Some things are simply worth all my coins, beloved!
I don't believe in spending money just for the sake of spending it. But I also don't believe every dollar that leaves my account needs to be attached to some grand financial justification.
Sometimes I want something because it makes me happy.
REVOLUTIONARY, I KNOW.
Now, I'm all for being financially responsible, living amongst your "abundant" means, and making sure your priorities are handled. However, I refuse to subscribe to the idea that enjoying your money is somehow irresponsible.
BABY, what are we working for if we're never allowed to enjoy anything? And while there are plenty of things I'm perfectly content being frugal about, these five categories? I WILL make room in the budget.
1. Lip Combos. Because These Lips Will Be Put On!
Listen. I don't beat my face with makeup every day. I'm not spending an hour in front of a mirror applying foundation, concealer, contour, highlighter, and seventeen other products just to run a few errands. But if I don't do ANYTHING else?
I WILL put them lips onnnnn, YA HEAR ME?!
A good, solid lip liner is a necessity. Pair that with a pretty matte lipstick or stain and I'm satisfied. Now, if I'm feeling a little fancy? A butter gloss for some shine and a little razzle-dazzle.
Something about a good lip combination makes me feel put together even when the rest of my face is minding its natural business. Yes, I absolutely believe in having multiple variations of what is essentially the same shade - I love moody browns with hints of red/pink!
Because THIS brown liner is not THAT brown liner, beloved. Please respect the artistry. I love them both.
2. Experiences. TAKE THE DAMN TRIP!
If there's one thing I'll continue prioritizing, it's experiences. Traveling. Exploring. Trying something new. Taking my children somewhere they've never been. Spending meaningful time with people I love.
Life is meant to be LIVED and celebrated while we're capable, alive, and well. One thing I know for certain is that money can be earned again.
Time cannot.
My children aren't going to stay little forever. There will come a day when their schedules, interests, and lives look completely different from the ones we're sharing now. I don't want to spend these years endlessly postponing memories because I'm waiting for some mythical perfect financial moment.
That doesn't mean being reckless with money. It means understanding that joy doesn't always need to be deferred. When I say experiences, I'm not exclusively talking about expensive vacations or international travel.
BABY, take the damn trip!
Even if that trip is an hour-long outing to a local library event, a museum, a community festival, a picnic, or some random place you discovered while exploring your city. Not every experience needs a plane ticket or a four-figure budget. Sometimes the memories made during the simplest outings become the ones everybody talks about for years.
Go make some memories while you can.
3. Copper, Bells & Bangles, OH MY!
Some women collect diamonds. Some collect handbags. And then there's ME. Give me the copper, brass, bangles, and anything that jingles when I walk.
My personal aesthetic now involves sounding like a beautiful little wind chime floating through somebody's establishment. I LOVE copper and brass jewelry.
And bell anklets? BABY. I want you to hear me coming before you see me. There's something playful and comforting about the delicate jingling of bells as I move. Frequency music. Some people have fidget spinners. Others carry stress balls. I'm over here enjoying the sound and vibration of my jewelry.
I find it soothing, and that's reason enough for me to appreciate it. I'm also drawn to the cultural histories and symbolism associated with adornments like anklets, bells, and metal jewelry.
To me, accessories aren't always about completing an outfit. They're about expressing your personality, creating a sensory experience, and wearing something that simply makes you feel GOOD.
If I sound like a tiny percussion section walking down the hallway, mind your business.
4. Body Oils & Perfumes. I WILL Leave a Fragrant Impression.
Now, THIS is an investment category I take seriously. I love smelling good. Not just a casual little spritz that disappears before I make it out of the driveway. I'm talking about fragrances that settle beautifully on my skin, linger on my clothing, and leave a little reminder that I was there.
When I leave a room, I don't mind somebody walking in afterward and asking, “WHO SMELLS THAT GOOD?!” ME, beloved. It was ME. I own quite a few roll-on perfume oils, and they've become some of my favorite ways to wear fragrance.
I don't collect a bunch of expensive designer perfumes. A beautiful scent doesn't need a luxury price tag for me to appreciate it. But I absolutely will spend money on a fragrance that smells divine and performs beautifully on my skin.
I'm especially drawn to scents with staying power. My latest obsession? An Indian perfume called Patel Neck. My coworker was wearing it on her cousins' vest, and I immediately noticed the scent STUCK like glue. Got me a bottle on the way as I write this post now!
And BABY, the longevity has me intrigued. We're talking about a fragrance I've been excited about for its remarkably long-lasting scent, up to 72 hours, according to the claim I've encountered! THAT is the kind of fragrance performance that gets my attention.
I want my scents to feel like an extension of my personality: warm, memorable, intriguing, and impossible to confuse with everybody else's.
Some women enter a room and make an impression with their outfit. I intend to make one with the outfit, sounds, AND the fragrance.
5. FOOD. FOOD. AND MORE FOOD!
One thing I'm going to do is EAT. I love food. I love discovering restaurants, exploring unfamiliar cuisines, trying interesting flavor combinations, and finding little local establishments that deserve more attention.
And if I discover somewhere particularly good? Oh, I'm telling somebody about it. I'm sending the link. Sharing photos. Recommending dishes. Possibly writing an entire blog post about the experience. I enjoy supporting local restaurants and independent food businesses.
Whether it's a cozy neighborhood spot, a food truck, a family-owned restaurant, or a cuisine I've never tried before, I'm usually up for the adventure. Food is nourishment, absolutely. It can also be culture, creativity, connection, and an EXPERIENCE. I happen to enjoy all four.
If we're going somewhere new to eat, just tell me when to be ready.
My Final Thoughts: Enjoy Your Damn Money.
I think there's a lot of pressure to make every financial decision look practical to somebody else. Spend money on this. Invest that. Stop buying that. You don't need another one. You could've saved those doll-hairs. That advice is useful! Financial stability matters. Having savings matters. Paying your obligations matters.
But once those responsibilities are accounted for, I don't believe anybody should feel obligated to defend every little thing that brings them joy. For me, it's lip products, fragrances, jewelry that jingles, memorable experiences, and FOOD.
For somebody else, it might be books, plants, concert tickets, art supplies, or an impressive collection of kitchen appliances. That's perfectly fine.
I don't need everything I own to be expensive. I don't want every outing to be elaborate. I certainly don't need permission to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I just want to build a life that contains things I genuinely love while my limbs still function. If that life happens to involve glossy lips, unforgettable meals, beautiful memories, and me jingling through the grocery store smelling like somebody's expensive auntie?
BABY, MONEY WELL SPENT!
Post a Comment