How to Add Luxury to a Frugal Lifestyle

I like luxury, like the sound of it. I just don't want to pay I love luxury. Yeah, so there are ways to incorporate luxury into a frugal lifestyle, and we are going to talk about some of those ways, and they're pretty creative. I like this list that we found. I'm excited. But first, our sponsors, and this is probably the best sponsor we've ever had. Get ready for it. I've never been more excited for a sponsor in my

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Frugal Living Summit dot Com pass. The episode we will wait New, New New, also brought to you by Fancy. It's a mindset, not a collection. That was it. That's it. That was all you had written down that's I'm so fancy. There's only I can't. I can't keep saying keep saying it. Yeah, Yeah, that's soon. Yeah, because you know I'm so pitch perfect. Yeah, you know. All right, So I assume that you have signed up for the Frugal Living Summit already, So today

we are going to talk about luxury and the Frugal lifestyle. Um. There is one episode I recommend queuing up to listen to after this, and that's episode one four, Identifying and Reversing Lifestyle Creep. Because there is a difference between natural lifestyle creep and living in intentional frugal lifestyle while inte a chily adding luxury. So those are two different things, so we want to identify them and make sure that our pursuit or intentional pursuit of luxury isn't just lifestyle

creeper lifestyle inflation. Yes, thanks for balancing that, Jen, hold that tension. Yes. So let's get into our headlines. And this first one is a really, really good one. It's from Stephanie O'Connell dot com and she has got a really comprehensive list of fifty five ways to upgrade your lifestyle on a budget and Stephanie is actually someone I know.

She knows luxuries to lives in New York City. She chooses to live in New York City because she loves it and it's one of her intentional spending decisions, and so she has a lot of good ideas for how to be luxurious on a quote unquote budget. Yes, so what do you think of this articulture? I mean, it's so lengthy and I love pretty much all of the tips on here, so it's definitely worth checking out because we don't have time to go through like all fifty five of these tips, but I like how she breaks

it down into categories. So we will touch on all the different categories and then you can dig deeper if you're curious. So the first category of how to get at luxury experience without maybe the luxury price tag that we would typically associate to it is within travel. Yes, what was your favorite within this section? Gen? I loved the first one and we have specifically done this. It's live large in cheap places, so you want a luxury vacation, but find a country where your dollar can stretch, and

so we did that when we went to Bali. It costs us money to get over there, and now we would use credit card rewards. We didn't then, but that would have. I mean that was our biggest expense when we got over there. Everything was super affordable. It was great, and so yeah, that was something we live large in a cheap place. Yeah, I love all the tips on here, so I will direct you here. But I really like

the suggestion of going off season. If you have a place that you really want to go but it is typically super expensive to get there, consider going maybe in the colder months, especially because if it's if it's a country that's a customer cold, there's usually really great activities.

My husband's cousin actually lives in Alaska, and I know a peak travel time is July, but she actually says, come in the winter, like we are built for cold here and you're going to be able to see the northern lights and explore glaciers and do all of these things. And so that's on our radar, and it's much more affordable to go at a different time, whether it's Alaska another place. Even off season doesn't even necessarily mean that you're skimping on good weather. Sometimes it just means it's

not summertime anymore. So kids are back in school and it's not peak travel season for everybody, so consider going outside of your holiday weekends and summers if possible. Yeah, you can save potentially up to fifty on travel costs when you're going to the destination in their quote unquote off season. And this can be true for travel rewards cards like using points to So we're going to try and go back to Mexico in December, but if we tried to go this summer, it would be like ten

thousand more points per night. And so just by waiting to go to December, the weather is actually better because hurricane season is June through November, so we're you know, almost guaranteed, you know, knock on wood, fingers crossed, there won't be any hurricanes. Versus can't guarantee that late summer and fall, so it's still beautiful. Yeah. Yeah, and so

