Treats you work into the budget

**ewokgirl** · 04-12-2006, 04:37 PM

Do you have something you just love that you always are sure to work into the budget? I'm not talking about necessities, but something extra. For me, it's a subscription to The Dallas Morning News. I would go nuts without my morning newspaper. When I quit working, we dropped the expensive cable, but changed our paper subscription from weekends only to 7 days a week.

For my DH, it's Star Wars stuff. He's a SW collector (we have an entire Star Wars room in our house!). His current hunt involves vintage figures on Ebay. Some of them are pretty pricey! Anyway, his hobby is important to him, so I make sure there's always a little money for him to spend on that, whether it's Ebay, Toys R Us, or a sci-fi convention.

guest7 · 04-12-2006, 05:56 PM

I have an -unfrugal fund- in addition to an emergency fund. This gives me permission to do something unfrugal.

So, I like to use it for a lunch or dinner with one of my children. No one else- just us.

**tulipgraham** · 04-12-2006, 06:26 PM

I "allow" myself $50.00 a month to buy whatever I want. It changes every month - this month I would like to "splurge" at the consignment stores...

**Persimmon Lace** · 04-12-2006, 08:55 PM

We have it budgeted in to eat out at a really good restaruant once a week averaging about 30-40 dollars plus tip. The rest of the time we eat in or splurge for the 5 tacos for 2.00 at place here in town that is really good and cheap!

**Libby** · 04-12-2006, 11:12 PM

A treat for me is when I've accomplished something worthy - not b/c I want it. But its very hard for me to not just go and buy it. Buckling down and not spending anything is so hard, dont know how most of you do it! My plan, once I get my living space clutter free - ie all boxes emptied, purged and gone, I will ask bf to buy me BIG ARSED bouquet of flowers

I cant wait - its spring and I really love fresh flowers.

**frugalfarmwife** · 04-13-2006, 06:35 AM

Ice cream, I can get away with just about anything frugal with hubby as long as there is ice cream in the freezer! (I love it too!) And Aldis Moose Tracks and Butter Pecan fit the bill. Nothing hits the spot after a long day of chores here on the farm like a bowl of it.

We're easily amused here, lol.

kj

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 04-13-2006, 07:51 AM

Road Trips! We plan a trip and start putting money towards it. Like right now we are planning a trip to Hawaii for Thanks giving. Out of ever bit of money that comes in a portion goes to the trip so it'll all be paid for by the time we leave. DH even took on an next side job (painting the neighbors house) so all that money $800.00 will go to the trip.

Laurie in Bradenton

**AmyMCGS** · 04-13-2006, 08:55 AM

A bigger-than-necessary cable TV package. We could just get the basic service much cheaper, but, we consider the extra channels as our entertainment budget for the month.

**Jellybeanz** · 04-13-2006, 10:56 AM

All of mine seem to revolve around food or drink now that I think about it.. I always make sure I have one or two cans of coke classic allotted to me each day. Then I always make sure that I set aside 3 dollars to go thru the drive thru at McD's when I get groceries every couple weeks or so.

Those are things I could do without, but choose not too. :-)

**suzysaver** · 04-13-2006, 11:23 AM

We have to have a pizza night once in a while, or my hubby will go crazy. I usually wait until it's an off night at the pizza place.....a tuesday, or wednesday and they have a small/large for $10.00. sometimes I save the coupons for the take and bake place and we go there....good pizza for around $8.00. Once a month or so we go shopping at target and I set money aside for this..........Sometimes it's only $10.00 each..maybe $20.00 and we can get whatever we want....sometimes we combine it and buy something together. I enjoy being frugal, but if you get to extreme..it can be depressing.

**ironmaiden** · 04-13-2006, 05:44 PM

Hmmm..

Ice chai mix, yarn (real wool - only buy yarn once previous project is done and only yarn for a project), ice cream is ALWAYS in our freezer, wine (these days it is the carton in the fridge).

**Early Bird** · 04-13-2006, 11:33 PM

DSL!!!

And I have my allowance too. Lately, it's all going toward sock yarn.

**poppyseed** · 04-14-2006, 03:53 AM

Every month I allow for my 3 school-aged kids to buy their lunch from school, it is a treat for them and they usually have it towards the end of the month.

At the moment I am saving up for us to spend two days at a Lighthouse, staying in the restored keepers cottages, it's going to be wonderful and we're all really excited about it - beachcombing, fishing, swimming, reading, relaxing, reconnecting as a family....

**schellie69** · 04-14-2006, 09:20 AM

Mine is coffee, I could buy the cheap stuff, but I buy some of mine from a place in Wichita, and millstone, the only other is getting my nails done, i love having nails but if money is tight i will forgo that one but not coffee.....plus about once every couple of months i will buy the kids a treat, that they don't usally get. such as a two litter of pop for supper one night the stuff at walmart is only 50 cents so i don't feel to bad, my dh and kids is micowave popcorn i buy the snack size bags, it cost about $2.50 a week also my dh has his creamer for his coffee. but i feel those are just little things and if you cut out all the little special things you start to feel deprived then you it seems you can go on a spending spree, so i just buy little things here and there and it seems to work...

**Vannie** · 04-14-2006, 10:02 AM

I have cut back on so many things in the last 2 or 3 years because I knew that I was retiring. This year I started getting my nails done instead of doing them myself. I get them "wrapped", and go every 3 weeks. What a treat for me. Girly/woman talk, fashion magazines on the table; I don't look at them but love the fact that I could.