I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas long weekend! Me? I’m already looking forward to New Year’s!
There’s something about the holidays (all that generosity and goodwill towards men?) that makes me want to splurge on loved ones and – I admit it – myself.
So I was a good consumer this weekend, even I only bought a pair of pants and a pair of tights from The GAP (both of which I can pretty much honestly say I needed). Every store was screaming deals Deals DEALS!, so much so that I think I’ve come down with a case of deals fatigue.
But what I lacked in purchasing stuff I more than made up by splurging on experience: a facial! The day after Christmas, I bypassed the malls and headed to a dermatologist’s office, where I underwent my first facial. There was warm steam and scrubs and treatment creams. The technician used some type of invigorating mask with “oxygen plasma” in the ingredients list.
So indulgent, but it’s a gift to myself.
Even though I’ve been spending more than usual this month, I can put $500+ from my last paycheck of the year and meet my stretch goal. I’m also expecting a bonus from work. So that makes me feel better about spending more money here and there. Less guilt = more spending.
Even the recession can’t provide much deterrent. To be honest, I’m also feeling the recession fatigue – yes, it’s all going downhill faster than you can say “global economic crisis”, but I can’t control that.
So instead of wondering about my portfolio, I threw on a cheery coat, got a facial, and then had tapas with one of my oldest girlfriends. We spent 3 hours talking, laughing and commiserating – my Sex and the City day, I call it. 😉 And the best part is that I know, 20 Christmases from now, we’ll still be a couple of girls women delighting in good food and great company.
What was/will be your holiday indulgence this year? Do you feel more inclined to spend on yourself during the holidays?
Oooh, facials. Love ’em. I haven’t had one in months since I’m cutting my spending and that was one of the first to be cut. I love the hot steam over my face, hot towels, face &neck massage, and I even love the extraction. It’s so relaxing..
My holiday indulgence… Nothing out of the ordinary. During this holiday season I always spend a lot of time with my friends since we all congregate to where we grew up and finally get to see each other after months of living our own lives…
No indulgences…I am spending all my cash on MBA applications. Clicking “submit” is such a panic-inducing moment!!
I will treat myself to a spa treatment when these are done, sometime after January 12th!
I have a policy of only giving gifts to my immediate family (mom & sister) and to charity during the holidays, which cuts down on the guilt I feel for not getting EVERYBODY something and spending a little on myself. My birthday is this time of year too, so I usually give myself a Christmas/Birthday gift of something that I’ve wanted all year but that didn’t really fit into my budget. This year it’s a camera!
I love the blog! I am about to start blogging about being 20 something and saving money.
i kinda went crazy this christmas too (mostly on taking my boyfriend out and his xmas presents) but i usually just take my family out to dinner for special occasions just so we could spend time together.
Love your blog! I did go a little crazy with the gifts this year…and bought myself a (purple!) coat and some books that I had really been wanting. I feel a bit guilty, but I paid for all of it in CASH (credit card is almost totally paid off for good) and I have really not bought a lot of things for myself for almost a year. Time to get back to being frugal, though–or else the credit-card balance will start creeping up again!