Rewards on a budget
calypsoca
Posts: 23 Member
I've got a long way to go to reach my ultimate goal, but I have "mini" goals in mind for along the way. However, I'm stuck as to what to do as a reward for achieving those goals. I can't afford massages or pedicures or trips or new clothes or much of anything, but I'd like to have something, no matter how small, as a token of 'hey, you made it this far - just keep going to get the next one!'. Any ideas?
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Replies
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I use a cheat meal on mini goals. Although my co worker said you can have a cheat meal when you got that six pack. LOL she funny though.0
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Could you start a scrap-book? Take pictures and then place reminders of things in there.
For example - a start weight picture, then a 10lb loss picture. When I started at over 200 lbs, I didn't really want to move much. After even a 10 lb loss, I was going to outside events - so maybe tickets or reminders of things you did that you couldn't do before... or event hings that you find you're enjoying now that you didn't used to? If I had one, I think I'd put the starting weight picture on the last page, and work my way forward - each page closer to the front of the book would be a page for progress. When you finally get to the front, you'll open to the first page and see you at goal.
Just a thought.0 -
My "rewards" are fitness items. For less than $20 at Walmart, I can buy a new neon tank and pair of running shorts, or a cute sports bra, or a new workout/yoga DVD. For bigger milestones, I reward myself with bigger rewards. 50lbs lost earns me a Polar HRM. I'm looking to buy that next month.0
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Could you start a scrap-book? Take pictures and then place reminders of things in there.
For example - a start weight picture, then a 10lb loss picture. When I started at over 200 lbs, I didn't really want to move much. After even a 10 lb loss, I was going to outside events - so maybe tickets or reminders of things you did that you couldn't do before... or event hings that you find you're enjoying now that you didn't used to? If I had one, I think I'd put the starting weight picture on the last page, and work my way forward - each page closer to the front of the book would be a page for progress. When you finally get to the front, you'll open to the first page and see you at goal.
Just a thought.
I love this idea. I digitally scrapbook, so this is something I can put together with very little expense (printing it out would be the extent of the cost). Thanks so much for the fabulous idea!!0 -
My "rewards" are fitness items. For less than $20 at Walmart, I can buy a new neon tank and pair of running shorts, or a cute sports bra, or a new workout/yoga DVD. For bigger milestones, I reward myself with bigger rewards. 50lbs lost earns me a Polar HRM. I'm looking to buy that next month.
For me, right now Walmart is out of the question for clothes. I'd love a HRM, but it's not in the budget for quite a while yet. The purse strings are pulled about as tight as they can get. :-( but it's something to keep in mind for down the road.0 -
Some people do rocks in a jar. Move one from the full jar to the empty jar for each pound you lose.
Or put a $1 in the jar for each pound lost. Buy something frivolous when you hit goal.0 -
I use a cheat meal on mini goals. Although my co worker said you can have a cheat meal when you got that six pack. LOL she funny though.
I don't really need to do a cheat meal, as I'm able to fit pretty much anything I want into my daily goals...I try not to deprive myself of anything because my history shows that when I start to feel deprived, I go waaaaaaaay overboard and then fall completely off track and take forever (a year and a half and 50 lbs gained last time) to get back on track.A bowl of ice cream. Like a big giant bowl.
Delicious! But, again, I do treat myself to ice cream occasionally :-)0 -
Some people do rocks in a jar. Move one from the full jar to the empty jar for each pound you lose.
Or put a $1 in the jar for each pound lost. Buy something frivolous when you hit goal.
I'm gonna use this since I do need to buy new clothes already but don't want to.0 -
Some people do rocks in a jar. Move one from the full jar to the empty jar for each pound you lose.
Or put a $1 in the jar for each pound lost. Buy something frivolous when you hit goal.
Hmm. I'll give this one some thought. I'm not sure I'd do the rocks, though that's a neat idea, but I could probably spare $5-$10 a month into a savings account. Thanks!0 -
Mine requires support from my wife. I try to get a day all to myself, playing video games, reading, etc...0
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Could you start a scrap-book? Take pictures and then place reminders of things in there.
For example - a start weight picture, then a 10lb loss picture. When I started at over 200 lbs, I didn't really want to move much. After even a 10 lb loss, I was going to outside events - so maybe tickets or reminders of things you did that you couldn't do before... or event hings that you find you're enjoying now that you didn't used to? If I had one, I think I'd put the starting weight picture on the last page, and work my way forward - each page closer to the front of the book would be a page for progress. When you finally get to the front, you'll open to the first page and see you at goal.
