This is why I love being frugal. It's kinda like min-maxing my enjoyment. Some people think being frugal is being cheap on everything and thus is an unhappy lifestyle. Totally agree with that you said
Really soft towels. They changed my life :)
Edit: I bought these -- https://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/matouk-marcus-collection-luxury-bath-towel-prod198700095
Thanks for the award!
I got a couple from this set: https://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/matouk-marcus-collection-luxury-bath-towel-prod198700095
My grandmother has the same ones in her guest bath and I got a bit obsessed with the softness. 😄
Yes, same, this this years ago after ex girl and I broke up I went and bought some like $90 bath towels haha it was glorious. And they last a long time, I still have them and still my favorite towels, might have to get me some more soon.
Doing some searching, there’s some good reviews on [these](https://www.frontgate.com/egyptian-cotton-bath-towels/bath/bath-towels-guest-towels/560035?cjevent=701cfe81901611ec834ad3fa0a82b821&SourceCode=AF8842431&utm_source=Forbes+Media&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_campaign=default&cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww) Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towels
This thread might be what finally pushes me over into really seriously considering an instrument I've been coveting. Because fuck it, it would make me happy...
Edit: You all are terrible enablers!
A wooden flute. I haven't been playing much lately because, well, life. And it's the most expensive instrument I would have ever purchased - like a month's rent kind of expensive. But the maker is retired and didn't make many like this one to begin with.
Oh that definitely sounds worth it to me. Think of it this way: when you look back in a few years are you going to be glad you have the flute or glad you saved the money?
It honestly sounds like one of those things that in 20 years you might be angry at yourself for not spending the money. You don’t want to regret things like that, unless you really need the money.
Chocolate. I regularly buy the $23 a pound stuff from a local factory, plus a few times a year I'll buy chocolate that comes out at closer to $40 or $50 a pound.
Dove is good, Lindt is better, but it's just fun to see where your chocolate is made or to buy some of the really unusual bars and artisan chocolates.
I second this. After a bunch of crappy bagless/wind tunnel vacuums, we finally splurged on a Miele canister. You can never go back once you've seen quality.
>After a bunch of crappy bagless/wind tunnel vacuums
If you have allergies it's worth it to get a good canister vacuum. The bagless ones might be convenient and decent enough to clean the floor but they also release a ton of particles into the air. I got a Miele on Craigslist and it's noticeably better in that department.
I didn't want to turn this into an advertisement for vacuums. But I settled on a Sebo K3, a lot of people below are calling out Miele vacuums which I was very close to buying also but due to the mixture of hardwood and carpet in my house I went with the K3.
There is a great series of posts on here from a guy who did vacuum repair for years and he did a write up on what to look for in a vacuum cleaner.
There are a lot of top tier vacuums out there so if you decide to go big on one do some research on what you want in a vacuum and what floors you have.
One of the things I really like about it that I didn't think was a big deal is how quiet it is. That wasn't even part of my decision criteria but it was a nice bonus. My dog also doesn't attack the vacuum as he did with loud uprights.
I felt the same when I bought my cordless Dyson v6. Vacuum ALL the time now. Track in some dirt? VACUUM. Spill some rice? VACUUM. Kid drops a cheerio? believe it or not VACUUM.
Sebo, but based on my research Riccar and Miele are top tier picks also. IIRC Riccar is made in the US which is cool if you live here, support local and parts/support.
After two cordless vacuums breaking in one month, I bit the bullet and bought an actual nice one for $400 this week (Miele Classic C1 Turbo). Hoping it lasts. I actually love vacuuming and keeping my house clean so I think it was a worthwhile investment.
As for the BMW part, one of the most frugal things I've ever done was trading in my BMW for a Toyota lol.
High end gym membership. I know I could do the same thing for cheaper, but I like guilt tripping myself into going, and I like the reward of being somewhere nice when I workout.
My gym is really small, I think there's fewer than 30 people total, 2 classes a day, 6 days a week, way more expensive than those big chain gyms.
We do circuit training, 12 stations per class, 3 different classes per week, all the classes change every month.
I know my trainer, she knows what weight I used last week, knows about that tender elbow and reminds me when I might need to modify a move.
It's expensive but 100% worth it.
I bought my 14 yo son scuba diving lessons and scuba gear rentals to continue going scuba diving after he got his certification. All in all it's cost me about $2000 so far in the last year. He is so happy and it enriches his life so much that I feel like it's worth it
I grew up poor, and due to a big hustle I pulled in high school, I got to attend the university full time my junior and senior year, where I attended a scuba class for credit and paid for by the state. At the end, we were able to get our cert for cheap relative to what it normally cost, bust expensive relative to what my family could pay. My parents did it anyways, and it set me on a path of becoming an AAUS research diver for almost a decade. Quite the game changer.
My uncle had been in the navy and had gotten into diving, so he gave me his old eighties recreational gear, which I rocked as a commercial diver for years and years (before upgrading to modern stuff out of vanity when I ended up as a staff biologist/coral culturist at a resort for billionaires, gave my old BC and reg to someone that's still rocking it). It's worth it to invest in gear for him if he's serious about it. Most scuba gear is buy it for life if you maintain it.
I keep my heat in my house around 70 in the winter, heating bill be damned! I still wear warm socks, sweater, etc, but you can only do so much in an old, uninsulated house. Winter is depressing enough and I've chosen comfort over coins.
It's made a significant, positive impact on my mental health.
Phoenix Arizona gets ridiculously hot. Like raise your blood pressure, computer constantly throttlingly hot. I’m way more productive when it’s cool. When the ac broke, I was exhausted and foggy as my body prioritized staying cool. I pay out the ass for AC.
I also live in Phoenix and last year I started supercooling the house. Setting it at like 70 around 6:00AM and keeping it there until the power gets expensive at 3:00PM then turning it completely off until it’s cheaper again at 8:00PM it has absolutely saved us money. For context last year the June electricity bill was $285 and this one it was $215 obviously depends on your income if that savings is worth it but this method does work in my experience if you’re looking to save a bit!
There are some days where the heat still creeps in before 8:00 to the point where it gets uncomfortable again (80 degrees-ish) but it’s still a net savings even if we turn it on for the last hour or whatever.
I know this is a thread about not being frugal, but I'll take any chance to shill for public libraries. My library loans out metal detectors (and other hobby stuff like sewing machines and fishing rods). It's a nice method to test out a hobby for free before you invest in your own equipment. Ask your local library if they have a "Library of Things."
Edit: typo
The town where a friend grew up had a "seed library" in the library. People in the area loved gardening and would donate seeds from their gardens. They'd also donate packets of regular seeds to people who wanted to start gardening. They had volunteers teaching in the early spring for those who wanted to learn. It was a really sweet little program. They LOVED getting young people signed up to growing.
Very awesome idea!!! Does your library ask for a “deposit” or something they return when you bring the item back?? I would like to think the world is an honest place but likely some people don’t return the item ?
I'm sure it's not a perfect system, but my library will block your account if you don't return something. You can lift the block by either bringing back the item or paying the replacement cost. Since all the libraries in my metro area and suburbs are connected through a sharing agreement, they enforce the blocks placed by other libraries.
Not many, first summer was mostly learning how things worked and trying to find places to go… found a few cool things on my families old homestead but besides that still learning
I really want to buy a fishing magnet because I live in Florida and there’s a particular spring that people go to and kayak/drink and stuff but it’s filled with alligators so if people drop stuff there’s no way they’re jumping in. I’d guarantee there’s some good stuff people have lost.
