How to Budget for a Spa Day

You work hard for the money. Somehow, on top of your 9-to-5 job, you manage to keep your family running. So is it any wonder you could use a spa day every now and then?

The hard part’s fitting it into an already jam-packed budget.

Well, you’re in for a treat! We’ve got three easy ways to help you carve out room in your monthly budget for a day of relaxation—without the guilt.

How to Budget for a Spa Day

1. Stop Dumping $150 a Month in the Trash

You spend all week up to your eyeballs in logistics, whether meeting crazy deadlines at work or getting the kids to soccer practice on time. The last thing you want to do is strategize groceries. It’s just easier to throw things in the cart and figure out what to do with it later.

But that last-minute approach doesn’t come cheap. According to the National Resources Defense Council, a quarter of the food we buy ends up in the trash can. Spend $600 a month on groceries? That’s $150 down the drain!

So how do you stop the waste? It comes down to good old-fashioned meal planning. Sure, it might take extra time on the front end. But these days, lots of apps make meal-planning easy. You can browse recipes, build weekly menus, create shopping lists, and even track grocery costs—all on the go.

2. Cut Your TV Bill by $100 a Month

At the end of a hard day, it’s nice to kick back with a little TV. The problem is you spend half the evening flipping through channels trying to find the perfect show. When you finally land on something, it’s the same-old, same-old you always watch.

Sound familiar? That’s because this scenario happens over and over again in millions of households. The average American gets a record number of 189 channels. Do you know how many they actually watch? About 17—and they’ll cost Americans an expected $123 a month this year.

The good news is there are tons of ways to slash your TV bill. For just $28 a month, you could stream Netflix and over 20 live channels—including HGTV, ESPN and the Disney Channel—with Sling TV. You get your same-old, same-old, plus an extra hundred bucks in your pocket. It’s a win-win for everyone!

3. Save $1,000 on Your Annual Insurance Premium

Too crunched for time to plan meals? Aren’t ready to give up cable? Here’s a pain-free way to save your hard-earned cash: Ask an independent agent to review your insurance policies.

An independent insurance agent is a great money-saver because they’re not limited to a single provider’s options. With access to a whole network of insurers, an independent agent casts a wider net to find you the best deals on the coverage that’s right for you.

If you think such a simple change won’t make a difference, think again. Ryan H. from Round Rock, Texas, gave an independent insurance agent a try and saved $86 a month on even better coverage. “We just gave our family a $1,000 a year raise,” Ryan says.

Make It Your Own

If the spa’s not your thing, find another way to recharge your batteries. It doesn’t matter how you spend those extra bucks, as long as it’s something you enjoy. Just don’t forget to work your newfound dollars into your budget so you know where they’re going each month.

Start budgeting with EveryDollar today!

Of course, if you’re still working to pay off debt or build your emergency fund, it’s a good idea to pump your savings toward bigger money goals. But there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and then. Sometimes a day of fun is all you need to stay motivated when the going gets tough.