Whether you are a wife and mom struggling to find time to wash your hair, or single trying to survive on one income, sometimes life can start to feel like drudgery. I am in the season of trying to pay off debt and tightening the belt and to be honest, it can feel a little restrictive.
I was having a conversation with someone the other day and she was talking about the time she spent studying in France. She talked about how even eating a simple meal there was luxurious because you could get fresh bread and French wine on your walk home. She said “they buy used cars but cashmere sweaters.” She reasoned that if people spent a little more time making experiences like meals more luxurious and enjoyable, they might spend less time mindlessly crushing a bag of chips in front of the TV, or buying trinket after trinket in and effort to feel some sort of fulfillment. That passing discussion really stuck in my craw. As someone who values simplicity and quality over quantity, I had surprisingly little luxury in my life.
The dictionary defines luxury as “the state of great comfort and extravagant living.” While I have no plans to throw the budget to the wind or start wearing logos for the sake of a brand, I have been really mindful about adding some luxurious treats into my routine. Call it self-care, call it living well, but a few strategic indulgences have helped me focus on truly enjoying experiences vs. just going through the motions. Try these 5 frugal ways to add luxury to your routine.
dry brushing
This winter season has seemed never-ending, especially to my poor, dry skin. I have added dry brushing to my routine, and not only has it dramatically improved my skin, it helps to detoxify my body. I use this dry brush right before I shower, and then for an added treat I use this body oil when I am done showering. There are lots of tips online for how to dry brush properly, but a good rule of thumb is to always brush towards your heart.
nails
I’ve talked before about how doing my nails helps to boost my confidence, but it’s also a little luxury that doesn’t have to break the bank. I spend about $13 a week on my Red Aspen nail dashes. Not only is this half the price of a salon manicure, my nails look great all week long. A lot of people are doing their nails at home now to save money, but I have been a licensed cosmetologist for over 20 years and even I am not capable of truly giving a salon-quality dip or gel polish on myself. Lumps, bumps, and unevenness would frustrate me rather than feeling like a treat. I have access to literally any nail system, professional or otherwise, and I love my nail dashes!
eye masks
You know those days when you wake up with a headache and puffy eyes? These eye masks may be my favorite luxury on this list. I pop these on and lay on the couch under my electric blanket for 15 minutes and restart my day on a DRAMATICALLY better note! Whether you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, had a little cry-fest, or are just a little dehydrated these things feel amazing and are like magic for perking up your under-eyes.
fancy tea cups
When I was a kid my great grandma would always pull out her china tea cups to drink her coffee in the morning. She would even pour me a little coffee and let me use a fancy cup just like she did. I am so happy that some of her collection has been passed on to me now that she is no longer with us, but what I’m really glad I inherited was the habit of a luxurious drink in the morning. Whether you actually drink out of a fancy tea cup, or just making sure you always have your favorite tea on hand, taking pains to make it feel special is such an easy, frugal luxury.
Socks
Ok, bear with me. I know socks don’t exactly sound like a luxury item, but a few years ago I started buying Bombas socks and I am spoiled for life. As far as socks go, anyway. These socks feel like walking across new carpet in all it’s spring-y glory. They also last forever. I just looked and I bought 4 pairs on February 12, 2018. My daughter stole one pair, but I am still wearing the other 3 daily (not all at once tho, I do wash them ?) and they are like new. Use my referral link for 25% off your first order.
So those are some of my frugal ways to add luxury, what are some of yours?
