"What Did You Buy That You Didn’t Absolutely Need?”
Given that this is a frugal community, we are always sharing about ways that we've saved money, or ways that we've avoided buying something.
But one day on a post, reader Reese suggested that we should all share something we've recently bought that we didn't absolutely need.
I think this is a good idea because as I've said lots of times before, I am not interested in living a life of deprivation. I'm interested in living a rich life while spending less.
So, while I obviously do put a lot of effort into saving money, I don't keep my budget to the absolute bare minimum that I could.
Sometimes, it's lovely to buy something just because it makes you happy, not because it's something you need.
And if you are careful with your spending overall, you usually can find some budgetary wiggle room to splurge on something that is solidly in the "want" category.
I'll go first, obviously. 😉
You know how I bought that pair of purple Converse, but I accidentally bought a men's 8 instead of a women's 8?
I listed them back on eBay and they sold this past week. Yay!
So then I hopped right back onto eBay to browse the Converse in my size, and I came across a pair of coral low-tops. OOOH.
They were my size, so I plunked down the $30 and bought them.
These shoes are most definitely a want and not a need; I already have plenty of sneakers.
And not only that, I already have three pairs of Converse (all from eBay)!
But these are not a super expensive splurge, and colorful shoes make me pretty happy.
I feel good about this. 😉
Sooo, now it's your turn.
It is not a question of where to begin, but where to stop I suppose.
In the last months I spent non-necessary money on
A weekend trip to the beach, just by myself
An amber brooch (vintage)
Vintage flower pots
Yarn
A vintage hanger
All in the way of self indulgence., no regrets
@J NL, You and me both. Sometimes I feel that just about everything I buy isn't strictly necessary, including many of my food choices.
What do you do with yarn? I'm a knitter, although I haven't been doing much for the past 10 years or so.
@WilliamB,
Yes, knitting! I really like knitting while listening to music or podcasts, cats purring near me.
I am knitting a wrap at the moment and will soon start on socks for my sister in law. I also like crochet.
Where did you learn to knit? My mother taught me, and we were also taught crafts at primary school, 2 hours a week. I can recall we crocheted a barbie dress at 11, and we knitted a doll and sewed clothes for it at 12.
@J NL, and I would like to know where you get vintage pots and what do they look like?
@Anne,
I buy them at the Dutch eBay ("marketplace") and have a preference for mid century Dutch pottery. You might say I am redecorating my office with pottery That my mum gave away in the 80s and 90s. I bought bigger pots because the plants grew more quickly than I anticipated. They had to be rehoused 🙂
@J NL,
Guessing you like vintage. 🙂 (Lol, I do, too!).
@J NL, I walked into a shop while in college, so I could make something for my grandfather's birthday.
@WilliamB,
Oh that is nice! Your grandfather must have been pleased! My husband keeps a sweater that I knitted for him in the early days of our marriage. There are stains that won't come out and it does not fit any longer. But no way that it can be thrown out.
I always call knitting my stich fix.
@J NL, He was. He was blind, my mother had already bought all the useful gadgets, and my grandparents lived in a small apartment. There weren't many good choices! I have it now. There's a mistake smack-dab in the middle of the front, too.
Of course there's no way you could throw out your husband's sweater! One thing you might do with it is put it on a teddy bear.
A remote car starter for my 2014 vehicle. I live in Western New York. This year my area has had two major snowstorms. My vehicle is parked outside because our garage holds one car, and it is not mine. Can I go out in the mornings and brush off feet of snow from my vehicle, start the engine, turn on the heater, and let it warm up? Yes! But it is a real luxury to press a button and have it done for me from the comfort of my warm home. This splurge was somewhat frugal....I am blessed to have a DIY husband who installed it!
@Monika, I am in NWPA. This was totally worth it. I now have a garage and don't need one, but they save so much time.
@Monika, I had a remote start on my last vehicle. I could turn on my car from my third floor apartment to start the thaw process. It’s great because the car stays locked while it’s warming up. Safety features wouldn’t allow me to lock the car and get out while the engine was running, and I wasn’t going to leave the keys in an unlocked car in an apartment complex. It was a great splurge!
@Monika, YES. Living in North Dakota with winter so many months out of the year it felt more like a necessity than a luxury because sometimes it was so cold my car wouldn't start?! GOOD for you to have this and impressed your hubby installed it
@Monika, Hamburg girl here! I'm lucky enough to park my car in the garage, but the storms were no joke!
@Monika, I live in Northern Alaska and I would not buy a car without autostart. When they first came out, my husband bought me that and seat warmers and had them installed on my pickup as a Christmas gift. I think I may have swooned with gratitude. And my current vehicle also has a steering wheel warmer feature. Bliss.
@Lindsey, where did you buy seatwarmers from? my daughter is jealous of ours in the front seats and wants it for the backseat lol
Blank note cards. I love, love, love sending handwritten notes. Lately I've gone a little crazy with buying several boxes (I'm a sucker for the pretty designs on the front) so that I can choose which design best fits the recipient. Past me wouldn't believe how many boxes I have going at once.
@BJS,
Me, too!
@BJS, I’ve been buying blank cards from our local re-store! You don’t get to choose what they look like necessarily but if you feel a desire to save and support a local charity you can find some fun cards!
Obviously buying new based on the design is pretty fun. I used to do that in college a lot (hello dollar section at Target) but now the closest option we have is Walmart and I hate going there so this is a close second.
For me, it's always food. Multiple farm shares, pink strawberries, fancy cheese. I need to eat, but I could always spend less on it. I just like grocery shopping.
@Becca, My first job was at Kroger and I have had a love/fascination with grocery stores ever since. I would much rather walk through a Whole Foods, Fresh Market or even WM than a clothing store or a Michael's. That being said, dh is disabled and we are living on his disability, which is not quite enough.
So, I Instacart and Spark and get to spend more time in grocery stores than is considered normal!! I love seeing what people buy and I enjoy trying to figure out "who" they are. I don't get the benefit of the actual food, but like you, I love buying groceries, so this makes me happy and keeps us afloat.a
@Becca, Totally feel you!
@Jennifer,
I worked as a cashier in a grocery store for a few years. My favorite thing was to figure out what people were making for dinner based on the ingredients they were buying.
@Jennifer,
I too like to go into different food stores. I can find different items at times.
@Lana Popejoy,
My carts would have really thrown you, then. Sometimes I buy nothing but 12 packages of pepperoni and a box of cat litter! 😉
@Becca, This made me laugh put loud! (I also shop this way.)
@Jennifer, I love wandering the grocery store too! Both "regular" stores and stores with food from different cultures. Other stores bore me or stress me out, but not a grocery store!
My office door. The door that came with the house had a giant crack in it. While that was certainly fixable, I wanted a door with a window, as our house gets so much natural light. Enter the local architectural salvage place and a GORGEOUS door with the original arched leaded windows and square/ hand-forged nails. It was worth $175, the awkward car ride to get it here (we don’t have a truck and so made due with my husband’s Jeep), and the time I spent refinishing it (the finish was shot for being outdoors, hence the price). Worth it!!!
@N, oh my gosh, that was supposed to be “made DO.” Autocorrect strikes again!
@N,
Your new-to-you office door sounds glorious!
Interesting question but I have the hardest time answering this! I went back till the month of September and do not remember a splurge or unnecessary buy.
My grocery bill:
Sure I could lower it but that what be on the expense of not buying organic or the highest quality possible - both of which are most important to me as we are talking the environment, well being of animals, payment and working conditions for those who produce our food, less undesirable chemicals entering my body etc.
What by most standards would be considered a want rather than a need is my yearly 4 weeks vacation in Switzerland. I could shorten it or choose a less expensive part in Switzerland, try to find a smaller appartement there etc - but I am not prepared to do that as long as I can afford it. And while there I do it frugally by cooking from scratch the way I do at home, spending most of my time hiking, taking advantage of the provided public transport there etc, preparing my sandwiches and coffee ahead and taking them with me on my hikes etc...
