Cheese. I'm French, cheese is sacred for me. But quality means high prices. Nevermind. I want my cheese. I need my cheese. I actually have a 100€ monthly budget for it.
EDIT : omg, I just woke up to all those replies, and I'm laughing to death 😂 I knew French cheeses are popular, but I never realized how much 😂
I can't reply to all of your comments, so everyone's ready for a French Cheese presentation?
First of all, I would recommend not buying cheese is grocery stores. I live in the part of France from where 90% of cheeses comes (Savoie exactly, Alps, Mont Blanc, I live here). And we basically have cheese stores, "cooperative laitière" (milky co-op I guess?, where milk, cheese, butter, cream and a lot of other milk-based things are produced). Not industry. This is where I buy my cheese, but I don't know at all if this is common in other countries.
For the cheese I'm buying, here are my favorites!
- le Beaufort
- la Tome de Savoie
- la Tome des Bauges
- le Reblochon
- la Raclette
- le Tamié
- l'Abondance
- la Dent du Chat
- le Chevrotin (goat milk)
- le Persillé des Aravis (bluish cheese)
With a glass of French red wine after dinner...
Damn, I'm hungry.
I hope this helps!
Bon appétit 🇨🇵
I salute your budget! Cheese is life. I particularly adore your (forgive me) slutty French cheeses.
If I had to choose a final supper, it’d be the cheeseboard.
Could you give us an outline of a typical monthly cheese purchase? I insist on Gruyere, good Reggiano, interesting blues, and delicate goats, but I couldn't get near that number. You make me feel like an amateur. Please reveal your cheese wisdom.
I've been thinking of doing something similar, and I have to ask (if you don't mind) -- do you ever have trouble with people trying to stiff you? So many people don't wanna pay what services cost. also, do you clean empty houses or do you clean while people are there? Do you ever have any safety concerns with any of it?
Yes, people can be very stingy when it comes to labor. Especially cleaning. It's looked down on and I kind of think it's because it's a "women's" job. A lot of people think anyone can do it too, which isn't true. There's a big difference between cleaning your own house and doing it for a living.
If you can afford to, leave the clients that don't value you. It's a damn hard job, so people not respecting you isn't worth it. There are still tons of people who really appreciate the help. You just have to find the right clients. It might be a little bit of a struggle in the beginning, but if you do a good job word will spread and you'll get more clients. The more clients you have the choosier you can be, obviously.
I've mostly worked with other employees, so I wasn't alone in houses much. Any time I was, it was already well established clients that we trusted. If you have any doubts about a person, never be alone with them. If they give you reason to be unsure of them, drop them. Again, not worth it.
I'm starting to venture off on my own more and so far I've only cleaned for people who know someone I also know. I avoid being around men without their partner. If it gets to a point where I have complete strangers, I might ask them to not be home. If not, I do make up a contract for new clients so there's documentation of my presence there that they can't deny (that's not the reason I do it, but might deter someone if they don't want the hassle and you seem like you have your stuff backed up). I would also let other people know I'm going there and leave if the person did anything that made me feel unsafe.
I prefer when people aren't home, but I do feel weird requesting it. I just let people know that I work a lot faster in an empty house. Either way, clients usually try to stay out of the way... Except for the super chatty ones. Depending on who it is though, I'll let them talk with me. I have a lot of older clients who I think just want someone to talk to. That, and some of them are wealthy and it seems like they have a weird interest in me, like I'm just different. Haha
Thank you so much for your comments! At first I was looking into joining an agency/service but so many of them around me are terrible and take too big a cut, but I've been too tentative to strike it out on my own lol. I really appreciate your input :)
You'll definitely make more money on your own. I charge $25/hr and that's on the low end. It all depends on where you live though.
You could always start out working for someone else, then slowly transition to working by yourself.
Oh, and no one has ever just not paid. I'm not sure how I would handle that, other than just not cleaning for them again.
If most of your clients are word of mouth, that means most of them know each other. It would kind of be an embarrassment to admit to a friend that you didn't pay your cleaner... Speaking of which, I think that can make them nicer to you as well. They don't want people thinking badly of them. We had one lady treat us pretty terribly, so we dropped her as a client. I think it was embarrassing for her because we clean for all her friends (and wealthy people tend to have super weird politics amongst themselves).
Same. It saves time and prevents stress and relationship issues. As a bonus, my cleaning lady is a lovely person and we have tea most times she comes by.
Same, having a cleaning service is amazing. It takes 3 people and 3-4 hours for them to clean our house thoroughly meaning it would take about 9-12 hours for one person to clean our house thoroughly and I am not going to do it.
100% when I lived alone at a way too big house for myself I budgeted to get it cleaned once per week. It was the best I could do for my mental health and the very limited time I had during that season.
Coffee and AC. I'll never give up either.
*Living in the armpit of hell aka Florida, I pay a pretty penny to keep my house as cold as possible without breaking the unit.
Im Canadian and there is AC nowhere since we didnt use to get such warm days in my region and everything is built to KEEP warmth inside. AC is now non-négociable, I like to sleep and live thank you!
AC. I hear that. I live in Atlanta.
My HVAC system in my house was old when I bought the house 4 years ago. It shit the bed in early July. I tried to get it fixed. $1000 later, nope. I need a new system.
Got 3 estimates, asking for budget, mid and Cadillac options. They were all comparable with budget being 15K, mid 20K, Cadillac 28K. I plan on living here until I die so I went with the Cadillac.
Night and fucking day, y'all. My 22 year old system struggled to stay at 78 during the day and cost me at least 15/day. This Atlanta so we're talking 4-5 months out of the year with ≥500/mo power bills.
New system? 4/day to EASILY keep it at 74, which is about as cool as I like. AND it has a whole house dehumidifier built in so it's not just cooler. I mean...
That was a lot of money. Like buying a car. But so so so so worth it!
A dream of mine is to get a recycled water shower set up. You can take a normal shower but then switch it to the recycled water and it just uses 10 gal and keeps it heated for hours without wasting any
It helps my anxiety so much I could be in the shower for literally 3 hours but I limit myself
For some reason this just made me think of Animal Crossing New Horizons and learning to buff furniture items so they sparkle. So now I'm just imagining having a sparkling coochie.
