Frugal People Are Sharing The Things They Always Splurge On No Matter What, And I Agree That Some Of These Are 1,000% Worth It
With everything getting more and more (and more!!!) expensive these days, it's no surprise that we're all trying to be more frugal. But it's still important to enjoy life, and sometimes, it's definitely worth it to splurge a little — whether it be on a big-ticket item or something small.
Recently, Reddit user u/verltodd asked in r/Frugal, "What is the one item you are willing to splurge on?" Plenty of spend-savvy people chimed in with their everyday splurges, and I gotta say, plenty of these are worth it:
1."Food I like when buying groceries. I won't buy food I don't like because it's cheap."
2."Hotels! Paying a few bucks extra to book directly from the hotel company is worth it for the peace of mind. I also make sure to book at places that have decent reviews. I don't need to stay at the swankiest place, but safety and cleanliness are very important to me."
3."Produce. I try to eat what is on sale, but I feel like it's a splurge when I get a sugar bee apple because I want it, regardless of the price. I am also a vegetarian, so good produce is treat yo-self for me."
4."Laundry detergent. It has to be Tide Free. I don't have allergies or sensitivities, but the fragrance in laundry soap irritates me, and I find Tide does a better job of cleaning clothes than cheaper brands."
5."I don't know if I consider it a splurge, but I'll pay a higher price for plastic-free items. Like, I buy toothpaste tablets rather than paste from a plastic tube or a spray deodorant that's refillable in glass bottles. Same with powder detergent for the washing machine and/or dishwasher. I don't mind paying more to avoid plastic."
6."I don’t drink that often anymore, but when I do, I buy the best quality liquor I feel like splurging on that day. Life is too short for bottom-shelf tequila!"
7."Personal training, twice a week, for an hour of strength training. I figure I'm saving money long-term because I'm no longer eating through bottles of NSAIDs."
8."I stopped buying the cheap paper towels and I get Bounty on sale. The cheap ones are just so horrible (luckily, I don’t use a lot of paper towels because I mostly use wash cloths). I also splurge on pasture-raised eggs because I eat a lot of them and want the healthiest eggs I can get."
9."An espresso maker and high quality whole bean coffee."
10."Outdoor gear (camping, hiking, etc.). I’m not suffering unnecessarily, and junk gear doesn’t last. I went on a multi-day hike with friends who had heavy cheap backpacks, unhealthy cheap water systems, popped cheap sleeping pads, and blistered feet from cheap shoes….it just looked miserable."
11."Glasses. You get what you pay for."
12."Fritos. There is no second choice for corn chips in my shopping areas. We eat a bag or two a month with soups, chilis, or just grazing."
13."Tires. They can be the difference between ending up in a ditch or not."
14."My face (skincare, specifically). I don't wear makeup or fabulous hairstyles. I don't have expensive clothes, shoes, jewelry, or purses. But, I sure as hell will put money into good skincare products and treatments."
15."I don’t cheap out on winter clothing and footwear — I live in Saskatchewan. Dollar store scarves and ear covers and balaclavas are fine, but I’m going to spend $70 replacing my Merino boot socks, and I still have all my toes thanks to them."
16."Perfume. Quality perfume lasts so long, and you can use less spritz for a strong smell, versus spraying hella cheap perfume where the smell goes away the second you walk out of the house. My Olympea by Paco Rabanne, I can literally still smell on my clothes after being washed."
17."Shoes. I weigh more than I should. I spend on shoes to support my knees and maintain balance."
18."Swimwear. I decided to finally commit to buying a nicer, more expensive swimsuit rather than settling for cheap ones, and I'm very happy with the result. It has much better construction and, as a result, looks much nicer."
19."Mine is cheese and toilet paper. I buy Sargento cheese because it tastes like actual cheese. I don't buy generic toilet paper because most of it is paper-thin and falls apart. I use Charmin only. Now, I will say I do everything in my power to get these items only when they are on sale."
Is there anything that you, as a frugal person, will always splurge on no matter what? Share it in the comments! Or, use this anonymous form. Your response could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post!
Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.