And Kristen:
I do not consider an additional pair of your favorite sneakers bought in a very frugal way as a splurge! The more pair of sneakers you have the longer each pair will last - of course as long as you don't own 27 pairs or so.... 😉
@Lea, I am so with a
Bout the food. I know I spend a lot but feel we have lower health bills and more of the enjoyment of food rather than going out
Not gonna lie.. If I had a smaller, easier to fit shoe size I would totally splurge on fun shoes. I have pure jealousy for anyone who can easily know that what they are ordering will just FIT.
@jes, I feel you on this. Half (most of) the time my shoe size is not regularly stocked in stores, so I order and I hem and haw and read every review and research each brand and even then am never sure if what I ordered will work.
@Kaitlin,
Exactly! My birthday *treat* to myself last year was a high end shoe store to have my feet/gait/pressure points accessed and bought myself a fancy gift of sneakers and inserts. And My hips and joints approved! What a difference. So of course now New Balance is changing up the shoe styles and trying to be trendy and this new style that is actually cute in my size.. doesn't work at all for me.. So back to digging through piles and ordering online knowing full well most of the size/width combinations will be returned
Once a week or so, I go thrift store shopping with a friend. On these trips, I will usually pick up things to resell, small things that I need, things my children need or the occasional book. Many of the stores have gotten so “expensive” and picked over that I rarely buy much. However, earlier this month, I bought an extraordinary, huge silver butler’s tray. It’s English hallmarked from the 1870’s. It was $40. I certainly did not need this! However, it is beautiful on my side board with my $2 a stem Waterford Crystal. It makes me happy. If I ever tire of polishing it, I can sell for more than I paid for it.
@Bee, I'm interested to hear that brick and mortar thrift stores are no longer the treasure trove they used to be. I no longer have access to one, but I shopped at them for decades. I wonder if other people have noticed that it's hard to find things at them anymore. Due to re-sellers, maybe? I use online consignment stores now, and I find even those to be much more expensive with a much more limited selection than they were even a few years ago. It's very disappointing.
@Bee, I have a full sterling plated tea and coffee set with two such trays and and would love to find a way to sell them rather than just give them away!
@Bee, my thrifting habits, and my observations on the current state of the thrift stores in my area, are pretty much the same as yours (except that I hunt alone).
And my two most recent thrift store splurges are also English: a Spode ceramic teapot with a blue willow pattern, and a Tuscan Ware bone china teapot with a floral design. I paid $17 for the Spode and $7 for the Tuscan Ware. But (1) they make me smile every time I pass the teapot shelf in my kitchen; and (2) I "rethrifted" two teapots from my collection that I didn't like as well. (Both had very minor chips, so I doubt I could have resold them.)
Also, just to provide everyone with a chuckle, here's the reason I don't collect anything silver or brass: I dropped out of Junior Altar Guild at my church in 7th grade because I absolutely hated coming home from every meeting with my fingertips all wrinkled up and my hands smelling like Gorham and Brasso!
@kristin @ going country, On our trip to see college boy, we stopped at a couple of thrift stores for his wants before heading to Walmart. We found the clothing prices there to be so much more expensive than we are used to at our local favorite-- like double and triple the prices. The boy was looking for a washable rug, and the well-used ones at the thrift stores (that also looked as if they might not hold up to one more washing) were $8!
However, our local favorite has very decent prices. Also, the thrift store we went to yesterday has great prices. It's right in the middle of Ohio, and we alter our route to go there for thrifting fun (there are many ways to drive across Ohio) and to stretch our legs.
The general rule we have is that we rarely go to a Goodwill because they have more expensive prices. We will stop there if we are looking for something quite specific that we need and that we can't get new (or don't want to pay new prices).
I imagine it depends on your location and your needs. We tend to buy books and clothing. We don't need quality, but we do appreciate it when we find it at an affordable price.
@kristin @ going country,
Many of the thrift stores near me also sell online. Although I understand that charities do not want to leave money on the table, I think that higher prices are preventing people from buying. I find that store inventories are getting stale and some stores are turning away donations.
Even the cost of practical things can be pricey. I was in a store yesterday that had a used coffee grinder priced at $14. It can be purchased new for $19. I fell in love with a bracelet with a $50 price tag. The eBay price was $14-$20. I walked away.
I wish the thrift stores’ managers understood the economics of reselling, the online market and the costs of holding inventory. If they did, I think they would not consider the reseller competition, but an essential part of the secondhand life cycle.
@Bee, I hear you. Most of the thrift stores here are too expensive for me but I do have a favourite thrift store in the country where everything is $5 a garbage ball full. Deal!
@kristin @ going country, my guess is that locally run thrift stores with volunteer labor are able to sell for less than Goodwill Stores, which pay their help. That's the case in my area.
@gina, I had a silver plated tea and coffee service. Couldn’t sell it. Pawn shop wouldn’t take it and advised me to donate to thrift shop which I did.
@Bee, Goodwill sells the better quality items online, see shop goodwill.com. Our local store also sells new merchandise. However, items are clean and the secondary market for recyclables is thriving. The days of super cheap are over, but it means smarter shopping still wins. Good quality lasts longer at any price. I would rather polish beautiful things than live with a lot of junk, and the thrift stores have furnished my home with gorgeous brass, wood, and silver. Sounds like you are a kindred spirit!
@kristin @ going country, I buy cheap 'entertainment' items at thrifts: puzzles, yarn, DVDs. And, yes, prices have gotten ridiculous post-pandemic. I buy yarn to knit into hats for the homeless. I used to get balls/skeins for .50-$1. No more. Sometimes the prices are so high that I can actually do better at Joann with a coupon. I know thrifts support charities but I sort of feel they're just price gouging because of inflation. I mean when they're trying to sell Dollar Tree items for $2?
@Bee, Totally agree!
@Lynda, my understanding is that it is a generational sea change. For generations many women wanted beautiful items with which to entertain and decorate their home. This has come to a rather crashing halt. A whole lot less home entertainment is going on now, and younger people have lived a lifetime with a global economy that has extremely cheap labor. They/we can buy all new decor or dinnerplates every year or so. Material goods are not as treasured as they once were.
I'm 74. When I was young, two valued presents that were given to young people for special occasions were a nice pen set or a watch. I can't see young people getting excited over either one of those things today. Understandably so.
@Central Calif. Artist,
The three volunteer run thrift stores in my area are actually more expensive. However, if I’m buying for myself - not for resale purposes — I don’t mind paying a little bit more. I know that the money is going to good use - the food pantry, the animal shelter, Catholic Charities. However, I won’t pay nearly new prices.
@Anne, I think this is somewhat true. I love vintage items and antiques, because even the most humble items were made to be beautiful and last a lifetime - a sterling silver thimble, a pair of handcrafted sewing scissors, a mechanical pencil, and a pocket watch.
However, some younger people are still drawn to these items. The grand Millennial style aka granny chic is making a come back. I think many are beginning to understand the toll that disposable items have on our environment and are discovering the beauty of handcrafted items.
@Lynda and @gina, people don't want to polish them and so they're very unpopular these days, and also no one entertains that way any more. Add to that if it's just plated, it's not worth selling for scrap silver either. It's too bad.
@Jody S., Our Goodwill is the highest thrift store in town, but they will give you a coupon for 20% off if you donate something. So this is one way I de-junk: I keep a box in my trunk and anytime I want to discard something, in it goes. I will take one item from the box into the "donation station" and get my coupon. Inside the store, I look for items that have the "color of the week" price tags because those things are automatically half price. So, combining coupon and color of the week, I can buy something for 70% off.
@Bee, I once saw an item at the Caritas thrift store that was marked sky high; I could've gotten the same thing at Dillard's (pricey dept. store) for less. So I took it up to the counter and inquired if the price tag was correct. The clerk rolled her eyes, sighed, and said "Oh no! We had a college sorority come in and volunteer the other day, and they have no idea how much to price things." She said they were all from wealthy families and most of them said this was their very first time visiting a thrift store. She asked the manager and they adjusted the price to something much more reasonable. You might try politely questioning the price of things and see if that would work in your favor.
@Bee, I haven't heard of "granny chic," but I hope the items I have are once again considered desirable. It makes me sad to see nice mahogany furniture painted with chalk paint to look like hillbilly junk. But that's been the trend for some time now.
