Me? I splurge on good modest clothing. If you’re a hijabi, you know that sometimes it can be difficult to find the perfect shirt that is cute, has long sleeves, and covers your behind. So, when I find something really good like that, sometimes I just have to ignore the price tag and buy it. I also splurge on good food. We try to eat as organic as possible in my house. So when we go grocery shopping, we have to spend a few extra dollars in order to get better quality food.
What do I save on?
I save on drugstore items like toiletries and beauty products (except for when I need a MAC fix!). I usually find great deals on these items at drugstores like CVS. CVS actually helps me save even more money because it gives you Extra Bucks on your shopping receipts throughout the year. The Extra Bucks are usually worth around $5 and you have to use the money at that store. CONFESSION: When I get Extra Bucks on my receipts, I usually turn right back around and buy some more stuff before I leave the store… Pathetic right?
What about you, ladies? What do you splurge and save on? Do you clip coupons? Do you buy a great new car every couple of years? Do you “invest” in good shoes and handbags because they’ll last longer? Or are you a frugal girl all the way?
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Lifestyle : What do you splurge and save on?
53 thoughts on “Lifestyle : What do you splurge and save on?”
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When I was working I splurged on a good coat and good trousers as I needed to look smart and professional.
Nowadays, I very rarely splurge on clothes and shoes as I’m unemployed and have to watch every penny.
But I love a good bargain, especially at the drugstore, and if I can get it even cheaper at the pound shop, I feel even more ecstatic! I’ve bought toothpaste at my local pound shop which is fab as the same thing costs more at the drug store.
But I only splurge on makeup when something is running out and even then I play safe!
I splurge occasionally on clothes. As a hijabi, I now wear mostly long, maxi dresses. So when I find one I like, I usually grab it if the money allows. I also splurge on food, as in, we rarely go out to eat coz food may not be halaal and you also dunno what the hygiene is like and all, so we buy our stuff and cook it at home. So we buy lots of meat that we make into burgers and stuff at home, that sort of thing. I look for the recipe online and try to duplicate it at home. Another splurge for me is extra dark chocolate. It’s the only sweet fix I can tolerate without breaking out in pimples the following morning!
As for saves, I’m still in university part-time, so I save my work money to pay for my exam fees and books. I have recently steered clear of beauty products (again coz of pimples) and now only use Dove bar as cleanser and follow it up with my son’s baby lotion. No more big brand stuff like Neutrogena or Clinique to try and get clear skin, the soap-water-lotion works fine for me so far. I’m also not wearing makeup anymore, again coz of pimples, though I do splurge on some clear pink lipgloss for those days when I look like a goth! To even skin, I use baby powder with a very big puff. Works just like translucent loose powder.
Agree on dollar store stuff. Many a times, the discount stuff or store brand too is cheaper and as good as the bigger brands, so we save on that too.
I’m cheap all around, but I’m going to start splurging on better quality clothes unless I find something for a good deal. I’m always into cheaper shoes and bags because even though good ones last longer, I want more variety in shoes and bags. Same with hijabs…I want to have a big collection to mix up my classic wardrobe.
Eating organic is big for me too, so I too prefer to spend more on better quality food. Plus we do eat out quite frequently because it’s something we (my hubby and me) enjoy together so we spend on that.
I’m with everyone on the dollar store, for anything and everything I can get there instead of the drugstore or Walmart.
I wouldn’t say I splurge on books, but I love to read so I spend a good amount of money on that too, but again I try to buy cheaper books so I can get more of them!
Amina- Books- me Too! I try to get them used and I have cards for the local universities and public libraries.
Amina and Samira
Have you tried ebooks? They’re basically the same as a print, but at like half or even less of the price. Just have to read it on screen/ebook reader though.
I read them a lot, download them to my phone in .pdf format and read wherever I am.
Also, may I ask – what sort of books are you in? I’m a die-hard romance fan.
Anything and everything as long as it is good. I do like romance but usually if it is very subtle ( no corsets and long hair flowing on the cover).
I also like reading about contemporaray issues, history, essays, fiction and autobiography.
I just ordered Farai Chideya’s Kiss the sky (it’s about a rock star in a love triangle-at least that’s what the synopsis said :)
I fancy myself writing a novel in the next years so reading is great for studying.
If you click on my name you can see a sample of some of my writing.
Samira,
I will definitely check out your work! I’m a writer too, actually. Romance but with contemporary issues of Indian culture.
