I NEVER EVER buy myself anything.. Hubby gives me money and tells me to go buy clothes, I spend it on the kids.. I was down to 3 shirts and one pair of shorts and an ugly pair of flip flops that didn't match anything.. SOOOOOO.. I went and bought me a pair of flip flops that I've been wanting FOREVER.. And got two shirts from a specialty shop today.. So love the flip flops!! They were EXPENSIVE Corkys brand and VERY blingy.. The shirts were tshirts that I had ordered special from a local "embroidery" shop.. They have LOTS of bling on them as well... I swore I would NEVER EVER pay this much on flip flops.. Don't have an issue with tennis shoes, but NEVER flip flops! I probably will never do this again.. But it was nice to be able to do something like this for myself.. What do you splurge on that's for YOU?
I'm like you: I don't ever remember buying something for just myself - except for necessities. I own one suit, one pair of business shoes, and so on. Now, I dream of learning how to fly - but I'd have to overcome this inbuilt reluctance to spend on myself when those around me are far more deserving or in need. By the time I manage that, I'll probably be too old anyway!
I do splurge on shoes, I don't have a lot of shoes, but the ones I do own are very very expensive, because I have foot problems from breaking and dislocating some of the bones so bad. I also lately have started splurging on Jewelry. When we first got married my DH would buy my jewelry as gifts, but I told him to stop, I was thankful, but I wasn't much into jewelry. I would rather have a blender, or a new vacuum...or really anything in the kitchen. (I'm the opposite of the stereo type house wife, I LOVE the stereo typical husband buys wife a new stove, etcc type gifts! lol That's my thing!). But, a few months ago we went to the farmers market and I was kind of waiting for the library to open after we were done, so we could get that done before walking back home. And we were done with our very tiny farmers market. and some one told me that there was a exhibit at the little museum that was between the farmers market and the library (this was a tiny little area that all three things were at). So I aid sounds good, and it ended up being a local woman who makes this really really neat jewelry. Real things like pearls and such, an I just love the blend of colors/textures she chooses for her jewelry. I guess I just never seen jewelry I liked before....now I am in love with her stuff. And she is very very reasonable. (most her things are less then 30 dollars)....so um...yeah I have been splurging. lol But, she is such a nice gal, she gives me gifts for free sometimes too cause I have been getting friends and family to buy her stuff too, cause I'm so in love with it! (very unique and pretty too! And not a bunch of plastic! Now DH when we married never gave me plastic either, mainly gold things, but just wasn't really much my style was all I just thought I didn't care about jewelry much...didn't realize it was just nothing had struck my fancy yet! lol).
I buy things for myself occasionally, but I wouldn't say I splurge ever. I tend to buy the necessities or things that are helpful like items for the kitchen or school. I also never buy at full retail. I wait for sales. I have the bare minimum as far as clothes and shoes.
Periodically hubby and I will set aside a sum of money to splurge on items that are normally outside of our budget and I will use my portion for some electronic item usually. Recently I purchased a kindle paperwhite and a piano keyboard. Several months ago it was an ipod touch, before that a camera. We do that maybe once or twice a year. Typically speaking I am pretty comfortable and happy. Once I lose some weight I intend to splurge big time on a nice wardrobe. I can't wait to do that!!!
We have an anniversary coming up, a milestone one (30). I may insist on being taken out for a steak dinner. But of course, whoever's in the house benefits from a meal out!
I love jewelry too, but I have to have the real stuff because of allergies to metals.. Haven't gotten up enough nerve to splurge on that as of yet.. I would LOVE see some of the jewelry that you are talking about, Magnoliahoney.. Is there a website by any chance?? MinnieMouse, I'll go shopping with you when you go on your clothes splurge!! Hopefully, I will be shopping for smaller clothes too!!
My splurge would have to be make up. While I don't usually buy expensive makeup, I probably do buy it too often and own waaaaay too much eyeshadow and too many pairs of false lashes.... I have a few pairs of shoes, plenty of clothes...though I own many pieces that match nothing so I don't wear them LOL, my goal when I buy is to buy something to make something I already own wearable...that being so hard to do, I usually just don't buy anything! LOL
For me, it would be books and scrapbook supplies, both of which I don't need more of at all! I've limited my scrapbook purchases to garage sale buys now, though.
If I splurge on myself it is usually on a practical items that adds to the household. Tools or kitchen implements. For example, after 25 years my pepper grinder finally wore smooth and quit grinding. It could no longer grind even a little, it was shot. I replaced it with a Unicorn Magnum. It is one of the best on the market. WOW, it can really grind pepper. I have really nice kitchen knives that have been purchased over 28 years. Some are actually worn down from decades of sharpening and need replaced. When I do so, I will splurge and get high quality replacements one at a time. I am a hands on tactile person and like quality tools and implements. I wear an expensive brand of shoes that fit my feet perfectly. I order them off ebay however and save about 80 percent. I have no problem wearing older, or sale clothing items like jeans or t-shirts, but on shoes, I feel that long term health is at risk.
