends.

The true goal is to live a fulfilling life.

From that perspective, the distinction between necessary and unnecessary expenses will naturally become clear.

Why not try to find your own way of investing in yourself?

It does not need to be a large amount of money.

Small daily steps will eventually bring about significant change.

And I believe that the sense of fulfillment found in that process is what true wealth really is.

Finally, there is one thing I would like to tell everyone who read this article.

That is, while money is important, what is even more important is how you use that money to grow yourself.

I sincerely hope that your self-investment starting tomorrow will make your life even richer.

Thank you for reading until the end.

Your likes, follows, and comments would be the greatest encouragement.

I hope I can continue to help you with your growth.

As companions who can grow together, I look forward to our continued journey.