@kristin @ going country, thrift stores have changed so much in the last 30 years, but I attribute that to what we consumers were buying (and getting rid of). We buy a lot of throw away stuff — fast fashion, fast food, and plastic.
@Rose, it really is...oh well. The pots would make neat planters but I want them out of my house.
@Fru-gal Lisa, last thrift store I went : 4 plates (very regular, nothing special), the cashier wanted 25$ for it! I laughed and left to visit another thrift store : 1$/plate there
@Rose,
I do believe this is generally true.However, some silver plate is collectible especially items that are deco or modernist in design, those items made by Scandinavian silver smiths and older English and American pieces. I know people who scrap the silver over copper pieces for the copper
@Anne, I agree. I’m 69 and I remember my aunt (who was probably 40 years older than me) telling me about how shocked she was by the thought of disposable pens. To her, a pen was a fountain pen that you refilled and used for decades, if not a lifetime. How times keep changing!
@Bobi, I just gave away about 200 DVDs. Wish I knew you! Try your buy nothing group if you have one.
@Steph,
DVDs go fast on my Buy Nothing group!
I bought an entry mat and some stair pads for my condo building’s stairwell area. Only one other unit uses these stairs on the regular and without getting into boring admin details, it wasn’t something the building was going to spend money on any time soon. I really wanted to soften up the look of the hard grey stone/tile stairs, have something to help absorb water from damp dog paws when it’s rainy, and break up hallway noises a little so our dog doesn’t “guard” us so much. I absolutely love how things look now and so do the neighbors!!! Totally worth it 🙂
@Stephanie,
that was a very kind and thing to do and generous on your particularly! You lessen the chance of your dog leaving traces and you help with lowering noise levels - both of which are to your neighbours advantage as well.
Two things: One is a book someone in the comments mentioned (A Window Over the Sink). The other was a wrist watch. I am absolutely a Luddite. I live by my watch, especially when I'm at work, and I refuse to use a cell phone instead. My old watch died, and although it probably is just the battery, it also had a cracked face. So I bought a new one. It was more expensive than the book, but the two things together were about the same relatively inexpensive cost as your shoes. Works for me.
@kristin @ going country, I also prefer a watch. It is much easier than digging out my phone to check the time.
@kristin @ going country, Oh, I hope you like that book! I have a treasured copy I got secondhand. I used to wear my garmin for a watch all the time, but it is bright turquoise and doesn't really go with anything except workout gear.
@Bee,
And Kristin - me too! It's so, so easy to just check a watch. Plus my watch has a second hand.
I really like having an actual watch as well!
@kristin @ going country, I am in a quandary because my wristwatch battery has died and no amount of prying will get the back off. Do I buy yet another one? Who is designing these things??
@Central Calif. Artist, Yes, I do actually just buy a new one now rather than try to replace the battery. I used to bring my watches in for new batteries to an actual jeweler to replace the battery for 5 or 10 dollars. Now, I can't get to a jeweler, and yes, the backs are too hard to get off. So I spend 20 dollars on a new watch every time. Drives me crazy. (More on the watch theme: Why do they make those stupid "fashion" watches with no actual numbers on the face? I hate those things. But not as much as I dislike digital watches that are always beeping or getting buttons pushed so they're on military time or whatever. End rant.)
@kristin@goingcountry, my favorite watch has a solar collector in the crystal—no battery! It is a treasure by Seiko.
@Central Calif. Artist, do you have a jeweler in town who changes watch batteries? They might have a tool to get the back off of. I am not sure about this, but I have used Ace Hardware to replace my key fob battery and I wondered if they would do other batteries too.
Just an idea. My watch is in the shop and I HATE having to look at my phone for the time. Good luck!
@Central Calif. Artist,
I replaced a watch battery and the watch never kept time after so i bought the same watch again because I'm picky about the contrast of the hands, numbers on the face. That one died and i found ND a citizen that is solar powered. It was less than $100. Yes it was more than the $20 watch but i figured it will pay for itself sooner than later. I have no complaints. I stopped wearing it for a while and it lived in my jewelry box with no sun. Stuck it in the kitchen window for a day and good as new.
Thank you, all!!
@kristin@goingcountry, I am in full agreement with you over digital and "fashion" watches. Ugh.
@Allison, no jewelers. The drugstore used to be willing to remove the backs, but then they stopped doing that. The last time a friend got the back off for me and I had to drive 35 miles to the big town to find a jeweler to clamp the back on again. I think it is there permanently now, so bye-bye, little Timex.
@Kristina, I will look for a solar watch by Seiko. Thank you!
@Anna-Catherine, I don't know what you mean by ND, but I think Citizen is a name brand that I can look for.
The waste just galls me! I wonder what can be done with 4 (YES, FOUR!) delicate silver-colored non-working wristwatches.
@Central Calif. Artist,
Just a thought for those with watches with batteries: I use an eyeglasses screwdriver to pry off the back on my Bulova. I had to hunt with a magnifying glass, but there is a miniscule ridge on one spot of the edge of the back to catch the end of the tool under, so the back will pop off. It snaps back on with some effort, but I can get it if I hold my mouth right. It's something battery-watch owners might try if they've never done it themselves.
@Allison, Our jewelry store charges whole sale prices for the battery and then asks that you put money in their food shelter donation box to pay for their time installing it.
@JD, I tried that over and over, using a giant lit magnifying glass. Now the back is full of scratches, and there is no miniscule ridge, crack, gap, or opening anywhere to be found. I have no idea how the back popped loose last time the battery was changed, but think when the jewelry store clamped it back, it must have squished the miniscule ridge into obscurity forever.
@Anna-Catherine, I too wear a Citizen that never needs any attention. Got it off eBay, have been wearing it several years, and love it.
@kristin @ going country, LOVED A Window over the Sink! Peg Bracken was such a good writer.
@JD, "I can get it if I hold my mouth right." Hysterical!
@Karen A., I also love that book, and all Peg Bracken’s books and articles!
@kristin@goingcountry, there’s a cheap little tool for battery changes! Stupid but I have one.
Ha! Just this morning I justified buying a special shampoo for my thinning hair, a serum with a special comb, and 2 silk pillowcases. I decided I was tired of my hair falling out and looking terrible and I want to focus a little luxury on me. I spent a whopping $20 because I had Capital One points on my Amazon account. Do I need these items? This might be a yes and no - I need to take care of my hair and my self-esteem, even tho I know that my hair does not define me in any way.
And I say, when you find a quality clothing item thats just right, multiples are great to have.
@gina, I sympathize with the issue of thinning hair. Mine is the result of hypothyroidism combined with stress. The man who is my hair stylist always alerts me to changes that he sees in my hair so I can make a doctor’s appointment. A friend indeed!
@gina, I'm thinking of getting silk pillowcases. My hair is thinning due to hypothyroidism, age and my gastric sleeve surgery. I take liquid Bioten every day and most of my hair has grown back but it's still rather thin.
My new house.
My roommate (with whom, you likely realize, I'm tight) has increasingly crippling mobility issues. We could either substantially renovate our current place or buy a new one. We decided to buy a new one. The purchase itself isn't unnecessary, nor the good location; what was more than necessary is that I got a nicer place that doesn't have the assorted little shortcomings of the current place. I hope I don't have to resign from the Frugal Girl club - it's because of lifetime of mindful spending that I can do this.
@WilliamB,
Best of luck in your new home-well deserved!
@WilliamB, I hope your new home brings you and your roommate both comfort and joy. As someone who is currently experiencing temporary mobility issues, I understand why you would choose the new place, you have to do what works best for both of you.
@WilliamB,
What a caring gesture! This act of thoughtfulness makes my day.
@AnnieH, Good luck and may the temporary period be extremely short.
@WilliamB, I adore the idea of a new house. It signals fresh beginnings and a new opportunity to decorate.
@WilliamB,
I have never renovated a home (or had a home renovated by professionals), but I have heard about the mess and general disruption of trying to live in a home while renovations are going on. I think you and your roommate made a wise choice.
Wishing you and your roommate comfort and joy in your new home.
@WilliamB, Such a kind gesture! You are a gem.
