I suppose figuring out what constitutes an “indulgence” varies by socio-economic status. This weekend, I indulged in 5 things that as a middle-income earner felt entirely gorgeous – and I did it at reasonable (imho) prices.
photo credit: Roland
- Went to Spa Utopia, again. For $100 you not only get a massage, but you are invited to come 30 minutes early for a steam or sauna, or to sip rooiboos tea with mint (or cool water with cucumber) – and all this in a gorgeous terry-towel robe with soothing music and a luscious environment. That 90 minutes leaves me feeling $500 better.
- Bought my first ever pair of John Fleuvogs. Yaaaayy! I got some black sandals at about 40% of their usual price, and I’m thrilled. And hooked. By the way, did you know John Fleuvog has open-sourced designs? How cool is that?
- Ordered this week’s suppers, all of them, from Sliced Tomatoes, for only $63 for 5 meals. This means every night this week I’ll come home to delicious, local, organic food that requires minimal cooking from me, and will provide me lunch as well with leftovers.
- Took myself to see Mama Mia! If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a must for the summer, and you’ll want the big screen experience. It’s a chick-flick, but men will appreciate it too. I paid full price but for a rush of Feel Good that lasts the whole weekend, it was worth every penny.
- Went on the PNE’s old rollercoaster. At my age, that’s not an so much an indulgence, as sheer foolishness. But as my friend Nikkie said (who insisted we go take the very front seats), I plan to go til I’m in my 80′s.
Readers: what have you indulged in recently? And if you don’t mind me asking, what price tag was attached?
ps: my colleague S has some mint-condition IKEA furniture she’s selling due to a move (to my ‘hood! YAY!). Check out her craigslist post if you could use some pieces.
I bought myself a coffee and a doughnut last payday . . . does that count? I’m running pretty lean trying to support my spouse in her ventures . . . How long is a spouse obligated to support the other one before declaring no more financial support will be given? Is there a rulebook somewhere?
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I spent the weekend golfing and then watching the pros at the Canadian Open here in Ottawa. The round of golf with friends cost me $30 – $27 for the green fees and $3 for a coke! The passes to the LPGA event were free thanks to a friend who was involved with the tournament.
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Two $60 bottles of wine. I’ve never spent more than $25 on a bottle of wine so this is a significant indulgence, but I’m hoping it’ll be worth it. We’re going on vacation in Oregon at the end of this week, and I called a shop in one of the towns we’ll be passing through; they’ve set the bottles aside for me to pick up along the way. These are Woodward Canyon wines from Washington State, made by hand with traditional methods. Earlier this year I treated us to a pound of very expensive coffee ($40/pound Jamaica Blue Mountain) but we found it too smooth and bland for our liking. I’m hoping these bottles of wine will taste like they were worth the price, but we’ll see. My girlfriend is from France and knows her wine; unlike me she can taste the difference between a very good wine and a great one.
Another indulgence from earlier this year: we hardly ever get out to movies or concerts (four movies and three concerts total in the last six years), so when we do I like to go all out. For my girlfriend’s birthday I bought her (and me) front-row tickets to the Montréal Opera at $125 apiece. Neither of us had ever been to an opera before and I had my doubts. It turned out to be a fantastic experience and we’ll go again in a year or two (but not in the front row).
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haven’t commented here for ages – it’s about time!
as i’ve mentioned before, i’m relatively frugal. but i had a wonderful indulgence a few months ago – i went to HT naturals and bought myself a lovely, lovely sleeveless top, made from a mixture of bamboo and cotton fibres, for $40. it’s the most i’ve ever paid for such a flimsy little t-shirty thing but it’s worth it. it just feels so goooooood.
another thing i bought there was hemp soap and soy candles. bath products and the like is something that i DON’T skimp on. i’ve given up on cosmetics (just don’t have the patience) but i love the smell and feel of a good soap when i have my shower.
mmmhhh … just writing about this makes me feel good! thanks for the opportunity!
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Pizza for two at the lovely Italian place in town and (drum roll…) a chrome toilet roll holder! I sure know how to push the boat out.
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Bought a fine bottle of red Okanagan vino and an exceptional bar of dark dark chocolate. Ohh, I also bought a pair of Fluevog shoes.
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@traciatim Oh dear. I should put you in touch with my ex, who saw me through my first couple years of doing business. Seriously, it’s a tough call, and hard on both parties. Lots and lots of conversation called for – and you are absolutely allowed to declare boundaries on your money!
Opera? And you enjoyed it the first time? I love classical music, but opera escapes me. I’m glad you enjoyed it — and I hope I acquire an ear some day.
@Nerd Money Thanks for popping by! $30 for a weekend of golf? Not.Bad.AtAll
@brad Hello
@isabella hemp soap? I didn’t even know there was such a thing. Clearly I need to hang out with Marc a little more. (and always pleased when you drop by)
@Miss Thrifty LOL LOL again! That is *exactly* something I’ve been meaning to “splurge” on.
@Squawkfox (which I never do) No way! Which ones? Will they make it to you blog? Shoe Fetish post to complement the red bra?
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Hi Nancy,
I’ve never had an ear for opera either; both my parents loved listening to it and I grew up enduring it, barely (though I like most other forms of classical music). I think it’s one of those “you have to be there” things. Watching it live is a completely different experience from listening to a recording…suddenly you understand what all the drama is about, and the show itself was a gorgeous spectacle with a brilliantly designed set.
I think it’s like watching Shakespeare performed in a theatre versus reading it on the page. Suddenly it all makes sense and comes alive.
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LOL . . . I love this quote: “I should put you in touch with my ex, who saw me through my first couple years of doing business.” . . .
At least I know what to expect for the future
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A new laptop and a trip to Vancouver. I’m still feeling guilty about the laptop even though it’s a need and the trip is a pretty big splurge, but it’s my first trip in two years.
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