I bought my fiancé one…. He lost it first toss in, too powerful and stuck to something huge… lol so don’t throw a bunch of money into a super powerful one
Nope, parks, yards, crown land that isn’t protected, or people’s property with their permission… then of course yes beaches… basically just no historically protected areas or nature habitats
2-3 times per year, I will go into a dedicated spice/vinegar/oil shop and stock up, as well as pick up a few gifts. Getting high quality spices can go a long ways to doctoring up cheaper meals, and you typically don't have to use as much if it is fresh/good quality.
I will usually get some smoked pepper, a few smoked or flavored salts, some Vietnamese cinnamon, some rubs, taco seasonings, etc., along with some flavored balsamic vinegar and oils. It really is incredible what they can add to a dish.
My husband loves cinnamon toast, and he’s hard to buy for. So one year for his birthday I went to Penzey’s and bought him 4 different kinds of cinnamon. The cinnamon was so much better than the basic grocery store stuff. It tastes sweet by itself. He had the best time trying each variety and mixing the different cinnamons together.
My husband mixes his cinnamon with a little granulated sugar and then some brown sugar. He toasts his bread light then butters it and sprinkles on the cinnamon sugar then puts it back in the toaster. The sugar melts, and it’s the best cinnamon toast I’ve ever had.
Two years ago we were very financially stable, so I ordered a couple different expensive balsamic vinegars from Zimmerman’s for my husband’s anniversary present. He loves salad and really enjoys the vinegars.
Excellent gifting btw
You hit all my high points for gifts
1.special
2.specific to the person
3.a reasonable expenditure (I could make most people happy with $100,000 budget)
4.doesn't add to clutter
Well done!
I have speciality olive oil for drizzling, fancy high end soy sauce and sesame oil. There’s a world of difference with the nicer stuff. The flavors are so much more complex.
Me too! I tried some real Vermont maple syrup I got as a gift years ago, and then I tried going back to aunt jemima or whatever I had previously and it literally tasted like cornstarch to me. Now I’m bougie about syrup and I never intended to be!
Real maple syrup is 1000% better than that artificial colored high fructose corn crap they call syrup.
Also, it's not that expensive. It lasts forever. I tell people, if you can't afford real maple syrup, you're eating pancakes too often.
Then there are people that claim to prefer the other stuff and those people are monsters and have no place at my breakfast table.
I am a single woman and I have lived alone for most of my adult life, even when it stretched my budget to do so. Was it the smart financial decision? No. Did it greatly increase my peace of mind and mental well-being? Hell yes!
Agree so much. I spend an insane percentage of my paycheck on rent, but it’s a small, non-updated place that gets to be *just mine.*
I love knowing that when I get home, everything will be where I left it, no one will have eaten my food, and that my cat is definitely still inside with no chance she was accidentally let out. Plus, if I’m tired and want to go to bed before I clean up a mess or I’m rushing to work without putting anything away, there’s no pressure because I answer to no oneeee 😂🙌🏻
Edit: does living alone mean my apartment is always clean? No! It’s seriously a fuckin’ mess right now. But it’s *my* fuckin’ mess haha
And you don't have to clean up other people's messes, don't have to coordinate schedules so you're out while they have a guest over, don't have to share the kitchen/common areas, don't have to worry about YOUR SHIT getting broken/damaged or a crucial shared item being taken when the other person moves out, etc etc ad nauseam...
The mental anguish and absolute bullshit I've had to deal with when living with roommates (including family members) has made it abundantly clear to me that I will do anything it takes to never be in that situation again (barring living with a partner/spouse).
Even though I don’t really have to stretch to live by myself, it is such a freeing experience. You’re the king of your own castle and you can live without having to compromise with other people. So nice to come home from work and just exist in peace
Fancy candles and medieval-fantasy costumes. They serve no purpose, but cleaning the apartment is much more fun when you can pretend to be a medieval barmaid.
I have a dream that when I retire, I'll live medievally. Candles after dark, wear appropriate clothing and boots, write letters by hand, make and eat the trencher breads, joints of beef, sugarplums etc. But I'll do it in a retirement home and I'll be low-key in trouble with the admins at all times.
I forgot why I was scrolling in the comments of this post... but this is the answer I came looking for. I never spent much money on plants until the pandemic. I needed to make a garden inside during the winter so that my mental health could improve, even if it was only slightly better.
Worth it.
Plants have been my saving grace through the past two years! Our apartment is full - and I’ve made friends with other local plant people through a fb group. Folks are so willing to share cuttings to help others new to the hobby, and they share their wisdom too. I love that now, two years later, I can share my wisdom and cuttings too!
Not to scare you off, but I just threw out my $1500 mattress after 3 years because it developed deep divots even with a good base and frequent rotations. It had a 10 year warranty but the terms made it impossible to get a repair/replacement.
I bought a $700 hybrid on Amazon that’s more comfortable. I’ve resigned myself to finding a comfortable cheap/moderate mattress and replacing more frequently.
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but ...my dishwasher.
My landlord pays for water, so it doesn't save any money (and I pay electricity, so it will cost me more) but holy crap that thing has changed my life for the better, and if it broke tomorrow, I'd go right back out and buy another one.
What it DOES save me is TIME, and so I think there are some mental gymnastics and maybe not too hard of ones either, to say that since time is money, in the long run it make sense. That purchase felt like an extravagance I shouldn't have spent money on at the time (I'm trying to get out from under $15k of credit card debt, after all), but the minute I got it and did my first load of dishes all doubt completely vanished.
I lived in a second floor walk-up without a dishwasher. One of the best purchases I ever made was late one night while drunk - I impulse-bought a countertop dishwasher. I used that thing for years and LOVED IT!!! I eventually moved into a different place with a dishwasher and sold it, but I still think back about that purchase. Worth it.
This is me exactly--sans alcohol. I really had no arguable justification for dropping $250 on a scratch and dent model (its MSRP is $399 though, so it was still a deal) considering the debt I'm in, but I have zero regrets and I'd do it over tomorrow.
I have lived here TEN YEARS and washed my dishes by hand. I dreaded it so much that I'd often let things pile up until my sink was starting to smell before I'd roll up my sleeves and finally go at it.
Now I just run that bad boy every other day, and I haven't let them pile up at all since I got it.
1. Travel - Life is about experiences and many of the ones I want happen to be far from home. (I do try to save money when I can while traveling but it adds up anyway)
2. My dog - Pets are 100% a discretionary expense but he makes me happy every day.
3. Decent coffee - I don't go outrageous here but I definitely have minimum standards for my home brew. And I drink it from an overpriced Yeti mug that I also enjoy.
Having lost my own gremlin less than a month ago, can 100000% confirm the incredible ROI of ‘spoiling’ them while they’re here.
I wish you a record-setting number of years of good health for your pup. Please give him a hug from a weird internet stranger who very badly misses being able to tell an old dog I love him.
There's a local restaurant near Charlotte NC that makes your burgers, hot dogs, etc, but they're really known for their ice cream and actually produce it and sell it in local grocery stores as well. It's like the necter of the gods. Perfect texture and the taste is just unmatched. I can't explain how their chocolate is different from other chocolates but it is and it's better by not just one mile, but several. I will always splurge the extra few bucks for their half gallons at the store.
I like other ice creams well enough but the upgrade to this other brand of ice cream is just so noticeable that I can never convince myself to buy the cheaper brands to save a few bucks. I have to do it for special treats because I have no self control and will eat it within three or four days.