Oh man. Splurges. In college I had a counselor note that I don’t tend to splurge. I was too broke at the time to splurge, but it’s still something I think about.
Recently:
-a necklace that I liked
-breakfast with a friend
-a book off Amazon
My hobby of sewing quilts is also a splurge, but I haven’t had time for that lately.
I buy fresh flowers at the grocery story pretty regularly. Definitely a want, but I enjoy them so much!
I often purchase food wants. This week I purchased scallops for our V-day dinner. Not necessary, but I wanted to make something a little different/special for my family.
@sarah, I always buy fresh flowers when I shop at Trader Joe's. Worth the money since they make me happy.
@Beverly, the roses this week ahead of Valentine’s Day were so beautiful and colorful that I took photos.
2 Fiestaware pink tea cups. So cute, perfect for coffee. I found some at Goodwill for 2.99 and then broke one immediately. Bought another for $7 at a thrift shop.
Candles for my son, he loves Yankee candles and they were at a steal of a price. Did I need to spend the money on them, no but I am glad I did.
All the time -- scrapbooking supplies. A manufacturer had a sale last month, $10. off total purchase over $20. Of course, I found something to buy not too far over $20. Do I need more paper? Nope, but it was yellow!!!!!
Travel and honestly that is about it. But while I am on vacation I do splurge on food from the area. And side excursions because I tell myself I am here and never coming back so do it all.
Just booked a cruise to Alaska and will visit my fiftieth state and capital.
@karen, This. Absolutely. We love to travel. My 16 y/o daughter and I completed the 50 states two years ago. Husband completed way ahead of us. Enjoy Alaska! After the cruise, we took a week's road trip all the way to Fairbanks and was lucky to explore Denali National Park.
@karen, That is a great town, although the residents tend to dress better than in other parts of the state. For one thing, their weather is more like Seattle than much of the rest of Alaska. For another, it is our state capital so people tend to dress to impress more. I consider it a distinct advantage that our state capital is on an island and only accessible by air or water. It keeps the craziness down there. (Be sure to eat fish, fresh caught...)
@karen,
Travel for us, too.
While the kids were growing up, we took them around the country but also abroad so that they are now as adults comfortable traveling in other countries, too. They now do that with their young families—and with us!
My splurges fall neatly into 2 categories-- frugal splurges and non-frugal ones. (Mind-shattering thought, eh?)
My frugal splurges tend to be books and sewing patterns. I do this when they are cheap. I visited a cheap thrift store yesterday, and there were TONS of good, educational picture books. I bought several at less 50 cents (or less) per book. I didn't have any of these books on my "need" list, but the kids will enjoy them.
My latest non-frugal splurge was on theater tickets to see the play my college boy was in (the first play any of my children have ever been in). We live in Maryland, but he goes to college in Minnesota. So. We paid for gas to drive our van out and back, some meals at restaurants, a rental, some dorm room wants the boy had, AND the play tickets. Decidedly not frugal.
@Jody S., Maybe not frugal, but memorable!
I haven't had any splurges lately. Because I am planning to take my son to Disney for his birthday. So does planning splurges count?
@Amy, I think so, definitely. It's not as if I bought a house on a whim.
I have two latest splurges. One is white hot chocolate for the mornings I get home from work and want a hot drink that doesn't have caffeine. I can't find it locally so bought it from Amazon. I have since seen recipes on Pinterest that will allow me to make it more cheaply. The second is an air fryer. I have very little real estate in my kitchen so I looked very carefully for one that wasn't too big and not too expensive and easy to clean. I settled on the Instant Vortex. I haven't used it much yet, because when the mood strikes to cook, I just make things the way I usually do. I do like the made from scratch French fries.
Mine usually revolves around quick food pick ups: chips at the gas station, coffee on the way to work--not often, mind you, but never needed. I also bought 2 books that I regretted even though they were thrifted and some glass food storage bowls that were definitely bought on a whim (so cheap!!) and not needed.
I love the color of those coral converse!!! I'd trip myself constantly looking down at my feet ; )
I recently invested in a soil blocker and tray and seed starting trays. I've been using recycled egg cartons nested in old aluminum pans to start seeds. I really wanted to be ecofriendly, but the pans were getting rusty, and the egg cartons lowered the rate of my seedlings actually surviving transplant shock. With a soil blocker, I can do what's better for the roots of the growing seedlings without having to buy anything but soil in the years to come. It was a hefty investment upfront, but I plan to have these for at least a decade to come, which translates to not that much of a long-term splurge. Starting seeds at home is way cheaper than buying plants at the store.
Recent splurges- I have indulged myself lately because of a small inheritance. I have bought a few pieces of clothing lately. On the one hand, these were needed since I tend to wear clothing until it falls apart or it is so old that I’m sick of it. On the other hand, I could have waited longer to purchase these items. However, I did try to get everything at a decent sale price. Biggest splurge was a new purse. Didn’t need it at all, but it is one by my fave designer; all leather & bought at a rock bottom price of $70. It will last for years also.
Faux liquor. It is expensive - more expensive than actual liquor! I am in recovery (closing in on six months), and fake cocktails are most definitely not a necessity. But they are fun, and it feels very nice to end the day with a proper mocktail.
@Corrie R, congratulations on your recovery! My sweetheart is at three years this month, and I often think: What a gift to yourself and the world!
@Corrie R, Congratulations and keep up the good work! If having a mocktail keeps you away from the alcoholic version, then it's not remotely an indulgence.
1000% agree with this!
@Corrie R, gold stars.
@Corrie R,
Congratulations! You're a real warrior; enjoy those mocktails!
@Corrie R,
Congrats to you on finding an inventive way to help yourself.
Only recently has it come to light that a cousin we are fond of but who has distanced himself from the family has been drinking to major excess. He finally had to see his GP for pain and it all came out.
His GP convinced him to get help or he would not survive much longer.
This is the only person in our family with this issue and it’s hard to know exactly how to help but we all want him around for a long time!
@Corrie R, Congratulations on coming up to 6 months sober! At 3 1/2 years, I can share that those first few months were the hardest... It really does get easier, and when your brain comes back on line, look out world! Enjoy the glory of those mocktails; figure out how to make some at home, too, and be KIND to yourself. You are on a journey of self-discovery that is exciting and life-changing (as well as life-saving, although I imagine you have figured that part out) - so many gifts come from sobriety, including discovering that you will continue to grow and learn as you move forward. Well done!
I splurged on Dakin Farm bacon, Irish bangers, and my Easter ham. Could I get bacon cheaper from the grocery store?...sure, but it would not taste nearly as good and I don't eat that often where it makes that much a difference to my budget to spend a bit more. Their meats are such great quality and their maple syrup is fabulous too.
Also, bought some fancy-ish candles for the sconces over my dining table. The brand I bought are well made, come in great colors, and don't drip all over the place like cheaper ones do.
One of the reasons I'm generally frugal in our lives is so we can afford things that are really wants, not necessarily needs. Recently those things included
- a Smart watch to replace the one that died
- expensive face products
- food items like nice cheeses and expensive nuts, like macadamia nuts
- really nice sheets, even though I had plenty of older sheet sets
One of those new silicone collapsing pizza storage containers. Why did I buy this? It was cheap and nifty! When it arrived I came to my senses. Returned it.
@Elizabeth, My mil saw that on Shark Tank and bought it for ALL the grandkids. The packaging didn't say what it was and none of them knew what to do with it. Also had no note saying who it was from. We are all still laughing about that, but she loved hers and thought EVERYONE needed one.
*Tickets to see Duran Duran with three of my friends.
*A trip to Key West (This may be a need - I live in one of the snowiest cities in the country.)
*Miscellaneous dinners out, a drink at trivia nite....all sorts of things that go along with my social life. I try to pick and choose what's important.
@Kristin,
Yes! Your second one is not strictly a splurge. I kept getting Winter colds and my GP advised (tongue in cheek), "Maybe go someplace warm." We took her at her word. Each year since then we go someplace warm—Key West, Bermuda, Austin, etc.—in the coldest month.
