(Yes, I ended that with a preposition.)
It’s no secret that my family is on a budget. A fairly tight budget. (I blogged the budget details a few years ago, but the numbers have changed.) One of the secrets to living frugally and still enjoying myself is to pick some splurges that are worth it to me. That way I avoid feeling deprived and still avoid mindlessly spending money*.
*Most of the time. But that’s what returns are for, right?
What’s worth splurging on (for me):
– Good coffee. GOOD coffee. Whether we’re brewing it at home or getting it while out and about, I want good coffee. (I wrote about this almost four years ago in “I’ll Be the Bag Lady Sipping a Latte.”
– Good food. Especially good restaurant food. There are only so many meals I eat out, so I want them to be worth it. Stopping for fast food might be convenient, but it’s not quite the same as going to a local tasty restaurant with friends. We generally tend towards spending our grocery money on less-processed foods and CSAs. But also some Cinnamon Toast Crunch because you only live once. And the whole point of adulthood is getting to eat sugary cereals.
– Fast internet. We are Heavy Internet Users. Aside from designing websites, we also get all of our media (movies, TV, music, news) online. We got the cheapest internet at first, but that was NO BUENO.
– A covered parking spot. The convenience and the comfort (our car is never hot or cold) are 110% worth it. Using the grocery carts to carry our groceries in, never shoveling off the snow, and not having to look for parking are so worth a dollar a day.
– Savings. Having a healthy savings account and some investments isn’t just a sound financial practice in the event of an emergency (or buying a house or car or retiring), it also keeps me relaxed. I am able to rest easy knowing that even if we have a low-earning month (the joys of self-employment!), we have a safety net that’s there for us.
– Travel. YES AND YES. I will always take the opportunity to travel over almost anything else. Unlike almost any other spending decision, if I’m waffling over spending money on travel – I tend to say yes. I’m saying yes to an experience, not just an item in my home.
– Clothes that fit. I’ve learned that paying a little more to shop at a store that carries petites, like LOFT or Gap, means my clothes look better. Sure, Target is cheap (and has its place in my closet!), but I have to buy petite sizes for things to really fit.
– Hotels that aren’t icky. I use various apps and websites to find affordable but nice hotels to stay at while traveling. It’s so worth it to spend a little more for a nicer (clean!) hotel in an area with lots of restaurants and such.
– A comfortable apartment in a walkable, vibrant neighborhood. Our apartment costs a bit more than average apartment in our area, but it allows us to have just one car and is exactly where we want to be. Nowhere else in our city is this walkable with restaurants, the library, a movie theater, and a pharmacy within a few blocks.
What’s not worth splurging on (for me) (at this point in my life):
– Hair cuts for Gabe. We can do them at home easily. And by WE, I mean Mike.
– Cable. (And even cancelled Netflix for the time being.) With Hulu, I get more than enough TV options. Though in the cold, dark days of winter, we might add back Netflix. I do prefer the lack of commercials.
– Designer anything. I cannot stomach spending $600 on a purse. Or $300 on shoes. Or even $200 on jeans. I don’t care about labels. I care about quality and I’ve found that more money doesn’t always mean good quality.
– A new car. I don’t think we’ll ever buy a new car. No car payments, please.
What I’m Not Sure About:
– Hair cuts for me. I get my hair cut at Great Clips. I have gotten $40 and $50 hair cuts before (gift certificates, whee!), but noticed no difference in my actual hair cut, just a nicer salon experience. But I wonder if I should have a “stylist” and if that would make my hair nicer? I don’t know.
. . .
I’d love to hear about your spending priorities.
Also, splurging seems like weird word after looking at it for so long.
i definitely splurge on haircuts, though now that my hair is so long and I stopped coloring it, I only need 3-4 cuts per year. I do make sure to tell them how low-maintenance I want to be (so much air-drying!) so they don’t go too crazy, but I like the layers they get. Plus I can’t resist the relaxing and fancy experience :)
I like the idea of being able to tell them I’m low-maintenance and having them adjust for that.
I love your lists posts! I wish I had got the more expensive apartment closer to work- I spend 2 hours round trip a lots of frustration commuting in Portland traffic. Oh, and gas.
