Based on a story by Kristin Stones, 9 Things Frugal Folks Don’t Admit Splurging On

My Experience: Beginning with Ambitious Goals

In my quest to live frugally and sustainably and pay off my debt by December 31, 2026, I’ve been doing everything I can to save money. Hence, my multiple posts about saving money, being resourceful, and being purchase savvy. I’m pretty obsessed with this topic right now. However, I feel like I’m starting to win!

I started big!

After assessing all our spending and cutting where I could, I created a budget and pay-down plan and have stuck with them. I’ve started a price book, so I know the least expensive place to buy our groceries. At last, I’ve wrangled the important things; it’s on to the small tweaks.

Now, to sweat the small stuff

Now, for the minor things. I’ve started a small garden for fresh produce and am starting to declutter my house and life. To this end, a couple of things that I’ve begun are changing my internet to a cheaper plan, saving $80 per month, selling our extra car, saving $65 in car insurance per month, and recycling and composting, the smallest thing of all, but making a huge impact in my life.

Reducing the size of our trash bin saves about $6 per month on our trash bill, but makes a dramatic difference in other ways. I am more mindful about what I throw away, and the compost tea that my indoor compost bin makes has made my plants thrive. Okay, not just thrive, they are going crazy! When they go crazy, the air in my house is cleaner, and my mom and I breathe easier. Win! Win!

Every dollar counts

Back to that $151 in savings. What are my plans for that? Well, $101 will go to paying down a credit card. While that does not seem like a lot, an extra $100 towards the principal at 25% interest adds up. The additional $50 will go to my high-interest savings account. It is my reward for doing an excellent job.

9 Things Frugal Folks Don’t Admit Splurging On

1. High-quality, durable clothing. I don’t have a job that requires me to “dress up.” It is more of a trousers and a button-up shirt or sweater job. That said, I don’t buy “high-quality” clothing. Thus, I treat my durable clothing as if it were high-quality, so it lasts considerably longer. Albeit, I replace my shoes frequently. I have a dog who loves to eat them. My bad for keeping them where she can get them. Lesson learned.
2. Specialty groceries. The article claims specialty groceries include “fresh produce, quality meat, or a favorite cheese.” Since we don’t eat meat, this is not an issue, but I do not consider fresh produce or cheese a treat. These are necessities, and they are built into my food budget. Italian and Greek olives, capers, and nuts are my treats.
3. Tools and items that save time: “Things like a good coffee maker, a vacuum cleaner that actually works, or a pressure cooker that makes meal prep quicker.” This makes sense to me. Time is money. If I spend less time on required tasks, I can use that time to declutter a room, collect garage sale items, or make something to sell online. Found or side hustle money is always a Win!
4. Better quality bedding. Yes! I buy pillows that can be put into the washer and dryer (washing them removes the mites!) and sheets with a high thread count. Superior quality bedding will last a long time through many washings and dryings. It is an investment because a good night’s sleep is priceless. Bonus: They make me feel very fancy.
5. Occasional dining experiences. Birthdays, holidays, and out-of-town guests are the only times we dine out at fancy places. Dining out is for the companionship of breaking bread together. I splurge on discount pizza at my local take-and-bake place or Olive Garden, where we buy an entree and get another one for $6. The $6 meal goes into the freezer for a day when I do not feel like cooking.
6. Maintenance and repairs. “Most frugal people would rather pay to fix something right than patch it up over and over. That might mean hiring a pro, keeping up with car work, or spending a little more for a lasting repair.” I do all my repairs myself or learn how to do them, unless it is something that I have no clue how to do. Cars – Nope, it goes to the shop. Fence – Yep, I can fix that.
7. Fitness classes or programs. Nope. I don’t spend money on these when I can get a great workout in my garden, take the dogs for a run, or find a yoga video on one of my existing subscriptions. I’m a caretaker of my mom, which makes it vitally important that I take care of myself.
8. Upgraded tech essentials. My job is technology-driven. I need to have a good laptop and other devices. If something breaks, I get a new one. Spending on these items means I can make money.
9. Vacation Experiences. Yes! Yes! Yes! While I don’t have much paid time off because of unforeseen medical emergencies over the past year, I will spend money on my vacations. Most are using my travel trailer and long weekends, but that time away to recharge, see, and experience new places is worth the money. I plan well ahead and save money for a trip to avoid the credit card trap. I’ve spent too much effort to be there again.

Balancing act

I’m balancing my life frugally while still enjoying life. I understand how lucky I am to have this option. Many people can only afford to live on what they make paycheck to paycheck (been there and done that) and cannot splurge on anything. Or they say Screw It and live above their means, always in terminal debt. I can hardly blame them. I was right there with them until 7 months ago. The stress of constant debt feels like drowning, and the current and future economy will worsen it.

It’s not too late

But, guess what? It is never too late to try to improve your circumstances. I’m 65 years old. I’ve improved my credit score by over 100 points in 7 months. My advice for what it is worth is,

Create your plan, stick to it, make rewards and treats meaningful but fit the plan, and don’t think of being frugal as a punishment. Think of it as a strategy game we play against the big corporations and the banks.

Right now, I’m winning!