and we're actually saving points. And so that's another credit card perks or another thing on this list, and honestly that allows us to travel how I mean, we we've flat coach, but we travel to nice hotels and nice cities because our credit card perks. Yeah. The next section is beauty. So we're just taking a hard left turn here from travel and getting some luxurious experiences. Uh inexpensively

for travel. But now we're gonna talk about beauty because that's like the next category on here, one of the ones that I liked on here. So simple but by top shelf now polish, So getting nails done is so expensive. It's not really really something that that I do hardly. Ever, I'll do it myself and that does give me a luxury experience and look for not the price, but I will also I will second this having the nicer polishes do last longer. And I recently just got a really

great base coat. I like googled how to make your manicure last longer, and I got the bassecoat that they recommended, So I don't know, it was maybe like eight dollars, so definitely not You're not the cheapest thing on the planet. But my manicure, my at home manicure last like a week now, so yeah, that's luxury. Yeah. I've been really wanting to try like an at home dip manicure, I know, merely from Easy Budget. She posts on Instagram about it

and I'm like, I want to try that. She's also one of our speakers at the summit, So yeah, but I really would. I would spend more there to have something it lasted, But most of the times I just go naked. Nails my favorite one in this section because I'm not like a big beauty person because you just woke up like this. Yeah, I guess maybe I'm not a big beauty person because I takes me so much time and effort that I just can't be passionate about it.

But get student massages. So I've actually done this before. We have a massage school right by our house and they consistently need people for their students to practice on. So look up massage schools in your area and find online when they have their student clinic sessions. I guess I love this one. I just sent Eric to do this like last month because he kept complaining about how about his shoulders hurt, and I'm like, well, I'm not rubbing him. No, sometimes I will. He's nice to me,

I'll be nice to him. But I did this and it was like thirty bucks for eighty minutes, and you're not allowed to tip because their students practicing, So you pay just a fraction of the cost for the experience

of getting a massage. Yeah, absolutely, So then we go down to fashion, and I really like become an expert thrifter, but instead of maybe like not just sticking to thrift stores, but also checking your threat up and your posh mark and your eBay, Like nobody thinks about eBay for fashion, but it's there, and like all of those, so knowing what you want, like the really nice quality stuff and looking for it at cheaper places, like if the stuff is made to last, then it shouldn't have this notion

where some people have like I don't buy a secondhand because I want the close to last longer, which is accurate if you are used to buying old navy. But if you are buying really good quality stuff, it's made to last and you can afford to buy its second hand. And then that paired with the other tip that I love on this one is try a capsule wardrobe or just have a capsule wardrobe. You don't just need to

try it out, just do it. It's that concept of those pieces of clothing that you wear that make you feel so amazing. You just love that dress, that card again, that those that pair of jeans. What if that was just your wardrobe? What if your favorite pieces that you felt great in, that felt luxurious was your wardrobe. I get this all so I would consider myself to have a capsule wardrobe. I know the definition is different for everybody, so it's not like, oh, I've counted it all out.

It's like five things. That's not entirely true, but it's very minimal. And people always think that I'm dressed up all the time, like you're always so dressed up, and I'm like, this is just my clothes. It's all that I have. I mean, I have clothes I can work in because mind you, I'm also doing renovations on the weekend. But it does it. It makes me feel like luxurious and fancy and just put together on the regular even

though I work remotely. So I am all about this capsule wardrobe thing, which is also all about quality over quantity. So finding the really great pieces, maybe spending a little bit more, but they're gonna last longer you love them. It's all you wear, and even better if you can thrift those awesome pieces and they last long. M Yes, my other favorite on this one is to buy fake diamonds, so specifically Moissonnite. She She mentions, I didn't think I

was a diamond girl like I do. I love my engagement ring, but it's always super dirty, so it doesn't like look like a diamond anymore. But I got a pair of moistonite earrings from my mom for Christmas, and I am obsessed with them. They are so shiny and pretty and I'm so into it. I'm like, I would like more shiny jewelry. I want more of it? Yeah? Please? Yes? So, um, I have really been eyeing, like, I don't know when I would ever wear this, but like a you know,

fake diamond tennis bracelet seems so classy. I have no reason or I ever go anywhere to like wear something like that. But but yeah, so fancy but so fake but still so pretty. Yes, yes, and who cares? Because also, diamonds aren't actually a rare thing. We've just made it rare so we can be the ones who shift the tide in like, whether it's fake or not quote unquote fake, is it pretty great? Will it last long? Awesome? Um? Let's do it. Yeah, diamonds are not a girl's best friend.