It’s worth it to walk to everything for sure!
Oh, I’m so glad you like them! :) That means a lot.
And a long commute is top of my “Hate It” list – so sorry you’re dealing with that!
I’m with you on the coffee! I’ll also always splurge for books, whether paper or e-versions. I’m currently trying like heck to get our grocery bill down and to build our savings back up, so I’ve been trying not to splurge on much.
Hair- I will always splurge on this, and in my area, for my stylist whom I love! that’s about $40 for a cut/blow/dry. The difference in my self esteem with a bad haircut vs good haircut? Worth that all day long.
Love the site btw- attempting my own personal spending freeze for the month of September!
I was lucky that I found a great stylist at a fairly low cost place. As for hand bags. I tend to find great deals at the outlets or Macys on a nice bag (Spending about $50) but I’m on year 2 of one and I can’t even tell you how long I’ve had my other Fossil bag.
There are a few mid-range designers/ stores I’ll spend the money on, but mostly because I feel like they last and it’s worth it.
I’m still sorting out what else is worth spending more money on. Workout clothes, no. Sneakers, yes. (Luckily I can usually find them on sale somewhere!) Concerts, maybe. Dinner out, sometimes.
So Fossil bags last? Good to know!
Fossil bags last for such a long time and if you have an outlet nearby you can score some great deals! I just bought a PERFECT leather crossbody bag for $45 at my outlet and I know it will lost me years!
Love this list! I agree with you on everything except the car–we had SO much trouble with our cars that we traded them both in and got a single new one. We do have car payments, but it actually allows me to build credit (of which I previously had NONE and couldn’t get a credit card to save my life), and I love our car (it’s a Subaru Crosstrek)! We’re only about to hit 2,000 miles on it though, and we bought it in December!
I go to Great Clips too, never really had a problem. I’ve gone to expensive hair places before and while I’d probably spend more money if I were getting a difficult dye job (like that time I tried to bleach henna out of my hair and it turned green), for haircuts I’ve never had a problem with a $12 haircut.
For bags I’ve been contemplating buying a nicer one as well. I go through bags in about a year, or sometimes less if they’re really cheap. I have a leather satchel which I got in London for about $100 which now needs a repair as the leather is tearing a bit at the strap–but that’s after 4 years of heavy use! Ended up being cheaper in the long run (plus, who doesn’t love a leather satchel?).
But, hey, one new one is better than two crappy ones! :)
I’m not opposed to spending more on a bag if it lasts longer…would just suck to spend more and have it not last! I could get a tote, but it’s just not as cute, if I’m honest. ;)
That’s exactly how I feel about expensive bags—what if they don’t last? I’m kind of rough on my bags. You mentioned getting 1 a year at Target. I usually get mine at Kohls. Right now I’m using what I suppose is called a “tote” === like a briefcase but soft-sided, as a purse. It allows me to carry books and lots of other things.
I’m with you on just about all these points. I do like to get nicer purses (NOT designer but in the $100 to $150 range). I have had my current one for 5 years, it cost around $100, and I am just now needing a new one.
I do get my hair cut at a day spa/salon but my stylist specializes in children’s cuts and she has much cheaper prices than the other stylists there. She is $30 for a cut/blow dry/style and I still get the salon extras with her like the free essential oil scalp rub and free shoulder massage before hair cut.
We do have 2 cars because we each drive over 100 miles a day for work and we have 3 kids but I use my car until it dies, literally.
I will pay good money for coffee, chocolate, tea, produce, and dairy and then try to go with less expensive items for daily meals like bean soups, pastas etc. We use cloth wipes in the bathroom (yes, really), don’t use products like paper towels etc so I figure that balances out what I spend on coffee and chocolate. I bring my lunch from home to work daily and we rarely eat out, maybe on birthdays or a special occasion a few times a year. Feeding 5 people at a restaurant is expensive!
I also have 3 kids in private school (Episcopal) and I think that is money well spent. They will have that experience for the rest of their lives.
Love these posts you do!
Yes! We use cloth instead of paper for just about everything our house. Less waste and less money!
And I have very similar food buying habits. Beans are cheap! :)
That’s awesome that your bag lasted so long! What brand is it, if I might ask?
