In our area we have a Saturday morning radio program called Bargain Phone, where local businesses offer gift certificates for fifty percent off. It’s easy for Bargain Phone to be anything but a bargain if you start buying lots of certificates for places you are only going to because it is a bargain but none of the money–even fifty percent of it–is in the budget, so I’m very careful about my choices. Bargain Phone has everything from restaurant certificates to hair salons to massages to family activities (amusement park coupons, etc.), so if there is anything the family is planning we wait to see if a discount shows up on Bargain Phone first.
Each week is hit-or-miss, so it isn’t guaranteed we’ll get a discount on something we want, but I’ve been very fortunate. One daughter recently “retired” from her intensive ballet program (thank goodness, because it’s been financially taxing us) and always wanted to learn how to make jewelry; she hasn’t because she was both always at dance and also we couldn’t afford to pay for another activity. A month ago a local bead shop started offering certificates every Saturday, so now she is taking classes and buying supplies at half-price. Once a month I’ll get certificates for a date night–hey, if we’re going to go out, we may as well half-price. My favorite coffee shop offers a certificate once a month; I’ll snag it and use it to buy a bag of whole-bean coffee to make at home, so I get quality coffee half-price and don’t have to pay the mark-up for buying a cup there. My husband injured a shoulder muscle, so one week I “splurged” and got a massage certificate. Our oldest wanted to go to her favorite amusement park for her birthday celebration last year, and I got the family in at half-price. For the most part, I buy a certificate if it’s something I’m going to need anyway, or if it is an inexpensive, occasional treat that I can work into the budget.
Last week was a little different.
You see, I purchased a half-price “head-to-toe” package of a shampoo, cut, style, manicure, and pedicure for $30. Then I got a half-price, thirty-minute massage for $12.50. I got a certificate to a restaurant that has a fantastic spinach salad for $5. Then I threw in the flowers for $10. I spent $57.50…on me.
What was I thinking?
Well, I was thinking that I’m growing out my hair with layers so, other than having my husband trim my ends from time to time (I figure he’s an engineer so if he can’t cut a straight line we spent too much on his college education) I haven’t had a real cut since the end of July 2008. I paint my own nails and toes but those callouses built up over the winter and sandal season is approaching, and I’ve never been good at getting rid of the callouses. My lower back has been tight all year and I hate asking my tired husband to rub it…again. I haven’t had my favorite spinach salad since September 2008. And, in the past month, my children have had colds and ear infections and pneumonia, and I’ve been sick and I fell and hit my head and got five stitches, and I have this really annoying client who thinks it’s permissible to speak to me as though I’m an idiot…and I’m spent.
But the flowers? Why those?
Because after taking my day of indulgence, I wanted to bring home something colorful into these gray early spring days to brighten up our house. Because it feels decadent. Because it’s out of the ordinary. Just because. (And they were half price.)
When was the last time you did something just because it made you happy?
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