Spending Adult Money to Heal My Inner Child – And Why You Should Too

Because that little girl who never asked for too much, deserved it all.

There’s something quietly magical about spending adult money on childhood dreams — not just on bills, rent, or clothes, but on the little things you always wished for as a child but never asked for. The kind of wishes that felt “too much,” “too expensive,” or simply unspoken.

For me, it all started with a remote control car and a pack of colours.

The Shy, Creative Girl Who Always Listened

I was the kind of kid who listened to everything my parents said. A little shy. A little under-confident. But creative – always curious about art, cartoons, games, and colourful things. As a single child, I never felt like I had nothing. In fact, I was lucky – I had a best friend who had all the international games, and we’d play together. My parents never said no, but I also rarely asked.

Why?

Because I was scared of hearing “no.”

The Things I Secretly Wanted But Never Asked For

While I was content, there were little cravings I tucked away in the corners of my heart:

• A PlayStation or video game console – but I felt guilty asking because I knew it was expensive.
• A remote control car – it looked like the coolest thing, but again, “what if they say no?”
• Paints and new brushes – which thankfully, my grandpa always got for me. That joy of receiving new colours was unmatched.

Some things felt too big to ask for, others felt like indulgences. So I never did.

The Turning Point: Spending My First Salary on a Candle DIY Kit

Over the last year, I’ve started checking off more than just wishlist items — I’ve been slowly working through my actual bucket list before I die. From experiences to emotions, buying childhood dream items is just one part of a larger journey of self-fulfillment. And honestly? Ticking off these little wins feels just as meaningful as the big, bold dreams.

Everything changed last year — June to be precise. I had just joined my dream company, and my first salary hit. I walked into Hamleys (yes, the toy store) and picked up something I’d never allow myself to buy before — a candle-making DIY kit.

I can’t tell you how happy I was. I spent days mixing different colours and oils, taking breaks between work to pour wax into tiny moulds. I was giddy, like a kid again.

That’s when I realized: I could start using my adult money to buy my childhood joy.

The Japan Trip That Made Me Cry (In the Best Way)

During my recent trip to Japan, I didn’t just watch a Doraemon 4D show — I also treated myself to some unique, thoughtful souvenirs. If you’re planning your own trip soon, I’ve shared all the gems in my Japan shopping guide – from budget-friendly picks to childhood-nostalgia buys that are absolutely worth it.

It wasn’t just nostalgia. It felt like healing.

It felt like that little girl inside me finally got to live something she dreamt about for years.

Doraemon-themed things my forever favourite. I was lucky enough to have some of those wishes fulfilled. When I was 5 or 6, I had a Doraemon birthday cake, and when we moved into a new home and I got my own room, my parents got me a Doraemon bedsheet.

Spending Adult Money: What’s on My “Little Me Wishlist” Now

After that trip, something shifted inside me. I asked myself: “What would the 9-year-old me go crazy over?”

So here’s what’s on my inner child wishlist right now:

• A book with cute colour pens (because colours still make me feel calm and happy)
• A remote control car (because even if I don’t use it daily, I still want it)
• Maybe… just maybe… a PS5

Yes, I know they might not be the most “practical” purchases. But guess what?

Not everything has to be practical. Some things just have to feel right.

How I Decide What to Buy Now

Honestly? I didn’t have a solid plan. I just felt something one day and opened ChatGPT to ask — “What should I buy to fulfill my childhood dreams with adult money?”

As I started thinking, the answers flowed: colours, games, toys, tiny joys.

And I realized — I want to make this a yearly ritual. Every June, I’ll gift something to my inner child.

Last June it was a candle kit. This June? Maybe two things. Because she deserves more.

Why Everyone Should Spend Adult Money on Their Inner Child

If you’re reading this and wondering whether to buy yourself that toy, book, slime kit, or cartoon-themed bedsheet… I’ll tell you this:

Do it:

Do it for the 15-year-old version of you who almost got an Xbox but scored 84% instead of the “required” 87%, so she never asked again.
Do it for the 9-year-old you who lit up at a new paint set.
Do it for the little one in you who was never too demanding, but quietly wished someone would surprise her.

Because honestly – not everything in life should be a reward for achievement.
Some things should be gifts, just because you exist.

A Note to My Younger Self

If I could go back and talk to the younger me, I’d say:

“I love you, baby.
You should’ve asked for more.
Not just three things. Not just when you felt it was okay.
You were always worthy.
And now? I’m capable enough to give you everything you wished for.
So get ready — because the colours, games, gadgets, and joy are coming. And they’re all yours.”

Final Thoughts

We spend so much time budgeting, planning, “adulting” – and we forget that we were once little dreamers, too scared to ask for a toy or too shy to say what we really wanted.

But now? Now we’ve grown. We’ve earned.
And we get to say yes to ourselves.

So go ahead – buy the damn remote control car.

Your inner child is waiting at the door, smiling.