It is The Sak brand. It is black leather so shows no dirt and has held up fabulously. It is still in good shape but the inside is stained up due to 5 years of abuse, mainly food my kids have left in it, spilled sippee cups, etc. I looked for it online now and there are similar ones for $119. That’s a lot but when you spread that out over 5 years of use and abuse… that’s a deal!
Check out Holly Aiken bags – they are so fun and indestructible. And you can custom design some of them, which could be seriously addictive.
I agree with all of your “worth it” splurges! And I love reading about the ways you try to simplify your life. It’s inspiring to me.
Obviously in our case we NEED two cars since G commutes so far to work. (Although we did buy both his car and my minivan used, which saved a LOT of money.) We also do get cable but at one point a couple years ago we cut it out for a while to save money and honestly we didn’t miss it that much.
We are on a tight budget, too, until I go back to work. Can’t even do much travel right now, but if we decide not to move (i.e. spend a crap load of money on a new house) then we’ll have more to work with, which would be nice! I feel exactly the same–that *experiences* are worth much more than “things.”
And if you ever want to go to a great stylist every once in a while, I have a referral card for $10 off to mine (in Stow)! She’s your age (late 20s) and awesome with hair. :) I think it’s $30 for cut/style and it’s worth it for me because my hair is superfine and kinda challenging, lol.
Ha! Yeah, can’t really drop G off at work so you have the car for the day like we do. ;)
Hopefully everything will settle down for you soon. And yes, please! I would love to have a referral to a stylist. I think that’s part of why I never tried – it seemed overwhelming to find someone!
I think this is a great list. Many of mine are similar to yours — we like living in a nice, walkable neighborhood even though it costs a little more, but keeps our car/commuting costs low. I also cut Andrew’s hair and plan to cut the boys’ hair. I’m due for a haircut myself (only go 2-3x year) and trying to decide how much to spend!
My two necessary splurges are good food and travel. Eating GOOD food makes every day feel like a luxury, and travel is important to me because I live across the country from my family, who I miss very much. What it costs to see them is always worth it, as is travel in general. I’m with you on the car and Target handbags!
“Eating GOOD food makes every day feel like a luxury” – Yes! Exactly!
And I know someday we might live away from our family, which makes me sad. Both because I love them and because I don’t wanna spend all my travel money going to Ohio! ;)
If I can’t DIY it myself… splurging on good quality, non-toxic health & beauty products.
When it comes to clothing, shoes & accessories I am learning to splurge when I know the item is high quality and will last me a long time, like a North Face jacket I had for 8 years which I just replaced. Or Doc Marten shoes that I had for 10 years.
For more trendy items or clothing I need in a pinch I shop the Goodwill. :)
I love your list. It is very well thought out. I learned a while back to splurge on a few classic clothing pieces and bras. It is totally worth it because they last and fit better. I add in spending a little more on some makeup (blush and bronzer mostly) and nail polish too, because they make me feel good.
As for haircuts, I see no difference from going to an under $20 place versus an expensive stylist you see regularly. I have a few friends that see a stylist and they complain about not getting the cut exactly they way they wanted all the time. It doesn’t seem to be a major difference, unless maybe you have very textured hair that needs a little extra TLC.
For bags check out TJMaxx or Marshalls for good deals. You can get a nicer bag for the same $ you would spend at Target. Although in my experience, they don’t really last much longer to make spending a ton worth it unless you want to parade around a label. I have to admit sometimes I really would like to just parade around a label and I don’t feel shame around that.
You are a great influence. Thanks for sharing your budgeting tips!
Oh, yes. BRAS. So very important. I used to get whatever was on clearance at Target. No more! Not going cheap on something I wear every single day!
I think for haircuts it depends on the type of haircut you get. I also think the quality of stylists at low cost chain salons vary widely (I’ve had REALLY good ones and REALLY bad ones). Since I have really short hair and I’m really picky, I pay $40 (including tip) to go to an Aveda salon every 8 weeks. It’s worth it to me because in the end, my hair is super low maintenance and always looks good with hardly any effort. I have thought about going to a more affordable stylist in between for simple trims, but if I ever want to change the style, I will definitely continue to go to my “pricey” stylist. But I know you can find cheaper stylists–my friend goes to a local, no-frills salon which happens to have a fabulous stylist who really does a great job every time. It just takes a little searching.