Well, I suppose our combination washer-dryer unit counts. We needed a new washer, no question about that, given that it pretty much fell apart as it was getting moved out, but the dryer *is* fixable, just a cracked vent pipe. However, with DH traveling more, he said he would feel better if I had a really reliable dryer while he's gone. And someday we want to live on a boat, and this unit takes up less space and weighs less than separate units. Plus, it is just lovely to use. (It's normal to want to do laundry every day when you get a new laundry unit, right? My kids have been dealing with me raiding their rooms for things to wash!)
I like to make handmade cards for my friends, and recently bought some brush pens that technically I didn't need, but are fun to use. And a pen-and-ink workbook to try to get better at pen and ink drawing.
A Miss Read E-book. I love her books, and many aren't in the library, so I've been slowly purchasing the e-versions of the Thrush Green series books for my kindle. They are cozy and comforting and perfect for bedtime reading. I know I'll re-read them. I could do ILL for them, but...I like to own them, even electronically (which is cheaper than the paper version.)
@Karen A., I have all the books she ever wrote, some of them purchased 40 years ago when we lived in Scotland so saw her books at every bookstore I visited. They were all paperbacks so have had to tape some of the covers on to keep them going.
They ARE cozy and comforting.
I bought matching lounging pj's which I absolutely did not need. Especially as an aspiring minimalist...
I bought myself a few new pieces of clothing. Technically, I have clothing that is wearable, but I wanted a few nicer items to feel good wearing to work. I don’t typically spend on myself, so it felt a bit odd. I was excited to see some options in my favorite color, green! I’m very tired of all the neutrals and the color makes me happy.
We are doing two upcoming international trips this year, so I bought a travel purse. I rarely buy myself things like this (it's been 20+ years since I bought myself a purse, although my mom does occasionally buy them for me as gifts), so it's not something I treat myself to often.
I love the new shoes!
Cookbooks, more cookbooks!
@Carolyn, what have your favorites been lately?
In the last week:
Expensive takeout
A new sewing pattern that I'd had my eye on for a while (no new fabric allowed!)
A spendy gift for a friend (really, really fancy cookies for someone who loooooves cookies)
@Meira @meirathebear, Um. I loooooooove cookies, too. Feel free if you want to splurge more. 😉
I'll go with my most recent purchase: a handmade sweater pin, which I bought on Etsy to clip together a wrap sweater. It's a lovely handmade item that I really love. It's not at all necessary, but was not super expensive and I really like it.
Gloss rinse for my hair- saw it in the marked down section for $4.
You apply it to your hair after washing, let it sit for about 15 min then rise out. It makes your hair look shiny, healthier and (hopefully) less grey
Do I need it - no. For the small cost and what my hair looked like, did I love the outcomes - YES
@holly, inquiring minds (and ugly hair) NEED to know the brand of this product!
@holly, I echo the request for more info!
@holly,
Me, too! I’d love to know the brand.
There are so many splurges in the past that I knew I didn't need - for instance, I did not need to fill out complete service for 12 in my china, silver and crystal, but I did. At least I got 99% of it through Replacements and The Silver Queen as estate items, and it took me decades to finish it. I do use it for holidays and special occasions, but everyday tableware would have worked as well and could have gone in the dishwasher, to boot.
I also didn't need that almost complete service for 8 of Franciscan Starburst dishes when I saw the incomplete set was being sold off at rock bottom prices a few years ago, but I sure bought it. I think I paid $100 for the whole thing. It gets used, too.
I have thing for pretty dishes, although I can restrain myself.
And art - DH and I both both used to splurge on signed prints and a few originals, almost all of which were second hand or bought directly from the artist, quite reasonably.
And books - I have a lot of books. I re-read my books, at least.
But lately? I can't think of anything really. About all I can think of is my farm purchases. For instance, I pay a lot more and buy raw milk, because pasteurized milk bothers my stomach pretty badly, but I love milk. I once said y'all didn't want to know what I pay for milk. Well, depending on the place I get it, it's $10 - $12 a gallon. You can believe I don't waste a drop. Happily, I get it by the next day or maybe two after the milking, so it lasts me for two full weeks at least.
@JD,
As a curator in a fine arts museum, I know that purchasing art directly from the artist is a smart investment. Art always increases in value, one way or another, so it’s not exactly a splurge in the long run. And, it’s an investment you can enjoy in your home.
@JD, I also love china and crystal. However, I buy too much of it. Right now it’s almost as cheap as paper plates when purchased secondhand.
Franciscan Starburst is a really, really desirable pattern right now.
I love cowgirl boots and saw a pair of pale pink cowgirl boots on Altar'd State's Instagram and bought them "on a whim". They are NOT leather, which I hate. They also have white hearts on them, which I didn't see on the picture. So...they will go back to the store; glad we have a store in our local mall. And, really, I did NOT need another pair of cowgirl boots; I just thought how pretty...pale pink for the springtime.
Concert tickets to take my daughter to see her favorite band in a city about 4 hours away. She is a good kid, asks for very little and is super passionate about music (she is a bass player). The concert is the day before her birthday so we are going to make the trip a weekend birthday celebration for her. Could I have gotten away with buying her smaller, less expensive items for her birthday? Yes, and she would be perfectly happy. But I like giving experiences and we will be making memories on that trip. She will be turning 16, so our memory making times are already numbered!
@Stephanie, I love this! So meaningful. I remember when my mom took me to see Creedence Clearwater Revival in my early teens. I’m 65 and still remember how excited I was to be at a live concert with her all to myself!
@Sue,
Wow! Somebody other than me remembering Creedence Clearwatwr Revival. I never had the chances of seeing them in concert - and to be honest - I haven't thought about them in ages but now that you mention them all sorts of lovely and funny memories pop up. Thank you for this!
@Stephanie, I still remember my mom taking me & 1 friend to see 42nd Street at the National Theater in Washington D.C. for my 13th birthday. 37 years later I can still remember all the details of that night - no actual ‘gifts’ that year but it was probably one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. (Plus 37 years later my mom & I are still going to the theater together!)
Theater tickets!!! My mom & I love live theater so each year we splurge on season tickets at the Kennedy Center. We’ve seen so many incredible performances and spent wonderful evenings together.
To us this is a necessary splurge each year 🙂
I literally just got off Slickdeals because I was tempted to buy myself another pair of Van's. I think I have five active pairs now which should last me a few years of alternating.
But anyway if you want to talk about things I don't need I'll lay it all out for you. In the last month or so I've bought:
Some movies from Dollar Tree and one from Walmart.
A DVD from eBay
A couple of video games
Some manga
Krispy Kreme doughnuts
So yeah, I've bought myself a few things and have zero regrets about that.
@Battra92, Yes to the KKs! I'm waiting to use Tuesday as an excuse. 😉
@Bobi, I was doing a bit of traveling over the weekend and saw my first KK in years so you bet your boots I brought home a bunch. I didn't need them and my waistline and blood sugar didn't need them but I really wanted them and could afford it.
Last year? Books, books, and more books. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, astrophysics, philosophy, gardening, architecture, mysteries ... You name it, I'll read it. And buy it. When e-book prices (looking at you, Amazon Kindle) got to be more than paperback or used (sometimes even new) hardback prices, I bought the "real" books so at least I could pass them along to friends or donate to the library. But enough! One of a gazillion NY resolutions is to use the library and wait (so hard!) for books to become available. Have not bought a single book in 2023. Early days! But hanging in there.
I buy or used to buy a ridiculous amount of cookbooks. I try to be a little more picky about them these days. I have probably over 200. I don’t know if I was thinking I would become a great chef or what. My husband likes eating out, so I don’t know.
Timely post, Kristen! I was having serious buyers remorse over a few of my Costco purchases that I talked about in the five frugal things comments. The throw for the living room.... my couch is forest green and I'm going in a different direction of accent colours if I keep the throw. Yes, it was only $15 but since my main floor has all been repainted, I wanted to tie the kitchen and living area together a bit more and so the throw was my first attempt at that. But now I need new cushion covers.... what have I done?