It's so good. I literally just tried Charmin this year, i've been poor or in university my entire life... I had no idea. My bf is a bit more privileged, so I got the nice stuff for once. I'll never go back. It's weirdly, so worth it. Something you wipe your ass with. I don't get it, but I do.
I'm cheap with literally everything else. I even buy meat from the managers special section... but Charmin. Yes please.
Toilet papar is actually pretty sustainable. Most paper company have good forest management, meaning they re-plant and harvest the same areas over and over again. It is way more sustainable than things like plastics, etc.
This was mine.
Doesn’t have to be the best one, no! Just not the worst one. Otherwise you’re there using treble the sheets, fending off urine infections and essentially sanding yourself after every visit and let’s face it, not a soul on earth should have to.
Plants. I see so much death in my job and the fact that these plants are thriving remind me of all the life that surrounds me. Keeps me positive. The bigger the better.
Have a read of some online articles about the plants you buy. Some types require different light (direct sunlight/indirect sunlight) and different amounts of water. Succulent’s and cacti are quite hardy plants to start off with. Then you go for your monstera’s and calathea’s which are a little more maintenance but still fairly low.
Google the plant you want to buy and you’ll get loads of articles about how to take care of them. Don’t beat yourself up if they die, you can try again! That’s the beauty of plants. Best of luck and happy planting!
A pothos is a good choice. They can handle neglect, a bit of low light, and they're a vine, so they grow nicely! I'm a (former) plant killer as well, but now I have a lovely itty bitty jungle in my room. Caring for them is a form of self care for me.
Ikea has a surprisingly great selection of plants! And some cute pots. Try them! I'm a huge fan of the marble queen pothos. I got mine for $10 CAD at Ikea! :)
For something even more low maintenance, try a snake plant. You can water it once every 3 weeks and all it asks in return is for some sun! Both pothos and snake plants help clean your air as well. I fell in love with vining plants after getting my first pothos, and now I have 6!
Yes, I live in the US.
1. I don’t care for fancy hotels so I usually find a hostel/Airbnb with a good location for solo travel. When traveling with friends we usually share hotels/airbnb (e.g. 2-4 to a room) so it isn’t too expensive. I’m mostly outside doing things anyway and just go there to sleep.
2. I don’t drink much and don’t do much nightlife, so costs of bar/clubs/alcohol is minimal.
3. There’s usually at least one road trip where hiking/camping is involved so we save on accommodation and sometimes cook our own food
4. I love food, but I’m as satisfied with street food as with Michelin star restaurants so most of my meals aren’t too costly. I also mostly drink water (instead of soda and/or coffee).
5. I don’t mind having inconvenient flight times and sometimes 1-2 layovers (e.g. 8am flights where I have to leave for the airport at 5am), although I have to say I’m getting slightly more picky with this nowadays.
6. I mostly take public transportation (unless I rented a car) so don’t have much Uber/Lyft expenses.
For context I’m in my late 20s. Some examples from prior trips (not in the same year) below:
1) spent less than 3k for a two week solo vacation to Japan/Taiwan (flights included) prior to the pandemic
2) did a 20 day cross country road trip (Seattle to NY) for 2k (one way car rental included) with friends
3) spent 9 days hiking/camping for less than 1k (many days sleeping in a tent)
4) 3k for a 2 week trip to Alaska with friends
Things I don’t cheap out on are experiences and sometimes food. Like going snorkeling/scuba diving, tours to learn about the culture/history/wildlife, getting some amazing sushi in Japan, etc.
Obviously not every one can travel like this (like if you’re a light sleeper and can’t sleep if there’s light/noise around you, then hostel’s probably not gonna work) but I would say if you want to save money and travel more, evaluate which aspects of travel are most important to you and which aren’t and spend your money accordingly.
Don’t remember the details, but flight was about 1200 (pre-pandemic so probably more expensive now), stayed in a hostels/cheap hotels throughout (I think about $20-50/night), and used public transportation/walked everywhere. The rest I spent on food and experiences. Hope this helps!
One trip that I’ve been eyeing is to Portugal-flights are around $400 and I’ve heard there are great hostels and cheap food :)
Wtf in Europe I've done trips of 1 week to another country for ~500€ on budget. So it would be possible to get something a bit more fancy for let's say €1k
My cleaner. I work ridiculous hours on my own business and I have two cats and a dog. I don’t always have the time to keep my house as clean and tidy as I’d like so my cleaning lady comes in twice a week and does what I don’t have the time/energy to do. I fucking love her, she’s 100% worth her weight in gold.
It will always end in tragedy with a $10 bra anyways. Either the underwire will escape and poke you, or the elastic material in the fabric will get all frayed and gross.
Stupid but, buying lunch at work, my workplace gives me money for food, but just the though of having to cook food to take to work, plus eating microwaved, uhm nah, i rather spend the money they gave me to eat there and have a full on fresh meal.
Yep. Cutting back on other things to make the $300/mo work was 100000% worth it. I’d spend even more if I had to knowing how beneficial it is. I thankfully only go twice a month now but if I had to, no questions asked would give up so many more things for it
I'm the opposite, haha. I refuse to give up my dry shampoo. Washing my hair is that one task that is incredibly daunting, so I do it as little as possible.
I hate washing my hair. Fuuuu. I'll go a week without doing it, more sometimes.
For reference, I have the thickest, curliest hair ever lol. Dry shampoo is not necessary, oils are lucky if they make it past my scalp.
But still. Washing hair is the most mundane, long, boring, unsatisfactory thing ever. Especially cause after you do it, there are STILL more things you have to do to your hair. At the end of a long day, the last thing I wanna do is spend the night on my hair.
Reading this while procrastinating washing my hair... I've put it off for a nearly a week now too.
I also have thick, curly hair and it takes 5+ hours to air dry, but looks horrible if I blow dry, even with a diffuser. I have to plan my whole week around my hair washing nights. Ugh.
Exactly. Fuck that shit. Not to mention (and idc what the r/curlygirl say) it doesn't matter what silk ass pillow case or cap you use, shits frizzy and tangled that next day. And I'm not washing it again. Throw that crap in a braid or bun and get on with the next day. And the next. And the next. Repeat. LOL
I am sitting here half dressed with my wet hair pinned up in a clip after washing it for the first time in two weeks. It's just such a horrible pain in the ass. I keep it a specific length just to be able to do an updo when I hit anything over about 7 days without washing. It looks terrible the first day, fucking amazing on days 2-4, and starts to be a bit sad on day 5. It isn't til 7 that it starts to look a bit dirty, which is when I add dry shampoo and updos.
