I define luxury as something you really don't need, but it is worth it to blow $ on! 1 that I have is considered a big waste of $$$ by most people who live out here, but I love it! There is no garbage pick up in the boonies. Instead you throw your smelly garbage in the back of a PU truck and drive 30 miles to a dump. I don't have a PU, but do have 2 cats. You can only imagine how bad that would smell in a heated car. A few years ago, a company in a town about 30 minutes from here started offering dumpsters and 2x a month PU out here for a large fee. Most people here have a lot of land and the dumpsters can be placed far from your house. It costs more than my electric bill, but it is so worth it! If you live in civilization, something you take for granted maybe a luxury to someone else.
It's not a huge luxury, but I make my own daily mochas at home. I use estate-grown, pure Kona coffee that is shipped quarterly from the grower, Guittard Cocoa Rouge, and Nutpods due to food allergies. I love my daily coffee!
Oh! I am so jealous! 100% Kona is my favorite! I used to buy coffee at shops when I lived in the city. Then I learned to make my own lattes at home in the country. My family usually takes a couple of trips a year to Hawaii, so it was easy to get fresh Kona. We cancelled a trip last year b/c Covid started. I ran out of coffee and had to start drinking coffee that is not as good. After we got vaccinated, we planned to go again, but cancelled our plans when the governor of Hawaii came on TV and asked people to stay away. He said there was no Aloha for tourists at this time. ( That was around the beginning of Sept. It may change.) I'd probably be a hyper wreck if I drank some Kona now!
When we won on a football pool a long time ago, we split the $$. I went out and purchased a designer purse. Husband purchased some power tool.
I would say the espresso machine in our kitchen is a luxury, but Rockhubby is clear that it's a necessary appliance. Therefore, I will say our big splurge is on meal kits. It's still cheaper than dining out, and I'm getting over my wariness around the kitchen.
Oh, I would love to do meal kits. I am not sure if they could be delivered where I lived. Which company do you use? They would probably be too expensive for me as long as I don't want garbage in my car! I can see your husband's POV. Coffee is a necessity.
I am working on economizing, so I don't really do this anymore, but I really loved buying brand new books. No wait to borrow from the library, no worries about deadlines to return, and nice, clean copies that haven't been handled by numerous others. Oh well. If I strike it rich, I will go back to buying books. One thing that I could technically manage without but splurge on anyway is pre chopped, frozen onions. It's such a big time saver when cooking. I am cooking a lot more now (more economizing) which I don't mind but I am a self admitted lazy cook. So spending a bit extra on these shortcuts makes me happy.
I think it is so smart to economize as soon as you learn how you can make it work for you. I was able to retire early and wish I'd have learned how to invest and save when much younger. I never buy new books. My sister buys all of the latest books and she just gives them away when she is done with them! I totally understand the need to make cooking easier and cheaper when you are working especially. I chop my own onions...haha b/c to me it is not much of a big deal, but I buy shredded broccoli mix a lot. That takes a long time and is a royal pain to me.
I suppose my luxury item is my iPhone. It's the first one I've ever had, and I've only had it for a few months, but it works SO much better than any other phone I've had. I also teach online as a part-time, second job, and I paid extra for my laptop to have a touchscreen. It makes online teaching so much easier!
I would say my luxury item is food . Sounds silly because of course food is needed, but what I mean is, I buy what I like to eat, rather than what is cheap/on sale. I don't really look at prices when grocery shopping. Most of my food comes from Trader Joe's which doesn't tend to be very expensive anyway. I also have no qualms about eating out. I somewhat limit take out and things like that for my waistline, but I'm always up for meeting friends at a restaurant as a social thing. I've tried a few meal kits as well. In one, they prepped the stuff for you, and that part was glorious. However, the service was vegan. I'm not even vegetarian, but I figured there was no harm in eating more plant based dinners for health reasons. The food was actually very good, but not filling at all. I was starving all of the time. That was short lived. I also tried Hello Fresh and wasn't a fan. I'm a slow cook so the meals took me forever to make. If I'm going to pay that much it better be convenient! I actually just signed up for another one where they send you pre-made meals. It's pricey, but if they're any good it will be totally worth it to me to not have to cook, be able to have variety (as a single person, if I make a recipe I have to eat the leftovers for days and days to use it all), and get more veggies and healthy stuff in. We'll see how it goes. I could definitely never live anywhere where trash take out was a luxury! I used to live in a mountain resort town that didn't have much in the way of conveniences (a saying there was, if it's not at Walmart, you don't need it) or things to do outside of skiing. I hated it. I need civilization. I would be driving down to the airport and could just feel the excitement as the radio stations would start coming in and I could see more "stuff." I know there are places way more rural than where I lived. Nope, nope, nope on that for me. We had to have special trash receptacles that put the trash underground under this giant locked thing, due to bears. It wasn't far from my apartment, though!
