Saturday 16 May 2015

Elegant Economy: Treats


No matter how frugal you're trying to be, you need the occasional treat. Something to sweeten things a little. Maybe for you that's a literal thing (I remember as a child regularly being sent to the paper shop at the end of our row for a dark chocolate Walnut Whip for my mum). Maybe it's something else; my paternal grandmother always used to have fresh flowers in the house. She said, 'I don't drink or smoke. I don't buy a lot of things. But I always have fresh flowers on the windowsill.' My grandma had a little job sweeping up at a ladies' hair salon called Joyce's, and that was where her spending money came from; it also meant she had an account with a dress shop in town where she'd buy her smart clothes.

There are some things I class as luxuries, and maybe they shouldn't be. Nice underwear or new books or music. Some things I can't resist: notebooks, a bar of good chocolate. I do get the flower thing. And I treat myself to the occasional magazine too.

I find that flowers needn't be expensive. If you buy seasonal British blooms at the right time, they're cheap as chips. Daffodils, for example. Or Sweet Williams. Recently it was all about spring bulbs. You can pick them up for next to nothing when you're out buying groceries and I love having something not just cut but actually living and growing as it adorns the table.


Once upon a time I'd think nothing of going out and buying lots of clothes and coming home laden with glossy, rope-handled bags. To be fair, I do believe you get what you pay for and many of those items are still being worn now, years later. But at the moment that's not an option. And I don't really miss those sprees. Fortunately I've never been a shoe person either. Or a spa person.

These days I think - really think - about what I'd like. And frivolities are saved for birthdays and Christmas. It's my birthday on Monday. On my wish list: a flowering currant bush, a bottle of Demeter's Thunderstorm fragrance, any number of books...


But on a weekly or monthly basis I tend to pick up little things here and there. And the same goes if we take a holiday or visit a particularly lovely gift shop or gallery (yes, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, I'm talking about you. And you, Tate Liverpool). I do have a weakness for quirky design. And specific weaknesses for charity shop finds: vases, silk scarves, vintage books. Fortunately many of these things aren't expensive.

In fact, here's a little list of my favourite treats which each cost under a fiver. 

A magazine (usually Country Living or Homes and Antiques - I'm in nesting mode)
A hot bath (having spent a few pounds on nice soap - another thing I'm partial to)
A walk alone
A coffee, a cake and some people-watching
A bunch of seasonal blooms
A bar of good chocolate
Some smoked salmon/a jar of artichokes/a packet of smoked almonds
An episode or two of comfort viewing (for me, Poirot or Marple or similar)
A new notebook
Lip balm.

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I've just arrived home from having my hair cut. It was all lopped off and I'm glad. I got to sit and read and relax for a few hours, having spent much of my free time last week in meetings with solicitors and social workers. The salon visit was something I don't really indulge in any more but I'm 40 next week so felt it was justified. 

Also justified: a holiday. We're heading up to Scotland on Monday so all will be quiet here on the blog for the week. I have some birthday money to take with me and am looking forward to visiting lots of galleries and potteries and the like. You know, to indulge in those rare but now much-anticipated treats.

Wishing you a lovely weekend and following week...

P.S. Here's a very poor attempt at a selfie. You can just about see that my hair is rather short. I can't write a post and say my hair's been chopped off then not show you.


30 comments:

  1. Happy birthday for Monday. Your treat list is very similar to mine. Those little things are extra special when most of my current spending power goes on three important little people. Wishing you a wonderful holiday. I hope you find something special! Bee xx

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  2. Like the hair. My treats are similar; like my bar of Montazuma lime and sea salt that fell into the trolley this morning.

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  3. Happy Birthday to you Sarah, I hope you'll have a lovely lovely week in Scotland with your boys! You look not a day older than thirty, and you really suit short hair. I also like your ear rings, are they amber pendants? I think we might enjoy a charity shop afternoon together, or a car boot sale even. I find it difficult to resist a nice piece of glassware. Look after your birthday money, I just managed to loose mine :-( I think it went in the recycling, along with the little envelope I kept it in. Thanks for your lovely comment on my post today, I do hope you can get hold of a window key soon. Cxx

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    1. Oh yes, it's car boot season! I must get to some. The earrings are from Krakow and are a deep red, possibly garnet?
      I don't feel 30 at the moment (well, not in body anyway!) but am so glad I got my hair cut off.
      I know all about losing money. Jay did exactly the same thing one year with Joe's Christmas money and it was awful...
      S x

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  4. Have a lovely, lovely birthday...I'm 50 this year and I'm on full indulgent mode, I decide I'd have a year of treats! Have a great holiday and I look forward to hearing all about it! :) xxx

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    1. Your year of treats sounds wonderful! And good for you, indulgence is a great thing... x

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  5. I'm so glad you shared a pic of your new haircut. It looks great! I hope you have a fab birthday and a great time in Scotland! I also save special treats for birthdays or Christmas... my husband always has a very specific wishlist to choose from :-) x

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    1. Yes, the list could be incredibly long if I really thought about it!
      Glad you like the haircut. I hate being in front of the camera but am willing to do it for the blog on occasion!

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  6. Very nice! you deserve all your treats and I hope you get them all. Have a good holiday! X

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  7. Happy Birthday - wishing you a great holiday! I just turned 71 and sometimes it makes me happy to see something special (not necessarily expensive) and buy it for a family member or friend. My mother did this, too - she liked to give "just because" gifts. It makes both me and the reciever happy.

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    1. I hope you had a lovely birthday!
      I too love to give presents, but have to see them being opened because I get excited.
      There's nothing nicer than making someone happy, especially when it shows you've been thinking about them.

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  8. Firstly, I love your hair. It looks so good short like that. I reallllly want to cut mine short just like yours but I haven't gotten the courage yet. I really enjoyed this post; it made me think about what I consider luxuries too. I'm very frugal and I rarely treat myself to anything. I'm always afraid to spend money, especially on myself. I think I missed getting the gene that lets me do it. I know it's a good thing, but it must be nice to splurge once in a while too. I hope you have a wonderful trip and I wish you a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.

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    1. Thanks Jennifer!
      As for the haircut, I've had it short(ish) before but it was still quite a big decision. I have a secret Pinterest board with things I'd like to try so the more I looked at the pictures the more I wanted to go for it...
      S :)

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  9. happy birthday for Monday, I hope it's a lovely day and you have a wonderful week away. thank you for the wise reminder that treats don't have to be expensive and I love your hair, I'm truly tempted to get mine cut that short too x

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  10. have a wonderful birthday, and happy new hair!! I used to think it was excessive to treat myself, having always been focussed on saving what I had, as I've got older I've realised that a few pounds on a bunch of flowers, or a new album, isn't too frivolous when it brings so much cheer!! xx

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  11. Have a lovely birthday!
    I really enjoy reading your blog and your list is very similar to mine.
    Your hair looks great! xxx
    Ana

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  12. Have a lovely birthday and a wonderful week away. I love your list of treats. I think my list would be very similar. Great haircut too!

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  13. Gorgeous hair, I'm glad you enjoyed your salon trip as well. Notebooks, I hear you. They are a big weakness of mine too. Love them. Love, love, love. Dark chocolate walnut whips, I had no idea there is such a thing. I definitely want one of those. I'm wishing you a very happy birthday for next week, and a very enjoyable holiday. Have a wonderful time Sarah. CJ xx

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  14. Hey Sarah,
    Great hair!! I felt liberated when I cut all my hair off just over a year ago. It's now a long bob, and I don't have to constantly tie it ou've got me thinking about treats now. Most of the ones you list I'd class as treats too. I have a subscription to CL mag. It works our so much cheaper, and it feels like such a treat when it plops through the letterbox! Time alone used to be a massive treat, but now that Olly is at school, time with him is. Oh and the rare occasions that my older boys want to come out for a walk with me and Honey. That's a real treat.
    Have a lovely holiday, and a very happy birthday. I hope that you find something lovely to treat yourself to.
    Leanne xx

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  15. Happy Birthday, and thanks for another lovely post and photos, cut all my hair of a few years back and trying to be frugal too, sucker for note books but my favourite mag at the moment is "the simple things" think you would love it if you have not read it before. Gave up chocolate after my 50 th birthday and not touched it since, but still like my cut flowers. Happy holl's
    Amanda xx

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  16. Happy Birthday for next week, all the best people turn 40 this year don't you know? *ahem*
    Enjoy Scotland, I'm sure it will soothe your soul.
    This post resonates with me. I tend not to treat myself very often and only enough being on holiday last week made me realise just how little time I just take to enjoy being me and content with me as I am. Something I'm starting to work on.
    Much love x

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  17. Happy birthday, I had about 18 inches cut off my hair last year, its was great :) from middle of the back to above the shoulder in one fell swoop. Hope you enjoy your trip to Scotland, it's the best place in the world, but then I'm biased :)

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  18. Happy Birthday for yesterday, and here's hoping you're having a fabulous holiday with lots of treats. Loving the new hair :o)

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  19. Happy birthday Sarah, I hope you have a wonderful week full of little treats. I always think they are the best and can't resist a new notebook or pretty soap either. Your new hairstyle looks very chic.

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  20. I do love a magazine, or some flowers as a treat. i'm currently waiting for peonies to be on special offer in Waitrose (like the last 2 years) as they're one of my favourite flowers. Love the haircut!! It's very liberating isn't it. I'm tempted to go shorter too! Hope you had a fabulous birthday and holiday. xx

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  21. I do love a magazine, or some flowers as a treat. i'm currently waiting for peonies to be on special offer in Waitrose (like the last 2 years) as they're one of my favourite flowers. Love the haircut!! It's very liberating isn't it. I'm tempted to go shorter too! Hope you had a fabulous birthday and holiday. xx

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  22. I've only just found your blog and really like it, so I thought I'd say Hello. A treat for me is good coffee, sewing supplies, a library book, stationary....a charity shop mooch...but my current biggest treat is time! I have no local babysitters and It's taken five months for my youngest to accept nursery and about once a week I use that childfree one and half hours to read, to sew and I plan to start drawing again. I love her dearly but I savour my alone time like a long refreshing drink on a hot day!

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  23. I so enjoyed this post. It's the little things that make the most difference!

    And I love your hair.

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  24. Hope you had a treat filled birthday and holiday. Love your list (mine would be very similar) and the new hairstyle. It really suits you.

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  25. Love the new haircut, it really suits you. Many of your treats would be things I'd consider as treats too. We need these little pleasures to brighten up grey days.

    My clothes budget is a lot smaller than it once was but it's true, you get what you pay for. I still buy good clothes just a lot less of them! Happy belated birthday to you. Xx

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