1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to indulge in your favorite treats every 4 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: once in a while. Keeping them as treats can actually 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: maximize your enjoyment of them. Like several tips this week, 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: this one comes from Elizabeth Dunn in Michael Norton's book 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: Happy Money, The Science of Happier Spending. If abundance is 8 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: the enemy of appreciation, they write, scarcity maybe our best. Ally, 9 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 1: they dub this insight the wisdom of candy Corn. You 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: can probably guess why candy corn is available for just 11 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: a few weeks each year in October, it's a treat. 12 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: The rest of the year, we'll you'll just have to 13 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: look forward to the next Halloween season to enjoy candy 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: corn again. It's like peppermint ice cream and eggnog in December. 15 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Our MacDonald's mic rib sandwiches whenever those appear. These treats 16 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: are wildly successful because they are available for just a 17 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: limited time. You may have heard your grandparents describe getting 18 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: oranges in their stockings at Christmas. Now we can grab 19 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: an orange whenever. Modern children cannot fathom how excited their 20 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: elders were by a piece of fruit. So it goes. 21 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: But that excitement is kind of fun. So how can 22 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: we apply the wisdom of candy corn in our own lives? Basically, 23 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: we need to let treats be treats rather than convert 24 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: everything we enjoy into a daily occurrence. Instead of buying 25 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: a five dollar coffee every day, just drink ordinary brood 26 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: coffee and let the salted caramel mocha be a first 27 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: day of the month's sort of treat. Instead of having 28 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: a massage every week, save the massages for special days 29 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: when you want to pamper yourself. Now, I am not 30 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: suggesting that you deny yourself pleasures, but you do want 31 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: to make sure you don't partake of treats so often 32 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: that you take them for granted and stop noticing them 33 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: and enjoying them. One approach to doling out treats carefully 34 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: is to create rituals around them. So, for instance, after 35 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: you do your monthly calendar check in with your spouse, 36 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: you share a favorite bottle of wine. You stop by 37 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: Traitor Joe's for dark chocolate salted caramels only after going 38 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: to your doctor's office, which is nearby. One way to 39 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: judge whether you're being careful here is to ask yourself 40 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: if you really do still look forward to the treat 41 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: if it stops registering, is something special? Well, it's time 42 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: to change things up. Are there treats you've grown accustomed 43 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: to and no longer get excited about? If there are, 44 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: see what happens when you stop consuming them thoughtlessly and 45 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: reserve them for moments when you'll really savor them. By 46 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: avoiding indulgences that no longer feel special, we can spend 47 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: money when it will increase our happiness and save money 48 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: when it won't. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks 49 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: for listening, and here's to making the most of our time. 50 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: Hey everybody, I'd love to hear from you. You can 51 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just 52 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before 53 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: Breakfast Pod that's b E the number four then breakfast 54 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: p O D. You can also shoot me an email 55 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeart media dot com that 56 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks 57 00:03:53,360 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: so much. I look forward to staying in touch. Before 58 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: Breakfast is a production of i heart Radio. For more 59 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, 60 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.