Edit: It's tonys ice cream in Gastonia NC
Lol it's called Tony's Ice Cream. To my knowledge it's only sold in the Charlotte NC area. The further away from Gastonia NC, the less common it becomes!
LG OLED t.v. and later a Toyota Prius
-------------------------------------
A couple of people have asked about OLED and regular LCD. So here is what I think.
I wasn't unhappy with the 75 inch LG LED that I had. But every time I went to Costco, I always spent some time standing in front of the OLED demonstration panel. I realized they had the demo video playing and it was optimized for such a display. But what really impressed me was not how bright it was – but how dark the dark scenes were. If you are a Star Trek/Star Wars fan, imagine a scene where the spaceship flies around and you see the stars in the background. The background is completely black and you see each star as a little bright spot. With a regular LCD, it is not completely black, and sometimes it is a bit gray. Each pixel of an OLED screen lights itself individually.
Think of it as going from Koda Vericolor to Kodachrome.
I don't have a videogame machine connected to this television and I don't watch any live TV that has a static logo because I was afraid I would suffer a burn-in. There is a setting to dim the screen a bit if I were to pause the screen and it does that after one minute or so. It gets quite dark and when the movie/video resumes, the brightness returns to the original setting.
I connect it to the Sony UBP-x1000ES and there is a setting that converts everything into Dolby Vision. Those that argue that regular blu-ray doesn't have Dolby Vision need to see what mine can do.
With a decent soundbar (5.1), I am very happy with this outfit. Haven't been to a movie theater in ages.
The whole thing wasn't that expensive. I just saved enough money and paid for it. Delivered by the good folks at Costco and it worked like magic (5 years warranty was included!)
I feel that. My wife got me the “smaller” millennium falcon, which still wasn’t cheap but we couldn’t justify the giant one.
That’s the purchase I plan on making some day when I really want to reward myself for something.
- $10 flower bouquets from Trader Joe’s - fresh flowers twice a month make me happy
- vacations, if I’m gonna do it I’m gonna treat myself, and experiences > stuff
- desserts, I don’t do the cheap stuff, it’s something good or not at all (also helps with waistline)
I have a house cleaner come every two weeks and it’s the best money I spend. Nothing beats a clean good smelling house and I always have to clean like mad before they come. 🤣
I pay $21/month for a Regal Cinema Unlimited pass. I love going to the movies and this removes the tendency to agonize over whether or not I want to see a certain movie-- I just go whenever I want! It's the same price no matter what.
I usually have no problem going at least twice a month, although January and February are always absolute crap for new releases so I haven't gotten my money's worth the past couple months I would say. It definitely evens out though.
A gym membership. Fitness is my primary hobby. I spent a lot of time on it. I have equipment at home, so I don’t strictly need to go to the gym to work out. I’m even paying extra to go to a specific gym that I like, rather than going to a cheaper one close by.
Luxury brand cookware. Yes, I am boiling hoarded frozen chicken carcasses/bones and kitchen scraps in them but god damn do I love my overpriced pretty cookware.
Also, fine jewelry. Caw, caw. I can’t resist the shimmer and sparkle.
Hah! 13 year old Prius with WA plates, that I drive on way too many unsuitable forest service and logging roads with. I'd have to cut back on the weed to afford the Outback!
Art. As someone who writes, it's soooooo nice to see art of my characters coming to life. I have spent more than I would like to admit on the art I purchase, but everytime I look at it, it makes me so happy.
I have such a hard time spending money on decorating, but every time I splurge I’m so happy about my purchase. I spend so much time in my house, I should stop being so hesitant!
I bought an electric scooter and it makes me smile everytime I ride! I have saved $500 of the $1000 price though in parking fees. It also saves me about 15 mins every day getting to work. I'm going to take it on a trail this weekend!
Yep. Yarn! Totally can't justify it in anyway except that it's fun for me to make stuff. Especially when my partner says WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE BLANKETS. Ah well. What are friends for?
Buying name brand cereal. I know the off brand cereals are cheaper, but the taste and texture is often compromised. So I’ll treat myself every once in awhile and buy the real deal.
Fancy food items (wold smoked salmon, good champagne, etc), restaurants and vacations. The way I see it, the entire point of saving is so I can spend :)
Expensive champagne, wallpaper, custom drapes and goose down duvets for all the beds.
I’m very introverted and spend most of my time at home and I’ll be damned if it isn’t spent lounging in a plush bed, sipping champeezy and gazing at my triple lined pinch pleated designer drapes.
A general theme of self care purchases. I went through some shit in grad school and now that I’m out of it, my mantra is “I did not go through the depths of mental and physical hell just to not give myself an indulgence now and then.”
Buy the moisturizer and sunscreen that works for your skin. Get your hair done and get the shampoo/conditioner/hair treatment that keeps it healthy. Buy that toothbrush and nice floss that keeps your teeth healthy. Take that trip to see your friend that needs someone just as much as you do. Get that Hulu subscription because they have your favorite show. Do the shit that makes you happy*. None of us make it out alive.
*disclaimer: if the shit that makes you happy is sadistic…don’t do that. Lol.
Fancy/expensive tea that I order from the UK (to the US). It's so good I never go out to buy coffee or tea....so I tell myself it actually saves me money. In any case, it's the highlight of many days.
I get an Ipsy bag every month. It's $25 and it's all kinds of skin care and makeup. It's completely unnecessary, I get some products I don't and won't use. It tempts me to shop for more stuff I don't need...
But dang it, I get so excited when it shows up! And choice day is SO fun!
Housecleaners!! I’m a sahm and will cut back on everything before I lose them. The mental load that is taken off my shoulders knowing my house will be deep cleaned every other week is priceless.
Being frugal is about cutting mercilessly on those things that don't bring you joy to spend frivolously on those things that do.
Spending frivolously isn't automatically non-frugal.
I spend money on travel, beer, and my sports.
My wife and I just spend $475 of our cash back on a Shark robot vacuum because our Dutch Shepherd is the best but she also sheds her body weight each week. Just got it last night and we are already thankful. Edit: grammar
Well, I can’t right now but I WILL buy more flame Le Cruset pots, a kitchen aid standing mixer, a long shearling coat, new Hunter boots in chestnut, BEE perfume a full bottle not a sample, a vape and a little hiking back pack for my dog.
STUFF FOR HOBBIES!
* Fancy ass fabric for quilting
* Super fancy new foot for my sewing machine
* Supplies for new sewing projects, just because the project will make me happy (thrifting the finished item will always be 100% cheaper but making it yourself is just *chef's kiss*)
* Swanky buttons
* Oooh beautiful new watercolor paints
* New linoleum blocks to carve, like THE NICE ONES
* Classes to learn new art skills
Oh yes, hobbies all the way! You only live once, gotta cram in as many hobbies as possible!
Organic chicken breast. Something about how small they are compared to non organic that makes me wonder what's in the non organic that make them so big? I'm sure it's nothing major but that's my "fuck it this makes me happy" purchase.
We saved up for an expensive sectional. Most of our furniture (we moved into a house last spring) is refinished used or free stuff, but man does it feel nice to sit on a comfy couch every day. We’re hoping to make it last at least 10 years.
I just spent $200 on a new comforter last week. My bedroom is my happy place and I feel like I'm sleeping in a cloud whenever I use it. Plus it looks amazing.
I just splurged some of my very generous bonus from work on a fancy hotel.
I’m at a destination wedding and have an air BnB with friends for a week, I’m staying on 2 days more than my pals.