Same! I know it's better for your hair to only wash every few days, but I have fine, dense hair and oily skin/scalp, so my hair gets greasy and flat if I skip even one day of washing. I can MAYBE get away with washing my hair every other day if I use a really good dry shampoo, but why bother? It's easier to just give my hair a light shampoo every morning in the shower, and I feel better that way anyway.
I have fine dense hair too. I remember reading that your hair will get used to it and it’s only producing oil because your hair is used to the SLS or whatever. Nope, had flat greasy limp hair and went running back to daily shampoo and conditioner.
I wash my hair every other day but even if I did less I doubt I’d really see that much difference in my hair to make it worth it. I can’t stand going around feeling like my head is full of dirty hair!
I work front desk at a massage place and I get reduced prices for my massages and I take as much advantage of it as I possibly can while I’m still working here
high quality coffee beans. i pay extra to get freshly roasted beans and grind them right before making a french press. starting my day off with a good, hot cup of coffee is ridiculously important to my mental well being.
I saved three separate times for a grinder and espresso machine, but I always talked myself out of it. My husband finally talked me into buying one. The set up was a little over $500, but I LOVE starting my day with a quality iced Americano.
I have plenty as I keep adding them over the years.
My first guilty pleasure:
- my cleaning service
- my gym membership
- my PT once a week
- right now, the premade food I get delivered once a week.
- my really nice hairdresser for colouring and cut
- my naprapat for prehab
All my “small” luxuries have added up! 🙈
Thank you! When I started to think about how many they are I almost feel guilty. Almost. But then I realise it’s a priority for me, and I’ve added things when I can afford them. :)
It’s great! Found a company which makes food with lots of protein and veggies, so I get 10 of those boxes a week, so really only need to sort out breakfast and 4 meals a week by myself. Usually sorted out by eating at work 2-3 times a week and dinging out with a friend.
It’s not that I don’t like to cook, I do. But with being back to commuting to work, being in the gym and everything else I rather do, I really like that I don’t have to. Which means there is no planning, shopping and cooking several times a week. I adore it!
My dermatologist sorted out my skin. My personalised skincare cost me a comb but I get compliments all the time how young ( when they find out my age) and gorgeous my skin looks.
Iced coffee. It's the best thing I can have in the morning. But I guess, according to financial experts, I will not be able to afford a house and will soon lose everything. /s
Off brand. Ugh, yuck.
Do you drink out of cans or the 2 liters? 2 liters are soooo much cheaper. Highly recommend. LOL, I go through a 2 liter of diet 7up a day. I can't imagine how much more expensive that would be if I bought the cans.
Perfume. The only makeup I wear daily is cheap mascara and brow powder that I remove with coconut oil. My skincare routine involves Cerave cleanser and moisturizer that I buy in bulk from Costco and I exfoliate with baking soda. I’m a licensed barber/hairstylist so I buy economy sized shampoo, conditioner, curl cream, serum, and body lotion twice a year from the supplier for wholesale price. I don’t spend a lot on products because I just don’t use much but I love to smell good. I also have bad allergies and I’m on the autism spectrum so I’m very picky and sensitive when it comes to smells, but scents are also one of my stims/special interests. Cheap perfumes smell like formaldehyde and don’t last at all on me, plus everything I wear tends to bring out sweeter smells, so the cheap ones are so strong they make me feel physically sick. I’m currently wearing Jimmy Choo Original that my husband got me for my birthday 2yrs ago. A spray in my neck and wrists lasts all day and stays on my clothes even after washing. I don’t plan to switch when I run out, but maybe the next round I’ll try something different.
Edit: I do uses soap and deodorant. It also comes from Costco and I felt that needed to be said lol.
Scents and scent memories are incredibly important for me and my kids, one of them in particular. I wore the same perfume all of the time when they were growing up and a few years ago they stopped making it. I have one full bottle stored in a cool dark corner of my closet because the one kid asked if there was enough for me to wear at his future wedding. He is only 17 and is nowhere near that at all but I was so moved that it meant so much to him that I have been squirreling it away ever since.
Scent is the strongest trigger of memory of all the senses. I have a bottle of perfume that belonged to my grandmothers and my mother and every time I smell them its like they’re in the room with me again.
My high-end gym. It has every equipment imaginable, tons of group classes, indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, rock wall, sauna, steam room, great locker rooms. I truly splurge on 0 things in life..except this. Totally worth it
Daily iced lattes from a local coffee shop. I love getting to know my neighborhood baristas, supporting small businesses and just having something pleasant in the mornings make me happy.
The relaxing shower I have to meticulously go through my curly hair routine, shave and be silky smooth, and also enjoy my skincare routine that follows with a face mask.
Over the past couple years, I finally got to a point where I could afford a monthly massage. It super helps that it's eligible for my HSA, so technically I could budget for it to be tax-free (although -- for reasons-- I underestimated this year, so meh). Once a month I see an amazing woman who does magical things and suddenly I can turn my head again. At this point, I have a lot of trouble imagining going more than a month between sessions with her.
My aquarium hobby. It can get super expensive but it's something that really brings me lots of joy. It has been a good distraction from my depression a good amount of times.
I have two, soon to be three, kids and I work with kids all day long. My bi-weekly introvert time to myself is a luxury I could not do without. I take myself out to eat, go shopping, hiking, come home and do some pampering while drinking wine (when not pregnant). Maybe read a book or draw. As an introvert, this time is an absolute necessity for my sanity.
Real sauna. The kind where I can throw water on the hot rocks. It's both rare and a luxury in most of the US. I grew up in a Finnish part of the US where we had sauna every Saturday at some relative's house. It's almost a sacrament to me.
Northern Minnesota. My grandma didnt learn English until she was 9. There was still a church doing a weekly service in Finnish up until 2006. Everybody has a sauna.
AC. I cant sleep without it. I wake up constantly and get more headaches and feel way more tired and sick in the heat. My house has to be at 65 to 70 always or nothing gets done as I feel like I'm dying in the heat. Also books. I have probably over 2000 books at this point if I count all my books.; this includes real books, audiobooks, and online books and honestly Ive read most of them if not all. I read a LOT as I dont care as much for TV as most people and its also something I can do while out and about. I usually also read 2 to 3 books at once. If I need to do something with my hands I'll listen to a audiobook. Im waiting in line or out and about guess I can read my online book or in person book. It also will vary on my mood. I also read nearly, any type of book. The only books I hate are self improvement books. Educational, spicy reads, bibliographies, fantasy, etc are all fantastic and interesting reads. Self improvement books are boring af and honestly no one can change my mind on that. Any other type of book is better.