Also, the 2 pack of joggers and t-shirt, I justified because many of my clothes are too big right now. But there's also lots of days I don't leave my house so does it matter if my clothes are hanging off me? Probably not. But for a total of $30 plus tax I have something nicer to wear and feel good in, that's not a huge expense. And maybe I can justify the throw the same way? I'm in my house in the living room a lot, a few little colour changes and I get to look at something new and pretty (and believe me, the old throws and cushions covers do not owe me a cent, one set I've had since 1990, I kid you not) and that always makes me feel better. I bet I can source some pretty cheap cushion covers or fabric to sew my own! Oof, I may even have some fabric in my stash I could use given that the colours I'm going for are my favourites.
Hey, so thanks, friend, for talking me into these purchases, I was really dreading standing in the return line at Costco!
I haven’t actually spent the money yet, but I’m buying myself a pair of Slø jeans. I’m nervous, but I have high hopes for a pair of jeans I can wear for a long time!
Big one: I did not "need" to adopt another rescue cat last May, but did. Our pets are our only splurge. She is the sweetest girl and the perfect companion for our elderly cat.
Little thing: Three U2 music CDs bought on impulse off eBay in December. I don't drive enough any more to get the full windows down, top volume music experience. Could have saved myself the $22.
@Ruby, little splurges, big rewards. Especially on the new kitty cat.
@Ruby,
Another U2 fan here..I highly recommend Bono's memoir, Surrender. the audiobook, because he narrates it. it's wonderful.
I got some paintings I love reframed. Not strictly necessary but I know I will enjoy them.
I am really trying to make very conscious spending choices for things but this and some plant purchase have crept in this year.
I guess I could just eat beans from a can but since I don’t buy Costco gluten free pizza anymore I bought a new brand of pizza from Walmart. California Pizza Kitchen cauliflower crust gluten free pepperoni, mushroom, and sausage, it tastes good and costs 7.99.
Oh, wait! I did buy my cat a new t-shirt(she loves to wear clothes). It’s a t- shirt for babies and has a picture of a cat holding a knife and says “ I am small and sensitive. But also fight me.” It cost 3 dollars.
@Tiana,
If my cat was still alive, I would have to buy that t-shirt, too. Love it.
I bought tickets to go cross-country skiing with my spouse. We are lucky to have several options to ski for free in the national forest, so this was a special treat to ski on groomed trails at a resort that has stunning views. It was beautiful and a lovely daytime date for us.
A book of poetry by Chelan Harkins, which should arrive later today.
For at least two years I've been saying I was going to buy myself a new pair of Birkenstock Boston shoes. I kept putting it off and putting it off and every winter wishing I had those shoes. I finally bought them for myself on sale and I am so so so so very happy with them! They will get lots of wear which means eventually they'll pay for themselves!
@Julie from GJ, that's a great purchase that will last for years! I'm jealous you found ones in stock. I stalked the internet for months since they were on my daughter's Christmas wish list to no avail.
I bought a yellow leather/carabiner hook from Etsy. I love to hook my keys on the back of my backpack purse. The old cheap carabiner I was using wouldn’t stay closed. It was still functional but not ideal. So I decided to check out Etsy and lo and behold someone makes a cute, functional colorful keychain that’s perfect for my purpose! It was $10. Did I need it no? Do I love it? Yes!
A vase shaped like a seagull's head. It currently has white roses in it (a gift from my son). What, you were expecting me to buy something normal? (I love Chucks but can't wear them too often because of plantar fasciitis.)
I spent way too much on an antique embroidery but that was my Christmas present to myself, so a need.
Other than that, not much. I have an avalanche of stuff BFF left me and I am going to have to go through that and I probably need to consign some things since I have just too much of everything. IDK, as I've said before I have a problem with emotionally separating myself from stuff, well good stuff like a picture, not an old dress.
I bought a pair of tall suede boots for myself (my birthday present) when I saw them marked down dramatically. There is no way I would have paid the original price. My last pair of high boots are about 10ish years old and they are not tall.
These are definitely fashion boots, not for snow, rain, or yard--just style. The original price was absolutely beyond what I would ever consider paying.
For frugality I took a free colored pencil drawing class at the library. (I think I have found my preferred medium. I have been doing watercolor but not creating anything like my class mates can do. In the group we have an accomplished, encouraging, artist, 3 or 4 very talented artists, in between, and then me. But they are all so nice. People I would not have met but for the art.
And I went on a free duck sighting walk. I know nothing about ducks. Everyone there was a stranger to me. They were so nice, so informative. I went there to scout out a location for my walking group. Again, the walking group is women some of whom I knew separately, we have picked up a couple of new women--We have made new friends in our older years.
@JEG, if you want great info about colored pencils, look up Carrie Lewis. She is a wonderful teacher, a friend, and a very skilled colored pencil artist with excellent info on her website. Here's a link for you: https://www.carrie-lewis.com
Love this post and reading everyone's splurges!
I want to mention two recent splurges of mine, which I purchased from my "allowance" (money I receive for Christmas, etc. goes in there versus our general account).
1. A yearly goal-setting planner from Cultivate What Matters. I am still working through the set-up, but thought it would help me find purpose in the everyday while I am home with a baby and feel like my life is not my own. It was pretty expensive but hopefully it is encouraging!
2. Kind of in a similar vein, I bought an online course on finding joy and increasing joyfulness in your daily life and your home. The website is https://aestheticsofjoy.com/ and the author did a Ted talk on joy several years ago. It's been really interesting, encouraging, and helpful to think through what are the things that bring me joy-- even literal, physical objects! Her book is really interesting and goes through what common factors tie together things that almost everyone finds joyful (donuts with sprinkles, hot air balloons, fireworks, confetti, bright colors, etc.), but the course is helping me figure out what that could look like in my life and home. I'm really enjoying the process.
@Lindsay B, Thanks for sharing about the online course. I'm going to look into it.
I bought my husband a convertible.
@Bella Lewin, w00t! Now that is a fun splurge!
@Bella Lewin, good for you! The way to a man’s heart is automotive! My husband loves his convertible so much I wish I had thought of it years ago. He is otherwise hard to find gifts for, but the car is still a big deal five years later.
@Bella Lewin, fantastic! I hope you get to drive it sometimes.
I guess my "didn't *need* but bought anyway" list would include:
*Iced teas from our favorite coffee shop/bakery (that I love but hate myself for loving)
*pair of slippers (that I love)
*pair of sweats (that I also love)
and the big splurge:
*Shark Hair dryer/styler combo for Christmas. I would like to have nice hair again so this helps with making it sleeker and less scraggly. I don't dye my hair so I'm just trying to make things presentable. I've been happy with the purchase so far and received a lot of compliments - one friend said I looked like I stepped out of the salon. I haven't received a compliment on my hair in years so it felt good.
Wants, not needs, oh my goodness!
- Lost my watch that I wear when exercising and going for long walks. I bought myself a new watch, $49.99 (Cdn), needless to say, sometime thereafter I found my lost watch in one of my winter hats. (??).
- my HB has come to LOVE going thrifting. He has found a love of wool sweaters, and has bought many. He even built himself a wooly board (a sweater stretcher) because he couldn't find one to stretch out the sweaters after washing. He bought a second Roomba vacuum ($59.99 less of course the seniors -30% discount on Senior days), did he need it, no. He fixes electronics, it's his first love, he picks up a lot of electronics items from the thrift store. We had previously found a Roomba curbside (free) on garbage pickup day. Most items from the thrift store are not needs, we always go on Seniors day.
- I love to buy drugstore skincare; I usually wait for a points redemption on my points card and then top up on items I will require in the future (moisturizer, sunblock, eye makeup remover, facewash etc). I wait for the redeem 50,000 points (worth $50.00) to get $65.00 worth of products.
I bought a pack of wool crazy multicolored socks just to wear with my berks. I had plenty of wool socks but mostly black and navy. I love my five pack. Each pair is a dif craxy combo of color. I think it was 35 dollars. Winter joy!
Let's see...most recently I splurged on
Scented Wool Dryer Balls...they are high quality, make my laundry smell amazing and I take them into a local shop to have them re-scented every month or so for $6. Silly I know but if it gives me joy while doing laundry I call it a win.
High quality hair products. They keep my hair healthy and help avoid the loss of hair while I am losing weight.
