4 Things You Should Do Every Sunday If You’re Stressed About Money
By: Ashley Jane
Tags: Money, Self Improvement, Productivity, Personal Finance, Saving Money

Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash

We’re told to spend our Sundays in the kitchen, prepping a week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

After committing some time to a ‘meal prep’ routine, we can have healthy food ready to go for the rest of the week.

This isn’t bad advice, either- there are more than a few benefits to this practice.

By blocking out some time on Sundays for cooking, you don’t need to think about it again for the rest of the week.

You’ve also planned it out to work in your favour- you’ve probably made meals that are both healthier and cheaper than eating out.

Why not put the same concept to work for your money?

Pick a time on Sundays, just once a week, to think about your finances. How can make your money work in your favour, instead of causing you stress?

Plan out your spending for just the next seven days- break up your money goals into bite-size pieces.

Set aside a few minutes once a week for your money, and you can accomplish more than you think.

Prepare Your Meals in Advance

Surprise, surprise- meal prep is on the list.

Not only is it a good way to eat healthy, it’s a great way to cut down on food spending.

Make a list of the meals you want to make for the week, followed by a grocery list (with the ingredients that are needed).

This is also a great opportunity to see if you’re running low on other essentials, like coffee, spices, or snacks (yes, snacks are essential!).

I find that most leftovers are only good in the fridge for 3–4 days, so I will freeze some of it or plan to cook some meals a second night in the week.

Eating out is much more pricey than making the same food at home (you’re not paying for delivery fees, tips, and other added costs).By eating more meals at home, you’re cutting out a lot of unexpected spending during the week.

What’s In Your Calendar This Week?

Next, look at your schedule for the coming week.

Do you have any planned outings with friends?

Are you and your partner going out on a date?

Is a birthday or holiday coming up?

If there are any special occasions or events on the horizon, make sure to set money aside for them.

Estimate what they will cost you, and put these expenses in your budget for the week.

Often times, things like birthdays and holidays can sneak up on us, even if we know they’re approaching. Don’t panic the day before and grab the first thing you see at the mall- instead, determine how much you can afford to spend in advance.

Check In On Your Bills

It never hurts to see where you are at with your bill payments.

Are there any payments that need to be made in the next week?

Can you spot any bills that you forgot to pay before?

Keeping a list of your bills and their due dates each month is really helpful for this, and a great practice regardless of how you handle your money.

Plan for Fun

Plan to treat yourself, because you should- and also because you probably will anyways.

Don’t find yourself stuck in a pattern of just paying the bills and eating rice and beans every night. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so put some room in your budget for your favourite things (whether that’s a latte, a bottle of wine, or a sushi night).

By setting some money aside for these indulgences, you’re also avoiding the other extreme: overspending to the point of overwhelming financial stress.

Most of us will end up splurging on the things we love- the key is not to let it overcome your other financial goals. A little planning here goes a long way.