What Would You Do?
July 15, 2009 by Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
Filed under General Frugality
I saw an interesting article in my Woman’s Day magazine this month. They had asked their readers “what would you do if you had an extra $20 just to spend on yourself?”
I thought that was an interesting question. Even more I thought it sounded like an interesting idea for a regular segment here on Frugal Upstate!*
So. . . What would you do with an extra $20 to spend on yourself?
Me? I’d probably enjoy a nice lunch with a frou frou coffee at Panera Bread-use their free wi-fi and then head on over to the dollar store to browse.
*Note: If you have a great idea for a “What Would You Do?” question please send it in using my contact form. If you question gets used you will get full credit-and a little link love back to your blog if you have one!
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Today, I’d go to my favorite Salvation Army for family day, where almost everything is 1/2 off. The place is huge, and I’d take an hour or two to peruse the aisles and find some great bargains. (And some “new” clothes, I need more variety!)
I would get a great coffee drink and head to the dollar store. I once got a nice journal, some of those scrubby gloves, such wonderful spa things for so cheap. I would then head to the drug store for some Yardley Soap……
I would call up a girlfriend and meet at our favorite little cafe. We could spend a few hours just talking, tripping over each others’ words, enjoying each other’s company, while the free drink refills kept us going. With busy schedules, it’s hard to find that time to just hang out with our friends for some “girl time renewal.”
I would fill up my gas tank and head to a few yard sales, ice cold Diet Coke in the cupholder.
In fact, I may take $20 from my spending envelope and do just that this Saturday!
I’d go to the bookstore, get an iced chai, and spend lots of time browsing and picking up a few discounted books. This, of course, assumes that I don’t have my kids with me. Too hard to browse with 2 little munchkins.
If I had $20 to spend on myself I would go yardsaling to find something for my home or to a thrift or consignment shop to see what treasures I could find, with a Dunkin doughnuts coffee in hand
kari
With $20, I’d find a place to get an inexpensive pedicure. I used to treat myself to a nice pedicure regularly during sandal season – and sadly that’s been cut from the budget this year due to job loss in the family. But I’m going to a wedding in 2 weeks, and I’ve promised myself one nice pedicure prior to the wedding. It will probably be my only one this summer.
If not a pedicure, then I’d spend a couple of hours in my favorite used bookstore picking up some stuff (and I could stretch my dollars further by selling them some of my used books to get store credit).
I would..drive over to my local Barnes and Noble, grab a London Fog Latte (earl grey tea, milk, and sugar free vanilla syrup) and buy all the magazines my left over $ could get me. I love looking at all the beautiful things the world has to offer. Some think fashion is silly but I think beauty has a profound power to uplift us all. They inspire me to make leave the world around me more lovely than I found it. What could be better!
I think I’d head to a bookstore also – or Amazon.
I have an idea for another what would you do. What would you do with a morning by yourself in your own house? No kids or spouse!
OOOhhh I am such a frugaller that I almost think I’d put the whole $20 into savings to see it grow…. but then if I had enough savings already i would get ‘treat’ items I never spend money on:
- Get a hot chocolate at a coffee shop and read free books and magazines – £1.80
- Buy a movie ticket half price with a friend on a Wednesday (Orange Wednesdays in the UK)- £3.50
- Buy a nice bottle of wine – £9.00
This would roughly equate to $20.00 – I guess it shows how little that amount goes here in the UK!