We really couldn't live without soda. We do buy the generic kind (Sam's Club or Hy-vee), so it is still frugal, though.

We will splurge occasionally and go out to eat. We like doing that. But then again, we don't really let ourselves get anything we want - we still watch the prices.

The last big splurge was a night in a hotel. Boy, was that NICE! Dh used his PayPal money, which he got from selling some things on eBay, so that didn't come out of our budget either.

So maybe we don't really splurge???

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If you need to get in touch with me, my email is teach1107910@yahoo.com.

Our splurges lately have been Bryers ice cream -- and an occasional extra topping -- choc. syrup, caramel, marshmallow cream, nuts, etc. The kids love it (and so do I).

nothing really i guess i splurge every 3-4 months on a mini day trip somewhere with the kids thats about it.

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Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

My girlfriend's husband is a coffee fanatic and loves high-quality stuff. They buy some kind off the internet and she says its a good price for the quality of it. I'll find out what it is and let you know.

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~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

scrapbook supplies!! and the occasional White Choc mocha!!
I do like to splurge on fun things for the kids!! (I havemore fun getting them things than I do myselpf since my kids are soo excited and appereciative!!)

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Kelly mom to 2 gymmonkeys!!!

After many years of splurging whenever the wind changed we have cut back. Eating out use to be how we celebrated just about everything but we have cut that back a lot. And now that we have children we try to take a mini trip every few months and stay at a hotel with a pool. Of course with my husband's new job we're able to stay at the hotel across from the airport whenever he flies in/out at a really early or late time.

I also have a passion for tea at Starbucks and I allow myself to get one of those now and then. Though since Startbucks is 30 miles away and I have started limiting those trips as well that has become more and more rare, especially since I'm always taking my Naglene water bottle anymore.

Good ideas! It reminded me of years ago when I went to weight watchers and knew there were things I couldn't eat anymore. What I ended up doing so that I didn't feel deprived all the time was to plan what my daily splurge would be. By planning it I could keep it within my allowable budget and also have something to look forward to each day. Somehow I could get through the less than satisfactory meals knowing that "tonight was Mac n Cheese!"

I think that it is more in the head than anything. The splurge doesn't have to break the bank; it just has to feel really special.

Cathleen

We've cut out a lot of things but we just cannot live without Coke and/or Mountain Dew. We're trying to not drink so much of it though, and make it more of a "sit and savor" thing rather than absent-mindedly chugging it all day. I really look forward to my daily pop now and am finding that I like water, juice, etc a lot more than I thought I did. Plus I feel a lot better drinking more water.

I treat myself to a long list of things:

I'm an avid reader. I'll go to mypoints.com and trade in my unused airline and hotel points in exchange for magazine and newspaper subscriptions. I get The Wall Street Journal and about 5 magazine subscriptions for free.

I also take advantage of free subscriptions I find on the internet. Right now I have free one year subscriptions to Saveur cooking magazine, Fitness, Marie Claire and Metropolitan Home.

I also trade books through Paperbackswap.com and Frugalreader.com.

I have a small basket I put my manicure and pedicure supplies in and use it regualrly.

We go to the dollar theatre to see fairly recent movies that have just left the big screen.

I have lots of airline miles enough to take 3 round-trip US trips.

Dh is a long distance truck driver, whenever I get bored at home, I take a trip across the US with him. His company pays for him to sleep in hotels but mainly motels.

I'm a trained pastry chef so sometimes I'll have afternoon tea complete with baked goods served from my silver (plated) tea set and good china.

I save our soap scraps and make really nice soap balls in my blender with them.

Sometimes I'll take a bubble bath (with my Dawn detergent lol!) and candles. Sometimes I'll take a shower with homemade salt and sugar scrubs.

Sometimes I'll give myself a facial.

I save our leftover coffee to make iced frappucinos with.

I buy all my toiletries for free doing the drugstore rebates. I also send for tons of freebies.

Sometimes I'll have an afternoon glass of wine.

Sometimes I'll order a cup of cappucino with dessert in a bookstore where I'm browsing.

On those oh so rare times when I get to leave the house by myself -- usually for errands or exciting things like dentist appointments -- I stop at a convenience store and get a soda to sip in the car.

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~Jeweled