Friends are a girl's best Frugal friends are even better. The next category. We're just we're just beebopping all over the place with this luxury conversation, but home, how to

make home feel luxurious? There's so many things that I love on this list, it is going to be kind of hard for me to pick one, but I'm gonna I'm gonna do the one that sticks out to me at the start, which is take amazing showers, which I will add to this, don't waste water so you can still enjoy your shower and not be in the shower for hours. But I like their recommendation for upgrading your shower head. Eric and I have done this at like every single place we've states. We've got the shower head

that's like both. I mean, we already have amazing water pressure, so it just makes it so nice. We've got the handheld and then like the rain shower above you. And yes, it feels likeluxury every single morning at home, or like every three days with spur Real. But you you upgrade small things to be high quality, like even your door knobs, you switch them out, and it's such a small thing and it makes a big difference. It makes the home

feel very put together. The shower head thing, I cannot even even just replacing your shower head with one that you can pull off right, not just the nozzle thing, but the kind that can become handheld even if you don't have double shower head, making it the handheld one. And that's as easy as unscrewing your old thing and screwing in a new thing, and it gives you luxury. Absolutely. I like this one because I've always wanted to do

it but I never have. And it's by original art, so not getting a picture of Amsterdam from Ikeia, but like an original piece of art from a newly established or merging artists, So not only will you have something unique, but it might be worth a lot one day. And I'm quoting her on that, but honestly, I just think like supporting local artists is really fun, especially up and coming ones. Or you can make your own, like abstract art.

I've been seeing that a lot online that seems really cool, yeah, or getting really neat art at thrift stores or yard sales. I have found some really great stuff. Actually. The picture that's behind me in like every single Summit video you'll see when you sign up for the summit, the Lioness and her cub. That little drawing is from a thrift store and I love it. I love it too. I have been watching it in every single recording, but I

mean ever because we watched. I mean, we see each other when we're recording these episodes, and I'm I like, specifically look for it, Like the other day we recorded and you did not have it behind you, and I felt like like our episode was missing that lioness energy. It defines this room. Actually that same artist I was able to get. There's a koala and a little koala bear and a duck and a duckling. So it's like this collection of mother animals and their little babies and

it's all the same style. I really love it. So it's like this room has that theme in it. Yeah. I have two canvases with plants on them or like leaves really in my living room, and those yeah they're great. They're from Goodwill. They're the only plants that can really keep alive. And because they are pictures of plants, so good, so trendy. So I also like to create a home bar on this. I love. Of course you do. I glast Yeah, you actually do have a home bar. I don't,

but I would love one. I just you know, with a toddler. They're not the best, but yeah, you gotta keep it high up out of reach. We're behind a locked cabinet. Okay. The next one is groceries. Oh man, we've got so many episodes on this, so we won't spend long here. But man, they've got some great ideas for again, specifically luxury. So we're not just talking about saving on things, but when you want a luxury experience, and there's so many good things here. How to pick

grow your own fresh herbs. That talk about luxury experience when it comes to home cooked meals if you are able. Certainly, dry herbs are a great replacement. It helps us get by when we're just being frugal. But if you can actually use the fresh time, the fresh rosemary, the fresh basil, that is luxury in your mouth. So grow your own, put it in your food. Thank me later. Yes, I like only drink the best cheap wine, so like looking up with the best wine under ten today. I actually