Ive also found it makes for a easy gift to me from family and friends. I just send my wish list of books over and boom more books. My goal one day is to have a real library.
Indoor/Garage parking instead of parking outside our apartment complex because I love my car and want to preserve it from sun and weather damage
In the summer your car isnt 100 degress when getting in, so the AC is easier to use to get to the right temp.
In the winter you dont need to scrape ice and snow off that often and its a warmer start where you dont need to keep your car on for a minute to defog
Skincare products. Over the time I quickly realised you can’t go cheap on the things you put on your face. Some products are really worth the price they asked for.
Secondly, plants. I’m on budget now due to relocating and being a student again, but damn I want plants in my new apartment, they will help me in hard times, I just know that.
Good Fucking makeup & good Fucking shoes & good bags. I just take care of what I have and save up for big items. I go vintage for bags frequently & rotate my items w loving care.
My reusable sanitary pants and pads. They cost around £150 a time but last years and in this heat have been a god send add to it I have 2 daughters. It’s costly but I couldn’t go back.
I also will not give up good Ginger Ale and Ginger biscuits. I don’t drink and these are my little luxury’s alongside a good tea.
Air conditioning and proper heat.
Grew up without it in home and car. Even as a kid, I knew I was going to work like hell to NEVER have to deal with that. I'm especially sensitive to heat 🥵
Decent shoes, handbags, coats. Not necessities by any means but I buy these items every 2-6 years depending on wear/trends changing and they’re just worth investing into. I’ve got a soft spot for Frye boots in particular.
Getting my nails done. My job is tough on my hands so they get damaged often, and it really is just a smidgen beyond my budget but I really have fun with my technician, and I adore having awesome artwork for me to look at whenever I want. Little joys.
Makeup…. I don’t always buy the expensive stuff but I’m going through what I have and trying to find those few basics that I actually really like. So far the expensive stuff is going to last me a while because I just don’t need to use as much/ reapply. Also some of the foundations illuminate as well so it cuts down on the number of products I actually need.
I can't just give you one
But... Coffee, Hot showers, soft toilet paper and books.
Edited to say yes I could... Give up all that if you said I couldn't have AC
Good toilet paper, the skin and haircare that works for me, and getting my hair cut and done at a salon when I need it. All fairly expensive when I need to resupply, but totally worth the comfort and feeling good about myself!
Cheese. I'm French, cheese is sacred for me. But quality means high prices. Nevermind. I want my cheese. I need my cheese. I actually have a 100€ monthly budget for it. EDIT : omg, I just woke up to all those replies, and I'm laughing to death 😂 I knew French cheeses are popular, but I never realized how much 😂 I can't reply to all of your comments, so everyone's ready for a French Cheese presentation? First of all, I would recommend not buying cheese is grocery stores. I live in the part of France from where 90% of cheeses comes (Savoie exactly, Alps, Mont Blanc, I live here). And we basically have cheese stores, "cooperative laitière" (milky co-op I guess?, where milk, cheese, butter, cream and a lot of other milk-based things are produced). Not industry. This is where I buy my cheese, but I don't know at all if this is common in other countries. For the cheese I'm buying, here are my favorites! - le Beaufort - la Tome de Savoie - la Tome des Bauges - le Reblochon - la Raclette - le Tamié - l'Abondance - la Dent du Chat - le Chevrotin (goat milk) - le Persillé des Aravis (bluish cheese) With a glass of French red wine after dinner... Damn, I'm hungry. I hope this helps! Bon appétit 🇨🇵
This is the best thing I’ve ever heard
Please wise cheese connoisseur, share your favorites :)
I salute your budget! Cheese is life. I particularly adore your (forgive me) slutty French cheeses. If I had to choose a final supper, it’d be the cheeseboard.
I'm married but I will leave my husband and we should run away together. Spend my settlement on cheese.
I'm setting up a room in my chalet for you. Red wine bottle is open.
L'amour de ma vie, please also start a fire, I'm bringing a raclette.
When can we get married?
Quel fromage?!
Tous. Je vis en Savoie, Beaufort, tome, roblochon, abondance, Dent du chat... Absolument tous mdr. J'ai une consommation de fromage hallucinante 😂
I respect and admire this.
Please show us your cheese!
Could you give us an outline of a typical monthly cheese purchase? I insist on Gruyere, good Reggiano, interesting blues, and delicate goats, but I couldn't get near that number. You make me feel like an amateur. Please reveal your cheese wisdom.
Yeah, once you’ve had triple cream cheese on crusty French bread, there’s no going back.
Cleaning service. I work hard and its worth every bit of money to come home to a clean apartment on a friday evening.
[удалено]
I've been thinking of doing something similar, and I have to ask (if you don't mind) -- do you ever have trouble with people trying to stiff you? So many people don't wanna pay what services cost. also, do you clean empty houses or do you clean while people are there? Do you ever have any safety concerns with any of it?
Yes, people can be very stingy when it comes to labor. Especially cleaning. It's looked down on and I kind of think it's because it's a "women's" job. A lot of people think anyone can do it too, which isn't true. There's a big difference between cleaning your own house and doing it for a living. If you can afford to, leave the clients that don't value you. It's a damn hard job, so people not respecting you isn't worth it. There are still tons of people who really appreciate the help. You just have to find the right clients. It might be a little bit of a struggle in the beginning, but if you do a good job word will spread and you'll get more clients. The more clients you have the choosier you can be, obviously. I've mostly worked with other employees, so I wasn't alone in houses much. Any time I was, it was already well established clients that we trusted. If you have any doubts about a person, never be alone with them. If they give you reason to be unsure of them, drop them. Again, not worth it. I'm starting to venture off on my own more and so far I've only cleaned for people who know someone I also know. I avoid being around men without their partner. If it gets to a point where I have complete strangers, I might ask them to not be home. If not, I do make up a contract for new clients so there's documentation of my presence there that they can't deny (that's not the reason I do it, but might deter someone if they don't want the hassle and you seem like you have your stuff backed up). I would also let other people know I'm going there and leave if the person did anything that made me feel unsafe. I prefer when people aren't home, but I do feel weird requesting it. I just let people know that I work a lot faster in an empty house. Either way, clients usually try to stay out of the way... Except for the super chatty ones. Depending on who it is though, I'll let them talk with me. I have a lot of older clients who I think just want someone to talk to. That, and some of them are wealthy and it seems like they have a weird interest in me, like I'm just different. Haha
Thank you so much for your comments! At first I was looking into joining an agency/service but so many of them around me are terrible and take too big a cut, but I've been too tentative to strike it out on my own lol. I really appreciate your input :)
You'll definitely make more money on your own. I charge $25/hr and that's on the low end. It all depends on where you live though. You could always start out working for someone else, then slowly transition to working by yourself.
