What are your cheap extravagances

[DominoLover51]

On the back of the thread about extravagances, I thought I would start one for cherish things that feel like treats. I am on a big money diet at the moment cause I’ve lost some contracts, so I’m really trying to do things to help me feel ok. Disclaimer, I don’t think there is anything wrong with extravagant treats, life is for living.

Anyway, here goes:

Superdrug shower gels, they quite often do limited edition ones. I particularly like Pumpkin Spice and Pear Crumble.

Books for my Kindle from Amazon, quite often only 99p.

Hair dye and lipstick from an Afro-Caribbean shop near me. I’m very happy dying my own hair for £2.99 a month. Lipsticks are also very reasonable and I prefer the colours.

Crochet, wool and a hook don’t cost much. Thrrres loads of tutorials on YouTube.

Duolingo. That’s not really cheap cause it costs me £89.99 a year, but not too bad

Morrisons flavoured teas, Jam Doughnut and Custard Cream are my favourites. Pretty sure they are only about 99p a box.

Aldi nuts. Love the Yeast Extract flavoured mixed nuts and the Salt & Vinegar peanuts. Know they are fattening, but at least they are protein.

Do they have a good selection?

My cheap extravagance is Audible. I love audiobooks. I drive 40 minutes to work, and I listen to them before bed so I get through so many. I love mainly history and non-fiction. I’m not sure why but I prefer to actually read my fiction…unless anyone can recommend a good, well read novel on audio?

My other cheap extravagance was a thick fleece from TKMaxx so I can spend more time sitting outside with the dog in winter. With thick socks and my Crocs as I’m so stylish.

I’m really glad you started this thread OP. It’s so lovely reading others cheap extravagances.

When I was a kid there was a really good garden centre near us with a huge tropical fish bit, birds, parrots, bunnies, the whole lot. When I was a kid my dad used to take us there for days out and we would eat our pic nic on the park next to it. Now I take my kids for a free day out to a similar garden centre, sometimes we eat in the cafe there but only if we are feeling extravagant. There’s a park a 5 minutes drive away (not as good as the one when I was a kid, but parks have gone down hill imo). I have always loved looking at the fish. I do take them to proper aquariums, but when we took DS to the one in Loch Lomond he got really scared in the tunnel, I think it was too dark for him.

£1 Filter coffees from Pret, or Greg’s coffee, I actually think they’re both nice.

Before I live in Scotland I was a member of a private library with a walled garden which was £92 per year, but I used to eat my lunch in there basically everyday when I was at college - so it actually worked out pretty cheap. It was also a beautiful place to study. I was in there at least twice a week, often more so it actually was pennies a time. I paid my membership with my birthday money. Maybe not cheap, but if you think about it on a per use basis it was.

For those not wanting to pay library fines ... You can download ebooks for free and they get returned automatically

I take a small flask of coffee on long journeys, if I buy those huge vats from Costa etc on the motorways they're hideously expensive and would have me stopping for a pee far too often.

About 20 years ago my late OH bought for 5p a plant in the garden centre, it was Easter weekend and he thought if was a good time for a resurrection! It's still going strong.

Where was the library, if you don't mind? This sounds wonderful. I love my private library membership - it has a big vaulted ceiling with ancient leather topped tables and velvet armchairs, and an amazing collection of murder mystery books.

It was Bromley House in Nottingham. They also do tours which are really lovely and if you’re ever there I would really recommend the tour.

There's also a private library nr St. James Park in London but i doubt membership is as cheap as yours @GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf

@Ineffable23 https://www.londonlibrary.co.uk/

I know every lunch deal going in the area :) There are loads of pubs and chains that do a main, side and drink for around £10 so I often meet up with a friend for a catch up over lunch and a glass of wine for a tenner. You are often charged that just for a glass of wine so is such a bargain and far more affordable than going out for dinner.

Wow! Mine looks like a bargain in comparison!

When I was going through my divorce I really was very down and unfortunately also very broke. I also didn't know what I liked to do anymore for me, so I made a pact with myself that once a month I was going to go and do something cheap (preferably free) and something I hadn't done before.

Which led me to lots of different places and doing things, most of the time on my own.

