Friday, June 24, 2011

Splurge! And A List of Things I No Longer Pay For

I was debating about using my limited funds to get my nails done when my SIL surprised me with the cash for a mani and pedi.  This might not seem like much to most people but considering I haven't done this in many months, it was a very nice surprise for me.  A few years back this was a bi-weekly thing for me--every two or three weeks get my nails done--but now it is a rare treat. This was just one of the many reasons I was so deep in debt!  Then I got to thinking about the many things I no longer regularly spend my money on...
  • regular manicures and pedicures (I do this myself but not very well)
  • the newspaper (I read it online)
  • magazine subscriptions (ditto)
  • weekly clothes shopping (now I might buy something every month or two)
  • a new designer handbag at least once a month (I haven't bought one of these in ages either)
  • eating out every day (we have cut down to once every week or two)
  • a home phone (I don't actually have a home now but still, a home phone is practically unnecessary for many people these days)
  • bank fees (my credit unions offer free checking and savings accounts)
  • gym membership (walking is free)
  • buying books (now I read free books online or go to the library)
  • expensive salon haircuts (now I go to the local place that charges $12)
  • designer makeup (I've switched from the makeup counter at Macy's to the makeup aisle at Walmart)
  • expensive perfume (now I buy a $4 bottle of scented lotion on sale at Bath and Bodyworks and skip the $80 perfume)
  • movies in a theater (I walked by the movie theater at the mall last week just to see what was playing and was shocked to see that it cost $11 just to see a movie these days!  That doesn't even include popcorn!)
That's just a few of the things I thought about today when I considered how much I have cut my spending over the past few years.  These small changes really do save a lot of money!

4 comments:

  1. That's a nice treat!! :) I've never had a mani or pedi... One day! I've cut out much the same as you, except we still go to the theaters, but rarely to the full price one!

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  2. Carla, You should treat yourself at least once to try it out. These days I only get my nails done for special occassions--for some reason it always looks much better when they do it than when I do it. Also, check around, prices can range from $25 for both a mani and pedi which we paid yesterday (local Asian salon) to around $80 (mall salon).

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  3. I've cut things out too. It all helps.

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  4. Pretty toes! I've never had a mani or pedi either. And I stopped buying dept cosmetics years ago. Never owned a designer bag or had a gym membership. We only go the theatre if a movie is something worth seeing on the big screen. But we do splurge on Dish Network and we love the DVR.

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