For bags…eh. I have a good mix of cheap Target-ish bags and a few really good ones. You can sometimes find cute ones from outdoorsy brands (i.e. ones that last) like Keene, etc. at Sierra Trading Post. But my favorite bag I got on Etsy for about $45 and it’s canvas and really well made; I think it’ll last a long time!
Yes! Short hair makes good hair cuts more essential!
Ooooh, interesting list. I have been having an internal debate with myself about what is worth spending money on … I think it would help me to write it down. I buy my handbags from Target and/or other places (but will not pay more than $50-$60 per bag). I can’t speak to quality (I’ve never kept a handbag until it’s falling apart), but I will say that overall, I’ve always gotten way more “LOVE YOUR HANDBAG” comments on my Target bags than on any other kind of bag. It tickles me silly that a $20 bag can garner so many compliments that more expensive bags don’t.
Your list and mine are pretty congruous except hair cuts. I wear my hair short these days and in the wrong hands could end up looking very Mrs. Brady. So haircuts are a splurge. Food is absolutely something worth spending money on, whether its from the grocery store, csa, or retaurant. Not to be gross, but feminine hygiene products are definitely something worth shelling out a little extra cash to get the nicer quality brand.
Otherwise, the way I reign in spending is if I go to a store (target mall whatever) and see something that days or weeks later I am still thinking about, THEN and only then will I buy it.
Travel is probably my single biggest expense. I travel to my hometown see my parents at least twice a year, and my fiance and I take an international vacation every year because that’s what’s the most important to us. I also have to spend money on running shoes twice a year (at $100-ish a pair) because my feet are high maintenance. But then we have a 12-year-old Jetta that we drive once a week, which is minimally insured, so that saves us a ton of money. We also go out for coffee or park dates instead of out to dinner, which saves us a lot on eating out.
love this list!
i’m definitely with you on some of the splurges. for me it’s definitely travel, good food and bigger living space. our apartment upgrade this year was definitely a splurge and we’re spending more money than we’re used to, but every day it’s proved worth it. from staying in our awesome neighborhood to central air when it’s been over 100 five days in a row. a crazy, awesome, expensive splurge that definitely proves its worth daily, ha.
& i usually pass on spending on designer things as well ( i don’t get it!), lunch and books (hurray library!).
I agree with a lot of your list! For me, it’s worth spending money on the following:
-experiences that will create lasting memories (i.e. vacations, once in a lifetime opportunities, even dining experiences)
-coffee (I had the WORST cheap coffee this week–I’ve learned my lesson)
-a safe apartment in a safe neighborhood (I live alone)
-fast internet (since I’m juggling a new pediatric nurse practitioner job with a fluctuating schedule and a doctoral program, I NEED fast internet)
-feminine products (speaks for itself).
I’ll be frugal on:
-food (mostly Target’s market, Kroger, or Trader Joe’s)
-clothes and accessories (thrift stores, Target, scrubs for work that serve as lounging clothes, pajamas, work clothes, school clothes)
-cable (none for me, but I do have Netflix)
-hair cuts (Great Clips is my go-to place)
I’m sure I have more to add later! :)
Great read Ashley! I gotta say my list is quite similar!
After seven years of university, with my husband still in school, I find myself a new pharmacist providing a single income to our household. Real life was a bit of a shock financially, with my province’s industry recently taking a hard hit (read: lower wages and fewer jobs), realizing how much of my paycheque goes to taxes (but for the wonderful free health care we enjoy!), and having to juggle two rents for a while as I was forced to relocate due to said lack of jobs.
Travel is a must for my list too. When my husband and I were both in school we spent a chunk of our student income/loans/bursaries on a major trip about once a year (gasp – I know). While our student debts are higher as a result, we don’t regret a single canoe adventure down a castle dotted French river, run across the Golden Gate Bridge, or authentic Chilean empanada. And using our brains by keeping a modest travel budget and securing a low interest rate on our loans makes it possible to pay these vacations off without sacrificing future trips. Ashley, you’re right on with your embrace of buying experiences and not objects.