And lol, I’m not into the long flowing hair and corset stuff either, my historicals favourites are mostly the Jane Austen type!
I’m an Austen and Bronte fan, also.
In the “Muslim” fiction realm: Have you read Leila Aboulela’s work? I really enjoyed Minaret and The Translator.
I hadn’t heard of that book. Will have to look for it on Amazon. Thanks for the heads up!
Assalaam Alaikum.
GIRL, I’ll never understand why people buy books, or pay for anything you can get for free. I’m a fan of the library lol
I’m cheap! I’ve been told that my idea of a splurge is not a splurge. I just asked my sweetie what I splurge on and he yelled “Nothing!” Lol. The bills must be paid AND the savings looking right. And in this economy that’s tough : (
I do get good food but since the majority of my eating consists of veggie & grain combos I tend to shop local farmer’s markets (for the in season stuff) and produce junction. If I do fish that might get pricey. $20 goes a long way when buying mushrooms, garlic, squash, eggplant or polenta. I even have a discount spot where I get my extra virgin olive oil!
Travel! I like to see new places and new things so I save money to go on vacation with friends and family. I am obsessed (literally obsessed!) with women and personal finance. So I am a very self-conscious spender.
LOL!! My husband would say the same thing. I always look for deals. And never splurge on anything the bills and savings have to look right first.
Easy answer: books.
I love to read. So I will buy books online, at the bookstore, at secondhand bookstores, anywhere I can find something I want and have the money to pay for.
And if it’s not books: Happy Heart perfume by Clinque. I love how it smells.
Latifah,
I just replied Amina and Samira up above. I’m a book lover too, a romance die-hard! What are you into?
Haven’t tried that Clinique fragrance. I’m more a Lancome girl when it comes to fragrance.
Although I’m a SAHM I tend to splurge often. I buy higher end makeup, hair care and skincare products. I buy organic food which at times feelS like is a splurge lol.
didn’t start shopping at the $1 store until I was married….but it’s great! At first I was appalled because I was so used to shopping at Target for everything! Now I buy everything from house cleaners and wrapping paper to cookies and tomatoes. It REALLY saves a lot of money. Some people think that produce from the $ store is funky, but it ain’t. I can attest it works and tastes just as well as stuff from the regular ol’ supermarket. Even some of the brands are the same, just less expensive.
I do love to splurge on getting my hair done because it’s only once in a blue moon. Also shoes, but only under $100 cuz that’s a huge splurge for me. I would love to buy a couple of high quality abayas or jilbabs. let’s not forget that occasional splurge on the credit card payment!
I agree – hair salon is a definite item to splurge on. I try getting a facial too like twice a year or more if I can afford it, and it’s really awesome to let go and just be pampered.
Ah, shoes… Every woman’s biggest fix, right? I have a thing for handbags too, so I always gotta watch myself when I’m out and spot a gorgeous handbag (my husband says they’re all gorgeous to me, go figure!)
Very true how dollar store stuff can amaze you. The next best stuff is store brands without the fancy packaging.
Not splurging..i watch the monies like a mother hen…but now that im getting married insha’Allah, i most definately will..:-) since he will be footing most of the expenses…:-( on abayas, jewellery, ballet shoes, short short skirts so that he’s motivated to buy me more..lol!
Congrats on the wedding! Isn’t it lovely to put together a trouseau (did I just sound terribly old-fashioned?)
Lol about the short short skirts so he’s he motivated to buy more. That’s great, keep him enthralled, as I always say! Oh, don’t forget to splurge on lingerie too. I never regret my lingerie purchases (it’s for a good cause, you see… LOL)
May Allah be with you both and bless you upon this path you have taken.
I’ve just started wearing the Hijab full time so right now i find myself splurging on clothes that cover my behind and is long sleeved, and modest but also clothes that fit good and looks good as opposed to wearing a tent. Unfortunately where i live i cant get anything in bright colours and so i’ve resorted to buying fabrics and getting my seamstress to sew my clothes. I think because i’ve just made the transition to wearing hijab [its 2 days Alhumdulilah] im splurging on clothes more than i have ever done, im practically trying to build a new wardrobe from scratch. I should also say that when i do get things made or even buy them i usually get them so they last me a while, timeless classics is what i call them :)
Sima,
Congrats on the change! I did mine some 10 months ago, when my son entered an Islamic school and I thought it was time for me to follow through to. So know what you mean about the new wardrobe. I took out tons of pre-hijab clothes and donated some and others, the really good ones like the saris I wore before, I sold them and the money I got I reinvested in abayas and jilbabs. So agree on the sewing too – I got long kaftan-like Indian dresses, took the short sleeves out and added long sleeves in block black. Works as an abaya now and I wear it when I go pick my son from school.