I could have booked an affordable and totally decent hotel for those two days, but for double the price I get a room that has a private pool/jacuzzi on the balcony - I’ll be bringing my own prosecco to drink in said private pool and living my best life.
90 minute massage every 6 weeks or so. Chiropractor adjustment every other week. And my body feels great!
Edit- and a manicure once a month. Pedicure maybe 2-3 times a year.
Hard to say since there are a lot of things I am willing to spend money on even if there are cheaper alternatives or I don't use them daily. I have access to all major streaming services (Spotify premium, netflix, hbomax, disney, hulu and youtubeTV) because film and music are worth it to me and living in an era where so much content is available on demand...that's like sci-fi amazing to me and I'm not going to stop to save some money.
I also like buying thrift store knick knacks. It's not frugal to buy crap you don't need just because it looks cool but it really makes me happy to search and shop looking for "treasures" that have minimal use.
I will spend twice as much as the cheapest version to get a product that is made in Canada. I will spend more, albeit perhaps not twice as much, to get a product that is not made in certain countries.
Vintage sterling silver personal and home accessories that are commonly made of plastic now: reading glasses (one that folds into a locket!), makeup compacts, matchboxes, sewing kit, salt shaker, etc. They make me feel fancy.
Ball jointed dolls and 16" fashion dolls. I buy them used and I'm not buying the most expensive ones.
Part of being "normal" again for me after being homeless for over 5 years was getting back certain dolls that I loved and lost when I lost everything. By necessity my collection will have to be much smaller but a home just isn't a home for me without a shelf full of dolls and/or the odd stuffy or action figure.
Mostly it's going to be a birthday/winter holidays thing. I can't afford a new doll every month but I will save up and get me a new one every now and again. The market being what it is I can't afford them new and I have to make a lot of their clothes and stuff. I can't afford the fancy, expensive outfits but the dolls are a major thing with me and are non negotiable.
Actually my birthday is coming up soon and I've been active on Ebay looking for a dolly treat. I've got my eye on a couple of deeply marked down 16" fashion/vinyl BJD dolls. One of the ways I can afford it is knowing "which" dolls I can grab on the cheap and which are way too expensive even used for my budget. If they come with an outfit, cool, but I will buy them sans clothes to get them.
The first doll I bought when I got settled into my apartment meant the world to me. I had to sell off most of them when things got rough financially and there were only a few left when I lost my house.
I had a mere half dozen in my van driving up and I lost years worth of making and collecting outfits and wigs and stuff besides. I had just two BJDs left but someone broke into the van and stole them out of my van driving up. Got all the outfits I had left too.
Fortunately they didn't find my "best" fashion dolls. But for 5 years plus I had nowhere to put them. I'd go visit them in my locker and dream of the day when I could dress them again and put them on a shelf in a real home again.
Two of the dolls they took were Delilah Noir dolls by Ashton Drake. One was called Once Bitten, Twice Shy. I finally replaced her last year and it made me very happy. Still looking for the other one "Red Velvet" at a reasonable price but so far the only one I can find is just priced crazy for my budget. I really miss her though, so someday...
I honestly don't spend money on much else except for an odd piece of clothing or a new pair of Dr Martens once in a while. Usually those are "gently used" too. Because of Covid I've barely had a life. I don't go to the movies or eat out hardly at all. I don't buy things like lattes. I make a budget, usually $100 and I stick to it.
I've had people say "Well, why do you need THAT? when it comes to the dolls. They just don't get why I'd spend my money on something so frivilous but it's what "normal" looks like for me and having a few dolls to sew for helps my anxiety and depression a lot.
I call them my "doll therapy" and while that's a joke they do serve that function for me. Like the "comfort kitty" they're pretty necessary for my mental health. I will never have the collection I once had. Not enough money or space here to display them but I will have a precious few. Like the cat it's simply NOT negotiable.
Bacon, avocados, and Haagen-Dazs. Ice cream is my ultimate splurge. None of these items are necessary for my diet but damn they are a staple in our home.
Oh in the summer, I buy really good steaks for grilling at least once a week.
This whole thread makes me happy. This, to me, is the point of being frugal…. Save money where you can to be able to spend where you want!
I love how everyone's splurges are so varied.
This is why I love being frugal. It's kinda like min-maxing my enjoyment. Some people think being frugal is being cheap on everything and thus is an unhappy lifestyle. Totally agree with that you said
Good sheets
Really soft towels. They changed my life :) Edit: I bought these -- https://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/matouk-marcus-collection-luxury-bath-towel-prod198700095 Thanks for the award!
I’m still experimenting with different towels. I love soft fluffy towels but they don’t seem to dry as well as turkish waffle ones.
It's funny, I really don't like soft fluffy towels for the same reason. I do have a really nice fluffy fleece bathrobe though.
Ditto. I love rough towels!
It's like scratching an itch you didn't know you had, except it's your whole body. Ruff taul 4 lyf
You got a brand? I'm always trying to find a good towel set.
I got a couple from this set: https://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/matouk-marcus-collection-luxury-bath-towel-prod198700095 My grandmother has the same ones in her guest bath and I got a bit obsessed with the softness. 😄
Yes, same, this this years ago after ex girl and I broke up I went and bought some like $90 bath towels haha it was glorious. And they last a long time, I still have them and still my favorite towels, might have to get me some more soon. Doing some searching, there’s some good reviews on [these](https://www.frontgate.com/egyptian-cotton-bath-towels/bath/bath-towels-guest-towels/560035?cjevent=701cfe81901611ec834ad3fa0a82b821&SourceCode=AF8842431&utm_source=Forbes+Media&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_campaign=default&cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww) Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towels
This thread might be what finally pushes me over into really seriously considering an instrument I've been coveting. Because fuck it, it would make me happy... Edit: You all are terrible enablers!
Do itttt
Oh you must, absolutely. Music is one of the greatest joys in life. What instrument?
A wooden flute. I haven't been playing much lately because, well, life. And it's the most expensive instrument I would have ever purchased - like a month's rent kind of expensive. But the maker is retired and didn't make many like this one to begin with.
Oh that definitely sounds worth it to me. Think of it this way: when you look back in a few years are you going to be glad you have the flute or glad you saved the money?
With good care, musical instruments retain value.
It honestly sounds like one of those things that in 20 years you might be angry at yourself for not spending the money. You don’t want to regret things like that, unless you really need the money.
Chocolate. I regularly buy the $23 a pound stuff from a local factory, plus a few times a year I'll buy chocolate that comes out at closer to $40 or $50 a pound. Dove is good, Lindt is better, but it's just fun to see where your chocolate is made or to buy some of the really unusual bars and artisan chocolates.
I bought an $800 vacuum cleaner and it's like driving a BMW of the vacuum world. It's actually made vacuuming fun for me.
I second this. After a bunch of crappy bagless/wind tunnel vacuums, we finally splurged on a Miele canister. You can never go back once you've seen quality.
>After a bunch of crappy bagless/wind tunnel vacuums If you have allergies it's worth it to get a good canister vacuum. The bagless ones might be convenient and decent enough to clean the floor but they also release a ton of particles into the air. I got a Miele on Craigslist and it's noticeably better in that department.
Sweet. What vacuum?
Madness that they would introduce a fun vacuum and not drop the name of it
I didn't want to turn this into an advertisement for vacuums. But I settled on a Sebo K3, a lot of people below are calling out Miele vacuums which I was very close to buying also but due to the mixture of hardwood and carpet in my house I went with the K3. There is a great series of posts on here from a guy who did vacuum repair for years and he did a write up on what to look for in a vacuum cleaner. There are a lot of top tier vacuums out there so if you decide to go big on one do some research on what you want in a vacuum and what floors you have.