I agree with the above post regarding hair cuts. As someone with very fine and limp hair (and no motivation to spend more than 10 minutes drying/styling in the morning), a simple at-home hair cut has no natural beauty or home effort to hide behind. For most of my university career I got at-home hair cuts (love my mommy, but she shouldn’t quit her custodian day job) with the occassional salon splurge. Looking back on photos, I definitely consider the salon splurges worth it. Considering they last (correction: I make them last) 3 months, my medium priced salon hair cuts won’t bankrupt us.
Good valued non term life insurance makes the list for us too. We signed up as healthy midtwentysomethingyearolds for a set monthly dollar amount that will never increase due to inflation. Because it’s non term, we feel good knowing that the money we put in will certainly be going toward someone’s tuition, mortgage, or whatever else in the future. Of course once we start have children we’ll appreciate it even more.
As for hand bags, I normally go for something in the $20-30 range (usually after some kind of price reduction) that last me 6 months to a year. But on a recent trip to Goodwill, I found a brand new Nine West handbag for $5. Unbelievable. I definitely recommend searching the hand bag section with each thrift store visit!
I don’t like to splurge on most clothing. Clothes bought on clearance or a thrift store (both with careful consideration) are a lot more exciting to wear, and there isn’t potential for much disappointment if something gets a bleach spot or shabby after a few washes. The types of clothing I’d consider splurging on are timeless pieces like winter coats & shoes that see a lot of wear and tear. But still I shop around for deals. ;)
Great post & comments!
We are not where we want to be financially right now – there are a lot of little ways that I want to start saving – but I’m still a non-spender. Mostly I’m trying to get my husband to make changes because he currently splurges on buying his lunch every day and neither of us think that’s really worth it! I wouldn’t even say our house is a splurge because it’s a modest size, the mortgage is reasonable, and a decent apartment would be almost the same amount in rent. We did spring for an alarm system just for peace of mind: $40/month and it really helps us relax.
I’m such a low-maintenance person, but since I switched to all-natural personal care products you might call that a bit of a splurge (even though I go with the cheapest ones I can find). I do get a more expensive bag (not designer though; around $100-150) and use it for a long time. I’ve had a few from Fossil that have held up really well.
Actually now that I’m writing this out I’m getting bummed that I don’t have MORE things we splurge on. We can’t even afford travel right now. Once we get a little more ahead of things I hope to be able to set aside money for things like that!
I do have some designer handbags (Louis Vuitton, Longchamp and Kate Spade) and a wallet (Kate Spade) and have had a couple Coach purchases over the years. I also I have some items from Anthropologie, J. Crew, etc. But the thing about these purchases is that they were pretty much all gifts or gift card-related! For instance, my LV bag was bought on eBay for $220. However, I bought it using $150 in birthday money. Some designer stuff (and I feel especially with handbags since they tend to not get yucky as fast) is important, but I have noticed that a lot of my nicer clothes (LOFT, J.Crew, etc) tends to wear out, fade or rip even faster than my stuff from Target! It’s so weird! Price definitely doesn’t equal quality in all areas. But generally I try to buy nicer stuff when I get gift cards or get presents because that way I get really nice stuff but without pay so much $$$. I don’t think I would pay for all the stuff I have if it had to come out of my own pocket!
I’m with you on all those splurges, especially travel! I don’t spend much on bags because I tend to get sick of them long before they fall apart! In general I try not to spend a ton on stuff. I have also found that some Target clothes do not last too long, but I find good deals at TJ Maxx and Marshalls instead.
It’s funny how things can cost different in different parts of the country. I have a garage, which I just love attached to my house. It was not something we were looking for in a house but if we ever move I’ll be looking for it this time! However, near me (more in the city, most places RIGHT by me would have parking included)- if you live in apartment without parking included and actually want a garage we are talking about like $200 a month, or more. CRAZY. I would happily pay $35 though! That’s what I pay for my gym membership so I can swim at a lap pool!