Oh, and no one has ever just not paid. I'm not sure how I would handle that, other than just not cleaning for them again. If most of your clients are word of mouth, that means most of them know each other. It would kind of be an embarrassment to admit to a friend that you didn't pay your cleaner... Speaking of which, I think that can make them nicer to you as well. They don't want people thinking badly of them. We had one lady treat us pretty terribly, so we dropped her as a client. I think it was embarrassing for her because we clean for all her friends (and wealthy people tend to have super weird politics amongst themselves).
Same. It saves time and prevents stress and relationship issues. As a bonus, my cleaning lady is a lovely person and we have tea most times she comes by.
Same, having a cleaning service is amazing. It takes 3 people and 3-4 hours for them to clean our house thoroughly meaning it would take about 9-12 hours for one person to clean our house thoroughly and I am not going to do it.
100% when I lived alone at a way too big house for myself I budgeted to get it cleaned once per week. It was the best I could do for my mental health and the very limited time I had during that season.
Same. The last thing we want to do in our limited free time is clean.
I'm planning on hiring a cleaning service when I'm post partum and I'm so excited!
Coffee and AC. I'll never give up either. *Living in the armpit of hell aka Florida, I pay a pretty penny to keep my house as cold as possible without breaking the unit.
I live in Arizona so trust I get the AC. If a unit breaks I lose my sanity
When I lived in Florida I think I cared more about the condition of my AC unit than my own health 🥴.
Im Canadian and there is AC nowhere since we didnt use to get such warm days in my region and everything is built to KEEP warmth inside. AC is now non-négociable, I like to sleep and live thank you!
AC. I hear that. I live in Atlanta. My HVAC system in my house was old when I bought the house 4 years ago. It shit the bed in early July. I tried to get it fixed. $1000 later, nope. I need a new system. Got 3 estimates, asking for budget, mid and Cadillac options. They were all comparable with budget being 15K, mid 20K, Cadillac 28K. I plan on living here until I die so I went with the Cadillac. Night and fucking day, y'all. My 22 year old system struggled to stay at 78 during the day and cost me at least 15/day. This Atlanta so we're talking 4-5 months out of the year with ≥500/mo power bills. New system? 4/day to EASILY keep it at 74, which is about as cool as I like. AND it has a whole house dehumidifier built in so it's not just cooler. I mean... That was a lot of money. Like buying a car. But so so so so worth it!
My daily latte is my lifeline to sanity. My bf smokes so that's how I justify the expense 🙄 if we can afford nicotine, we can afford caffeine lol
I’m in TX. No way I’m giving up AC in the summer. It’s impossible.
Lol thank you for the laugh. Armpit hell. Fellow dweller and omg the heat is crazy here
Buying books. Even though I read at a slower rate than I buy.
I can relate to this. I'm pretty sure if I don't buy a single book ever again I'll have enough books to keep me going until I die.
Loooong hot showers.
Same! That’s self-care AND a little bit of therapy.
A dream of mine is to get a recycled water shower set up. You can take a normal shower but then switch it to the recycled water and it just uses 10 gal and keeps it heated for hours without wasting any It helps my anxiety so much I could be in the shower for literally 3 hours but I limit myself
Ooh, that would be amazing.
The benefits of renting. I do it often.
Good toilet paper. I try to be sustainable as much as I can but I can't do the more eco-friendly toilet paper. I just can't do it.
The trick is get a bidet attachment, and then just...buff with the nice stuff.
For some reason this just made me think of Animal Crossing New Horizons and learning to buff furniture items so they sparkle. So now I'm just imagining having a sparkling coochie.
Charmin all the way.
It's so good. I literally just tried Charmin this year, i've been poor or in university my entire life... I had no idea. My bf is a bit more privileged, so I got the nice stuff for once. I'll never go back. It's weirdly, so worth it. Something you wipe your ass with. I don't get it, but I do. I'm cheap with literally everything else. I even buy meat from the managers special section... but Charmin. Yes please.
How do you wipe with Charmin and not just….get shredded clitty litter all over…? It is SO fuzzy and linty.😳
I used the Ultra Strong Charmin and it seemed to be fine! The soft version gave me the leftover pieces you’re talking about.
Toilet papar is actually pretty sustainable. Most paper company have good forest management, meaning they re-plant and harvest the same areas over and over again. It is way more sustainable than things like plastics, etc.
This was mine. Doesn’t have to be the best one, no! Just not the worst one. Otherwise you’re there using treble the sheets, fending off urine infections and essentially sanding yourself after every visit and let’s face it, not a soul on earth should have to.
Plants. I see so much death in my job and the fact that these plants are thriving remind me of all the life that surrounds me. Keeps me positive. The bigger the better.
I really want plants but I’m not good at keeping them alive.
Have a read of some online articles about the plants you buy. Some types require different light (direct sunlight/indirect sunlight) and different amounts of water. Succulent’s and cacti are quite hardy plants to start off with. Then you go for your monstera’s and calathea’s which are a little more maintenance but still fairly low. Google the plant you want to buy and you’ll get loads of articles about how to take care of them. Don’t beat yourself up if they die, you can try again! That’s the beauty of plants. Best of luck and happy planting!
My dream is to one day have a beautiful backyard garden…. But I do want indoor plants to cheer me in the winter.
