“I work hard. I deserve this.”
You’ve said it. I’ve said it. We’ve all said it. And it’s not a lie. You do work hard. You grind, you show up, you deliver.
But somewhere along the way, “I deserve it” stopped being a statement of fact and became a permission slip. A get-out-of-jail-free card for spending that doesn’t actually serve you.
And right now? It’s costing you more than you realize.
The Obvious Ones vs. The Silent Killers
Sometimes “I deserve it” is loud and clear. You know exactly what you’re doing.
- The better EV car 🚗
- The fancy vacation 🏖️
- The kitchen that “needed” renovating 🏠
You know when you’re splurging. You feel the thrill (and maybe a tiny knot of guilt) when you say yes.
These add up. But they’re not the whole story.
The part you don’t see coming? That happens in the margins.
The Subtle Leaks
It’s the $18 lunch because “I don’t have time to meal prep.”
It’s the slightly nicer version of everything—”what’s another $40?”
It’s the “I need this for work” purchase that isn’t really necessary, but feels professional.
It’s ordering in because “I’m too exhausted to cook tonight.” Again. 🥡
It’s the wine at dinner because “we’re celebrating… something.” 🍷
None of these feel like splurges. Each one is completely reasonable on its own. You can justify every single one with a straight face. And they are all running on the same high-octane fuel: “I’ve earned this.”
The Pattern That Keeps You Stuck
Here’s what’s actually happening underneath the hood:
You’re not making one bad decision. You’re making a hundred tiny “reasonable” ones—each justified by your exhaustion.
- The $18 lunch three times a week? That’s nearly $3,000 a year.
- The delivery apps twice a week? That’s another $7,000+.
- The “what’s another $40?” moments? They add up to thousands more.
Suddenly, you’re looking at your income—which is good, maybe even great—and wondering why you still feel behind. Why the math doesn’t math.
The big stuff stings. The small stuff bleeds. And the bleeding never stops.
The Uncomfortable Truth
“I deserve it” has become code for: “I’m going to spend emotionally and justify it.”
It’s the phrase we use when we’re tired. When we’re stressed. When we want a tiny hit of dopamine wrapped in a purchase. And because we do work hard, it feels true every single time.
But here’s the thing:
The reward for hard work shouldn’t be financial chaos wrapped in convenience.
You didn’t grind this hard to be broke in nice shoes.
You didn’t build your career to feel anxious every time you check your account.
You didn’t earn what you earn just to watch it disappear into a blur of “reasonable” expenses.
What You Actually Deserve
You deserve more than the purchase. You deserve more than the dopamine hit.
You deserve CLARITY—to know exactly where your money goes without dread.
You deserve MARGIN—to have something substantial left over at the end of the month.
You deserve CONFIDENCE—to make money decisions from strength, not stress.
You deserve ALIGNMENT—spending that reflects your values, not just your exhaustion.
You deserve to be good with money—not just good at making it. That’s what you’ve actually been working for.
The Ultimate Reframe
What if “I deserve it” didn’t mean another purchase? What if we flipped the script?
What if it meant:
- “I deserve to feel in control.”
- “I deserve to stop leaking money on things I barely remember.”
- “I deserve to have a relationship with money that actually works.”
- “I deserve financial peace—not just financial survival in a nicer package.”
What would change if you treated financial stability as the treat you’ve earned?
The Real Permission Slip
You do deserve it. All of it.
But “it” isn’t just the lunch, the upgrade, the delivery, the wine.
“It” is the peace.
“It” is the freedom.
“It” is the confidence that comes from knowing you’re not just earning well—you’re keeping well.
That’s the real reward.
And trust me: You’ve earned it.
Avraham
Your Financial Coach
P.S. What’s “I deserve it” actually costing you? Let’s find out together. Book a FREE session with me today and take the first step toward financial clarity and confidence.
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