People are always SO shocked when I tell them we don’t have TV. Like yall, we watch our shows and movies online. It’s been almost 18 months since we ditched cable, and it is WONDERFUL. I love the silence! We buy most of our baby daughters clothing at upscale resale shops, cloth diaper, and do not use credit (ever). Yes, we have a card, but I couldn’t tell you the last time it was used. We also pay cash for everything except gas and bills…but those are paid via debit card. I sew and can make precious and simple warm-weather dresses for our daughter. We also just don’t buy designer anything…all my fancy bags/jewelry/jeans are from my single years. With hubby changing jobs here soon and a child, it’s just SO incredibly low priority for me to stay trendy.
What we ‘splurge’ on: food (organic and local are our main concerns), internet (duh), our cell phones, living somewhere with a back yard, and having two cars.
Yeah! No TV here, either. Internet TV is where it’s AT.
I guess I splurge on food, which includes eating out quite a bit. I realize I could save money if I cooked at home more, but I don’t really enjoy it and it’s just my son and me, so me standing at the stove and then cleaning up after just takes time away from being together—-so if we go to a restaurant (even if it’s just a simple diner), we are sitting across from each other, relaxed and talking. I don’t economize on groceries very much. I buy what we like. I think this comes from my childhood when we were very frugal. We didn’t have butter, bought generic foods (does anyone remember food that came in white boxes with black lettering “cereal”, “rice”, etc?), powdered milk, etc. I figure I work hard, I should get to buy what I want.
I splurge on education. I take a number of classes (e-courses, non-credit courses) that interest me. One day I hope to go back to school for my masters, but am not ready for that commitment yet. So the eternal scholar in me is happily engaged with these classes. I also send my son to a parochial school. The public schools in my town are cool, but they switched to a K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8 set up right when my son was starting up, and he is very shy and anxious and I didn’t want him to have to switch schools so often. So I kept him at the school where he started preschool. He’s now been there 8 years (2 years of preschool on…) and I anticipate him staying through 8th grade. It’s a big investment each year paying the tuition but I love the school, I love that everyone knows him there, it’s like a family, and that is worth it to me, even if it’s a big check to write each month.
I splurge on books. I have no self control when it comes to book. But I do utilize the library about every 8 weeks or so. So I’m not totally indiscriminate when it comes to that, LOL.
What I don’t spurge on is clothes. Probably once or twice a year, I spend an hour or two at Dress Barn or Kohls and try on a bunch of stuff and buy some of it. But aside from that, shopping for clothes is not my thing. For my son, I buy clothes for him at Target or Walmart. We’re not label people at all.
I don’t splurge on entertainment. We don’t go to the movies unless it’s a matinee and a really special movie we want to see. I do have cable, but that’s because I watch a lot of HBO series. (Every time I think I’m going to cancel it, another show pops up that I get into, LOL). We don’t go to big sporting events or bars or whatever. We are a stay-at-home kind of family, watching DVDs and such.
I don’t splurge on vacations. We do a small weekend trip each summer but aside from that, we are not big travelers. Reading your travel posts leaves me envious—perhaps when my son is older, we will try to go farther afield. But right now, I don’t feel comfortable/safe going to far afield just us. (And we have an elderly dog at home who’s hard to leave). My dream is to drive cross-country and then come back a different way. And I would like to take my son to Europe to see the “highlights”. Maybe for my 50th. We’ll see. But your post about Puerto Rico made me think maybe that would be cool for the 50th :-)
Yes! Go to Puerto Rico!
And I love that you choose spending time with your son over cooking if you don’t like cooking. :)
Love your blog! I agree with so much of what you said…just a few thoughts to share with you…
With hair, the difference for me is the color. If you don’t have to (or want to) color your hair at this point in your life, you may not be missing much. There are good stylists at all types of salons…it’s just what works for you that matters. If you find a pic of something unique and different that you want, just take it along and see if they can do it. Since I have to color my hair, I need to know that they are skilled in it and try to balance high quality skill with fair pricing.
For handbags, however, I do believe that good quality is essential – I am hard on handbags too, and have found that just a little more money can get you real leather, metal, inside materials, etc that last much, much longer. For example, Coach bags can be purchased at a really decent price at outlets and they seem to last forever. Or many of the other quality brands such as Stone Mountain, Tangenello, Liz, etc….What I really love is investing in vintage handbags…many can be found on Etsy or consignment shops – they represent the most sustainable, “Greenest”, and ethically best choice!! I have beautiful, vintage leather handbags that will last for years to come, and I love that they have their own history !
