Splurge vs. Save

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I am totally stealing this idea from Shannon over at Life After I Dew, so I won’t even try to claim it as my own.

Like most people there are things I don’t mind spending my money on and things that I cannot stand spending money on. Here’s my list of each:

Splurge:

• Kiehl’s #1 Lip Balm, which rings in at a hefty $7.50/jar.  What’s ChapStick cost, like $1?  I don’t care, I will happily spend my $7.50.  I have been using this stuff for probably 12 years and will never ever give it up.
• Designer jeans.  My current favorites are 7 for All Mankind.  I don’t know what it is, but they just make everyone look better.  I know B feels the same way too. This is going to sound insane, but I also think L looks better in TR’s than he does in other brand of jean.  I know, I know.  He’s 3.  But trust me, they just fit way better!
• Furniture.  I have bought Target / Garden Ridge stuff in the past and every piece I have bought has pretty much fallen apart on me.  I’m talking dresser drawers falling apart.  Legs falling off tables and chairs, you name it.  So slowly, but surely, I have been replacing our furniture, piece by piece with much sturdier things.  Things we do not have to assemble ourselves (with the exception of the IKEA basement stuff we bought).
• Sunglasses.   I don’t care what anyone says.  I don’t think expensive sunglasses are a waste.  I do not lose my sunglasses and don’t break them or anything like that.  They feel better on my face and I like to think they look better.

Save:

• Shampoo and conditioner.  Back in the day, I used to think I needed to use Frederic Fekkai or whatever.  But one day I woke up and realized it wasn’t making my hair look any better.  So I switched to the cheap crap.  I’m talking I use whatever I win or can get at the store free after coupons.  Works just the same!
• Bottled water.  Although, I imagine tap water would be more of a save, I will drink the CVS no brand bottled water, while B prefers Smart Water or FIJI water.  I personally cannot even taste the difference.
• Face Lotion.  Every time I get a facial, I hear the same thing “you need to moisturize more”.  Usually they try to push the products they sell at the spa, however, one facialist (is that a word) told me not to waste my money and that Olay Pro-X was just as good, if not better than the “fancy” stuff.  And I have found she’s right.
• iPhone / iPad apps.  I just can’t bring myself to spend more than like $0.99/per app.  And if I do, it’s a special event.  Or I have a gift card.  
• Mascara.  I like to replace my mascara often, so spending $20 on a tube just doesn’t work.  Plus, I feel like it’s not about the mascara itself.  It’s about the applicator.
• Hair color.  No more pricey trips to the salon for me.  Nope, not when I can buy a $7 box of hair color and be done in 20 minutes!  I should mention I would never try this if I had blonde hair.  Never.  Or if I as trying to go from brown to blonde.  Even I am not that stupid.