A timeless classic for me is a good coat, like a Burberry trench that I can wear on the abaya. I invested in a couple good ones, in beige and dark blue, so they go with everything.
sisters romantic books are no diffeerent form xrated films you just cant see but your imagination is sure to get you feeling stuff.i think if we love books maybe we should buy more islamic content lyk books about the wives of the prophet,marriages of the prophet or books lyk IDEAL MUSLIMAH.Asalam aleikum.
I try to save every penny! I shop at Aldi for most of my groceries, stock up on sale meet at places like BiLo, use what I have until it falls apart, get all our books and dvds from the library and try to find multiple uses for different items. It has really taught my family to appreciate all the blessings Allah has bestowed upon us by not taking things for granted so much and also shows my husband how much I appreciate how hard he works to earn every cent he brings into our home.
Ayesha,
I agree with you on the part about finding multiple uses for all items. My husband and I have been together for 8 years and we’ve probably ‘redone’ the house at least 3 times in this lapse of time. But what we actually did was simply move our own stuff around or find new uses for existing furniture. Like we had this big kitchen closet-kind of thing that was against the wall but then we moved it so it separated the kitchen with the dining room. One of the small tables we used was converted into a desk for the kids’ room. Little things like this but which make us feel we had a makeover at home.
Agree too, Allah bestows His blessings upon us to not take anything for granted.
AsalamOalekum
Ida, I agree wid u siste. JazakAllah Khair 4 d reminder .
Well I splurge mostly on those small Islamic booklets ,cassettes and cd’s ,keeping d dawah purposes on mind & usually I end up buying more than wot is required :)
I m not a shopaholic but wen ever i go to d market i get tempted towards buying more than wot is needed and then i try to practice some self control :D
Tc
Hmmm…I splurge on good fresh food…in the US everything is full of processed stuff, so sometimes, I like to eat fresh stuff (BORIING!).
But I also like to splurge on quality electronics..I make sure to buy quality products that way I will keep it for long! :-D
Rabeeyah,
I agree with the good electronics stuff. Also goes for mobile phones and house appliances for me. better splurge on the good stuff and now you’re getting quality.
Us so right! I just got a digicam….my next big thing is a mobile phone :))))
Lol. I recently got one that’s like a BlackBerry but it was a Nokia and less expensive. I’m in total love with it!
:))))) I have officially crowned u my muslimette.com bff!!!!! :-D
Aww, thanks Rabeeyah! Right back at you!
I’m not a big spender since I don’t buy things a lot. I rarely buy new clothes or shoes and I don’t wear make-ups. For fragrances, I usually buy an inexpensive one which smells good either. I always hesitated when buying new things that I feel like I don’t really need them such as new clothes. Thus, eventhough when I have my eye on a particular handbag, dress or cloth, I will not end up buying it. I will not buy them unless a friend encourage me or something. I don’t know. I just don’t feel like spending. Plus, I will take a long time making a decision of whether to buy or not and which one to buy that finally I feel like it’s better for me not to buy at all.
BUT, when it comes to books and novels, I definitely buy any book I like sometimes without considering the prices.
Salaams Diyana
I’m a book junkie too. What sort of stuff are you into? My husband says it’s his nightmare and he breaks into cold sweat whenever I go into a book store!
LOL @ Zaynah and the cold sweat!!! Could it be that baddd?
Lol, yup, it’s that bad. A book sells around 300 bucks here (equivalent of like 10 dollars) so not only are they expensive but I can never settle for just one. Or two. Most of the time it’s 3 and making the maths, well, that’s like a thousand bucks flambe-ed in one go!
Hmmmm…How about the library or a book club, so you can exchange the books and avoid buying?
I wonder sisters, what u think about brand names….is it worth the price? and why?
I usually look for a no-name alternative. If I try it and it works, no brands for me.
LOL!!! Why do you lookspecifically for a no-name a lternative? Are you anti-brand names?
I must say I’m not a stickler for brand names, but for certain items, I just feel more reassured as far as the quality goes with the brand name.