Just a thought.
I love this idea. I digitally scrapbook, so this is something I can put together with very little expense (printing it out would be the extent of the cost). Thanks so much for the fabulous idea!!
Just wanna say this is SUCH a cool idea :-) Love it.
Also, if you're into clothing related rewards...it could even be clearance or thrift store items.0 -
Mine requires support from my wife. I try to get a day all to myself, playing video games, reading, etc...
I get my days to myself all the time, and can choose what I do or don't do (kids in school, I'm a single stay at home mom, so if I choose not to clean that day, it just doesn't get done, and we move on to the next day). Now, what would be good would be a NIGHT to myself. However, that requires my ex-husband's cooperation, and, well, that doesn't happen often.0 -
Also, if you're into clothing related rewards...it could even be clearance or thrift store items.
When I get down to a small enough size, I will definitely be thrift shopping. Still have to shop in the big girl stores for now, though, and the thrift stores around here don't carry much in the bigger sizes. Thanks!0 -
Some people do rocks in a jar. Move one from the full jar to the empty jar for each pound you lose.
Or put a $1 in the jar for each pound lost. Buy something frivolous when you hit goal.
This is a great idea! I may have to try this too!0 -
Massages and manicures can be expensive, but your home page mentions that you have kids. How about writing up a reward 'coupon book' that you give to your kids. When you get to a goal, you ask your kids to pick one to reward you with. Examples that come to mind are:
1. A massage from the kids
2. Breakfast in bed (Menu pre-chosen and approved by you of course)
3. Karaoke and dance night with the kids
4. 'Mommy did it' art work
5. Saturday trip to the zoo (or other free outing with them)
Maybe the kids could help you by coming up with rewards that they'd like to give you. It would also be a terrific way to show them how to follow through on things, and allow them to participate in your journey.0 -
Truthfully? I don't get the "rewards" thing. My "reward" is looking marvelous and feeling fantastic and the prospect of living long enough to see great great grandchildren.
I don't need a freaking pair of shoes or an ice cream sundae as well.0 -
You mentioned you can't afford a pedicure but go get a new bottle of polish and have a girls afternoon of mani pedi with a friend or daughter if you have one. Even do it your self. Its z fun cheap reward.0
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I treat myself to a "home mani/pedi" A couple of dollars will buy a pretty new nail polish color and then I take some time at night when my son is in bed and do my nails all pretty. It is simple and kind of frivilous but it makes me feel pretty so I like having that as a treat. really don't even need to buy new polish if you don't want to but it is nice to have something new.0
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Truthfully? I don't get the "rewards" thing. My "reward" is looking marvelous and feeling fantastic and the prospect of living long enough to see great great grandchildren.
I don't need a freaking pair of shoes or an ice cream sundae as well.
I'm glad you're satisfied with that. I've got a long way to go before I'll feel like I look marvelous or feel fantastic, so I want something to help me along the way as motivation. I don't really have anybody cheering me on from the sidelines, aside from my 11 and 12 year old kids, and they don't really "get" it.
And, if you read any of my responses, you'd have seen that I don't want an ice cream sundae, and while shoes had not been mentioned, I'm pretty sure my subject line made it clear that I can't afford to buy myself new shoes "just because". Carry on in your life, and I (and those who have responded positively to me) will carry on in ours.0 -
maybe a Weeknight rest/movie night at home. rent from red box for a couple bucks.
nail polish and a home pedicure or another beauty product under $10.
a healthy food splurge. Like berries if you don't normally buy them or steak fajita night instead of ground beef or chicken if you enjoy meat.
Good Luck with your weight loss0 -
On days that I workout, I get to use my special "good job, you worked out today!" body wash. Other days, I just use my regular bar of soap. It's not expensive or anything, just different!! Seems silly but at least let's me recognize that I did something good for me today!
Love the scrapbooking idea!0 -
I haven't operated on a reward system, but since I needed new clothes anyways from losing I guess that could be called a reward. Or just avoiding indecent exposure.
Maybe something like nail polish or a hair accessory would work if you need a reward. There are cheap and useful things out there. Put that extra dollar towards a food item at the store you couldn't afford but wanted (like a new brand of protein bars or some extra fruit). Darn groceries are expensive, so get something you always put off getting because it's too expensive.
