Watching the budget doesn’t mean you can’t have the odd frugal luxury. These were ours this week.
Flowers
I have taken inspiration from Margaret Powling over at her blog and purchased some fresh flowers. There were three bunches in Asda that were hugely reduced, though they seemed perfectly fresh. They were £5 for the lot and they smell absolutely beautiful. Now that it is so wet and grey all of a sudden, they cheer the place up.
Blackberries
My darling daughter scrumped some blackberries from my parents’ garden yesterday. They are lovely – a large cultivated variety that are very sweet.
You may think that blackberries aren’t very luxurious. I disagree! These luscious fruits were in the freezer within half an hour and will be made into a gorgeous, indulgent blackberry mousse and probably a crumble too.
Coffee
I drink very little coffee as I can’t over do the caffeine. However, I really enjoy one decent cup every morning. My favourite is Millicano. I usually wait until it is on offer somewhere and then buy lots of it!
The other day in Asda I spotted the big 170g sized cans reduced from £6.49 to £4 so I purchased three cans. This will last us ages! I no longer buy cheap and nasty coffee or tea. This is one frugal luxury we find the money for.
A hot bath
It has been far too hot for a bath lately. I usually shower anyway as it is quicker and uses less hot water. Now that it has suddenly cooled, I treated myself to a warm bath with almond oil and lavender essential oil. This costs so little but feels incredibly luxurious and is so relaxing. I put on some soothing music from my Calm app and just chilled for a bit.
A good book
What is better than curling up with a good book? I don’t buy new books that often and I’m a fan of supporting the local library. However, the Book People had a flash sale this week and a cookbook called Nadiya’s Family Favourites caught my eye. I loved Nadiya Hussein on Bake Off and have enjoyed other recipes of hers that I have come across. As it is a hard back book and was only £8 (reduced from £20), I treated myself. I am looking forward to this one arriving!
To get the free postage I bought a few things for Christmas. Sorry to mention the C word! But it is August and that is when I start buying. I like to be prepared and spread the cost.
So, these are our five frugal things this week. Do you like a bit of frugal luxury? What are your budget friendly indulgences?
As ever, I am linking up with Cass , Emma and Becky in this week’s Five Frugal Things I have done this Week linky.
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Margaret Powling says
My goodness, Jane, a mention on your blog! I’m honoured! But yes, flowers are a small luxury in which we can indulge provided we don’t go in for huge bouquets or wickedly expensive blooms from a florist’s shop. There are bargains to be had, as you have found, and you can make a simple bunch ‘go further’ if you add some foliage from the garden (if you have a garden, of course) so you can have a couple of vases filled from one bunch of flowers. Fresh flowers really do lift the look of a room, and also lift the spirits. Change their water on a daily basis and a vase of flowers should last a week at least (depending on the type – woody stems such as chrysanthemums will last longer – one of the longest-lasting is alstromeria.)
My favourite coffee is Bellarom ground coffee from Lidl, a fraction the price (because of its size of packet) than many coffees in other supermarkets. It isn’t price that dictates that we buy this, but flavour, but the price certainly is an added incentive!
As well as flowers, books are a frugal luxury as I buy 2nd hand ones via Amazon, where often (although not always) I pay a minimal amount and then only for postage.
Another small luxury is fine soap – I’ve mentioned this on my own blog on occasion but it doesn’t hurt to say it again: if you buy good quality soap (and this applies to most things in life) it lasts longer. Triple-milled soap, provided you use a draining dish, won’t go mushy, and it will scent your bathroom at the same time. I buy quality soap, such as Roger & Gallet or L’Occitane, when it’s on offer from various websites. We have handwash only in the kitchen, but on the basins in the bathrooms and in the shower, it’s always quality soap.
Another small luxury is good chocolate, not cheap stuff with little chocolate content. I buy one bar of Lindt chocolate (a 100gr bar) per week, and have just one or maybe two pieces per day, and when it’s gone, it’s gone, until our next shopping trip.
Flowers, books, soap, chocolate, and coffee. Together they sound expensive, but you don’t need to buy them all at once, and you don’t always need to pay the full price.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Oh yes, with you on the decent quality chocolate. Haven’t tried that coffee but I only use instant. Lidl are also good for flowers I have found.
Margaret Powling says
I can make a pot of ground coffee almost as quickly as making instant, Jane. Two scoops into the cafetierre, just-off-the-boil water and voila, it’s made!
Yes, Lidl’s flowers are great, particularly their roses. They might have smaller buds/blooms than some of the other supermarkets, but they have a couple more blooms in the bunch. I do try and buy Fair Trade flowers if I can, though (a luxury needn’t mean we don’t buy ethically, either.)
Becky says
OOh fab bargains and I highly rate the Book People have had some fab bargains form them #5frugalthings
Lee says
We’ve found the coffee brand we like and we stick to it too – it’s not a pricey brand but that’s just a bonus, particularly as we go through so much of it in a day!
Eloise (thisissixty.blog) says
I think you’re absolutely right, Jane. Coffee is not to be skimped. I drink only a few cups a week so I want it to be what I like. Azera is my favourite but at £5.49 I think it’s too expensive but it’s often on offer for £3 so I buy it then.