Small Luxuries
I’m writing an article for one of my freelance gigs and I need your help.
Given the current state of our economy, it seems irresponsible to spend money on things you don’t absolutely NEED. However, life would be a drag if you only go to work, pay bills, then go home. There must be something in between that brings you joy and helps to maintain your sanity, no matter how bad the economy is suffering.
What is that small luxury for you?
When I write the article, I’ll give proper credit if I use your idea(s). Thanks in advance!
~*~*~*~*~*~Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And always, BE FABULOUS!
This blog is the story of my financial life as a single mom. Subscribe via (feed reader) or (email) to follow the rest of my fabulous journey.
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1. I get my hair done. A fresh hair cut feels fabulous and doesn’t break the bank.
2. I buy a gloss or lipstick. History has proven that women will continue to purchase lippy in difficult economic times.
3. I donate the articles I no longer need. Women’s shelters are always in need of clothing, furniture, and kids gear. This makes me feel great and helps others out in these tough times.
For me..I could be down to my last last…but the 10.00 it takes to get my eyebrows waxed is worth taking my lunch for a day or two. I love the fresh look that my face has after I get my eyebrows done. I always know when it’s time to get them waxed because I start “looking like a man about the face.”
As a SAHM my one luxury that isn’t going anywhere is definitely my gym membership WITH childcare. It is one treat I do not want to live without. There is nothing like a good workout, followed by a hot shower, blow dry, AND time for putting on makeup all the while knowing my kids are being cared for. I seriously love my gym so much.
Also, I am all about sharing a gourmet sandwich with my DH and then an ice cream cone with my baby girl. I love Food Therapy (and I completely believe this is why so many poor people are over weight). Fortunately, as previously stated, I also really like a good workout, so thus far this has not been too detrimental.
Taking express bus to and from work and spending twice as much on commute as I would if I was to take a subway. Worth though-I do not have to transfer trains, get my own seat and can read, knit, or even sleep for at least another hour. No one is breathing on me or sneezing, no fear of being attacked or hustled. At $5 per ride (that is $10 round trip) it is expensive, however I buy a weekly pass that I can use for express bus and also regular NYC buses and subway through TransitCheck and save about $50 per month.
As a grad student, I already skimp on a lot of things, but I have to get my eyebrows done. I can do my own hair and nails, but I have to get my eyebrows done. I have very basic cable, I don’t get many of the popular channels, but I enjoy my 5$ a month netflix subscription. If I cancel it, it won’t be because of finances.
I use to have a starbucks habit. Since im not a drinker I figured on latte a day wouldnt be so bad. Well now that just doesn’t make sense. But McDonalds now does lattes. Taste better…MUCH lower price. Thats my compromise. Find a way to enjoy the things that I feel like I have to have…in a more frugal way. Still want to shop? I hit the thrift stores or confine myself to the clearance rack only at my fav store. Wanna eat out? Ok well make it a kids meal instead. They cost less anyway.
Twice a year I get a fabulous massage and facial during Spa Week. Someday I’ll be able to afford to go every month (maybe every week!) but for now, it’s Spa Week and birthday gifts.
I also make sure to build dance classes into my budget, even when it’s tight. For a while I worked in the studio, cleaning practice rooms, to get a discount. Dancing keeps me moving, keeps me focused, keeps me strong, and keeps me positive.
For a VERY small luxury–good chocolate or a Dr. Pepper. I only drink soda as a treat now, but either of those things, for $2, will lift my afternoon when everything’s going wrong.
My luxury (and my weakness) are magazines and books. I love reading. But also I travel often, so when I am on a 6 hours flight, there is no way I am sitting on my computer the entire time or listening to music, but reading.. takes me to another place. And many are quite informative.
Healthy food at the grocery store. Worth every penny! I don’t allow myself to buy shoes, clothes, and many other random household items, but I let myself buy whatever vegetable or fruit or other food I happen to be craving–as long as it’s healthy.
I also really love renting videos and downloading tv shows on the internet–so I’ll never cut internet/movie renting out of my budget (but I may cut back if things got tight!).
