Oct242009
25 Comments
Survival Survey: What is your (frugal) splurge?
I don’t know what your household budget is like, but we have cut out just about every luxury and extra expense possible. However, I do allow myself one splurge each month. I get my nails done at a salon. It costs about $35, a little more if I go twice during the month, but I love having pretty, shiny nails. This got me wondering, what is your splurge? What little extra indulgence do you manage to afford each week or month?
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Fruitfulvine2
Absolutely nothing. My budget at this point has no room for splurging. I’ve been having to stretch what we do have for the basics and to put a little(I do mean tiny) aside for emergencies. This I believe is just a season. I will have some splurging money in the near future.
TheSurvivalMom
Jennifer, I have been where you are at many points in my life. One Christmas, while living in Germany, I could barely afford to send my family a few packages of German cookies wrapped in German newspaper! You're right about it being a season, but in the meantime, God sends so much joy our way when we look for it! You're smart to set aside whatever money you can for emergencies. Blessings to you and your family. :O) Lisa
sneaux
I splurge. I'll admit it.
Every weekend I get a bottle of Lindeman's Lambic (in Raspberry), a chunk of artisan cheese and a bar of organic dark chocolate and share it all with my lovely logger man. Total splurge: about $18-$20 per week. But the joy it brings is soooo worth it!
TheSurvivalMom
I had to Google, "Lindeman's Lambic"! I think my husband would enjoy a bottle of that, just for the experience! Your weekly treat sounds wonderful!
James Taylor
Greetings fellow ProBlogger! Wonderful blog you have here.
When I want an automatic grin on my face, I'll splurge on a 99 cent movie rental, a trip to Half Price Books (usually a $20 visit), or a Cookie Jar Blizzard from Dairy Queen (which costs me about ten trips to the gym!).
I love to splurge on my wife more, though. She enjoys a good margarita, a massage at the local spa, or a little outfit shopping trip to the mall. If I really want to impress, I take her out for all three.
Thank you for commenting on my post! The best photos are never the ones you didn't take.
TheSurvivalMom
That Dairy Queen Blizzard would be my splurge of choice! Your wife is one lucky woman to be so pampered!
rhonda
My splurge? Well, I guess its my internet service. I spend alot of my free time on my computer. I really like ur blog. Thanks for filling a need in all of us that visit here every day.Have a great evening!!
TheSurvivalMom
Thanks so much for your kind words about my blog, and obviously, a lot of us manage to find the $$ each month for our internet connection!
TheSurvivalMom
Katie, I visited your blog and you are a wonderful knitter! I love to knit but have given up knitting anything more complicated than a dishcloth. I am interrupted by kids and events so frequently, that I lose track of my stitches and rows and just knit for fun every once in a while.
ravenwolf31
For me, internet, a japanese comic book and a 4 pack of Virgils Root Beer.
Angela
I really had to think here. My monthly splurge is Netflix–we don't watch any TV, just movies. I also splurge to go to archery league–$8.00/week but it's only Jan-March.
TheSurvivalMom
We do the Netflix thing, too. If you stay on top of watching and sending the movies back right away, it's a good deal. If not, well, I don't even want to tell you how long we kept the movie, "Rocky", around the house. Yikes! LOL
Michelle
My splurge is Diet Pepsi. I technically don't have to have any soda, but I love me some Diet Pepsi! I don't have a home phone, cable internet (this is downtime at work) or satelite.
TheSurvivalMom
You sound like my husband, Michelle! That man can't get through a day without his drug of choice, Coke Zero!! LOL I don't know what he'll do if we're ever in a complete breakdown of society and he can't get his fix!
RuthieD
A steak (purchased on sale) and a Netflix movie every Sunday night after all the chores are caught up and preparations for the next work week are complete… whew!
sabra
I joined an on-line wine club. I figure it's my reward for all the hours I spend clipping coupons and shopping the bargain flyers in the newspapers, ugh! The practical side is that I think the wine will be a great barter item assuming we don't drink it all due to the stress of getting prepared. PS: love your meat canning how-to
TheSurvivalMom
I can definitely see wine as a popular barter item when such a luxury is hard to come by. What a fun treat!
LizLong
Media – books and dvds. I like to buy tv series on disk so we can watch them without commercials, and without having to wait weeks to see what happens, or how the next season resolves the season finale. We can run a theater if the SHTF! (Target had some GREAT Black Friday deals on dvds this year.)
TheSurvivalMom
Me too!! I am such an Amazon addict. Click, click, click, and I own the book! Sometimes I even have it in my hot little hands the very next day. We have plenty of DVDs, too, although we've been taking advantage of those $1 movie rental machines lately.
katzcradul
Don't have many spluges…money is too precious when you're a serious prepper. We don't have cable, but internet is a must. It's the way we get our information since you can't trust network news to tell you the truth. We do have the cheapest Netflix option, but it too is our source for information i.e. The Walmart Movie, The Future of Food, King Corn, etc. I gave up the fake fingenails years ago. (I liked beautiful nails too, but just couldn't justify it in my mind after a while…plus everyone knew they were fake anyway.) I do love a diet soda but have switched from name brand to generic and would love to be able to just not drink it at all. I'm working up to that! Other than that, I guess my only splurge is Safeguard bath soap. I have tried every other brand on the market and I just can't make myself like anything else. Wish I could, because it's not cheap. Doesn't that sound ridiculous.
TheSurvivalMom
I don't think Safeguard is strange at all! When I buy bread, the only bread I'll buy for my kids is Roman Meal. Probably because that's what I grew up on. You're right about prepping costing money since we're buying things we'll need in the future. The consoling thing is that the dollar is likely to continue weakining and inflation seems inevitable. We'll all pat ourselves on the back someday with food prices are sky high and we have plenty paid for with 2009 and 2010 dollars.
roxy2711
My splurge is Starbucks, every Friday I get a grade mocha. I cut back from getting one every morning and ended up saving myself almost $50 a month. Also, I think it's a nice way to treat myself to the end of another work week.
TheSurvivalMom
mmmmmm….Starbucks……. LOL I have weaned myself from their Caramel Frappuccinos to their Green Tea, "with one Splenda, please." It's just a little over two bucks for the largest size, and I feel pretty good about not consuming all those thousands of calories.
rev long
my wife does my splurging for me..she will buy me the once in a while video game or the game system..most of the money i make goes for bills, needed items like gas for the car and more survivial gear..internet is a necessity in our house..my mother in law and son almost went fetal when it went out for 48 hrs..i told her she would really be in trouble if SHTF and there was no more net*G*
TheSurvivalMom
You know, the loss of our electronics in a SHTF scenario might be the most difficult adjustment of all! I think I'd rather eat rice and beans long term than give up my computer and cell phone!