Little Luxuries to Have in Your Budget

Luxuries have a special status in our lives. Here are the little luxuries worth having in your budget.

Unlike the bread and the butter that form the bulk of our existence, luxuries are the cherries on top and the icings on the cake – not essential, but certainly lovely. Of course, if you are budget-conscious, you may not think that luxuries have a place in your life. But I’d like to argue the contrary. I do believe that there are some little luxuries in life that deserve a place in your budget, no matter how money conscious you are. Below are some of such items in my world. On which ones do you agree with, and which ones can you live without?

Why not earn some extra money on the side in your spare time to help pay for the little luxuries? Check out my top recommendations on how to make money online without paying anything!

Shopping at a nearby grocery store instead of going to a discount grocery store far away

This one may be a bit controversial, especially in the couponing community. However, time is something that money cannot buy. I’d much rather spend my time doing something productive or meaningful than being stuck in traffic for thirty minutes only to save a few dollars. This is especially true if you are only buying groceries for one or two people, as the cost differential is really not that significant. Would you rather spend an extra $0.50 on a tomato or walk/bike 20 minutes for the same tomato? I’d take the former in a heartbeat.

Of course, if you derive genuine joy from shopping around at different stores because you like to experience different environments and meet different people, then go ahead and shop with a smile on your face. If you have a big family and maybe you only shop once every two weeks, then maybe going a bit further out is worth it.

Candles for a relaxing or romantic atmosphere at home

This is for the sentimental ones out there, including myself. For me, candles are such magical items that can transform a simple dining table into something on a completely different level. The amount of happiness I can derive from a candle significantly outweighs the cost that it bears. My favourite scent is sandalwood for some mysterious and musky flavour, or good-old vanilla for a hint of sweetness. Unscented ones are also my cup of tea if I want to prioritize other smells, especially during dinner time.

Here are some of my favourite picks:

Rose & Sandalwood Candle

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Vanilla Cake Scented Soy Candle

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Unscented Soy Candles

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From a practical budgeting perspective, candles are also a great item that exudes luxury without breaking your bank. They are also on sale quite regularly, whether online or at your local stores.

Additionally, with candles at home, a self-prepared candlelit dinner no longer seems out of reach.

Find a few recipes online, make a few nice dishes, light up the candles, and there you have it! Sometimes, your desire to dine out is linked to the specific atmosphere a restaurant conveys. By creating it at home, you may derive just the same amount of enjoyment at a fraction of the cost.

Candles are also a fantastic accessory for your DIY spa at home. Put on some light background music, light some candles, immerse yourself in a warm tub of water with a bath bomb or some epsom salt with a few drops of essential oils, and you can enjoy some relaxation that can calm you down and boost your mood.

Bath Bombs

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Epsom Salt

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Essential Oils Set

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A nice slice of cake from the local bakery instead of a big generic cake that is on sale

I have a little bit of a sweet tooth. I know sugar is bad for you, but sometimes I still cave in. However, whenever I have such a craving, I prefer to buy a nice slice of cake instead of getting myself a generic one, even if it has a big exclamation mark and a sale sign in bold red colour. For me, quality definitely outweighs quantity when it comes to cakes, or any fancy pastries in general. A slice of beautifully decorated cake is a like a small piece of sweet cloud that exudes luxury, whereas a big generic cake, while delivering a lot of flour, sugar and butter, falls short in making-me-feel-good.

A single slice of cake also saves you money

Even though it is more expansive per portion compared to a whole cake, it is, in general, still less expansive in totality than the latter. If you only crave one slice of cake, why are you purchasing a whole cake just to save on dollars per unit? You might end up throwing the cake away, which is a big waste. Or you might feel bad about food waste and proceed to finishing the whole cake, and then feel bad (still!) for consuming too much sugar. To me, anything that doesn’t satisfy a genuine need or want that you have, is not worth spending money on. So let’s not waste money on calories that do not bring you joy.

Of course, if you crave a whole cake, then go ahead and purchase it, and eat it without guilt. Soft warning: let’s not do it too often though.

Better-quality pantry items

This is somewhat related to the candles above, at least in the realm of dining. Fancy pantry items elevate meals without costing you an arm and a leg. For example, instead of generic spices, you may opt for organic spices. A small pinch of high-quality nutmeg or cinnamon can really add the magic touch to a meal. Or, instead of regular pasta, why not blend in some whole wheat pasta, or even spinach pasta that can instantly brighten up your plate? Instead of peanut butter full of hydrogenated oil, why not choose natural peanut butter, or, if you are feeling even fancier, almond butter or even pistachio butter?

Organic Starter Spice Set

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Whole Wheat Pasta

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Spinach Fettuccine

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Pistachio Butter

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Having nice ingredient at home really makes your kitchen a more inviting place to be. They may induce you to stay at home and cook more, which inevitably will be a win for your budget.