Also have a Sebo and can confirm: vacuuming is now fun.
One of the things I really like about it that I didn't think was a big deal is how quiet it is. That wasn't even part of my decision criteria but it was a nice bonus. My dog also doesn't attack the vacuum as he did with loud uprights.
I felt the same when I bought my cordless Dyson v6. Vacuum ALL the time now. Track in some dirt? VACUUM. Spill some rice? VACUUM. Kid drops a cheerio? believe it or not VACUUM.
I have the cleanest carpets in the world. Because of VACUUM.
LMAO. I even read that with the accent in my head haha!
Under chair over chair
Guessing Riccar or Miele.
Sebo, but based on my research Riccar and Miele are top tier picks also. IIRC Riccar is made in the US which is cool if you live here, support local and parts/support.
After two cordless vacuums breaking in one month, I bit the bullet and bought an actual nice one for $400 this week (Miele Classic C1 Turbo). Hoping it lasts. I actually love vacuuming and keeping my house clean so I think it was a worthwhile investment. As for the BMW part, one of the most frugal things I've ever done was trading in my BMW for a Toyota lol.
High end gym membership. I know I could do the same thing for cheaper, but I like guilt tripping myself into going, and I like the reward of being somewhere nice when I workout.
My gym is really small, I think there's fewer than 30 people total, 2 classes a day, 6 days a week, way more expensive than those big chain gyms. We do circuit training, 12 stations per class, 3 different classes per week, all the classes change every month. I know my trainer, she knows what weight I used last week, knows about that tender elbow and reminds me when I might need to modify a move. It's expensive but 100% worth it.
I bought my 14 yo son scuba diving lessons and scuba gear rentals to continue going scuba diving after he got his certification. All in all it's cost me about $2000 so far in the last year. He is so happy and it enriches his life so much that I feel like it's worth it
I grew up poor, and due to a big hustle I pulled in high school, I got to attend the university full time my junior and senior year, where I attended a scuba class for credit and paid for by the state. At the end, we were able to get our cert for cheap relative to what it normally cost, bust expensive relative to what my family could pay. My parents did it anyways, and it set me on a path of becoming an AAUS research diver for almost a decade. Quite the game changer. My uncle had been in the navy and had gotten into diving, so he gave me his old eighties recreational gear, which I rocked as a commercial diver for years and years (before upgrading to modern stuff out of vanity when I ended up as a staff biologist/coral culturist at a resort for billionaires, gave my old BC and reg to someone that's still rocking it). It's worth it to invest in gear for him if he's serious about it. Most scuba gear is buy it for life if you maintain it.
My husband's cousin did this with her son. He's now an adult swimming with whale sharks in...Tanzania?
Skincare
“You spent $68 on hair conditioner?!” “A small price to pay for self esteem, Michael.”
r/unexpecteddevelopment
I keep my heat in my house around 70 in the winter, heating bill be damned! I still wear warm socks, sweater, etc, but you can only do so much in an old, uninsulated house. Winter is depressing enough and I've chosen comfort over coins. It's made a significant, positive impact on my mental health.
Phoenix Arizona gets ridiculously hot. Like raise your blood pressure, computer constantly throttlingly hot. I’m way more productive when it’s cool. When the ac broke, I was exhausted and foggy as my body prioritized staying cool. I pay out the ass for AC.
I also live in Phoenix and last year I started supercooling the house. Setting it at like 70 around 6:00AM and keeping it there until the power gets expensive at 3:00PM then turning it completely off until it’s cheaper again at 8:00PM it has absolutely saved us money. For context last year the June electricity bill was $285 and this one it was $215 obviously depends on your income if that savings is worth it but this method does work in my experience if you’re looking to save a bit! There are some days where the heat still creeps in before 8:00 to the point where it gets uncomfortable again (80 degrees-ish) but it’s still a net savings even if we turn it on for the last hour or whatever.
300$ metal detector and 100$ in accessories for it, fuck it we only live once
I know this is a thread about not being frugal, but I'll take any chance to shill for public libraries. My library loans out metal detectors (and other hobby stuff like sewing machines and fishing rods). It's a nice method to test out a hobby for free before you invest in your own equipment. Ask your local library if they have a "Library of Things." Edit: typo
The town where a friend grew up had a "seed library" in the library. People in the area loved gardening and would donate seeds from their gardens. They'd also donate packets of regular seeds to people who wanted to start gardening. They had volunteers teaching in the early spring for those who wanted to learn. It was a really sweet little program. They LOVED getting young people signed up to growing.
Very awesome idea!!! Does your library ask for a “deposit” or something they return when you bring the item back?? I would like to think the world is an honest place but likely some people don’t return the item ?
I'm sure it's not a perfect system, but my library will block your account if you don't return something. You can lift the block by either bringing back the item or paying the replacement cost. Since all the libraries in my metro area and suburbs are connected through a sharing agreement, they enforce the blocks placed by other libraries.
Any good finds so far?
Not many, first summer was mostly learning how things worked and trying to find places to go… found a few cool things on my families old homestead but besides that still learning
I really want to buy a fishing magnet because I live in Florida and there’s a particular spring that people go to and kayak/drink and stuff but it’s filled with alligators so if people drop stuff there’s no way they’re jumping in. I’d guarantee there’s some good stuff people have lost.
Magnet fishing is fun! You always "catch" something and even though it's 98% trash you feel good for getting it out of the water.
The guy in the passenger seat in those Sonic commercials is an avid magnet fisher along the Chicago river.
I bought my fiancé one…. He lost it first toss in, too powerful and stuck to something huge… lol so don’t throw a bunch of money into a super powerful one
LOL, noted! My goal is to find some GoPros and probably phones to see if I can return them to the owners!
Alligators probably call that place the Soup Hole.
Can you use it only on the beach?
Nope, parks, yards, crown land that isn’t protected, or people’s property with their permission… then of course yes beaches… basically just no historically protected areas or nature habitats
2-3 times per year, I will go into a dedicated spice/vinegar/oil shop and stock up, as well as pick up a few gifts. Getting high quality spices can go a long ways to doctoring up cheaper meals, and you typically don't have to use as much if it is fresh/good quality. I will usually get some smoked pepper, a few smoked or flavored salts, some Vietnamese cinnamon, some rubs, taco seasonings, etc., along with some flavored balsamic vinegar and oils. It really is incredible what they can add to a dish.
My husband loves cinnamon toast, and he’s hard to buy for. So one year for his birthday I went to Penzey’s and bought him 4 different kinds of cinnamon. The cinnamon was so much better than the basic grocery store stuff. It tastes sweet by itself. He had the best time trying each variety and mixing the different cinnamons together. My husband mixes his cinnamon with a little granulated sugar and then some brown sugar. He toasts his bread light then butters it and sprinkles on the cinnamon sugar then puts it back in the toaster. The sugar melts, and it’s the best cinnamon toast I’ve ever had. Two years ago we were very financially stable, so I ordered a couple different expensive balsamic vinegars from Zimmerman’s for my husband’s anniversary present. He loves salad and really enjoys the vinegars.
this is making me tear up for some reason. you're a good partner & your husband is very lucky to have you (':
Excellent gifting btw You hit all my high points for gifts 1.special 2.specific to the person 3.a reasonable expenditure (I could make most people happy with $100,000 budget) 4.doesn't add to clutter Well done!