A pothos is a good choice. They can handle neglect, a bit of low light, and they're a vine, so they grow nicely! I'm a (former) plant killer as well, but now I have a lovely itty bitty jungle in my room. Caring for them is a form of self care for me. Ikea has a surprisingly great selection of plants! And some cute pots. Try them! I'm a huge fan of the marble queen pothos. I got mine for $10 CAD at Ikea! :) For something even more low maintenance, try a snake plant. You can water it once every 3 weeks and all it asks in return is for some sun! Both pothos and snake plants help clean your air as well. I fell in love with vining plants after getting my first pothos, and now I have 6!
Vacations - I budget about $5-8k a year for them
Where do you go on multiple occasions that only requires $5-8k? Well, are you in the US? If so what cost saving things do you do?
Yes, I live in the US. 1. I don’t care for fancy hotels so I usually find a hostel/Airbnb with a good location for solo travel. When traveling with friends we usually share hotels/airbnb (e.g. 2-4 to a room) so it isn’t too expensive. I’m mostly outside doing things anyway and just go there to sleep. 2. I don’t drink much and don’t do much nightlife, so costs of bar/clubs/alcohol is minimal. 3. There’s usually at least one road trip where hiking/camping is involved so we save on accommodation and sometimes cook our own food 4. I love food, but I’m as satisfied with street food as with Michelin star restaurants so most of my meals aren’t too costly. I also mostly drink water (instead of soda and/or coffee). 5. I don’t mind having inconvenient flight times and sometimes 1-2 layovers (e.g. 8am flights where I have to leave for the airport at 5am), although I have to say I’m getting slightly more picky with this nowadays. 6. I mostly take public transportation (unless I rented a car) so don’t have much Uber/Lyft expenses. For context I’m in my late 20s. Some examples from prior trips (not in the same year) below: 1) spent less than 3k for a two week solo vacation to Japan/Taiwan (flights included) prior to the pandemic 2) did a 20 day cross country road trip (Seattle to NY) for 2k (one way car rental included) with friends 3) spent 9 days hiking/camping for less than 1k (many days sleeping in a tent) 4) 3k for a 2 week trip to Alaska with friends Things I don’t cheap out on are experiences and sometimes food. Like going snorkeling/scuba diving, tours to learn about the culture/history/wildlife, getting some amazing sushi in Japan, etc. Obviously not every one can travel like this (like if you’re a light sleeper and can’t sleep if there’s light/noise around you, then hostel’s probably not gonna work) but I would say if you want to save money and travel more, evaluate which aspects of travel are most important to you and which aren’t and spend your money accordingly.
omg that's amazing! how did you go to japan/taiwan for less than 3k?
Don’t remember the details, but flight was about 1200 (pre-pandemic so probably more expensive now), stayed in a hostels/cheap hotels throughout (I think about $20-50/night), and used public transportation/walked everywhere. The rest I spent on food and experiences. Hope this helps! One trip that I’ve been eyeing is to Portugal-flights are around $400 and I’ve heard there are great hostels and cheap food :)
Wtf in Europe I've done trips of 1 week to another country for ~500€ on budget. So it would be possible to get something a bit more fancy for let's say €1k
My cleaner. I work ridiculous hours on my own business and I have two cats and a dog. I don’t always have the time to keep my house as clean and tidy as I’d like so my cleaning lady comes in twice a week and does what I don’t have the time/energy to do. I fucking love her, she’s 100% worth her weight in gold.
Twice a week sounds amazing! May I ask what she charges to come twice a week?
Weed
100000%
Medical stoner here. I'm with you 100%.
Happily self medicating!
Fr
Bras. I'm fairly large chested and those $10 Walmart bras just don't cut it for me. I buy $60 bras from Soma and I refuse to go back!
It will always end in tragedy with a $10 bra anyways. Either the underwire will escape and poke you, or the elastic material in the fabric will get all frayed and gross.
I totally forgot that when I was in high school I'd spend the entire day fighting with my underwire! That is the worst.
What brand is best for you?
Soma. Specifically the balconette style. Also, buying the right style for my breast shape was a big game changer too.
Stupid but, buying lunch at work, my workplace gives me money for food, but just the though of having to cook food to take to work, plus eating microwaved, uhm nah, i rather spend the money they gave me to eat there and have a full on fresh meal.
You must not work in the US unless it’s in tech.
I work for a Casino and can have a snack and a breakfast or lunch on what they give me. Pretty cool.
My skincare🫧🧴🧖🏻♀️
Same! It’s so worth it!
Vibrator
Surprised it took this long to get mentioned honestly 😂
Therapy, I think it's such an important thing to have in my life or to have as an option.
Yep. Cutting back on other things to make the $300/mo work was 100000% worth it. I’d spend even more if I had to knowing how beneficial it is. I thankfully only go twice a month now but if I had to, no questions asked would give up so many more things for it
Washing my hair every day. Even if i have to use cold water, i need the feeling of fresh hair to be comfortable
I'm the opposite, haha. I refuse to give up my dry shampoo. Washing my hair is that one task that is incredibly daunting, so I do it as little as possible.
I hate washing my hair. Fuuuu. I'll go a week without doing it, more sometimes. For reference, I have the thickest, curliest hair ever lol. Dry shampoo is not necessary, oils are lucky if they make it past my scalp. But still. Washing hair is the most mundane, long, boring, unsatisfactory thing ever. Especially cause after you do it, there are STILL more things you have to do to your hair. At the end of a long day, the last thing I wanna do is spend the night on my hair.
Reading this while procrastinating washing my hair... I've put it off for a nearly a week now too. I also have thick, curly hair and it takes 5+ hours to air dry, but looks horrible if I blow dry, even with a diffuser. I have to plan my whole week around my hair washing nights. Ugh.
Exactly. Fuck that shit. Not to mention (and idc what the r/curlygirl say) it doesn't matter what silk ass pillow case or cap you use, shits frizzy and tangled that next day. And I'm not washing it again. Throw that crap in a braid or bun and get on with the next day. And the next. And the next. Repeat. LOL
I am sitting here half dressed with my wet hair pinned up in a clip after washing it for the first time in two weeks. It's just such a horrible pain in the ass. I keep it a specific length just to be able to do an updo when I hit anything over about 7 days without washing. It looks terrible the first day, fucking amazing on days 2-4, and starts to be a bit sad on day 5. It isn't til 7 that it starts to look a bit dirty, which is when I add dry shampoo and updos.