ordered a ten dollar bottle of rose from Walmart. You ordered it well my grocery pick up. Yeah, but I'm typically only doing the three dollar winking out um, so ten dollars was very It felt very fancy for me, and I'm excited to try it. Something I've learned with bottles of wine, and they can't do it every time. But looking at the points, if there is a point rating, like usually anything above ninety points, I've not been disappointed a lot of times. If they do have a rating,

they'll advertise it on their own label like points. I don't know, it's some you can correct me and my friend our Frugal Friends community group on Facebook, but it's yeah, it's basically like wine. Connoisseurs give ratings to wine and anything above ninety points has not been disappointing, and you can find those bottles for yeah, maybe around ten dollars absolutely. Next category entertainment and dating. So we are not familiar with dating. I wasn't familiar with dating while I was dating,

let's be honest, I was familiar with frozen beans. So watching a movie someone's basement, Yeah, take away the basement for me and just add somebody else's living room. That's right, there's no basement here. So we'll just think entertainment and friends because we do have friends, So I like the first one indulged in free luxury experiences. So you can look for free and discounted nights like at like events in your city. So in this case, it makes sense

to get on mailing lists. So if there's a museum or an opera or a theater or something luxurious in your city, be on their mailing list because then your first to know if they have any free events or discounted events or even giveaways of tickets and stuff. So definitely join those mailing lists if you're interested in anything. Yes, I love those free events. So many really great ideas on here too, like the fanciest happy hours, that kind

of our favorites. It allows us to go to really nice restaurants for a for action of the cost if you can get there between like four and seven, where you can kind of try out some of a really great restaurant's menu for not at all what they would typically charge. We've got one of our favorites in this area and we still can't go there on the RAG, but it is that luxury experience every now and again, yeah, for far less expensive. Another one on this one, I'm

gonna have quite a few on this category. Visit open houses in nice parts of town. The nice houses, you have to dress a little nice, so they know that you're not joking. Where all of your diamond rings. They won't know they're not really all your yeah, all your moisture night tennis bracelets. But yeah, and they will usually have a snack. Uh huh. And it's just so cool to like look at the views and look at the fixtures and like knowing it's totally out of your price range.

I say, you know, it's totally out of my price range. Um, I will never you know, put in an offer, but like it's cool to like pretend I'm living in the lap of luxury. Yeah, exactly, just like the next one. Hang out. No hotel lobbies, I do. I like hotel lobbies and sometimes their bars are really good. Yeah, I mean that's true. That's true. And they might think you're checking in and offer you like a free glass of champagne. Maybe, I don't know, probably not. Do you have anything else

on this list? I like the picnic I'm always like a I don't go on many, but I like the idea of them, like pack bree and some baguettes and put it in a basket and just go to the park. Yeah, go to all. Do you get the fanciest Charcuterie because you know you can afford it there, and like, yeah, go to the park or this last one, and I'm just offended that it wasn't your favorite, Jill, watch a

sunset at the beach. Oh, you're right, hate because I didn't want to put it in there because I didn't want to make people feel excluded who don't live near the beach. It's kind of unfair that you and I live six minutes from the beach. But yes, that is the date that Jen and I met on was beach at sunset, so beautiful. It's a great luxurious thing to do, better than frozen pizza in the basement with Eric. That's neither of us were on We were on dates, though,

we were again just hanging out with friends. So that's yeah, I don't know, I don't know what dating is anymore. Anyways, let's move on to our next one. Highly recommended this article. I don't always like fully recommend checking out our goals after we've you know, debriefed them, but this one does have a lot more good ones we didn't get to. So this next one is from financial Samurai, and I don't always agree with everything he said, as I feel he's a little out of touch, But this is one

of those articles. It's like things that are worth spending more money on for a better lifestyle, And I did agree with some of these the things. When I was doing research for these articles, I found a lot of lists that were very subjective. It was like, one are the things that you should spend money on, like for quality, one are the things that pay for themselves and stuff. And it was all things that were very subjective to the writer. So this was kind of the most neutral