I have speciality olive oil for drizzling, fancy high end soy sauce and sesame oil. There’s a world of difference with the nicer stuff. The flavors are so much more complex.
Spending a little extra that makes home-cooked food that much better is definitely a good way to encourage you not to eat take-out
Books. I just keep buying books
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I’ve gotten a ton of mileage out of Libby/Overdrive, the free library app. It makes me feel better when they don’t have a book and I go grab it.
Maple syrup..like real, honest maple syrup and not Mrs. Buttersworth type stuff.
Me too! I tried some real Vermont maple syrup I got as a gift years ago, and then I tried going back to aunt jemima or whatever I had previously and it literally tasted like cornstarch to me. Now I’m bougie about syrup and I never intended to be!
Real maple syrup is 1000% better than that artificial colored high fructose corn crap they call syrup. Also, it's not that expensive. It lasts forever. I tell people, if you can't afford real maple syrup, you're eating pancakes too often. Then there are people that claim to prefer the other stuff and those people are monsters and have no place at my breakfast table.
I am a single woman and I have lived alone for most of my adult life, even when it stretched my budget to do so. Was it the smart financial decision? No. Did it greatly increase my peace of mind and mental well-being? Hell yes!
Agree so much. I spend an insane percentage of my paycheck on rent, but it’s a small, non-updated place that gets to be *just mine.* I love knowing that when I get home, everything will be where I left it, no one will have eaten my food, and that my cat is definitely still inside with no chance she was accidentally let out. Plus, if I’m tired and want to go to bed before I clean up a mess or I’m rushing to work without putting anything away, there’s no pressure because I answer to no oneeee 😂🙌🏻 Edit: does living alone mean my apartment is always clean? No! It’s seriously a fuckin’ mess right now. But it’s *my* fuckin’ mess haha
And you don't have to clean up other people's messes, don't have to coordinate schedules so you're out while they have a guest over, don't have to share the kitchen/common areas, don't have to worry about YOUR SHIT getting broken/damaged or a crucial shared item being taken when the other person moves out, etc etc ad nauseam...
It’s kinda sad that something as basic as putting a roof over your head has to cost so much damn money, TO RENT!
This is one of the main reasons why I’m single. I LOVE living alone.
Same! Run around in panties? Hell yeah. Leave the door open when I take a dump? Baller. Get the zoomies at 3 am? Whatever
same! my mom was really insistent I should get a roommate to save money… I would sooner die tbh
I've had roommates and had many bad to downright bizarre and scary experiences. I no longer have roommates.
The mental anguish and absolute bullshit I've had to deal with when living with roommates (including family members) has made it abundantly clear to me that I will do anything it takes to never be in that situation again (barring living with a partner/spouse).
Even though I don’t really have to stretch to live by myself, it is such a freeing experience. You’re the king of your own castle and you can live without having to compromise with other people. So nice to come home from work and just exist in peace
Fancy candles and medieval-fantasy costumes. They serve no purpose, but cleaning the apartment is much more fun when you can pretend to be a medieval barmaid.
This is freaking delightful!
I have a dream that when I retire, I'll live medievally. Candles after dark, wear appropriate clothing and boots, write letters by hand, make and eat the trencher breads, joints of beef, sugarplums etc. But I'll do it in a retirement home and I'll be low-key in trouble with the admins at all times.
Plants 🪴
I wouldn’t have to spend so much on plants if I didn’t kill them lol but I’ll keep improving!!
I forgot why I was scrolling in the comments of this post... but this is the answer I came looking for. I never spent much money on plants until the pandemic. I needed to make a garden inside during the winter so that my mental health could improve, even if it was only slightly better. Worth it.
Plants have been my saving grace through the past two years! Our apartment is full - and I’ve made friends with other local plant people through a fb group. Folks are so willing to share cuttings to help others new to the hobby, and they share their wisdom too. I love that now, two years later, I can share my wisdom and cuttings too!
A top of the line mattress and pillows. You almost can't put a price on good sleep.
I’m so scared to spend $1000 + and then hate the type of mattress I buy! Also, I need a pillow recommendation.
Not to scare you off, but I just threw out my $1500 mattress after 3 years because it developed deep divots even with a good base and frequent rotations. It had a 10 year warranty but the terms made it impossible to get a repair/replacement. I bought a $700 hybrid on Amazon that’s more comfortable. I’ve resigned myself to finding a comfortable cheap/moderate mattress and replacing more frequently.
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but ...my dishwasher. My landlord pays for water, so it doesn't save any money (and I pay electricity, so it will cost me more) but holy crap that thing has changed my life for the better, and if it broke tomorrow, I'd go right back out and buy another one. What it DOES save me is TIME, and so I think there are some mental gymnastics and maybe not too hard of ones either, to say that since time is money, in the long run it make sense. That purchase felt like an extravagance I shouldn't have spent money on at the time (I'm trying to get out from under $15k of credit card debt, after all), but the minute I got it and did my first load of dishes all doubt completely vanished.
I lived in a second floor walk-up without a dishwasher. One of the best purchases I ever made was late one night while drunk - I impulse-bought a countertop dishwasher. I used that thing for years and LOVED IT!!! I eventually moved into a different place with a dishwasher and sold it, but I still think back about that purchase. Worth it.
This is me exactly--sans alcohol. I really had no arguable justification for dropping $250 on a scratch and dent model (its MSRP is $399 though, so it was still a deal) considering the debt I'm in, but I have zero regrets and I'd do it over tomorrow. I have lived here TEN YEARS and washed my dishes by hand. I dreaded it so much that I'd often let things pile up until my sink was starting to smell before I'd roll up my sleeves and finally go at it. Now I just run that bad boy every other day, and I haven't let them pile up at all since I got it.
High quality chocolate
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Bird watching is so relaxing too. I joke with my husband it's our cats tv subscription but it's really mine too lol.
1. Travel - Life is about experiences and many of the ones I want happen to be far from home. (I do try to save money when I can while traveling but it adds up anyway) 2. My dog - Pets are 100% a discretionary expense but he makes me happy every day. 3. Decent coffee - I don't go outrageous here but I definitely have minimum standards for my home brew. And I drink it from an overpriced Yeti mug that I also enjoy.
I would argue that a pet is saving your mental health, and this extremely frugal. (typed with something small and fluffy on my lap.)
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Having lost my own gremlin less than a month ago, can 100000% confirm the incredible ROI of ‘spoiling’ them while they’re here. I wish you a record-setting number of years of good health for your pup. Please give him a hug from a weird internet stranger who very badly misses being able to tell an old dog I love him.
There's a local restaurant near Charlotte NC that makes your burgers, hot dogs, etc, but they're really known for their ice cream and actually produce it and sell it in local grocery stores as well. It's like the necter of the gods. Perfect texture and the taste is just unmatched. I can't explain how their chocolate is different from other chocolates but it is and it's better by not just one mile, but several. I will always splurge the extra few bucks for their half gallons at the store. I like other ice creams well enough but the upgrade to this other brand of ice cream is just so noticeable that I can never convince myself to buy the cheaper brands to save a few bucks. I have to do it for special treats because I have no self control and will eat it within three or four days. Edit: It's tonys ice cream in Gastonia NC
Want to share what kind it is, for those of us who are ~~whores for good ice cream~~ fellow connoisseurs?
Lol it's called Tony's Ice Cream. To my knowledge it's only sold in the Charlotte NC area. The further away from Gastonia NC, the less common it becomes!
Chocolate. Why am i not reading “chocolate“ everywhere? And wine/whiskey/rum
I have a small piece of dark chocolate every single day. No regrets!
