Rewarding myself as a Real Estate Agent

[Sam McCormack]

This topic is really for anyone to answer, but i am asking this as a real estate agent

I have always had an issue being able to buy things for myself. Whether it is a reward for a target I hit, achieving something, whatever it may be, I find it extremely hard to reward myself. It is really just because I am so scared of not having money, that I want to be able to invest/keep it all. And I don't want to reward myself with a percent of what I make, simply because of lifestyle creep. And I don't want to give myself "a day off" or something time related, simply because I don't want to do that. Does anyone relate to this and found a way to make themselves feel okay when rewarding themselves with spending money? I don't feel like I am getting burnt out of course, I absolutely love being an agent, it is fun. But I want to feel some sort of dopamine to make myself feel good when I do good! 

[Paul De Luca]

Quote from @Sam McCormack:

This topic is really for anyone to answer, but i am asking this as a real estate agent

I have always had an issue being able to buy things for myself. Whether it is a reward for a target I hit, achieving something, whatever it may be, I find it extremely hard to reward myself. It is really just because I am so scared of not having money, that I want to be able to invest/keep it all. And I don't want to reward myself with a percent of what I make, simply because of lifestyle creep. And I don't want to give myself "a day off" or something time related, simply because I don't want to do that. Does anyone relate to this and found a way to make themselves feel okay when rewarding themselves with spending money? I don't feel like I am getting burnt out of course, I absolutely love being an agent, it is fun. But I want to feel some sort of dopamine to make myself feel good when I do good! 

I can definitely relate to this. I think it's important to be able to spend money on things that you really do find valuable (books for me). But not all purchases are equal. Forgoing the $5 latte everyday to become the next "millionaire next door" is not really going to make you rich and is more likely to make your life suck so I don't think it's reasonable to deprive yourself of all pleasure. 

Like @Eliott Elias I spend my money on hardly anything besides the essentials and investing into myself as an agent/investor.

Just understand that all those "dopamine hits" from spending money are fleeting and the high will wear off pretty quickly. Whether it's buying a new car, clothes, house, etc I recommend buying things that will make your life better in the long term. Just don't get on the never ending hedonic treadmill.

Every purchase you make is an expenditure of your life's energy (time), so I like to think about the highest and best use of my money which is usually earning more money. Still, reward yourself from time to time. After all, what's the point of working hard if you never allow yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labor?