Finally, charity. Giving money is a luxury, and the favorite part of my month is choosing where to send my charity budget allotment!
K, I am similar–I don’t buy books or magazines in my normal life (that’s what libraries and checkout stands are for!), but if I’m going on a plane ride, I allow myself to buy a few trashy magazines. They are so wonderfully indulgent that way…and make my plane ride a tiny bit more enjoyable (and I HATE airplanes!).
Dining out… we cook and eat leftovers every night except Friday and Saturday. Friday and Saturday my wife and I usually go out to eat.
I can’t cut back on getting my hair done at all. BUT I can cut back on how often I get a pedicure. I actually know how to take care of them at home, but I enjoy paying someone else to do it. So in tough times, I maintain my own pedicure and every other month go get a professional pedicure, the spa pedi with the parafin wax and extra messaging. LOL! The place I go to has the good message chairs, so when I the extra long pedi, I get longer time in the message chair. De-stressing like crazy and only spending like $50 every 2-months instead of $30 every 2-weeks.
You know I was thinking about this the other day. I could stand to stop going out to lunch nearly every day. Legal Seafood, PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle, Wholefoods Sushi and butter cream cake!!!! So yummy, but they do start to add up!
I’m not sure if this would be considered a ’small’ luxury, but when I cut back to pay off my debt I kept my season tickets (NFL). Back then they were much cheaper than they are now. I had basic cable, basic phone, minimal cell usage, but I kept my football.
Hmm…I’ve been buying yarn. On-sale yarn, but buying it up none-the-less.
Hello..I am a single 39 year old female. I am at peace. I have done the things that Dave Ramsey teaches in his 13 week course, Financial Peace University. At my peak earning on active duty was $59K. I confess I was a little money savy before discovering him in Jan 06. I am NOT happy about the markets and a bit irritated about how greed, irresponsibilty( people trying to impress people with STUFF) and people not doing their jobs has for the most part caused this financial mess. I know that ONE should not be investing if they can’t at least leave the money alone for 5 years. My investments were put there with the my intentions of leaving them alone for more than 20 years.
I have $48,655 minus $12K emergency fund set aside to make a property (primary home)purchase. I recently relocated to my current city Sep 15, 2008. If I decide this is where I want to reside I will purchase my first home (house,condo or loft). I am currently living off my military ret. pension of $1617, I have medical and dental that are far less than what the average person pays-thanks for supporting veterans. I am taking a course with H & R Block seeking “seasonal” employment with them and applying to be a substitute teacher to suplement my income until I decide what next. Career goal NOW is to find a job/career that I love so much it doesn’t feel like work. Flexibility is a must. “Living like no one else, so that later I could live like no one else has worked for me!!!
These are great ideas! Thanks everyone, keep ‘em coming!
Great question!
Like many others here, I have cut corners. I know have just basic cable (although I still have my one-movie-a-month Netflix plan).
I bike more, instead of driving.
I rarely eat out.
But my real luxury? Going to the gym three to four nights a week after work — WITH childcare!
Kickboxing is what keeps me from turning into a crazy woman.
The one luxury I’ve deluded myself into believing I need is….body butter from The Body Shop. I love it soooo much! Satsuma is my new favorite. As a single mom of three, I rarely buy stuff for myself, but body butter…I’m not giving that up any time soon.
One of my small luxuries is picking up a small dessert from a bakery that I like.
For less than five or ten bucks I will buy something to have after my home cooked meal while sitting on the sofa watching my latest DVD rental from the local library.LOL.
The little ones I enjoy - a latte from Starbucks about once a week, a sweet treat in the afternoon (chocolate usually) a couple times a week, and an Oprah magazine each month. I was laid off from my job in February and have been mainly unemployed since then other than short bursts of contract work, so I have cut ALL my other expenses to the bone. I cancelled my cell phone and use only a landline, uninsured my car and take the bus instead, cancelled my gym membership and go for runs and use free weights and workout DVD’s at home instead etc. So these really are the only small luxuries I allow myself. And I won’t give them up.
movies - I try to catch a matinee on saturday or sundays and take my snacks in with me
theater plays or concerts - on the few occasions when something comes to town I will splurge
dining out - hubby and I try to eat out only once a month
The local Applebee’s restaurant in our area has a “kids eat free” special every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night. As a single mom of three kids, it definitely comes in handy because the kids eat free and we only have to pay for me!