I have two queen bee curtain tie backs in my cart on the Anthropology site. So not required but I love them, am ordering them today and I will be delighted when they are hung in my Master bedroom.
Yankee Candles - definitely not a need but lovely to burn in my home on these rainy, dreary days.
My husband bought into Amway years ago without letting me know!
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! (Are you happy, Reese?) 🙂
My deep and shameful confession.
Kristen, I love your coral sneakers, which leads me to my weakest spot.......spending on clothes.
Now, I'm 74 and have lived a lifetime of frugality. We paid cash for this house and our last two cars. We have actually landed in retirement with more money than we had during our younger years. We give generously to charitable causes, both animal and human. We have funneled thousands to adult offspring. We still save money every month. I do not believe in designer "anything".
Having said all this, I get catalogs in the mail and occasionally browse my favorite clothing sites. When something beautiful catches my eye, knowing full well I don't need one.tiny.thing. I sometimes take a deep breath and press "BUY."
There, I said it out loud.
Also, I seem to have the worst library in the state of California, so I often purchase books. Always used.
@Anne, Do you have other libraries in your county? Ours lets us transfer books from any other library in the county because it's all one system and luckily for me, our county is large.
@CrunchyCake, we live in a HUGE county in California and I go online so that I have access to the whole system. I never get any book I look for. This seems absolutely impossible. I'm almost always looking for ebooks. I actually wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
@Anne, I've used Los Angeles and Orange County library systems and have had pretty good luck. It's true that if a title is very popular, you might have to wait but there are a ton e-books are there.
I buy inexpensive pens and stickers to brighten my workday. It's fun to try new office products and make my notes and to-do lists beautiful.
Beautiful travel purse, more beautiful than any in my closet!
Sewing patterns.
Nice egg box for the fridge—dropped eggs last week from soggy paper carton.
Gorgeous casserole dishes.
I love reading about all these wonderful splurges! Mine are
A monopoly game ribbon key chain for my car key, love it and it’s easy to find in the bottom of my purse. Found it on Etsy so not inexpensive.
5 Charles Wysocki puzzles from Walmart for less than $40. I never enjoyed jigsaw puzzles in my life. I picked up a 500 piece one from my Buy Nothing group, worked on it for about a month and was very pleased with how it turned out. I regifted it already and thought this is cheap entertainment for me while listening to music instead of mindlessly watching TV.
Lastly, on my way to a funeral, I stopped for gas and purchased 2 giant jawbreaker lollipops and 2 packs of Tic Tac mints for my grandsons to use at the funeral and on their way home. I nearly had a heart attack when the clerk said $14.99! But then I thought how much my grandsons would appreciate them and plunked down my debit cash card.
I have zero regrets on any of these “wants” versus “needs “.
@VickyMac, Charles Wysocki puzzles are the best! I just love how quaint and peaceful the art is.
@Ruby,
My oldest discovered Wysocki as a teen and did some of the puzzles. Every year now, one of her Christmas gifts from her dad and me is a Wysocki calendar.
I bought a tineco mopvac. Floors are among my least favorite household chore. This thing makes it not only doable but dare I say fun? 10/10 recommend.
1. a new evening gown and shoes to attend my son's senior military ball (more costs included several thousand dollars in plane tickets, hotels and rental cars). It has been so long since I dressed up, I had absolutely no clothes that were in my closet.
2. More plane tickets, hotels and rental cars for my son's college graduation in May (and of course, we will be paying for all the restaurant food & hotel rooms for relatives)
3. More plane tickets, hotel bills and rental cars for two weddings coming up. And yes, the actual wedding gifts too.
I am super immune compromised so all of this traveling will be done in a mask....but happy my husband & I can attend.
@Susan, I am not immune compromised at all and I fly and train with double masks.
I bought a Star Wars Death Star waffle maker. Didn’t need it. Wanted it. I have used it multiple times already & it makes me stupidly happy every single time. No regrets.
@Nicole, I love it. I'm stopping by for breakfast.
I think this would be a good regular topic since it does somewhat offset our frugal things.
This morning I drove to Ollie's to check out the yarn advertised in their ad. There is yarn available free to me for charitable projects (which are most of what I knit and crochet) but I like soft yarn for making chemo caps. I bought twelve skeins of soft yarn and I also bought five skeins of a thick yarn for a friend that I think she will like.
I brought home a quilt from Sam's Club this morning. It was definitely not on my list but I think it might be nice for summer and it has been many years since I bought one for our bed and a couple of them are looking raggedy.
I have been taking Pilates classes at a studio a couple of suburbs away. I can do Pilates at home and occasionally at my yoga studio (where I pay for a monthly membership that allows attendance at all classes) but I like the classes at this studio and a friend and I often attend together. It is more expensive than other options.
@K D, Hello to another fellow knitter.
Okay, this is a big one: our second home.
My husband and I are from a rural area. Since we married we have worked in a city, 90 miles distant from our home towns (which are themselves just a few miles apart). For the last 20 years my parents have allowed us to live in what was my grandparents home on their land. (Rural areas have a lot of situations where one family member buys land, and then others build on little pieces cut out of the larger tract, so you get a family development like this.) At first we commuted from this family home to our distant jobs, but bought a house in the city when we were ready to have kids. Even as we put down roots in the city, we grew our roots in our rural area too, going home every weekend and staying involved in my home church and our communities.
We are incredibly privileged to practice frugality not out of necessity but because we love this life of having roots in both places. Our goal has always been to buy our own second home in our rural community and move out of the small modular home that we are incredibly appreciative for my parents for sharing with us.
A couple years ago I started talking to some cousins about the aging, empty farmhouse on their farm, which is adjacent to my parent's land. The county wouldn't let us cut the piece with the house out of the farm, but they would let my cousin cut off a little corner of the farm to sell to us. Then he gave us his grandmother's house on the condition that we move it to the new land.
Moving and renovating a farmhouse is not cheap, but it is a project that is deeply dear to me. It cements us into the community that we have known all our lives. And it gives our family the "home place" and feeling of geographic permanence that I crave. We might not always live in our city house. Job changes and other factors might cause us to move. But years of frugal living (and some good luck!) have given us the opportunity to make exactly the home we love.
Kristen, I LOVE your colorful shoes!
A few times each week, I exercise to a walking video. The teacher and her online participants frequently wear bright, colorful shoes that immediately put me in the mood to walk.
My not-really-necessary purchases usually include colorful tablecloths, fresh flower bouquets or artistic tissue paper to tuck in a gift bag.
Anne Bogel’s book, Don’t Overthink It, really helped me not to “overthink” every single purchase ( which I’m prone to do) especially if the purchase brings more joy to me or to someone else.
An upcoming splurge will be the purchase of some home cooked meals from a neighbor who is trying to get her home- business started. We like taking meals to families with new babies. To buy meals from our neighbor will be more costly than if I made the meals myself but I really want to support her cooking efforts in her home -business startup.
Yarn. Knitting is my entertainment, and I also knit lots of presents for family, and items for charity. This purchase that is currently on the needles is for me. It was a total splurge, and I intend to enjoy using it for years.
@E., It's fun, isn't it? Even though it seems like all that's available is inexpensive/acrylic/or low quality yarn from places like Michaels, or very expensive luxury yarns. Recently I went to a yarn shop and the average price was at least $15 a skein. Makes me glad I have a large stash from when it was easy to find the middle class of yarn like Brown Sheep.
I just adopted 2 kittens from our local rescue !!! Expensive, but so much love and fun 🙂
A new skirt made of recycled saris. Yes, I have several of these skirts already, but I really wanted one that was mostly red, white and black....so, when one was offered in my size, I jumped at the chance to buy it. These skirts are reversible (so, two skirts in one), and it helps provide jobs for women in countries in Asia and Africa (they make these skirts, as well as other products for sale). I wear them to work, out to dinner, pretty much anywhere.
@Liz B.,
Could you perhaps share a link to these? They sound fascinating and beautiful!
@st,
they are both! the colors are gorgeous, and each skirt is unique. Darn Good Yarn is the company I've bought mine from, and I've been very pleased with my purchases.
http://www.darngoodyarn.com
I love dresses and last week bought two boho style dresses from a thrift store - I try to donate the same amount of clothing so my wardrobe does not get over full.