article I can find. What did you think about a Jill? Yeah, I can't say that I agree with everything on it, but I think it's worth looking through and deciding for you as an individual, for me as an individual, what resonates with me, and really helping to find that permission

of yes, this is valuable. It's okay to spend more for something that's going to have long term benefit return on investment, will potentially save money in the long run, because a lot of times we think, like, just get the least expensive thing, but in the long run it ends up costing a lot of money because we've had to buy multiple of them, and they've broken regularly, and

we've had to fix them you name it. So yeah, overall I like it, but I think that ultimately the goal of this is just to help us to think through where for me personally can I spend more Where do I feel the permission for myself because of the reasons that I mentioned. Absolutely, And that's where we come back into this values based spending. You have to determine what your core values are so that you know what you can feel confident about spending more money on versus

what are the things that you can totally eliminate. Some of the things that stood out to me on here, which is like penetrating for me personally, is medical relate it like it is worth taking care of ourselves. That that is something that goes to the wayside. I don't know why I have this mental block for medical things not being valuable to me, but I do want to care for myself and I want to end up with massive medical bills because I wasn't doing routine maintenance on myself.

They list out vision and dental care being common ones for people, which of course that's the case because they're commonly not in medical insurance plans. Go figure, that's a whole other topic, but it's important to get contacts, glasses, you name it, whatever it is that you need to

care for your eyes because seeing is really important. It's important to I like how they even mentioned with the dental care, it's not even just about going to your routine cleanings, but making sure your home maintenance clean your home maintenance, your regular daily maintenance of yourself is top notch. So not just the manual toothbrush, but considering that um electric toothbrush that actually helps to clean your teeth better. In between each session at the dentist, I will give

two tips for dental and vision. I have been able to get my vision and my teeth. Check your mystery shopping, so you can go to Presto Map. Just google it like Presto Map mystery shop and you can look in your area to see if there are any vision or dental mystery shops and you can get some free checkouts. That's awesome. Thanks. So my favorite and what probably sold me on the article was the first one on here

is mattress. And you spend so much of your time sleeping, or at least you should that it is very important to get a good mattress. And that doesn't mean you have to spend a lot. There are so many companies now that are online and they're selling really affordable mattresses. We it's a great time to be alive and be sleeping. So yeah, we got ours actually from somebody who buys those mattresses from the companies after somebody returns them from within their hundred day trial. So we bought one of

those from a guy in a warehouse. So you don't have to be like us, but you can get you know, a cheaper mattress, but make sure it's good. I will affirm this, Eric and I have been on a mattress saga. I think it finally ended when we when we moved here to Florida and bought ourselves a mattress. But I will say we solved our mattress problem for a time when we got a really good mattress topper. So this could be an alternative for somebody who is not in

the market to splurge on a mattress. But you know, the mattress you have isn't great consider invest so I'm not just talking about like a mattress pad, but an actual mattress topper can add some of the support and comfort that you might be looking for at a for action of the cost asolutely. That's my tip. We all have our little additions to these articles. Yes, so another

one on here is prime property. So going back to our episode with Mindy and Scott with tips for home buyers, like like, location is important when you are buying a property, and so it may cost you a little extra to get If your intention is to to buy a home that you will eventually sell, and you have the opportunity to get something in a little bit more prime location that might appreciate faster, then that could be definitely worth the money. Because location is for sure the most important

part of a buying equation. It is worth splurging on. Like if you're on a main road, if you got a really good deal, that also means you're probably gonna have to sell it for a really good deal. So maybe that maybe you're fine with that, but also keep that in mind. Yeah, I think it's more it's important

to look at the appreciation rates for different areas. So if you're looking between a place that has eight percent appreciation rate versus ten or twelve, but the ten twelve obviously is a little more expensive than like, you may still make out on top if you go with that more expensive location, if you're planning to sell another thing that can be worth splurging on, you know me home appliances. I I'm such a spokesperson for this because home appliances

