Do you have "luxuries" you treat yourself to?

[YVRRocketSurgery]

With no disrespect to the OP and some other posters, IMO, I don't consider going from doing something extremely frugal to doing/buying something that should be standard practice or you kind of need, a luxury. A luxury to me is doing or buying something that's beyond what you really need. However, I can understand different perceptions of what you truly need.

[EastWest Gal]

My luxuries are the swim spa, the new deck and my flutes. I bought a new flute, a bass flute, and a piccolo head joint in the space of a year. I'm very happy about these purchases.

[athena53]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I got the promo United club credit card with free membership for a year (i.e. first year annual fee waived). And guess what - we're keeping it. It really made a difference in our flying this year. DH really likes it. Enuff said....

Yeah, I know. In 2000, Continental sent me a couple of complimentary passes because I had Elite status. DH and I used them before we took off on an evening flight to Rio- it was like a giant cocktail party at Newark Airport. We were hooked. We had some airline club pass or other for years, till our air travel slowed down and we were flying Business on the long-hauls anyway, which included lounge access. On one Coach trip to Seattle we bought day passes ($50 each) in both directions.

When my son was a teenager he balked at the idea of some fancy club- then he found out there were comfortable couches and endless snacks. After that he considered it a requisite part of the trip.

[mpeirce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by doneat58 ...and stick that sliver of soap to the next, new bar.....}

I still do that too. Somehow it just seems wasteful. I expect I'm saving, oh, a few dollars every YEAR.

Some habits die hard.

[Another Reader]

The real test of frugality is the toothpaste tube. I have been known to cut it apart near the top to get the last few squeezes. And we switch out the wasteful caps that open for the old style screw-on caps.

[nwsteve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I got the promo United club credit card with free membership for a year (i.e. first year annual fee waived). And guess what - we're keeping it. It really made a difference in our flying this year. DH really likes it. Enuff said....

But, But, you have fly United and get points on United !!
Man do I have bad karma with that airline,

[ShokWaveRider]

I found a 1.75l bottle of Bushmills Black Iris whiskey at a little Liquor store yesterday for $39. That is a good deal. Not as good as a single pot, but not too bad for the price.

[NW-Bound]

Not much of a luxury, but I ordered my first bottle of booze over the Internet for the 1st time, instead of buying locally.

I need a bottle of Cocchi Americano to make Vesper Martini (James Bond's or rather Ian Fleming's recipe). The original recipe called for Kina Lillet, but that was long discontinued by its maker. It is said that Cocchi Americano is the closest to the original Lillet, but it is not for sale anywhere in Arizona.

So, I splurged and paid $10 for shipping from out of state. I shopped around, and some places wanted $20 for shipping cost.

[ls99]

Sitting in our outdoor hot tub when it is 10F air temp and the tub is at 109F. The 10 foot walk to it is roughing it, sya DW.

[outdoorgirl02]

I pick up fresh flowers from the grocery store every few weeks. Also, stopping at Starbucks a few times a week feels like a wonderful little luxury to me.

[socca]

Three times a week I treat myself to a chocogasm by consuming an entire Whole Foods 365 Organic 56% Cacao dark chocolate bar with hot tea. For those of you who have never experienced a chocogasm, you should be aware that it has several advantages over an orgasm: (1) lasts much longer (3-4 hours); (2) it's a lot less messy; and (3) there is no chance of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.

I have gradually built up a stockpile of $100 worth of chocolate bars in my frig in case of a strike or some other chocolate supply interruption. It may sound like I have a serious substance dependency, but I assure you that I can quit any time (after completing a 6-week rehab program ).

[Another Reader]

"Three times a week I treat myself to a chocogasm by consuming an entire Whole Foods 365 Organic 56% Cacao dark chocolate bar with hot tea."

I'm putting that one on the grocery list!

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwsteve But, But, you have fly United and get points on United !! Man do I have bad karma with that airline,

well, pretty much only two options here, and American flights are less convenient most of the time.

[socca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another Reader "Three times a week I treat myself to a chocogasm by consuming an entire Whole Foods 365 Organic 56% Cacao dark chocolate bar with hot tea." I'm putting that one on the grocery list!

The chocogasm is even more intense and long-lasting at higher cacao levels (e.g. 72%, 80%, even 90%), but these bars are too bitter for my taste. A 72% cacao bar has a good chance of costing me an entire night's sleep!

I may be especially sensitive to theobromine, so YMMV. Enjoy!

[Stratman]

We went to Napa this past September and stocked up our wine rack with wines we cannot buy locally. Then went out to celebrate my sister's and my birthdays about 4 weeks ago and I ordered a $200 bottle of Caymus. I think DW is still ticked at me for that one.

[NW-Bound]

I hate ordering wine in restaurants, where they mark the price up to 3x what you can get retail. Of course, not too many allow you to bring your own bottle and just charge a corkage fee.

[Milton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwsteve But, But, you have fly United and get points on United !! Man do I have bad karma with that airline,

Reminds me of this video:

United Breaks Guitars

.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milton Reminds me of this video:

Love it! I listened to the whole thing and they are SO right - - United should have reimbursed them after breaking that Taylor guitar. Loved the song that came out of that experience and I'll be humming it all day.

[athena53]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound I hate ordering wine in restaurants, where they mark the price up to 3x what you can get retail. Of course, not too many allow you to bring your own bottle and just charge a corkage fee.

I agree- I'd much rather spend all my $$ on the wine, rather than the wine plus the service and the ambience, so I buy better wine and scotch to enjoy at home.

[NW-Bound]

On the other hand, it would be nice to be able to order a $200 bottle of wine despite knowing that Total Wine has it for $60. You want it with the meal now, for the occasion and with the right company. There's something to be said for that.

It's just that I am not that rich to enjoy this luxury. It does not break the bank, but I am too frugal to splurge like that.

So, I order a $40 bottle ( knowing that the restaurant pays $12 for it).