For Xmas DH and I gave each other Ed Sheehan concert tickets and a season subscription to the local theatre company ( 6 plays). I love live performances and we will enjoy a glass of wine at a waterfront bar before or after the show.
When I read, years ago, that Elton John has fresh flowers delivered weekly for every room in his house, I decided that was my new benchmark for wealth---to be able to have fresh flowers even in December in every room. Earlier this week I was so hungry for color, not green houseplants, that I asked my husband to stop and buy me the biggest bouquet he could find in the grocery store. I forgot it was Valentine's week, so he came home with a $65 dollar bouquet, very over priced to cash in on the holiday. And he never opened his mouth to tell me that he had ordered yellow roses with orange tips to be delivered to our house on Valentine's Day because he had to be out of town for the day...so now I have flowers in every room because the Valentine's arrangment was one rose for every year of my life---I am old now, so that is a lot of roses that I put into smaller arrangements for each room, just like Elton. A horrible waste of money, I know, but I can't regret it as I sit here looking at and smelling them. The delivery woman rang the bell over and over and when I opened the door, she apologized and said the instructions read, "My wife likes being alone so seldom answers the door. Please ring until you drive her crazy enough to answer it." He knows me so well...
@Lindsey,
Lovely!!!!
@Lindsey, I think I love your husband. May I have him when you're done with him?
@Lindsey,
Aww, this story is the best!!!
@Lindsey, What wonderful gifts! Take that, Elton!
(Did Kristen once ask the question "What would prove to you that you are wealthy?)
I think this should be retitled as What Did You Buy That Brought You Joy. I skimmed through all the comments and that was my takeaway.
My recent purchases that fall into this category include clearance priced clothes for my husband and daughter, a new dining room chandelier, and new towels. I made a necessary purchase of a washer a week ago. Our old one had shredded some towels and I wasn't going to buy new ones until I replaced the washer, so we were using skimpy towels. They got the job done but that was about it. I found the new ones for a good price at TJMaxx and oooohhhhh my. What a difference.
We also take a nice vacation yearly and book a rental through Airbnb or VRBO. Totally worth it. The point of budgeting, from my standpoint, is to determine what you value and where you want your money to go. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to saving and spending.
@Kris, well put. Money is a tool and a cushion, not a goal.
For me and my DH, it’s food, an ongoing splurge.
Buying the freshest meats, dairy and produce from the many farms nearby, either from their attached little markets or in the form of farm shares, which we then get monthly.
Also buying foods from specialty markets such as fresh made pasta and other ethnic goodies from the Italian store, etc.
In the same vein, we enjoy the many ethnic restaurants in the area although we now do takeout slightly more often than eat-in, which is cheaper.
All inclusive vacation packages for me, hubby, son, adult daughter, her boyfriend, and my my mom to go to Punta Cana in June. My mom turns 60 this year, and I am happy to spoil her with a family trip she wouldn't be able to afford otherwise.
Of course I shopped around websites and packages/separate bookings, found coupon codes, was able to add on freebies like airport transportation, and put the purchase on points earning credit cards (which will be paid off from savings as soon as the charges post).
Most of the things I buy are things I don't really need. We are frugal about the big things (housing, cars, haven't had kids, max out retirement, etc) but I do love dining out, coffee shops, travel, little treats for my pets, home decor, and so on. My most recent non-essential purchase was new lamps for my living room and they have already upped the coziness level enough to make it worth it to me.
I've suddenly found myself on a T-shirt buying binge. Many of the shirts are from thrift stores, so not much money is spent. But I found one that said "Sweet old lady? More like a battle-tested warrior queen!" I decided that after having to have cancer surgery and radiation (don't worry, they got it all), I deserved a shirt like that! So I did something I rarely do: I bought it new, and I bought it online. Then I got myself one for the weather; it said "Let it snow someplace else." Also new and online. Then I wanted a Valentine's shirt and I finally found one at H-E-B (Texas-based supermarket chain). It had a lot of hearts in the shape of the state of Texas. Ironically, I ended up not wearing it Feb. 14, and opted for a printed shirt with big pink roses. In searching for the Valentine shirt, I found some other tees at the GW Boutique (aka Goodwill) and some other thrift stores. I found a long-sleeved tee that said "Have yourself a merry little Christmas," and got that one for next year. Also found one with a Bible verse and one from my college alma mater (I went to college out of town, so we don't have too many of them in my city). I don't know why I'm suddenly into T-shirts but I'm having fun doing this, so I spent a little of my "mad money" and don't feel a bit guilty about it.
I'm usually pretty good at not being a impulse shopper...BUT...a little koala bear eyeglass holder that is to stinking cute for words now sits on my desk (got him off of amazon if anyone's interested).
I call him Macca.
@April, I toohave had a bear eyeglass holder for 25 years and still LOVE it. I got it in a girl’s weekend with my oldest BFF. It still makes me smile.
I want to buy a new kettle. The lid is broken and you can't just buy a lid (I've looked). It's kind of a need but I keep putting it off. I should just do it!
Ha, a fried chicken dinner. My husband loves pan-fried chicken but I hate frying, and when a couple friends said they were thinking of going to the café where the special was pan-fried chicken ... well, that was a done deal.
Also a $3 bag of chocolate stars. They remind me of my grandpa.
I bought salmon colored crocs with pineapples all over them. They look completely ridiculous, but I love them. I wear them as house shoes.
Also, I bought two paddleboards and are definitely a want, not a need.
Outside door mat.
My husband and I splurge on date nights. We also splurge on camping trips. Life is too short!
A new sport skirt and hoodie, from rip skirt. And expensive shampoo and conditioner for silver hair from Boom! Both totally unnecessary, both totally wanted!
$45 worth of sushi and Japanese food just for me from a local restaurant. I totally didn't need this, but enjoyed every bite. I justified it that I was supporting a local small business.
A Jobi tripod and a Bluetooth remote shutter control for my phone. So I can set up my phone for a picture and use the remote instead of running to get in place in 10...9...8...7...6...5...
And it's such fun to see the different things that bring people joy and getting to see glimpses of personality through them. 🙂
I recently bought a good quality 20 quart stainless steel stock pot at my favorite thrift shop for $15. Do I need a pot that big? Nope, but I just made a huge vat of marinara sauce and it was lovely to let it simmer on the stovetop for hours without worrying about it boiling over. Squee!
I love those coral shoes!
I considerer myself frugal, yet I have no problem spending for reasonnable ''wants'', life is too short to deprive myself of simple pleasures. Lately it's been : nails stickers, a small purse, 5 extra pairs of prescription glasses (thanks Zenni Optical!), a sudoku book, chocolate, a lipstick.
I love your sneaker collection! I'd argue they all serve different purposes 🙂
I was browsing at Goodwill recently and found a set of five melamine salad plates with a watermelon pattern - perfect for summer gatherings! I also found two red ceramic cereal bowls with white interiors. I technically didn't *need* bowls or plates, but I had room in my cabinets and they made me happy, so I bought them. They were about $13 total and I've already used the watermelon plates for serving snacks and the bowls for chili. No regrets!
http://Www.ShopGoodwill.com has the best selection of Converse!
Uh-oh. This might enable my Converse habit. Ha.
I admittedly went a little nuts lately. I have really started to dislike pants with buttons and harsh waistbands, so I bought (clearance or ebay) four sweater dresses and two pants with comfortable waistbands. I live in a rural area and the two closest thrift stores have weird hours (every other Thursday, from 10-2, if they have a volunteer) and I can never catch the timing right (or find much).
I also bought a diamond tip drill (not as fancy as it sounds) as I've started to collect glass on the beach and have decided to make jewelry out of it, which requires the drill. It's quite fun and a nice change from my office job!
I buy so.many.gifts. Yes I'm giving them away, but it's excessive and a habit. I give gifts every week because it's my favorite thing to do, I can afford it, but it's overkill.
A lifetime quality black leather purse. It was $153. I figure it will save the annual expense of $30 a year for black non-leather bags that start to fall to pieces annually. I figure in 5 years this will have paid for itself.