Lol. Nopes, not anti-brands. I just like to get my money’s worth, and the no-name is often cheaper and just as effective as the brand.
There are some things I’ll go for brands, such as electronics, mobile phones and computers.
My splurge is skincare and beauty products. I once got addicted to a certain shopping channel that starts with Q and ends with C. I used to watch it like a zombie, and when the presenters (who are really jumped up sales people) said how good the product was, how prestigious it was, how full of luxury ingredients and essential oils, and the amazing results I would get, and how I had to order quickly as it was limited stock (less then 10% stock remaining!!!), I used to speed dial them on the phone and quickly place my order. I used to get a huge buzz from the ordering. I have discovered a couple of really good brands, and have also sent some stuff back that I didn’t like (wasting two lots of exorbitant P&P!).
Now I have started weaning myself off it. I realized that I needed help when I was getting parcels every week, and after a while I was ripping them open, and then stashing them in the cupboard, or giving stuff away to my sisters and friends. Then there was the day that I hid a parcel from my husband. That was the day I knew I had a problem, and that there had to be a reason for this compulsive buying.
Now, I occasionally flick over to this channel, and feel appalled at the selling techniques they are using to make some poor, recession hit, credit-crunched sucker (but not me any more, he he he!) part with their hard earned cash.
I do occasionally buy something that I genuinely love or need, but not until I have checked that I can’t get the same thing elsewhere.
My other splurge is tunics. Because I have to wear smart casual to work, I am forever looking for tunics/dresses that are smart and modest at the same time. I also like pashminas, gorgeous rings and the odd handbag. I do feel guilty that I have too much stuff, and I am trying hard at cutting back.
I splurge on Make-Up, Skin Care, Hijabs, Modest Clothes, HairCare Products, and Good Food.
However, lately I’ve been cutting back and saving some of that money.
I spend a lot on brand names when buying handbags or shoes. thou the designer handbags last me a long time and they upgrade any outfit I wear. They are completely worth the investiment. I would rather have 2 expensive gorgeous looking bags than have a stack of cheap ones. Trust me cheap bags do look cheap. I buy mr formulation or dermalogica products. They are expensive but yet again last for ever and no need to use moistriser, toner bla bla when I am using a good cleanser.
Good point on the brand name vs. price
I also recently joined the hijabi world and yes spent the first month giving stuff away and having to spend lots more on getting more decent clothing and then finding that nothing is really available.
Thats why I started the facebook group, Scarves for you and guess what there is so much I could have done with the clothes I had to make them decent. Try to update, my feature called the “Wardrobe” daily to give ideas on how to keep some stuff and put it together.
Really enjoying the research and HIJAB STYLE is fantastic, wow
Salaams, I also recently joined the Hijabi world and it is definetly an adjustment but one I am trying to embrace.
What is your facebook group I would love to join?
I splurge on a few key pieces each year.. like a classic bag I can’t live without, blazer, coat, or pair of shoes and boots that will last me year round. I find it better to spend a little cash on these items and wear them through out the year, rather than spend a couple hundred dollars every few months buying a new bag, shoes, coat.. etc.
Salaam Everyone!
honestly i’m leaving a comment that is REALLY off topic put i wasn’t really sure where to post this :-/ i’m just really looking to meet some Muslim girlfriends seeing as though i currently don’t have any…. it’s been really tough lately and i feel like none of my current friends understand me. I want to be moving towards Islam and not away from it and the only real way i think i can do this is by surrounding myself with like minded people…. I’d really like to talk with other like-minded people my age and everyone on this blog seems to be right up to my speed lol I apologize if i’m ruining the discussion, i hope to hear from any of you who may be interested in talking. Salaam :-)
Salaam Hali,
I’m in the same boat, I don’t have many friends, and none that are Muslim, and I’d really like some. I’m 17, and I no this is a crucial age to have good friends who won’t pressure me into doing something that is against Islam. I’ll check back soon to see if you reply :)
Well 4 mee, I splurge on Clothes (ALOT) and like every month/fortnight or so, Ill take a trip to a cafe like Gloria Jeans or Krispy Kreme and Splurge bigtime! ( DW Ill work the calories off :P)
I Dont really use makeup cause im only 11 but I have to buy at least 3 tubes of lip gloss every month :p
@ Hali, how old r u exactly?? Myabe i can help but i doubt ur anywhere near my age lol
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Salaams I definitely splurge on fine lingerie and Italian shoes.