$10 may seem to be a small denomination nowadays, but you can still find ways to treat yourself by purchasing items that can make you feel rich.
As I mentioned in my blog post, Small Luxuries to Have in Your Budget, I recommend that we should still incorporate some small luxuries in our day-to-day life. These small things are the cherries on the top that make our lives much more pleasant and memorable and help us combat lifestyle inflation. Here are some of these little luxuries under 10 dollars that you can have!
Candles
I love candles. And yes, you can purchase such a little treat for under $10 if you are smart about your purchases. Of course, you can go to the dollar store and pick up some cheap tea lights, but because of their subpar quality, I don’t find them adding to the atmosphere that much. IKEA is a good place to pick up some nice candles for under $10, so is your local indigo if you they happen to run some sales. You may earn some additional cash-back if you use apps like Drop (check out my Drop app review) or Ibotta (iOS or Android).
However, my favourite place is TJ Maxx or Winners/HomeSense. The buyers from these stores purchase designer brands from all over the world and sell them at a fairly sizeable discount. I love the eclectic atmosphere at these stores. Because they carry all sorts of brands, the stores look different every time I visit. These stores always carry fancy-looking candles, including soy wax candles!
Of course, if you do not feel like going to a physical store, there are some wonderful options on Amazon as well. Here are some of my top picks:
Mrs. MEYER’S CLEAN DAY Scented Soy Aromatherapy Candle
Lilac Blossom Aromatherapy Soy Wax Candle
Royaly Home Scented Candles
A good book
As a self-proclaimed book lover, purchasing a good book is definitely on my list. Of course, if you are looking for the hottest book from a brick-and-mortar store, you are probably out of luck with a $10 bill. If you are willing to wait a little bit, however, the books may go on sale. In my local Indigo, for example, some items can go on as much as 50% sale.
In addition to waiting for a book to go on sale, you can also try your luck at your local second-hand bookstore. If you have a kindle, you can purchase the electronic version off Amazon through their kindle store, as ebooks typically sells at a fraction of the price of a physical book.
If you are looking for a good book to read, here are some of my favourite books that have withstood the test of time, and can be purchased for under $10:
- The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
If you are looking for some recommendations on personal finance books specifically, you may want to check out my Ultimate Personal Finance Book List.
In addition to books, you may also be interested in some reading accessories to make your reading experience more pleasant! Here are a few ideas:
My Weekend is All Booked Pillow Case
Heart Wooden Thumb Page Holder
Support your favourite artist through purchases or donations
YouTube is obviously on the rage. Nowadays, even without spending money, you can still have almost endless choices when it comes to music.
But what if you have found a fantastic artist and you’d like to give him/her some support? Consider buying their products or making a donation through channels that they fully own. Not only can you get some entertainment or use out of the product you purchased, you can also financially support the artist so he/she can purchase equipment and make a living making music that they and you love.
Of course, $10 is a small amount, but everything counts, doesn’t it?
Give the $5 Meal Plan a try
While some of us love planning meals and cooking, some of us don’t. It could be time-consuming and stressful, and many would rather spend the time hanging out with family or doing something more meaningful for them. If you belong to the latter group, it is definitely a way to treat yourself if you can find a way to make this process more pleasant.
Here comes the $5 Meal Plan to make your meal planning as simple as possible. For just $5 a month, they will send you a delicious meal plan. Every meal costs about $2 per person, and in most cases less. In addition, the company offers a regular version and a gluten-free version of the meal plans, so if you are sensitive to gluten, just check that box!
$5 Meal Plan currently also offers a 14-day free trial, so you could try it for a full two weeks before spending the $10 bill you have. I recommend that you check them out if interested!
A simple but fancy afternoon pick-me-up with a luxurious slice of cake or pastry, plus a fabulous drink at your favourite coffee shop
I know latte effect is something that people talk about. There is even a book about it! But honestly, sometimes it is good to give yourself a good treat! A very nice slice of cake plus a drink will probably run you around $10 at your favourite local coffee shop. These little luxuries will for sure add a sprinkle of happiness to your life.
Of course, if you are diligent about collecting reward points, such as star rewards at Starbucks, you could spend less on such a nice little treat on yourself.
To learn more about Starbucks hacks, check out my best ways to get free drinks at Starbucks!
Two slices of cake, or two drinks, one for you, and one for your best friend.
A Sunday afternoon can’t be better spent than with your best friend. Who says you need to spend a lot more than a few dollars to have quality time with someone that matters to you a lot?
In addition to the relaxing atmosphere a coffee shop offers, I also love the flexibility of the menu. You can spend only $2 with a simple coffee, or you can spend up to probably $7 or $8 for a fancier drink.
If you want to go all out though, the sky is the limit! In 2017, William E. Lewis Jr. ordered a “Super Venti Flat White”, a standard Venti Flat White with an additional 170 shots of espresso and served with coconut milk. This drink ran him $148.99 and had 11,000mg of caffeine. Although I don’t recommend that you try it, a nice Frappuccino once in a while could be a fun experience.
Even during this trying times that you can’t spend as much time physically in the same space with your friend, you can consider each ordering a matching drink, and have a Zoom chat. If you are not a coffee person, you can give those fancy juices and drinks, like Health-Ade Kombucha, a try. They will for sure at least give your mental health a healthy boost!
Two months of web hosting with Bluehost
Are you thinking about starting your blog or website? The best time to do it was yesterday. The second best time is TODAY! Why not give it a try? Who knows, such a small investment can open up to a whole new world for you.
I use Bluehost (check out my Bluehost review here) personally and I have been happy with the service. Not only do you get free domain name for the 1st year, you also get free SSL certificate. If you are currently using a free WordPress.org blog and are thinking of switching to self-hosting, Bluehost’s 1-Click WordPress install will make transition seamless.
What if you try it, and realize that blogging or having your own website is not for you? Well, you can cancel within 30 days!
Final Words:
Finding small ways to treat yourself is a worthy endeavour that can bring a smile to your face. I am a strong believer of sprinkling little luxuries in our lives. But of course, we shouldn’t go overboard, so please do everything within reason.
If you are looking for alternatives to store-bought gifts for yourself (or others), here are some great options!
