For what it’s worth I’m a sucker for good cheese too.

I agree. Travel and family vacations rank highest on my list. Along with any activity that involves the people I love! Thanks for commenting.

A “worth it” column. That’s a great idea. It’s not the same as creating a scale, but it certainly has a similar effect and is much more simple to maintain.

So far, the vast majority of non-worth-it purchases were food, usually fast food, when I was in a hurry and didn’t have anything at home.

They use the term “fulfillment” rather than joy, but it is the same idea. Evaluate and then do more of the things that bring greater fulfillment and reduce spending on the things that rate lower.

Your point about the emptiness of gift giving for the sake of meeting social expectations is so important. If you opt out, you don’t look like the team player but perhaps you can ask for the team to consider making charitable donations instead. That’s something most people will get behind and it shifts the “fulfillment” or “joy” factor to the positive.

Cheers!
Ree