My small luxury is buying music from I-tunes. I LOVE music of all types so this is one huge luxury for me. Granted, the songs are only .99 but that adds up to a serious amount over time. If my finances were at a point were I could barely pay for food then of course I would drop this luxury in a heartbeat.
When I was at my poorest in grad school–too poor for Netflix or the gym or pedicures–I still went out to dinner with friends. I would never, never be the guy who quibbled about $2 because he ordered water. That guy doesn’t get asked next time.
Ooh tough choice. It’s between Ruffina’s express bus and my monthly pedicure.
I love having that 1 hour per month for myself having my feet pampered and I feel oh so feminine everytime I look down at them. They make me feel so pretty. It’s like a little treat for myself whenever I remove my shoes for any reason and see them. Yeah.
But the express bus is something different. I have to say that between that and a broke washing machine/dryer, that’s what would put me out there for sale. LOL. Whenever I think of taking daily local transit as part of a cost cutting effort, I do it for 1 day and am quickly reminded about why I pay for weekly Metrocard. However, if it came to, I know how to grit my teeth and grab my sanity and ride the NYC trains and the SI ferry. Pray for me it doesn’t get there.
Like some others, my “luxury spending” item in an otherwise frugal lifestyle is my Netflix subscription. I cut off my cable subscription about 2.5 years ago and since my TV didn’t get any channels over the public airwaves, I went completely broadcast-TV free. (Have since donated the TV set.)
I find that Netflix’s two-at-a-time plan works for me and costs less than half of what the smallest cable package did in the last area where I subscribed. (That cable price was highway robbery, BTW. I don’t miss it.) I always have a little entertainment I can watch on my computer if I want to, but I’ve also found that my evenings are longer, more relaxing and/or more productive without TV in them.
My DSL. We don’t go out a lot, and it gives me the opportunity to keep in touch with the family from work through messenger. (I occasionally display my web cam for the kids as well.
Oh and I can third or forth the Netflix. my one at a time include that unlimited instant viewing. at 8.99 it’s a way better something than cable. of course I need the above DSL to pull that off too…
BrooklynMom, where did you find Cheesecake Factory in NYC????????
I have been looking for one and they seem to be only in LI, or WChester or some other hard to get to area
nothing in the city, and of course not in a million years in Brooklyn
so where?
I love their toasted corn cakes that they include with some of their dishes
I am drooling already
I have reduced some expenses recently such as taking public transportation to work, reducing the frequency of mani/pedi’s and eliminating some magazine subscriptions. Right now I cannot give up my monthly massage - that is my time & right now I do not want to give that up.
I have been able to maintain my sports outings by taking advantage of special deals published & unpublished. My greatest coup was courtesy of a friend, who had a deal on NFL tickets through his company. I was able to get tickets to a sold-out game against a HATED rival for $25 (great seats, not in the nose bleed sections). Under normal circumstances…those tickets would sell for $300+.
Instead of paying retail or even retail sale prices, I hit the local Goodwill with a friend on Friday nights. This last Friday, I found a jacket, two shirts, turtleneck sweater, fall home decoration and a dress for my niece for $18. Full retail price would have easily been $200. I get my shopping fix, new clothes, and a fun time with friends.
Netflix (the 8.99) would be really tough to give up. Been getting some great buys at thrift shops lately. It satisfies the shop-o-tainment urge (shame on me ;-). But they do not make the windowpane linens, quilts, glassware and such that they used to and surely not at the prices I’m paying. For you book lovers, hard copy books are 1-2$. I just bought “Talking 9 to 5″ for 2 bucks. And a stunning National Geographic book on their photography (coffeetable book) for 2 more.
Ooops! I didn’t quite give you what you asked in my first post.