Having a bank account with a reliable major bank with many branches, and can serve your needs when needed, even if it means paying a bit extra.

I know, I know, I know. The personal finance community has been long advocating for converting to no-fee online banking solutions, and I personally also take advantage of them. However, I personally do not think that online banks can completely replace traditional banks, at least not yet. I still see a lot of value in banking with a well-established and reliable bank with many branches. This is especially true if you ever encounter a complex transaction, or an error resulting in a financial loss.

Of course, I am a fan of discount banks as well, because I do not like to see my money sitting in a bank account earning no or even negative interest (because I have to pay a fee!). As a result, I recommend that you do a hybrid between the two systems: have enough cash in your main bank, and store the rest away in your online high-interest bank.

If you are in the US, you may be interested in checking out First National Bank. Check out my First National Bank review to learn more!

Select home decor

I love nice home decors, because they make my home feel cozy and lovely. Home is a cornerstone of our lives, and it really is our responsibility to show our love to our home. After all, having a nice cozy home can really have a positive impact on our self-perception, confidence, and even our productivity. Home decor is another category of little luxuries that can brighten up your day and change how you feel.

Note the importance of “select”. After all, I don’t recommend that you purchase every single piece of home decor that catches your eye. Like what I said in this article, balancing consumption and savings is the key to financial success. But what if you have been eying those nice sunshine yellow pillow covers for over ten days, or a super cute set of owl sculptures that you will lovingly display on your otherwise empty coffee table? Go ahead and purchase them. I strongly believe that in these instances, money can buy happiness.

Sunshine Yellow Pillow Covers

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Owl Sculpture Set

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Asking someone to assemble furniture for you if you aren’t an expert

This one may be a bit more controversial with the DIY trend populated by none other than IKEA. However, furniture is an important household item that should last a long time. Given its importance and usage frequency, I think it is important for us to take good care of our furniture, and that starts with proper assembly.

Professionally assembled furniture also looks much better.

I am too embarrassed to tell you how many times I did not fully understand the instructions only to discover later that I had the wrong side of the door installed facing the front, or how many random tapes I had to place on my own IKEA furniture just to somewhat maintain its structural integrity. With professional assembly, even the inexpensive furniture can look and feel neater and more elegant.

In addition to having better looking furniture, having a professional do the work also helps you avoid injury and save time. It can also help you save money because you don’t need to buy extra tools only to use them once and leave them in a shelf collecting dust.

If you want to save some more money, you can consider hiring someone on Fiverr or TaskRabbit.

Of course, if you only plan to live in an apartment for a really short period of time, you only need the most basic furniture, and you don’t plan to keep the furniture long-term, then feel free to skip this piece of advice!

Lounging in Starbucks (or an indie coffee shop) with a nice drink in hand

I love Starbucks, for its consistency across all stores, its ambience, its background music and its clean bathrooms (who knows this could be such an important factor!). I love bringing a book with me to my favourite Starbucks with super high ceiling, and just spend an afternoon immersed in the story with a cup of brewed coffee in hand. I may also bring a journal and write my thoughts down. If I ever feel fancy, I will upgrade it to a latte and sprinkle some cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate on top, or venture out and try any of the Frappuccinos.

If you are curious about how I am able to save money at Starbucks, check out my article Starbucks Free Drink: Ways to Get One!

Let That Sh*t Go Journal 

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Amazon subscription services

Over the past few years, Amazon has really started getting into subscription services, many of which are super useful for our lives. From Amazon Prime to Kindle Unlimited, these services have really added convenience to our lives. Head to my blog post to find out about all the Amazon subscription services that offer a free trial period, so it won’t cost you a penny to give them a try!

Do fun activities (but with a coupon!)

Going out doesn’t have to be expensive. If you are looking for fun things to do but still want to save money, Groupon is the way to go. Groupon features great daily deals on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in a variety of cities across the United States and Canada. Sign up for Groupon here today to take advantage of the offers!

Final words

Although luxuries are not necessities, they are an integral part of a happy and satisfying life. No matter which one of the above you choose to adopt, the key is to find the little luxuries that resonate with your heart and can keep your heart content.

As Thomas Aquinas said,

Man (and can I add, woman) cannot live without joy.

An appropriate amount of little luxuries can enrich your life, and nourish your mind and your soul.

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*Interest is calculated daily on the total closing balance and paid monthly. Rates are per annum and subject to change without notice.

6 thoughts on “Little Luxuries to Have in Your Budget”

  1. Yes! There are easy ways to incorporate a few small luxuries in your life. I recently bought a few face masks and it’s so nice to set aside time on the weekend to do an at-home spa day. We don’t need to over-optimize our finances to the point where we chop out all the small luxuries along the way. Great post!

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