Fictitious problem solvers that actually just drain your bank account
Do you remember where you were when you first heard the phrase ‘treat yourself’? I don't, but what I do know is that I was probably sitting on a terrace within three seconds to spend my hard-earned money on a bottle of bubbles and a snack platter that I could have made myself for half the price. Since then, I've been living with a constant ‘I deserve this’ mentality that, besides absolutely not contributing to solving my problems, only costs me a lot of money. And there are many more things that I am convinced will solve all my problems, but in reality, they just slowly (and sometimes quickly) drain my bank account.
1. Shopping with Klarna
I know: it's such a bad habit, but online shopping without having to pay for it immediately is such a good distraction from everything you're dealing with behind the scenes. It feels like shopping with a bottomless wallet and it releases just enough dopamine to not have to think about anything else for a while. A bit unfortunate that they always manage to find you again with a payment reminder.
2. Ginger shots from the supermarket
Buy some ginger, a bottle of organic apple juice, and a bag of lemons, and you can whip up your own healthy ginger shots in no time. At least, that's what I've heard. I would never start that myself. You have to buy all the ingredients, cut everything, blow the dust off the blender, and clean everything up again. This only creates more problems than it solves, in my opinion. No, instead, I'm convinced that an expensive ginger shot from the supermarket will fix my whole life after I've spent the entire weekend living on wine and greasy takeout, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
3. Coffee to go
Recently, I bought a lovely coffee machine and justified that purchase by telling myself that I would never have to buy coffee outside again. The machine would pay for itself in no time, I lied to myself. You guessed it: my brand new coffee machine is collecting dust in the corner of my kitchen and my local Starbucks runs solely on my oat milk latte addiction. I don't know what it is, but something about a – made by someone else – freshly made, overpriced latte gives me the feeling that everything will be alright every single time.
4. Terraces with friends
I just mentioned it: this tradition is centuries old. Did a boyfriend break up with you? Terrace. Exam stress? Terrace. Need a conversation that could easily be done over the phone? I put on my coat and I'm at the terrace within fifteen minutes. Give us two gin and tonics and a round of snacks, and all problems will disappear like snow in the sun.
5. Ordering food via Thuisbezorgd
Call me lazy or too sensitive, but there is nothing that can ruin my mood more than having to cook after a challenging day. Thinking about what to eat, grocery shopping, making sure it's healthy, low in calories, and not too expensive, I find it all a drag. No, I'd rather order something that's incredibly delicious and also ten times more expensive than if I made something myself. Do you get it? I don't either, but it works.
6. Booking a vacation
Yes, this is one of those habits that drains your bank account particularly quickly, but you can't tell me that there's anything that an all-inclusive vacation to a Caribbean island can't magically solve. With the time difference, you're technically living in the past, so your problems haven't even happened yet. Who needs a psychologist then? Not me. Although a trustee might not be an unnecessary luxury in this case...