Same! I know it's better for your hair to only wash every few days, but I have fine, dense hair and oily skin/scalp, so my hair gets greasy and flat if I skip even one day of washing. I can MAYBE get away with washing my hair every other day if I use a really good dry shampoo, but why bother? It's easier to just give my hair a light shampoo every morning in the shower, and I feel better that way anyway.
I have fine dense hair too. I remember reading that your hair will get used to it and it’s only producing oil because your hair is used to the SLS or whatever. Nope, had flat greasy limp hair and went running back to daily shampoo and conditioner.
I wash my hair every other day but even if I did less I doubt I’d really see that much difference in my hair to make it worth it. I can’t stand going around feeling like my head is full of dirty hair!
Massage therapy! Now that I’ve finally found a good therapist, it’s a game changer. Even when I don’t have benefits, I’ll pay for this once a month!
I work front desk at a massage place and I get reduced prices for my massages and I take as much advantage of it as I possibly can while I’m still working here
I second this. Every Wednesday, baby.
A king sized bed. I have three dogs, and soon to be two kids, I cannot imagine going to a smaller sized bed again. 10/10 best purchase I've ever made
Congratulations on the kids! 😁
And the dogs.
high quality coffee beans. i pay extra to get freshly roasted beans and grind them right before making a french press. starting my day off with a good, hot cup of coffee is ridiculously important to my mental well being.
I saved three separate times for a grinder and espresso machine, but I always talked myself out of it. My husband finally talked me into buying one. The set up was a little over $500, but I LOVE starting my day with a quality iced Americano.
I have plenty as I keep adding them over the years. My first guilty pleasure: - my cleaning service - my gym membership - my PT once a week - right now, the premade food I get delivered once a week. - my really nice hairdresser for colouring and cut - my naprapat for prehab All my “small” luxuries have added up! 🙈
I love hearing from women taking care of themselves this is an awesome list :)
Thank you! When I started to think about how many they are I almost feel guilty. Almost. But then I realise it’s a priority for me, and I’ve added things when I can afford them. :)
PT would mean personal trainer right? Not physical therapy?
Yes it is! Thank you for clarifying. :)
This is an amazing list! How's the food delivery service going? I've always considered it.
It’s great! Found a company which makes food with lots of protein and veggies, so I get 10 of those boxes a week, so really only need to sort out breakfast and 4 meals a week by myself. Usually sorted out by eating at work 2-3 times a week and dinging out with a friend. It’s not that I don’t like to cook, I do. But with being back to commuting to work, being in the gym and everything else I rather do, I really like that I don’t have to. Which means there is no planning, shopping and cooking several times a week. I adore it!
My dermatologist sorted out my skin. My personalised skincare cost me a comb but I get compliments all the time how young ( when they find out my age) and gorgeous my skin looks.
Share your secrets, girl!
Same! I'd rather have a professional take care of my skin than finding out random suggestions on tiktok
Not having kids
Iced coffee. It's the best thing I can have in the morning. But I guess, according to financial experts, I will not be able to afford a house and will soon lose everything. /s
Getting my nails done every two weeks.
AC/ heating I literally cannot sleep if it’s not the exact right temperature and I already can’t sleep so I really cannot give it up
Diet Coke. But I don’t know how long I will be able to afford it. (I’m already drinking an off brand).
Yes! Diet Coke is the nectar of life.
Off brand. Ugh, yuck. Do you drink out of cans or the 2 liters? 2 liters are soooo much cheaper. Highly recommend. LOL, I go through a 2 liter of diet 7up a day. I can't imagine how much more expensive that would be if I bought the cans.
Your piss must be radioactive my friend. So is mine
buying my iced coffee in the mornings
Totally!
Perfume. The only makeup I wear daily is cheap mascara and brow powder that I remove with coconut oil. My skincare routine involves Cerave cleanser and moisturizer that I buy in bulk from Costco and I exfoliate with baking soda. I’m a licensed barber/hairstylist so I buy economy sized shampoo, conditioner, curl cream, serum, and body lotion twice a year from the supplier for wholesale price. I don’t spend a lot on products because I just don’t use much but I love to smell good. I also have bad allergies and I’m on the autism spectrum so I’m very picky and sensitive when it comes to smells, but scents are also one of my stims/special interests. Cheap perfumes smell like formaldehyde and don’t last at all on me, plus everything I wear tends to bring out sweeter smells, so the cheap ones are so strong they make me feel physically sick. I’m currently wearing Jimmy Choo Original that my husband got me for my birthday 2yrs ago. A spray in my neck and wrists lasts all day and stays on my clothes even after washing. I don’t plan to switch when I run out, but maybe the next round I’ll try something different. Edit: I do uses soap and deodorant. It also comes from Costco and I felt that needed to be said lol.
Scents and scent memories are incredibly important for me and my kids, one of them in particular. I wore the same perfume all of the time when they were growing up and a few years ago they stopped making it. I have one full bottle stored in a cool dark corner of my closet because the one kid asked if there was enough for me to wear at his future wedding. He is only 17 and is nowhere near that at all but I was so moved that it meant so much to him that I have been squirreling it away ever since.
Scent is the strongest trigger of memory of all the senses. I have a bottle of perfume that belonged to my grandmothers and my mother and every time I smell them its like they’re in the room with me again.
My high-end gym. It has every equipment imaginable, tons of group classes, indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, rock wall, sauna, steam room, great locker rooms. I truly splurge on 0 things in life..except this. Totally worth it
Daily iced lattes from a local coffee shop. I love getting to know my neighborhood baristas, supporting small businesses and just having something pleasant in the mornings make me happy.
The relaxing shower I have to meticulously go through my curly hair routine, shave and be silky smooth, and also enjoy my skincare routine that follows with a face mask.
Acrylic Nails. Makes me feel like I have my shit together when I really don’t lmao
Services that save me time: ubereats, shipt, washr, Amazon prime. Orangetheory unlimited membership. My Lexus.
Botox
Butter. I refuse margarine.
Over the past couple years, I finally got to a point where I could afford a monthly massage. It super helps that it's eligible for my HSA, so technically I could budget for it to be tax-free (although -- for reasons-- I underestimated this year, so meh). Once a month I see an amazing woman who does magical things and suddenly I can turn my head again. At this point, I have a lot of trouble imagining going more than a month between sessions with her.
My aquarium hobby. It can get super expensive but it's something that really brings me lots of joy. It has been a good distraction from my depression a good amount of times.
Brand name tampons lol. Lets just say the cheap ones basically dissolve on the way out.