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experiences !! And I sooooo love to travel!!!
I have decided that a haircut at my regular hairdresser is worth spending money on every 8 weeks. It’s about much more than just how I look, it’s about making me feel comfortable and being able to not worry about my hairdo as much.
I agree with you about the designer stuff. Most of it is just a rip-off.
Oh, this is fun and I may have to make my own list now that I’m actually being better at managing my money after YEARS of spending, spending, spending.
I do tend to splurge on salon-style haircuts (around $60) because I’ve gone to cheaper places and I always hate my haircut. Sure, it’s cheaper but I think I’m just so particular about my hair that I’ve never regretted spending the extra money on a more expensive haircut. I’ve almost ALWAYS regretted going cheap.
I don’t like splurging money on clothes. Spending more than $20 on a shirt or $40 on a pair of jeans makes me anxious. I’m a Marshall’s/TJ Maxx/Target girl, through and through. And I keep my life very simple – I don’t need a bunch of THINGS in my house and when I do travel, I rarely buy souvenirs. I don’t splurge on electronics (our TV came with our apartment and I keep using my laptops until they crap out).
As far as handbags go, I’m a Vera Bradley girl but I won’t spend more than $30 or $40 on their handbags. And they LAST. I bought my first 2 or 3 years ago and it’s just as good today as it was back then. I buy new ones as more of a “want” than a need. But I would never spend hundreds of dollars on a handbag. That’s just crazy to me.
Great post!
I splurge on good food and coffee too. I love to cook and I want to be healthy so spending the extra on fresh food is worth it.
My other splurge is makeup. I wear makeup every day and there is a huge difference in quality makeup vs drug store brands. Sometimes you can find drugstore makeup that is amazing but it really depends on your skin and in the end I’d end up spending more trying to figure out which brand works than if I just buy the more expensive stuff that never fails me. Plus, I don’t glob it on so I only buy new makeup about twice a year and usually just foundation.
As for purses, I want them all. I love them. I coordinate with my outfits. I don’t care about shoes. Purses is where it’s at. I only buy on sale though and I must LOVE it.
Our family is going through the same thing and what we’ve decided on is saving to go on a family vacation as it has been a while.
I have two splurges that I allow myself. First is kind of a family splurge – we have a YMCA membership. We get a discounted rate for the activities the kids are in, they do a kids’ night out three times a month (which means date night for us!), I can work out, the kids can play in the rec room while I abuse the free WiFi…there are just so many things I love about it.
My second splurge is a Spotify premium account. I am a freelance writer, and having access to whatever music I want helps keep me focused.
I could never, EVER, spend more than $40 on a purse. I don’t think I could physically pay for it.
There are certain things I’m forced to splurge on, because I have no cheaper option… bras are the big one. They just don’t make them for my size in a cheap option, sadly. I’ve researched and occasionally I can find a sale ($30!), but usually I spend $70+.
I really wish the rent in downtown Nashville was not so astronomically high. We’d love to live beside of where my husband works and he could WALK to work, but it’s 3x our current rent and I don’t think it’d save us money, sadly. We were a one car family out of necessity a few years back when my car was totaled and we couldn’t afford to replace it. Thankfully we were both students with similar schedules, so it worked for a while. We even biked to work one week when the vehicle broke down.
As far as purses, what I normally do is buy from vera bradley. They have sales and I stack coupons (if I have one), so I get them for $30-40. They last longer than Target bags, so I find the money worth it. I still have a purse I bought 2 years ago and it’s still hanging in there. I downgraded to a smaller purse to save my shoulders. ;)
Haircut i get from Fantastic Sam’s, $13-15 for a wash and cut. I like the lady I request and she always does a great job on my hair and brows (I have to get eyebrows done… mine are unibrows!). I spent about $30 total, including tip.
I have spent money on makeup and clothes in the past, but for now I shop bargains (TJ Maxx and Ross) and use coupons. I am petite too, and I loveeeeeeee Ross for having a petite section!
Since you like to read, here is a book recommendation for you – Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton.