I recently finished reading わたしの1ヶ月1000円ごほうび, or My Monthly 1000 Yen Reward. (I am not fluent in Japanese, but I try to use it actively for practice; therefore, don’t quote me as 100% accurate although I’m pretty sure of the translation here.)

I typically try not to read manga for reading practice because I find it harder than regular books. However, I have another manga essay by Mariko Odu on BookWalker that I really liked. When I saw this one, I wanted to buy it in print because I am starting to prefer reading print books again.

Anyway, one weakness I have with spending is the case of the “Oh shiny!” My impulse control isn’t that great, so this idea of a $10 reward intrigued me. The book shows the many rewards the author bought with her 1000 yen bill and her reflections on those purchases. I found myself saying that I wish I had the discipline for $10 a month! But she says that the amount chosen is up to the individual, and littered throughout the manga are some great tips for implementing what she does…so I decided to give it a try myself for February.

Two ideas stood out that might help with impulse purchases. Once you’ve chosen your amount, you keep a list of things that are in that price range that you want to do or buy. Whenever you find something new and interesting, you add it to the list. While you’re out on the town, you might write down a new store to visit. If you’re me though, when you walk into the grocery store, you write down the new thing you see that you want to buy. You don’t buy it, but you might next month. The goal is to think about how to spend the money and to reflect on how you felt after you bought it. With enough months behind you, you’ll be able to identify what brings you pleasure at a low price and some of those things will become staples in your life. The other idea was using magazines to determine new things you want to try out that you hadn’t thought of before. As a magazine lover, I gravitated toward this idea instantly. Actively looking for items or experiences of interest is being more intentional and less impulsive.

No-spend challenges don’t work for me because I have a weak point for books (offset by libraries), magazines (especially Japanese ones), and tasty-looking food. I work these into my budget so they aren’t uncontrollable, but giving myself free money to spend on a whim is satisfying. This is an alternative to those who can’t go (or prefer not to go) cold turkey on spending. I call this feeding my devil side. This devil side entices me to things that aren’t always the best decisions in hindsight, leading to possible debt, for example. My hypothesis is that this monthly reward will feed my devil side more nutritionally, taming it rather than trying to pretend it doesn’t exist and then beating myself up for giving in anyway.

Although I used the word reward for “ごほうび,” when I looked it up on a Japanese dictionary, another possible consideration are the words “treat” or “prize.” I think treat is probably more applicable from the context, but I do use the word “reward” throughout my post. It is a treat for yourself, but it can also be a reward when you work really hard to stay on budget. Sometimes being frugal (which Mariko Odu considers herself) can feel tight, so giving yourself a treat or reward will help you stick to your goal. I’m focused on saving and reigning in excess spending, so I consider it both a reward for my angel side and a treat for my devil side ;).

Below are steps I’ve integrated from the book and also from my own mind with how I’ll implement this challenge.

Step 1: Decide the amount based on budget and spending goals

First, I should note that I use YNAB. I’ve used it on and off for several years, and I always come back to it. I decided, based on category and money goals, to give myself $50 for the reward category. I might go to $25, but for now, I’ll give a slightly larger amount until I see how things go.

Step 2: Decide how and when it gets funded based on budget and spending goals

I think I’d feel better funding this at the beginning of the month. I know sometimes the $50 can come out of a leftover category, but I’d rather just pre-fund it :D.

Step 3: Keep a list of what you want to use the money for.

This money is intended to be spent. I want to make that clear. However, because you are only spending a certain amount, the things or experiences that go on this list must be no more than what you’ve allotted. It doesn’t have to be one thing, it can be multiple as long as they total less than the amount you’ve budgeted. For example, in the book, the author decided to go to a candy store that reminded her of her childhood. I think she doesn’t eat candy that much, but that was her treat for that particular month. Therefore, she tried to see how much cheap candy she could get for a 1000 yen bill. This list, which I keep in Moleskine’s Actions app, helps keep impulses at bay by adding it to your list for consideration against other things. Ideally, doing so will also help you enjoy the money spent and be less inclined to spend more than that. We’ll see how it works in practice!

Some items and experiences on my reward list:

• Bakery goods from a local Korean bakery that I don’t usually buy from
• New restaurant experience
• Spa add-ons (I have a monthly spa membership)
• Interesting/new stationery from Mochithings or JetPens
• A new tea or coffee to try
• Something fancy from the cheese shop of my favorite grocery store
• Plum or Moscato wine
• Weekend brunch
• A local class of interest
• A new magazine (or a couple) I’ve never heard of before at Barnes and Noble
• Hardcover books
• Fancy cookies
• Professional manicure or pedicure

All of these things I don’t regularly indulge in.

Step 4: Decide your first reward

Pretty self-explanatory. I’ll probably mull it over a lot or simply go based on what grabs my attention the most at the moment.

Step 5: Get chosen reward

Since this hasn’t happened yet, my plan is to really take in whatever it is I buy. It’s easy to buy things or experiences and then, when they lose their new appeal, move on to the next thing absent-mindedly. The goal here is to really enjoy the reward thoroughly. I prefer one-off items like food or an experience than something that you have to maintain.

Step 6: Self-reflection

I really liked that Mariko Odu showed how she enjoyed the things she treated herself to with her assigned money. For one, with a small bill, she showed we don’t always need to spend a lot of money to make the experience or treat worth it. In fact, it can help us savor the really small things. That’s the point of this blog. Many experiences from the everyday should be savored as much as the one-of-a-kind ones; after all, we have more of the everyday kind. For Mariko Odu, buying fancy strawberries was an exquisite experience even if to many people, buying strawberries is just an everyday thing. It’s something she doesn’t always buy, so she decided to treat herself to a fruit that can sometimes be expensive.

The monthly reward is a small, pleasurable step toward being intentional with what we buy. Doing so is much easier than trying to go cold turkey or berating yourself or sacrificing your interests and desires. In a way, this challenge is like taking control of the uncontrollable by leaning into it and not working against yourself. The challenge is also fun and there’s less friction with accomplishing it.

Rinse and repeat

I don’t know how things will look at the end of the month, but perhaps I will continue it again in March and April, making adjustments as necessary. I really like the idea and see it as compatible with my money style. My plan is to update at least once or twice (in the middle and/or at the end of the month) to see the results and to reflect on the experience.

Mariko Odu’s manga essay is the type of book I love reading because it’s inspirational and action-oriented. Practical knowledge books are something I favor over abstract or theoretical books and even over romance novels. (I do read a lot of romances but not lately as seen by my previous posts on books I’m reading.) Even more importantly, her book shows the magic of the mundane, how to make the everyday moments matter to enhance the quality of your life. You don’t need fancy experiences or a lot of money, just a simple shift in mindset to explore what’s around you or within your city. I hope to read her other books and talk about them on the blog. That’s all for now!