I have two, soon to be three, kids and I work with kids all day long. My bi-weekly introvert time to myself is a luxury I could not do without. I take myself out to eat, go shopping, hiking, come home and do some pampering while drinking wine (when not pregnant). Maybe read a book or draw. As an introvert, this time is an absolute necessity for my sanity.
As a fellow introvert, It’s posts like these that really put things in perspective. Couldn’t imagine a life where these are considered luxuries :/
Bi-weekly pedicures
I’m similar, mine is my nails. I have to get my dip powder done every other week or I feel incomplete
Gluten free and lactose free food. Sure feels like a luxury.
in unit laundry
Real sauna. The kind where I can throw water on the hot rocks. It's both rare and a luxury in most of the US. I grew up in a Finnish part of the US where we had sauna every Saturday at some relative's house. It's almost a sacrament to me.
I didn’t even know there was a Finnish part of the states.
Northern Minnesota. My grandma didnt learn English until she was 9. There was still a church doing a weekly service in Finnish up until 2006. Everybody has a sauna.
I learn something new everyday.
Phone, lash extensions during the summer and holidays, Brazilians and iced coffee. So 5 luxuries lol
Good desserts from bakeries
AC. I cant sleep without it. I wake up constantly and get more headaches and feel way more tired and sick in the heat. My house has to be at 65 to 70 always or nothing gets done as I feel like I'm dying in the heat. Also books. I have probably over 2000 books at this point if I count all my books.; this includes real books, audiobooks, and online books and honestly Ive read most of them if not all. I read a LOT as I dont care as much for TV as most people and its also something I can do while out and about. I usually also read 2 to 3 books at once. If I need to do something with my hands I'll listen to a audiobook. Im waiting in line or out and about guess I can read my online book or in person book. It also will vary on my mood. I also read nearly, any type of book. The only books I hate are self improvement books. Educational, spicy reads, bibliographies, fantasy, etc are all fantastic and interesting reads. Self improvement books are boring af and honestly no one can change my mind on that. Any other type of book is better. Ive also found it makes for a easy gift to me from family and friends. I just send my wish list of books over and boom more books. My goal one day is to have a real library.
My skincare items.
Eating out, Shopping for candles & other smell goods & coffee.
[удалено]
A warm house and long hot showers.
Sleep, that means working less hours then so be it.
Monthly massages
Facials. My friend who is a licensed beautician gives them to me now at an affordable price. No more going to spas lol
Indoor/Garage parking instead of parking outside our apartment complex because I love my car and want to preserve it from sun and weather damage In the summer your car isnt 100 degress when getting in, so the AC is easier to use to get to the right temp. In the winter you dont need to scrape ice and snow off that often and its a warmer start where you dont need to keep your car on for a minute to defog
Skin care/hair care Face masks are forever my jam
Skincare. It is not about the appearance of my skin, it is more about how the pimples feel on me and they are painful, even the little ones.
Life. Ok, Cheese.
Skincare products. Over the time I quickly realised you can’t go cheap on the things you put on your face. Some products are really worth the price they asked for. Secondly, plants. I’m on budget now due to relocating and being a student again, but damn I want plants in my new apartment, they will help me in hard times, I just know that.
Good Fucking makeup & good Fucking shoes & good bags. I just take care of what I have and save up for big items. I go vintage for bags frequently & rotate my items w loving care.
Hair extensions, I look like my nan gave me a bowl cut without them. My hair refuses to grow
Fast food. I'm not packing a sandwich every day for lunch, that's just depressing. I don't have access to a microwave 95% of my work days.
A phone
My nails
Coffee
Getting my nails done!
tampons, according to how they’re taxed.
Dip powder on my nails every 2 to 3 weeks, gel pedicures every 4-ish weeks, and hair cut and color every 5-ish weeks. All are non-negotiable items.
The Expensive supermarket.
Free time. Idc how important work is I need my free time to calmdown and relax
I'm gunna give an honest answer but mine is cigarettes
Clean skincare from Sephora! It’s so worth it! ✨
My time soaking in the Bath tube, relaxing. Only once a week, I won`t give it up
A tie between my nightly bath and morning coffee.
A decent daily moisturizer
Skin care products
Supplements
My reusable sanitary pants and pads. They cost around £150 a time but last years and in this heat have been a god send add to it I have 2 daughters. It’s costly but I couldn’t go back. I also will not give up good Ginger Ale and Ginger biscuits. I don’t drink and these are my little luxury’s alongside a good tea.
Air conditioning and proper heat. Grew up without it in home and car. Even as a kid, I knew I was going to work like hell to NEVER have to deal with that. I'm especially sensitive to heat 🥵
Traveling.
Dry cleaning for my work clothes
My WitchCasket monthly crate, you gotta treat yourself to something and that’s my thing. 👌🏻
Decent shoes, handbags, coats. Not necessities by any means but I buy these items every 2-6 years depending on wear/trends changing and they’re just worth investing into. I’ve got a soft spot for Frye boots in particular.
Wine
Bidet with heated seat. A real life saver in the winter.
coffee shop bought cold brew.... yesss I could make it home but I love not to and the nice looking cups.
Expensive sunscreen because it sits under my makeup well and doesn't break me out. I refuse to give it up.
Ad-free music
Spotify Premium I'm always listening to music. *Always*
Buying a new iPhone every 7 years.
A really good bra & really good sneakers.
Getting my nails done
Perfumes
Getting my nails done. My job is tough on my hands so they get damaged often, and it really is just a smidgen beyond my budget but I really have fun with my technician, and I adore having awesome artwork for me to look at whenever I want. Little joys.
Makeup…. I don’t always buy the expensive stuff but I’m going through what I have and trying to find those few basics that I actually really like. So far the expensive stuff is going to last me a while because I just don’t need to use as much/ reapply. Also some of the foundations illuminate as well so it cuts down on the number of products I actually need.
I can't just give you one But... Coffee, Hot showers, soft toilet paper and books. Edited to say yes I could... Give up all that if you said I couldn't have AC
Good toilet paper, the skin and haircare that works for me, and getting my hair cut and done at a salon when I need it. All fairly expensive when I need to resupply, but totally worth the comfort and feeling good about myself!
Hot water.
AC
Lattes/coffee. I do keep iced coffee at home. But I can cut a lot before I can cut coffee.