I am week, very, very weak. I like my luxuries. If necessity is the mother of invention, then laziness is its father. The only redeeming thing about my weakness is that I often find a way to satisfy the need much cheaper than the average consumer. I’ll start small and work my way up.
1) Napkins: I like the pretty multi-colored napkins or the solid colored party napkins. I wait until the end of the season then buy them at 50-75% off. Then, because I don’t need a whole napkin, I cut them in half. Cheap and luxurious.
2) Lotions and potions: I get most of my stuff from Bath and Body works. Every year they bring out their “Christmas fragrances”, and every December 25th they mark them around 75% off. So I go on line and order a year’s supply of Vanilla bean lotion, body cream and shower gel. The original prices range from $10.50 – 12.50, which are now $3.00-3.25 per item. I then google B&BW coupons and there is always at least one coupon code that will work. I got one this past Decemebr for 20% off everything. This brought the price down to $2.40-2.60 per item. Shipped to my home and I don’t have to enter the store and be tempted by other luxuries (keeping the weakness under control is a bonus).
3) Massages: OK, the logic on this one is a bit of a stretch, but remember I’m going to indulge the luxury anyway, so this keeps the cost down. Flexible Spending Accounts now allow you to get reimbursed for massages without a doctor’s referral (just need name of establishment, address, service performed and cost on the receipt). So a couple of years ago I opted for an amount equivalent to my raise so I never saw the impact to my budget. Using my FSA means about a 30% discount per massage. Add to that the credit card points I get, and I relax better on the table knowing I’m virtually getting paid to have the massage. (Like I said, a bit spurious in the reasoning, but you take my point).