Vantage you describe me to a T! We have good Cutco knives, that I have bought one at a time. Except for one year at the State Fair there was a deal if you bought three you got one free, so my DH bought me "four" that day, he didn't tell me either that he had brought the money and planned on buying me knives that day! (he knew I like cutco and they would probably be at the fair). And yup, I buy only certain brands of shoes, I do try to buy them on sale (so far I don't think I have ever paid full price, the stores locally here also put them on pretty good sales for the new season, so I buy last seasons that are deeply discounted, or I buy them at the outlet mall-for instance SAS is usually at the outlets, etc). Any way, I have no problem at all wearing used clothing though, and I would say 90 percent of my wardrobe is either used or made by me. (used is cheaper though then I can make it!) But, yup shoes are something I believe is a health issue too. And I learned in girl scouts quality things like knives are not only more efficient (the cheap always comes out expensive, if you go cheap, or low quality you usually end up paying more replacing them more times.) But, also it's dangerous, as you can cut yourself much easier with a dull knife trying to force it to cut, then easily cutting with a good knife.
Now I'm going to feel a bit of a hypocrite. This week, some funds came through from Britain; my mother passed away a year ago, and we've just sold her little house. This week, I've been imagining her saying to me, "don't just pay bills or spend on home repairs - do something for yourself, boy." So, while I'll still feel a little guilty about it, I'm going to sign up for those flying lessons. Maybe, in the future, a pilot's license will allow me to help others out in some way.
I'm usually found spending my birthday money, gift cards, etc on the kids. However, my husband NEVER says no when I ask for something. He's generous to a fault. We'll promise not to exchange gifts for Christmas, and then he'll get me something extravagant and I feel guilty. Today, my MIL treated me to a manicure/pedicure. Only the 2nd time in my life I've had it done. And had it not been for her gifting it to me, I probably still would not have done it. It was WONDERFUL. I told hubby that I want to do the pedicure again...I really enjoyed that. The manicure, I can do myself....but not the pedicure! THat was DELUXE!!!! I am waiting for my Grandmother's estate to be settled. My husband and I have agreed that I can use the money to buy myself the MacBook ProAir that I want. I have not had a new, all by myself, all to my own computer, ever. I'm looking forward to that. I'll still feel guilty over it. But I am looking forward to it. My husband laughs at me because when he asks what I want for Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, etc. I ask for practical things...vacuum, new printer, stuff for the kitchen, etc. He ALWAYS gets me something I don't ask for...and he knows me so well, he always gets me something that even I don't know I want until I see it. I love him. Sigh. LOL I'm spoiled rotten.
We also splurge on quality daily wear shoes (for each of us). For dress up shoes we go cheap, because we don't wear them often. But we buy the best athletic shoes and boots we can afford for us and the boys get 2 pair of Crocs each summer (SPD kid and a kid who wants to be just like big brother) and they get 1 pair of winter Crocs and 1 pair of other shoes (boots or athletic) each winter, because we wear them daily and good shoes are so important because bad shoes make your WHOLE body hurt, right up to the headache you get from the neck pain the bad shoes caused!!!! We dont' have 100 pairs of shoes each, but the few pair we do have, are good quality....
Gosh you got me thinking. I don't splurge on anything for me, but most of what we buy is good quality, even though it's bought from ebay. So I wear Nordstrom clothes and Easy Spirit shoes, but purchased from ebay. I have a MacBook and an iphone and a really nice car, but I intend to keep them for a long time. So I buy good quality, and then I'm satisfied with what I have. I do drink Mighty Leaf tea. And a coffee a day is my special treat. And I climb into a really nice bed at the end of the day, that's my special treat.
That's great! I mean- I'm sorry that your mom died. My Dad died last winter so I can sympathize but I know for sure if I received any monies from his estate (my mom is still alive so I won't, of course) that he'd want me to do something great like that. My husband has always wanted to take flying lessons too. I hope that he gets that chance some day like you are getting now. Enjoy it! Besides, you'll be the coolest Dad in the town.
Kbabe, my hubby spoils me rotten too!! We had date night this Friday night that included our first time ever to leave the teens in charge over night.. Went to the movies,ate out, stay in a NICE hotel, then some shopping.. Went into petsmart "to get guinnea pig bedding". Ended up going into the adoption room and I fell in love with SissySue.. Hubby's plan worked out perfect.. He knew I wanted a lap dog that I could spoil and I wouldn't get one on my own.. I walked in determined not to bring one home,but when this one started pawing at me through the cage to get my attention, I just couldn't help it.. THEN when I read her info sheet and she was housebroken,good with other dogs, and good with kids, I HAD TO HAVE HER.. She's my little shadow. And hubby couldn't be prouder of himself for pulling off his sneaky trick..
I had this big thing typed and my computer decided to erase it all! Woohoo! lol I splurge once a year for clothing at Lane Bryant's. I go with my Mom, and I get a couple nice shirts, and a great pair of jeans for $100 which ticks me off, but my clothes have to last at LEAST a year if not two or three. The capris I'm wearing have lasted 3 years, and show minimal wear, so I'm glad I bought them (even though they were expensive). I also buy bras at LB because they are GREAT and you can almost always find a sale on them. I did however, splurge this year on DH (instead of buying myself clothes), and bought a customized pair of Nike Shox for his size 13 wide feet. He loved how comfy they were and wore them everywhere for a whopping month. Then they broke. Nike refused to take them back and repair them stating that he caused the wear, even though they were under warranty, they wouldn't fix them. So...splurge gone wrong. Now I have a fabulous pair of $200 broken Nike shox laying in the closet. :/