So many have now just stuck as repeats for when I need a pick me up.

I live near a flower market, so this is my go to spot. It's inside a massive building and it has automatic sliding doors to enter. When I stand at the closed door I just wait for it to open and that smell to hit me. It is not something I can describe easily. It's just a hit of the most gorgeous and calming smell. Of fresh flowers and greenery all combined. Then I wander around and always treat myself to a bunch of whatever takes my fancy. Sometimes I come out with a mixed bunch, sometimes proteas, I've even gained a collection of orchids now.

The next is an overnight one. I live also not very far from a Buddhist Temple. They do mediation retreats around once month, Open to any religion. It starts early on a Saturday morning and ends on a late Sunday afternoon. I have been three times now, so next time I'm upgraded from a beginner meditator to intermediatry. I have ADHD so never in a million years did I think I would be able to sit in meditation pose for 30 minutes. But I actually can! I always feel so much lighter and so calm after.

Other things include going for a wander around markets. Charity shops. I also started a small side line business which keeps me busy and I get a bit of spending money from this.
I started to look into skincare more so always keep my ears open for any new product launches and masterclasses as a lot of the time there will be an option to buy a ticket and attend. And then the items you get to take home are always worth more than the ticket price.
I started doing parkrun, although I'm a walker and take my elderly dog. I always feel better after getting out as ours is in a nice tranquil setting.
Once month I also cook a meal which originates from another country. Such a nice way to experiment cooking food with ingredients which are a bit out of my comfort zone. I used to have a globe and used to spin it and closed my eyes and pointed to a spot. Then I'd research some recipes from that country. There have been lots of hits, but also a few fair misses. I pick a bit more randomly now.

Audible

leuchtturm notebooks, £25 seems like a lot, but I get about 18 months out of each one, so cheap when you break it down monthly

I'd love to know where this temple is, if it's not too outing for you. The retreat sounds wonderful!

I loved this place. Used to live nearby

Sorry I should have said I don't live in the UK.

If you happen to find a temple where you live, I would contact them and ask them if they do something similar. Ours also do events through the year, so the most recent one was celebrating Chinese New Year.

Books and flowers. Despite having kindle unlimited, I’m hard pressed to walk past a charity shop (or similar) without popping in to buy a book or two (sometimes only 50p each!) and I nearly always snag a cheapie bunch of flowers at the supermarket when the garden isn’t quite up to speed yet. Only the £1 daffs or £2.49 tulips, but it feels such a treat!

Steady on!

Kindle Unlimited - I read at least 1 "proper" book or 2 trashy ones in a weekend so even at a tenner a month it's cheaper than charity shop prices. I used to have a really bad magazine habit, so it saves me on that too.

Morrison's Yellow sticker plants. - I've just got a tray of primulas for £1.49, I think full price was £6. Last year I got trays of bedding plants for 79p and tomato and pepper plants for 32p each. Most of them did well.

A cappuccino in a "proper" coffee shop, not a chain, very few and far between round here. I was out of town a couple of weeks ago and it felt like a real luxury to sit in a little coffee shop with nice decor and table service.

My leisure centre swim membership. It is £30 a month which sounds like a lot but I usually go four times a week so it works out incredibly cheap per visit. I have a good stretch and a long shower and afterwards I feel great. In the summer I often cycle to the leisure centre so I get a really good workout!

I said sushi on the previous thread but apparently my response belongs here 😉

A local walk for me... the blue pool, torwood castle and tappoch broch. I make a wee picnic when my daughter wants to come with me and we eat it in the castle grounds, its our favourite walk in the good weather.

For anyone interested theres videos and links online. 😃

I belong to my local leisure centre too, not for swimming but to use the gym three days a week. I'm in my mid-70's and have been going for a few months, I'm already about 15 years younger in terms of strength (though sadly no thinner!). It's become a habit and makes me feel more perky.

I also have an annual membership to a local private park which has a nice walk and lakes, it takes around 40 minutes to do a circuit and admire everthing that has grown or started flowering this week.

I even stick my little finger out when I use it 😂

You Tube & Spotify - both premium.

Actually not really cheap but in terms of cost per use/value not having ads they’re both brilliant.