I know what you mean about a need for civilization. On my time off, I loved going to Oahu b/c of the civilization. My family likes Kauai, but I like to hit the malls, watch street performers, do touristy things (like swim with dolphins, snorkel, go to places like the cultural center, mac farms, and even Dole), and be at the warm beach. We have had bad luck when we had tickets b/c of Covid twice now which is making it hard. I live 5 minutes away from a beach, but it is cold and windy. I had no clue when I moved out here about the garbage issue. It is solved though now for me. They have special rails like locks to keep bears out of them here.
I would say a guitar. Even at my poorest - with no car, no place to call home, little to no money, a few clothes, only food from the restaurant I worked at, I still always had a guitar to play and keep me company.
That is cool! My son used to play and even brought his on the plane back in the day! It benefitted him greatly! 1x when I picked him up at an airport and he was surrounded by massive girls who assumed he was famous. He got mistaken a lot for a rock star he resembled. Also, as a college student, there was a guy who became a very famous country star who had his same unusual name. I made reservations for him a lot and the ticket agents would get so excited that he was flying with them! He had to "join society" after college, cut his hair, and dress differently. He still loves his guitar though!
1) specialized skin care products 2) Manuka Honey 3) 2 different herbs from a private company Xooma Worldwide. All of these I consider necessary for my health and wellbeing but when I am short of money I eliminate the first 2 . I rarely eat out and travel but deem coffee a necessity on the days I substitute teach and commute 100 miles a day round trip.
I live in the mountains and yes I have to pack up my trash even kitty trash and take our local High School ( 1/4 mile) where the trash company picks it up on the weekends.
Wow! 100 miles is a long commute! That would def require coffee! So sorry you have to haul kitty litter in the car! I did it for years and was so thankful when this company came along.
We do not have many stores close to here, but there happens to be a Kroger off shoot about 40 minutes away. I am going to check it out!
We are having our master bath remodeled (well, this summer when they get caught up on work), and it will be a huge splurge.
Hmm, I would say my skin care products. I started using Beauty Counter back in March. It’s pricey, but a I love it!
I’m pretty high maintenance. I always buy new cars. I do keep them a long time, and I don’t drive a lot. I’ve owned four cars since I started driving in 1986. I also get manicures twice a month, pedicures once a month, massages once a month, and things like eyebrow waxes and eyelash lifts. I like quality skin care and makeup products, high end handbags, and clothes. Oh, and craft supplies. I love craft supplies. I don’t feel bad about any of it, though, because all my bills are paid and I buy things with my own money. I figure I can be as high maintenance as I want.
One thing I have started to spend more money on (while cutting back on others) is good quality shoes. I'd rather have just a few pairs, that look good, last a long time, and feel comfortable. I think a nice looking pair of shoes adds a lot to your overall look, in an understated way. And the reverse is true, as well.
Yes! I only have a few pairs of shoes but I go for quality over fashion. I don't see the point of having 100 pairs of shoes that are fancy but hurt my feet!!!
My sewing machines! I sew a lot, so it's my entertainment and hobby. I'm getting another one for Christmas!
I am so with you on this! I used to buy tons of shoes that were cute. Then about 10 years ago a friend ordered me some of the most comfy shoes online as a gift. Now they are the only shoes I'll wear unless it is a super fancy occasion which doesn't happen often here! They aren't cute, but I feel like I am walking on sunshine.
I look for shoes that are both cute and comfy I have a pair of Fly London shoes that are dressy and sophisticated but comfortable to walk in, that's my most expensive pair. I wear my Sketchers (sp?) to work most days. A few other assorted pairs, too. But those are the ones I wear the most. I find that Zappos is the best place to buy, I don't like shoe shopping in person. I find the selection is not very varied.
SAS and as I mentioned, there is nothing cute about them! Last time I ordered them (a year ago) I bought 6 pairs. Not because of how they look, but for the walking on sunshine feeling! They lack style, but here is a pic of the most comfy ones. https://sasnola.com/products/walk-e...c32679361c5f6aec0ac&utm_term=4576167412583079
I have given up on finding both! We have very little store selection besides 7 hours from here. So I just go with what I know now.
I feel like I'm too hard on my purses to have really expensive ones. I tend to use them until they fall apart and do not switch them around and just use one for everyday. I got a Kate Spade purse 2 years ago for Christmas and it's holding up pretty well. I don't think it was overly expensive.
I like to wear good shoes but not sure i can define it as a luxury. My wife orders all her training clothes from Lululemon Athletica https://lululemon-athletica.pissedconsumer.com/review.html and those items are mostly not cheap at all. Do we consider that as a luxury?