Or just enjoy the fruits of your labor and appreciate how you feel. That has worked for me well enough...and I have been broker than broke throughout my weight loss story.0 -
A $5-10 "shopping spree" at a 99 cent store is fun. Spend a couple extra dollars on some fruit or health food that you wouldn't normally splurge on (I usually only buy stuff on sale or in season, but will splurge on a more expensive mango or something as a treat now and then). Go for a walk somewhere special or do something free but fitness related. Look in your local newspaper or google free local events that you can attend. Make yourself a bath with candles and pamper yourself at home.0
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Well.... I have over 100 pounds to lose and I am in the same spot as the person who was "negative" I don't require rewards. I am by myself, I do not even have a kid to cheer for me, I am in this all alone and I don't mind. My reward is going to the doctor and getting a high five for having all the numbers that were pushing me into medication territory come back as perfect.Truthfully? I don't get the "rewards" thing. My "reward" is looking marvelous and feeling fantastic and the prospect of living long enough to see great great grandchildren.
I don't need a freaking pair of shoes or an ice cream sundae as well.
I'm glad you're satisfied with that. I've got a long way to go before I'll feel like I look marvelous or feel fantastic, so I want something to help me along the way as motivation. I don't really have anybody cheering me on from the sidelines, aside from my 11 and 12 year old kids, and they don't really "get" it.
And, if you read any of my responses, you'd have seen that I don't want an ice cream sundae, and while shoes had not been mentioned, I'm pretty sure my subject line made it clear that I can't afford to buy myself new shoes "just because". Carry on in your life, and I (and those who have responded positively to me) will carry on in ours.
My other reward is feeling like a million bucks. Do I look the way I want? Nope, and I probably never will but when I wake up in the morning and get my *kitten* to the gym and have to up my weights, or am able to walk/run a little faster its a bigger reward. Do you reward your kids for every A they get? or if they behave or do something they just should be doing? If you are doing this for nothing other than yourself the reward should be something that isn't materialistic. But that is just my opinion.0 -
If you are doing this for nothing other than yourself the reward should be something that isn't materialistic. But that is just my opinion.
This was pretty much the point of my post - I can't afford, and therefore don't want, something materialistic. I can't afford a gym membership, thus can't make PB's in that regard. I wasn't meaning to say that the other poster was being negative, but rather that she wasn't posting in the spirit of how I intended this topic. I understand that rewards are different for everyone, but c'mon...everyone has them - you said yourself what your rewards are, even if you never thought of them as such. I don't *need* a reward. I *want* one, because I have nobody around who will tell me that they've noticed I've lost weight, nobody around to see what I've been doing. As I said, the kids don't "get" it. They see me weighing and measuring and tracking and all that, but they don't understand why. To them, obese is not a concept that exists in their world. There's little, big, and bigger.
I just want something *for myself* to say, hey, good job, keep it up. So thanks to the folks who offered ideas. I'm starting on the scrapbook now (took my before pics last month, 2 months into this), and will figure out a budget for the piggy bank idea between now and when I get paid again.0 -
What about celebrate by doing something nice for someone else? I believe you mentioned that you have your days to yourself, so why not celebrate by helping out at a charity of some kind. spend an afternoon at a soup kitchen, help out at your local Salvation Army, donate blood, walk shelter dogs. You'd feel good after as well, which helps helps in the whole happy cycle of loving yourself and what not.0
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i agree with those who said the intrinsic reward is enough.
when i hit a goal weight, or a bf%, or a new deadlift, or a quicker mile time, i high-five myself, hear cheering in my head, and move on with my life.
keep truckin.0 -
I think you should reward yourself with a trip to Golden Corral.0
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For those who don't feel they don't need or want a reward well that's awesome and, this topic obviously isn't for you so ya know keep truckin.
Anyway, I have the jars and rocks and it only cost a few bucks to do but it isn't all that grand except for the visual effect which is kinda cool. I think doing at home mani/pedis would be great since you have your days to yourself. Or like someone else mentioned donating your time or go somewhere it doesn't cost money to visit, the park or gardens? Also if you can afford a few bucks a month to put back then save that money for something big? I have big rewards I'm saving for, a new pair of shoes and a new pair of boots. Thrift stores is also a good idea, it's what I plan to do until I get to the weight/size I want. If you plan to save for several months you could have a fabulous shopping spree that way. :-)0
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