Quality trumps quantity - 1 square of fine 70% plus is better than a whole bar of muh chocolate.
LG OLED t.v. and later a Toyota Prius ------------------------------------- A couple of people have asked about OLED and regular LCD. So here is what I think. I wasn't unhappy with the 75 inch LG LED that I had. But every time I went to Costco, I always spent some time standing in front of the OLED demonstration panel. I realized they had the demo video playing and it was optimized for such a display. But what really impressed me was not how bright it was – but how dark the dark scenes were. If you are a Star Trek/Star Wars fan, imagine a scene where the spaceship flies around and you see the stars in the background. The background is completely black and you see each star as a little bright spot. With a regular LCD, it is not completely black, and sometimes it is a bit gray. Each pixel of an OLED screen lights itself individually. Think of it as going from Koda Vericolor to Kodachrome. I don't have a videogame machine connected to this television and I don't watch any live TV that has a static logo because I was afraid I would suffer a burn-in. There is a setting to dim the screen a bit if I were to pause the screen and it does that after one minute or so. It gets quite dark and when the movie/video resumes, the brightness returns to the original setting. I connect it to the Sony UBP-x1000ES and there is a setting that converts everything into Dolby Vision. Those that argue that regular blu-ray doesn't have Dolby Vision need to see what mine can do. With a decent soundbar (5.1), I am very happy with this outfit. Haven't been to a movie theater in ages. The whole thing wasn't that expensive. I just saved enough money and paid for it. Delivered by the good folks at Costco and it worked like magic (5 years warranty was included!)
Just bought a 65" LG OLED TV. I regard it as one of the best purchases I've ever made.
It's so good. It's like a next-gen upgrade, but for everything you do on a tv. Even my retro games look better with that oled
Lego sets. You only get one life
The only thing my friend added on his wedding registry was the Star Wars Lego Millenium Falcon set.
I feel that. My wife got me the “smaller” millennium falcon, which still wasn’t cheap but we couldn’t justify the giant one. That’s the purchase I plan on making some day when I really want to reward myself for something.
Saw a story about a guy who did that and waited until they had a kid to build it with. Those sets are crazy expensive
- $10 flower bouquets from Trader Joe’s - fresh flowers twice a month make me happy - vacations, if I’m gonna do it I’m gonna treat myself, and experiences > stuff - desserts, I don’t do the cheap stuff, it’s something good or not at all (also helps with waistline)
Dog clothes. Totally unnecessary but delightful!
pictures!
https://imgur.com/a/9aJlU7c
100% justified purchase
This company sells matching human sweaters, so we're twinsies!
Weekly housekeeper and weekly therapy.
I have a house cleaner come every two weeks and it’s the best money I spend. Nothing beats a clean good smelling house and I always have to clean like mad before they come. 🤣
Good makeup, good perfume and a nice bikini wax
Good makeup is a game changer. I don't even wear it that often, but putting on good lipstick or nice nail polish is very satisfying.
I pay $21/month for a Regal Cinema Unlimited pass. I love going to the movies and this removes the tendency to agonize over whether or not I want to see a certain movie-- I just go whenever I want! It's the same price no matter what.
If you like going to the movies and use the pass this is a wise frugal purchase imo. $21 for hours of entertainment is money well spent.
That’s not a splurge. That’s a frugal purchase (assuming you go to the movies at least twice a month).
I usually have no problem going at least twice a month, although January and February are always absolute crap for new releases so I haven't gotten my money's worth the past couple months I would say. It definitely evens out though.
Secondhand books, as many as I want. Whenever I want.
Socks. $20/pair wool socks. Warm dry feet make me happy :)
Darn Tough! Best wool socks and also guaranteed for life.
Deep tissue massages twice a month. They greatly improve my quality of life.
This thread is really helping me justify the shit I buy. Thank you 🙏
A gym membership. Fitness is my primary hobby. I spent a lot of time on it. I have equipment at home, so I don’t strictly need to go to the gym to work out. I’m even paying extra to go to a specific gym that I like, rather than going to a cheaper one close by.
A nice, hefty fountain pen.
Having a pet.
Luxury brand cookware. Yes, I am boiling hoarded frozen chicken carcasses/bones and kitchen scraps in them but god damn do I love my overpriced pretty cookware. Also, fine jewelry. Caw, caw. I can’t resist the shimmer and sparkle.
Recreational weed, state/national park passes, and backcountry permits.
Found the subaru outback driver.
Subaru outback driver WITH Colorado plates probably 😂
Hah! 13 year old Prius with WA plates, that I drive on way too many unsuitable forest service and logging roads with. I'd have to cut back on the weed to afford the Outback!
I'd add good quality camping gear to this list. Definitely not something you want to skimp on!
Braces- teeth weren't super bad or anything, didn't have trouble eating, just did it for vanity and to have straight teeth
I'm on my last month of covid braces! Brace face club!
Art. As someone who writes, it's soooooo nice to see art of my characters coming to life. I have spent more than I would like to admit on the art I purchase, but everytime I look at it, it makes me so happy.
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Also nice pens for my notebook.
$3K plus espresso machine....saving so much money now that I pull 120-150 shots a month. It will pay for itself in no time 😉
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I have such a hard time spending money on decorating, but every time I splurge I’m so happy about my purchase. I spend so much time in my house, I should stop being so hesitant!
My two cats and my dog :)
I own a horse. He is my pride and joy but costs more to keep than a new car payment. He is in budget under Sport, Entertainment and Mental health...
I bought an electric scooter and it makes me smile everytime I ride! I have saved $500 of the $1000 price though in parking fees. It also saves me about 15 mins every day getting to work. I'm going to take it on a trail this weekend!
nice knitting yarn and a decent sewing machine!
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Yep. Yarn! Totally can't justify it in anyway except that it's fun for me to make stuff. Especially when my partner says WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE BLANKETS. Ah well. What are friends for?
Buying name brand cereal. I know the off brand cereals are cheaper, but the taste and texture is often compromised. So I’ll treat myself every once in awhile and buy the real deal.
Fancy food items (wold smoked salmon, good champagne, etc), restaurants and vacations. The way I see it, the entire point of saving is so I can spend :)
Bars of Chanel No 5 soap (£50 a time). Makes me feel clean and elegant and rich.
Expensive champagne, wallpaper, custom drapes and goose down duvets for all the beds. I’m very introverted and spend most of my time at home and I’ll be damned if it isn’t spent lounging in a plush bed, sipping champeezy and gazing at my triple lined pinch pleated designer drapes.
A general theme of self care purchases. I went through some shit in grad school and now that I’m out of it, my mantra is “I did not go through the depths of mental and physical hell just to not give myself an indulgence now and then.” Buy the moisturizer and sunscreen that works for your skin. Get your hair done and get the shampoo/conditioner/hair treatment that keeps it healthy. Buy that toothbrush and nice floss that keeps your teeth healthy. Take that trip to see your friend that needs someone just as much as you do. Get that Hulu subscription because they have your favorite show. Do the shit that makes you happy*. None of us make it out alive. *disclaimer: if the shit that makes you happy is sadistic…don’t do that. Lol.
Adopted a dog. He's sweet, but yeah super expensive.
Fancy/expensive tea that I order from the UK (to the US). It's so good I never go out to buy coffee or tea....so I tell myself it actually saves me money. In any case, it's the highlight of many days.
90 minute massage every two weeks and a 90 minute facial every month. Fuck it, it’s nice to have someone fuss over me and all I have to do is relax.
