How to stop feeling guilty about spending savings on yourself

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

1. 1
   Delaying major hobby purchases for years until feeling entirely secure
2. 2
   Setting up a strict cooling-off period before pulling the trigger
3. 3
   Seeking validation from online communities on whether the expense fits a balanced budget
4. 4
   Setting aside a specific portion of monthly income for savings and using the remainder guilt-free for treats
5. 5
   Finding budget-friendly alternatives for trips and experiences, such as staying at cheaper hotels
6. 6
   Prioritizing investments in marketable skills and career growth over strict early saving from a small income

In their words

Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.