As follow-up to the last post, I wanted to share some things that I do think it is worth spending money on. Some are practical, others are a little frivolous, but they are My Chosen Few:
(Aside from a home, utilities, car, health/dental/vision insurance, food, household and personal care products, clothes etc)
(1) Life insurance. Yep, it’s boring, But in the words of one of my favourite financial gurus, Dave Ramsey, if you have someone who is relying on your income (spouse, children etc), you need life insurance JUST IN CASE that income suddenly goes away.
(2) Properly fitted, good quality running shoes and sports bras. ‘Nuff said.
(3) Fast, reliable home internet. We stream and download movies and music, call internationally using VOIP, and my husband plays video games online with friends. Fast, reliable internet does add value to our lives!
(4) Heating and air conditioning. In South Carolina the temperatures can vary enormously in the autumn, winter and spring, and it’s not unheard of for us to have the heating on one day and the air conditioning a few days later. I refuse to be too hot or too cold in the home I love and I enjoying spending time in. (As I write this I’m actually freezing, the heating’s on but I’m still wrapped up in a blanket. Two days ago I was running outside in shorts and a tank top. Crazy!)
(5) Good quality mattress and pillows. Good sleep is so important to our physical, cognitive and emotional functioning. And really good quality sleep requires a mattress and pillows that don’t hurt you back or neck, don’t sag in the middle and aren’t 15 years old!
(6) Occasional date nights. We’ve really reduced the amount of eating/drinking out we do compared to a few years ago and I was a little taken aback when I realized how much money we used to spend. But I think it’s so important to continue to “date” your spouse/significant other, especially when the drudgery of daily life seems to be getting to you. So go to see an occasional movie, go out to dinner at a well-loved restaurant or try out the new wine bar. Just not every week.
(7) Personal appearance. My hair is actually one of my obsessions: if I’m having a bad hair day, it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing or how fabulous my makeup looks. If my hair looks bad, I feel like crap. I get my hair cut regularly by a wonderful stylist and buy and use reputable (mostly organic) skincare products and makeup. I do love to have professional pedicures in the summer, but last year I cut these out and my feet are none the worse for it. But I think I’ll have at least one or two this year…
(8) Professional attire. Despite my pursuit of minimalism, I have not yet been able to break my love of clothes shopping. I very rarely shop now, but when I do, I only buy pieces that (1) I could wear for work and at home and (2) will last for a significant amount of time, so they are well made and not a fashion fad, and therefore somewhat expensive.
(9) Occasional Girls Nights Out. Or Girls Mornings Out. Spending good quality time with My Chosen Few girlfriends is so important to my mental health! We laugh, we cry, we boost each up and we hold each other accountable. Whether than means enjoying a mimosa or coffee after a morning run, or meeting for dinner and drinks at the local pub, I believe those are well-spent dollars.
(10) Getting away from it all. I don’t crave solitude or have the desire to explore far-flung lands. I simply need to get away from daily work life and home life a couple of times a year. We’re fortunate; the SC coast is less than 200 miles from our town, so it’s easy to get some beach days every few months. With the NC mountains also just a couple of hours drive away, and major international airport 30 minutes up the road, we have lots of great options.
My Chosen Few 