*How social media + FOMO can affect your spending habits

The dreaded FOMO. We’ve all suffered from it at one point or another. There’s no worse feeling than knowing your friends are doing something fun and exciting that you are missing out on. And what’s the driving force of FOMO? Social media. Even those of us with an iron will can find it impossible to ignore those pangs of envy once we start scrolling down our Facebook and Insta feeds, meaning we’re more likely to say yes to things that we can’t afford. In fact, a third of Brits overspend due to FOMO, rising to three in five millennials.

Whether it’s that expensive city break or the must-see play that everyone is talking about, fear of missing out is the one thing that will derail our good intentions not to spend. So how can you stick to a budget without feeling like you’re missing out? Read on for our top FOMO-busting tips.

Keep your eye on the prize

It helps to have a goal when you’re trying not to succumb to FOMO. Do you want to stick to a budget so that you don’t go into debt? Are you saving for a house deposit or a holiday? Whatever the reason, it helps to always have your goal in mind. So, start with doing a little financial planning. Create a budget and decide how much ‘fun money’ you’ll allow yourself per month.

Limit your social media use

This is a pretty obvious solution, but it’s not necessarily the easiest. Yet, quite simply, if you don’t know what’s going on, then you won’t worry about missing out. And if you’ve said no to any plans that friends have made, you might want to mute them for a few days, to keep you on the right path and to avoid feelings of ROMO (Regret of Missing Out).

Focus on the positives rather than the negatives

Yes, a night out can be a lot of fun — you get to dress up, paint the town red and visit the latest bars. But what do you also get? A depleted bank account, a sore head and that aching feeling of regret. However, if you skipped the night out, that means you stuck to your saving plan, you’re not hungover and you’ve hopefully done something more fun instead. So, it’s less about what you’re missing out on and more about what you’ve achieved. Which leads on to the next point…

Find something else to do

Probably the worst thing you can do once you’ve said no to a night out is sit on your sofa with your phone. The sadomasochist in you won’t be able to stop checking that Insta feed. Instead, think about achieving some of your mini life goals. What’s the one thing that you’ve wanted to do, but haven’t had the time? Do you wish you had more time to relax? Perhaps you could download a meditation app? Or start that book you’ve been meaning to read for a long time? Go out for a bracing walk. And the best part about these alternatives? They’re all free!

Plan ahead 

We’re not saying you need to miss out on everything and never go out again! The best way to avoid FOMO is to be the one leading the charge when it comes to organising activities. If you and your friends like pub quizzes, why not have a games night at home? Turn a meal at a restaurant into a potluck supper, where everyone brings something round to share. Swap an expensive weekend away for local bike rides, picnics in the park and checking out free cultural events in your area. You’ll probably discover that your friends are also feeling the FOMO strain and will be glad to do some cheaper activities too.

So, take the lead, keep your goals in mind and keep your thumb off of that screen!

Do you have any tips for beating FOMO? 

*collaborative post