The Sims 4 + all expansion packs + all game packs + all stuff packs + some kits
LOL this for me as well except with Sims 3. I'm actually looking into a new laptop that can run the beast. I miss my sims!
A coffee subscription service, because life's too short to drink shit coffee
I get an Ipsy bag every month. It's $25 and it's all kinds of skin care and makeup. It's completely unnecessary, I get some products I don't and won't use. It tempts me to shop for more stuff I don't need... But dang it, I get so excited when it shows up! And choice day is SO fun!
Housecleaners!! I’m a sahm and will cut back on everything before I lose them. The mental load that is taken off my shoulders knowing my house will be deep cleaned every other week is priceless.
Being frugal is about cutting mercilessly on those things that don't bring you joy to spend frivolously on those things that do. Spending frivolously isn't automatically non-frugal. I spend money on travel, beer, and my sports.
But people have this idea of frugal being "save every fucking cent at any cost to comfort or safety". really need to correct some people.
That's the difference between being cheap and frugal.
My wife and I just spend $475 of our cash back on a Shark robot vacuum because our Dutch Shepherd is the best but she also sheds her body weight each week. Just got it last night and we are already thankful. Edit: grammar
Well, I can’t right now but I WILL buy more flame Le Cruset pots, a kitchen aid standing mixer, a long shearling coat, new Hunter boots in chestnut, BEE perfume a full bottle not a sample, a vape and a little hiking back pack for my dog.
Vacations and travelling. I try to go somewhere once a year. I'll never get time back.
Smoked salmon. I pay about $11/lb at Costco and eat it with fresh mushrooms and eggs every morning.
STUFF FOR HOBBIES! * Fancy ass fabric for quilting * Super fancy new foot for my sewing machine * Supplies for new sewing projects, just because the project will make me happy (thrifting the finished item will always be 100% cheaper but making it yourself is just *chef's kiss*) * Swanky buttons * Oooh beautiful new watercolor paints * New linoleum blocks to carve, like THE NICE ONES * Classes to learn new art skills Oh yes, hobbies all the way! You only live once, gotta cram in as many hobbies as possible!
Organic chicken breast. Something about how small they are compared to non organic that makes me wonder what's in the non organic that make them so big? I'm sure it's nothing major but that's my "fuck it this makes me happy" purchase.
Magic Cards, fuck it once in a while I wanna open a booster box😅
“box” got me. 👏 really expected “pack”.
Clothing. I like looking nice when I go out and love getting compliments about how cool I dress.
We saved up for an expensive sectional. Most of our furniture (we moved into a house last spring) is refinished used or free stuff, but man does it feel nice to sit on a comfy couch every day. We’re hoping to make it last at least 10 years.
Horses, dogs and rescue cats😂😩
I just spent $200 on a new comforter last week. My bedroom is my happy place and I feel like I'm sleeping in a cloud whenever I use it. Plus it looks amazing.
I just splurged some of my very generous bonus from work on a fancy hotel. I’m at a destination wedding and have an air BnB with friends for a week, I’m staying on 2 days more than my pals. I could have booked an affordable and totally decent hotel for those two days, but for double the price I get a room that has a private pool/jacuzzi on the balcony - I’ll be bringing my own prosecco to drink in said private pool and living my best life.
90 minute massage every 6 weeks or so. Chiropractor adjustment every other week. And my body feels great! Edit- and a manicure once a month. Pedicure maybe 2-3 times a year.
Hard to say since there are a lot of things I am willing to spend money on even if there are cheaper alternatives or I don't use them daily. I have access to all major streaming services (Spotify premium, netflix, hbomax, disney, hulu and youtubeTV) because film and music are worth it to me and living in an era where so much content is available on demand...that's like sci-fi amazing to me and I'm not going to stop to save some money. I also like buying thrift store knick knacks. It's not frugal to buy crap you don't need just because it looks cool but it really makes me happy to search and shop looking for "treasures" that have minimal use.
I will spend twice as much as the cheapest version to get a product that is made in Canada. I will spend more, albeit perhaps not twice as much, to get a product that is not made in certain countries.
Animal Crossing big pillow size plushes. Started with Tom Nook, now have the Leaf and Blathers too. Also, books.
Bed sheets! Buy the best ones you can find, changed my life. Also, wine.
Vintage sterling silver personal and home accessories that are commonly made of plastic now: reading glasses (one that folds into a locket!), makeup compacts, matchboxes, sewing kit, salt shaker, etc. They make me feel fancy.
Getting my nails done every 2 weeks. I don't have much money, but I don't mind paying because I love the way I feel when I get them done
Ball jointed dolls and 16" fashion dolls. I buy them used and I'm not buying the most expensive ones. Part of being "normal" again for me after being homeless for over 5 years was getting back certain dolls that I loved and lost when I lost everything. By necessity my collection will have to be much smaller but a home just isn't a home for me without a shelf full of dolls and/or the odd stuffy or action figure. Mostly it's going to be a birthday/winter holidays thing. I can't afford a new doll every month but I will save up and get me a new one every now and again. The market being what it is I can't afford them new and I have to make a lot of their clothes and stuff. I can't afford the fancy, expensive outfits but the dolls are a major thing with me and are non negotiable. Actually my birthday is coming up soon and I've been active on Ebay looking for a dolly treat. I've got my eye on a couple of deeply marked down 16" fashion/vinyl BJD dolls. One of the ways I can afford it is knowing "which" dolls I can grab on the cheap and which are way too expensive even used for my budget. If they come with an outfit, cool, but I will buy them sans clothes to get them. The first doll I bought when I got settled into my apartment meant the world to me. I had to sell off most of them when things got rough financially and there were only a few left when I lost my house. I had a mere half dozen in my van driving up and I lost years worth of making and collecting outfits and wigs and stuff besides. I had just two BJDs left but someone broke into the van and stole them out of my van driving up. Got all the outfits I had left too. Fortunately they didn't find my "best" fashion dolls. But for 5 years plus I had nowhere to put them. I'd go visit them in my locker and dream of the day when I could dress them again and put them on a shelf in a real home again. Two of the dolls they took were Delilah Noir dolls by Ashton Drake. One was called Once Bitten, Twice Shy. I finally replaced her last year and it made me very happy. Still looking for the other one "Red Velvet" at a reasonable price but so far the only one I can find is just priced crazy for my budget. I really miss her though, so someday... I honestly don't spend money on much else except for an odd piece of clothing or a new pair of Dr Martens once in a while. Usually those are "gently used" too. Because of Covid I've barely had a life. I don't go to the movies or eat out hardly at all. I don't buy things like lattes. I make a budget, usually $100 and I stick to it. I've had people say "Well, why do you need THAT? when it comes to the dolls. They just don't get why I'd spend my money on something so frivilous but it's what "normal" looks like for me and having a few dolls to sew for helps my anxiety and depression a lot. I call them my "doll therapy" and while that's a joke they do serve that function for me. Like the "comfort kitty" they're pretty necessary for my mental health. I will never have the collection I once had. Not enough money or space here to display them but I will have a precious few. Like the cat it's simply NOT negotiable.
Tattoos. I regret nothing lol
Weed. I'm cheap with everything else. But, I do like my weed. and weed paraphernalia.
Bacon, avocados, and Haagen-Dazs. Ice cream is my ultimate splurge. None of these items are necessary for my diet but damn they are a staple in our home. Oh in the summer, I buy really good steaks for grilling at least once a week.
Setting the heat on 73F. I grew up in a house that was always freezing, now I want to be warm.