A $7 planner from say Walmart if you are not already digital some peoples personality will just prefer paper–one that shows the year in the front or back, monthly pages and daily/weekly (this is where I put my “to do” list. No more forgetting the date of returned library books for No late fees, No forgotten phone calls, appointments, fun free events. Being organized helps to save you money directly and Time and we know time is money.
A “budget” is a must. If one has to call it a “spending plan” or some other word do it. It seems like something magical happens when you right down your income in one colum and out go (exspenses) in the other.
Not a Dave Ramsey invention but utilizing envelops with your budget helps. example say your food money is $300 for the month then you put $300 in that envelop and mark it “food” and you only purchase food from that envelop, entertainment/blow money $75 hehe I know that is when you really utilize the library for reading for free, movies, audio tapes for more learning, eating out gets added to “my” entertainment envelop because it is my weakness/vice. when in school for long periods I can even eliminate cable. developing a plan before running errands-ensure you make as many stops along the way to or from. After the credit cards are paid off after your 3-6 months emergency fund~ it is a good idea to develop sinking funds are great. you separate these funds from your emergency fund, they are kept in a separate account ~on paper or computer you monitor the savings in each of these funds example: replacement car/car repairs, vacation, Christmas gift (it’s in Dec every year), new TV,etc. early insurance policies *another way to save is by paying premiums yearly, future tummy lift hehe, etc.
Single Ma try this out also to help with your research..
Also for a FREE trial, sign up for Dave Ramsey’s “Totoal Money Makeover” forum (www.daveramsey.com) to gain knowledge, motivation, encouragement, being slapped with a wet noodle when the urge to misbehave financially hits you.
Everyone should follow example anddo whatever they want too! Its our money, right?
Consider yourself banned. Don’t you EVER use my email address to post another dumb ass comment on my site or any other site. I will follow your IP address all over the internet and report any misrepresented behavior to your internet provider, AND if necessary, the police. [-SM]
If this financial crisis wasn’t affecting “my” money it would be very easy to say, let people do them and I do me.BUTe since other peoples irresponsibility with managing their money IS affecting “my” money I am more motivated than ever to offer advice OR to introduce people to the teaching/counseling of Dave Ramsey or any other guru who they might listen to. Oprah has even been trying to educate and empower people in the area of finances for more than a year straight. I also take issue with more and more programs to help ADULTS who don’t bother to get there SHxT together and look over at those who take responsibility and want or DEMAND them to bail them out, give them money to help. People chatting away on a cell phone with no term life insurance or long term disibility insurance…. WTF, people NOT bothering to know if they have and ARM (mortgage)??? People who I know are broke turning their noses up to me when i pull up in my PAID for 8 year old vehichle i paid cash for.
This might sound crazy, but my small luxury is putting money into savings. Not many people automatically save money (’cept your fine readers!) so I find it a luxury that a. I CAN put away something and b. that things are still in working order so I DON’T have to dip into savings.
Ahhh just one?? I’ll go with female maintenance.. waxing, manicures/pedicures, trips to the MAC store ya know?? LOL
oh how could I forget.. WINE.. especially when you get a GOOD BOTTLE FOR cheap!!!
I think one of my biggest indulgences but its also a tax write off for me is WORKOUT APPAREL AND WORKOUT SHOES for those that are gym rats they totally understand that investment in that shirt or tank that keeps you dry while you sweat your buns off!!!
SM- I should know better than to say this on ye olde internets. It will be out there for everyone to see. But, its my luxury, so here goes. I really wanted Laser Hair removal, so I would never have to worry about razor burn again. I work full-time, and every weekend I babysit for $10 an hour. We used to spend the extra money on DIY for our house. Now I am spending it on 6 laser hair removal treatments. Ahh. But the benefits will last a lifetime!!!
My small luxury is getting a pedicure. I could do it myself, but the the little pampering from a good pedicure is enough to keep me motivated to keep working and keep cutting costs whereever I can.
I have Netflix, and I’ve paid for dance classes - I consider those, and eating out for convenience, to be my small luxuries.
Pedicures! $37/month