Injecting a little luxury into life, without breaking the bank

[Sodthesystem]

I recently treated myself to a fancy coffee and macarons in a designer department store. Cheaper than buying anything there, but still felt luxurious :)

Thought it might be fun to start a thread on how people get their little fixes of luxury without spending a fortune.

Fortnum and Mason is lovely and a little less expensive

Nice olive oil ( we use Gift of Oil )
Have our tea delivered ( Ringtons )
Use Molton Brown or Loccitane handwash
Buy our cheese from a cheesemonger
High thread count bedding

I use Emma Hardie facial oil-you can often get it discounted. Makes my skincare feel
luxurious. Nice olive oil and nice coffee. I’m really enjoying reading this thread and what you all do to enhance the everyday without spending loads.

That's where I go. It's not much more than any cafe but so much more pleasant.

What’s your home facial consist of?

I only allow myself one bottle a year, but I buy cologne from Farmacia Santa Maria Novella. It literally smells of angels and a little squirt every morning cheers me up no end.

More recently, I treated myself to a proper pepper grinder (French and cast iron) because I was sick of the plastic disposable Schwarz/Tesco ones that leak crumbs. I’m now ordering exotic, colorful peppercorns from all kinds of weird and wacky places and have apparently turned into a seasoning connoisseur/wanker.

I buy very expensive sewing machines! My DH wouldn’t have a clue how much they cost!

I love Molten Brown but M&S dupes of it are so good I literally can’t tell the difference ( I love orange and bergamot)

DS buys me REN bath oil every Christmas. I love the smell so much. I can make it last a few months but it's gone by May. What are the sets you can make last all year?

Whittards tonka hot chocolate. You only need an espresso cupful of it/ Heavenly.

L’occitane hand cream - it’s expensive enough to give me a ‘because I’m worth it’ but doesn’t break the bank

Paying for a weekly Pilates class makes me feel like a Real Housewife of Beverley Hills

Having a cleaner 2 hours per week makes me feel like a princess

Getting my car cleaned inside and out for £20. A clean car makes me happy

A John Lewis scone in the cafe - the best scones!

Time is my biggest luxury. Especially ME time.

Having a PJ day or just a day with less or even nothing to do. Weather was lousy yesterday lit the log fire and lounged all day.

Or doing a craft day (pottery, weaving, printmaking) every few months.

Not free as such but I buy extra annual leave so I can do a staycation to potter or walk the dogs on longer hikes. Just me no family.

I buy prawns, salad and brown bread to make a prawn cocktail.

Yes, peonies are my luxury too. Adore.

Smaller luxuries - like buying a higher quality tea, adds a daily treat not too much added cost

Bigger treat, in lieu of a holiday - would be some type of live performance/theatre with an interval snack, glass of wine.

I'll take a look. Thanks

I live near a flower market, so when I have some time spare, I love to stop off go and in.

The building has those big automatic doors and the moment you enter, you get this instant hit of fresh flowers.

I walk up and down to see what is in season and sometimes I stop at the coffee shop and just sit there taking it all in.

You can buy direct from the vendors so I take my time to see what speaks to me the most that day, and buy those. Thank you to pp who said to put some in the bathroom, I think I have given myself permission to buy two bunches next time.

And they last weeks usually as you can get no fresher.

It's the most amazing pick me up place.

'Pot Luck' dinner from the yellow label stuff in M&S rather than a takeaway. We particularly like the Gastropub range.

It's interesting that for so many of us perfumes are something that makes life feel a bit 'extra' - whether flowers, scent, candles, body wash, soap - even delicious food.

Dermaplaning, clay mask, steam, toner, microneedling, serum mask and ice roller.

I bought myself a bright yellow Bialetti moka pot and a cheap as chips grinder last year, and now start every day with fresh coffee. Only takes a couple of minutes longer than making instant, is miles cheaper than going to a coffee shop, and even washing the pot gives me a little meditative joy. I also put cream in my coffee instead of milk, because why the hell not, it makes every day feel like a holiday!

So many great ideas in this thread!
Mine are:

• Kerrygold butter - pricey but there’s nothing to beat it.
• fresh flowers when I can afford them like many other pp
• wine at 25% off for 6 bottles 😊
• i get my hair cut and coloured every 8 weeks. I have a LOT of hair so in between appointments, I go back for just a wash and blow dry. It looks so much better than I can do it and lasts for ages.
• BIAB every 3-4 weeks. My natural nails are wrecked but now they look lovely all the time

Which scent of theirs do you like?

Another vote for simply cook. We especially like the bang bang noodles, halloumi gyros, chicken tingas

I won't spam the thread with Gousto referral links, but it's currently 65% off a box if anyone wants a one off treat - works out about £14 for four meals for two! Happy to share codes with anyone who wants it - and I'll get £20 credit for a box too 😂

In other small treats, I've bought some lush M&S campagne pate this week for £3. Absolutely delicious.

Also I like tea from BIG mugs, so I've got the 15oz Cornishware blue stripe mugs, but I bought them in the seconds sale to save money.