Self Care and My Budget -- Is My New Chair an Indulgence?
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What is this Really About?
It's not about the chair. Not really.
It is about self care and how it fits into my budget.
I just got started as a new website owner and now I have a new desk chair.
Didn't I just say that I was going to stick with OBS for livestreaming because I wasn't ready to pay for Restream?
Yes, I did.
However...
Over the Last Month My Sciatica Started Acting Up Again
It hadn't bothered me for so many years that I had forgotten what it feels like when it acts up.
The chair I had been using for a long time was super worn out.
We actually got it for free.
Someone left it on the curb where we used to live and we took it.
It wasn't in the greatest shape but it was good enough for what I needed at the time.
That was more than ten or fifteen years ago and who knows how old it was when we picked it up.
We tried buying a lumbar support cushion and put it on the chair Roy was using.
He went to readjust it and the strap broke.
We sent it back to Amazon and since we were right by an Office Max Office Depot store we stopped in to try out some office chairs that were on display.
They were nice but the prices were a bit out of range for what we wanted to spend.
When we got home Roy started researching some more office chairs on Amazon.
He found one that was what I need for a reasonable price and ordered it.
It arrived yesterday and he assembled it right away.
Yes, it's very comfortable.
So Should Self Care be Included in a Business Budget?
In my opinion, it should because I won't be able to do what needs to be done in my business if I can't spend enough time at my desk to work.
People use standing desks too but I prefer to sit and work.
I know I need to get up more and exercise too.
And stretch.
That's self care as well and it doesn't cost anything.
I did my best to find a chair that would feel comfortable enough to sit in for a couple hours or more at a time and still stay at a reasonable for us price point.
It was around 180 dollars so if it lasts even 5 or 6 years that isn't too bad. That is between 30 and 36 dollars a year for something that won't kill my back.
Would love to know what you do for self care and how it fits into your budget. We all need to be good to ourselves.
Have a great evening.
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Very lucky that my company is finally paying for my Work at home furniture. But yours looks comfy !CTP
That's a nice thing when they do that. It very much is. Thanks for the comment and the tip, @whywhy! 😀
!CTP
I am glad your taking care of yourself. And yes self care and safety are an important part of any business.
!CTP
Thank you, Tom! Sciatica is no picnic. And if I can't sit at my desk and work I can't earn. Appreciate the tip and the comment. 😀
!CTP
I agree with you, Lisa. We aren't 25 anymore. It is important to have supportive seating for the amount of time we spend using it. They just need to build in an eject function that will go off every hour or so to get you up and moving. It is amazing how long you can sit when you are involved in what you are doing.
I guess I have the next best thing, my smart watch will tell me to get up and move every hour which works well but I rarely wear it at home.
Seems like yesterday that we were 25. 😂 Yes, it easy to just forget about getting up. I could set an alarm on my phone for that. I keep it right next to me on my desk. I have a fitbit that my sister gave me when she bought a new one. It's weird having a watch on since I haven't worn one in so long.
Thanks for commenting. Appreciate the engagement.
!CTP😀
I bought a good-quality office chair about 2 years or so ago... my son seems to think I bought it for him for his gaming, so it keeps disappearing into the room, lol.
Oh boy! I guess he needs to earn money gaming so he can buy his own chair. Thanks for commenting. 😀
!CTP
I hadn't thought too much about it until recently. I have an old chair that my wife's company was throwing out. So far it's quite comfy and ok. But I think it's worth investing to make your workplace nice.
Yeah, I get it. I didn't worry about the chair till the sciatica started acting up. Funny how pain gets one moving. And yes, I love having my own workspace and having it somewhat nice and comfortable. Thanks for your comment.😀
!CTP
Great article Lisa, I understand how a chair can make a big difference in aches and pains at the end of the day. Rest assured that your chair is an office furniture expense, check with your accountant because you can write this one-off.
I do agree with you that self care needs to be budgeted for, after all if we do not have our health what do we really have?
Thanks very much, Chris! Yes, I will be letting my accountant know all of my expenses. Hell, when I was working for him, one of his clients asked him if she could write off some cosmetic surgery she had because she is an "influencer" and on camera all the time. LOL Really?! Too funny. So true. Without our health not healthy not much else matters.
!CTP
Having a good chair can make all the difference in the world. The big corporations understand that. When I was doing contract work for a worldwide chemical company they had $300 chairs in every office. Probably one of the nicest office chair I have ever sat in.
It is making a huge difference in my ability to sit here and focus on working and not being in pain.
Thanks for stopping by with a comment, @bozz!😀Happy Midweek!
!CTP
I was baffled to hear what a good office chair cost when my boyfriend showed the one the company he worked for sent home during the pandemic. I was amazed and I thought I would never buy one that expensive. Now that I've been working on a shitty chair at a dinner table for quite some time, I have decided differently haha. A good office setting is needed when you are working behind a computer, the back pains I got back after years were so horrible that I really don't want to play with fire by sitting on a shitty chair working again.
Enjoy your new chair!
Oh and to answer your question, since we decided to move back to Spain, I've been budgetting like a queen and as soon as we are settled in our own apartment, I will start budgetting in monthly savings for costs like this. First, I need to know our total monthly costs before I will do so.
!CTP
Thank you and thank you also for your comment, @thisismylife! Back pain is more than a nuisance. I totally understand needing to get all the necessities and fixed costs organized first once you get settled in. Take Care and Happy Midweek! 😀
!CTP
Hi Lisa
I am currently using one of our extra dinning room chairs as my desk chair.
A couple of cushions added, and it passes as comfortable :-)
But after seeing your new chair, I must admit that I have a little chair envy LOL
I think it might be time to spend a little and trade up to a more professional style of chair.
Who knows, it might even bring in more sales :-)
Thanks for the post Lisa
All the best with The Pizza Plan
Kevin
Thank you and thanks for taking the time to comment, @wealthmax! It is really nice and comfy. I am fortunate also that my husband had the time to really shop for me. He is retired so he can do things like read all the reviews. How did we ever shop without reviews? LOL Happy Midweek!😀
!CTP