you use them all of the time. So yes, I am talking about practically anything when it comes to home appliances, whether it's like fridges or washer dryers, dishwashers, ovens, even your smaller things blenders, you know, I love my blender. Cut Stone on food waste, love making my smoothies. Everyone's so tired of hearing about this, But you will save

more in the long run. And these things that you're using constantly, if you do your research, you might spend a little bit extra, but in the long run, you save because you're not constantly replacing your smaller home appliances, are constantly fixing your larger home appliances. Now this is a general rule. I know there's lemons out there, but this is definitely something to keep in mind with your things. With motors, your things, you have to plug into an outlet.

Just yeah, do your due diligence and keep in mind that it also costs money to keep replacing things, but you've got a great deal on your refrigerator and that's an awesome fridge. Oh yes, So that's another tip is to look into your like scratch in dent appliances. So if you've got like a Sears hardware scratch in dent, it's all cosmetic. All of these clients is still work, but they're very high end. So we got like a five thousand dollar fridge like for seventy eight percent off

just because it had some dings on it. So we're stoked about that. Yeah. Absolutely, So there definitely is a way, like you can get the best of the best with like a little scratched or dent and then just put your meal plan, which has then helped me to be a plan. It's just this whole frugal cycle. Um, my last one on this list, and I think you will appreciate this. Jill is wellness, but specifically I would say

therapy and counseling face. We put that on the back burner, like first thing we put on the back burner when we're trying to save money, But it can change your entire life. It can change how you feel about your life, Like you could be in the same position and by talking out something with a counselor or a therapist, feel completely different about your situation and the only thing you've changed is your perspective because they gave you some tools

for reframing. Like and that I'm not saying that will happen with everyone, but like, that's something that that can do. So if if you feel like you may benefit from it, then I believe it's it's something that it's priceless. Oh goodness,

because that affects were whole people. So every area of our life affects every other area, but particularly when we're dealing with mental health concerns, emotional health concerns, that really can have quite a weighty impact on all the rest of the way that we journey through life and how we feel about things, how we approach things, how we're interacting with people. So yeah, you really can't put a

price tag on that. If you're not feeling well mentally or emotionally, that is worth paying for help and support and encouragement. And yeah, let's end on that one. I mean, these other ones are decent, but sure, and you know what else is the best that we always highlight thello we that's right, it's time for the best minute of your entire week. Maybe a baby was born and his name is William. Maybe you paid off your mortgains. Maybe your car died and you're happy to not have to

pay that bill anymore. Stuck bills, Buffalo bills, Bill Clint, this is the Bills of the week. Hey Dan and Jill, this is Nigan calling from South Florida and my Bill of the week is none other than Bill Murray. UM. Thanks to your advice for joining local Facebook groups, I found out that Bill Murray was doing a special presentation of his America's program for teachers in my county for free. UM. So I was able to go. And as a child of the eighties, that was fantastic to see Bill Murray live,

singing and telling stories and reading poetry for free. UM. A frugal COVID safe evening out. Thanks to your advice. Love the podcast, keep it up. I share it with everyone I can. Love you guys, have a great day. By Bell Murray. Oh my gosh, that makes my heart so happy. First is that you chose Bill Murray. And like, I don't know why Bill Murray has never been like a Bill of the Week before, but like it's a

long time coming. I think there was a time when we had hoped that maybe Bill Murray himself would be our bill of the week. But this is that as I have best, so this is for sure second best. And the fact that like we changed your life, like I allowed by giving you that experience. Oh it's so good. Thanks for calling in ensuring your bill of the week. Who is a person We love the creative ones and for the act the frugal activity you got to engage in and how much you loved it. All right, our

second one, Hijn and Jill. This is Olivia from Denver, Colorado, and just wanted to say I love your show. And my bill of the week is actually two full old. So the first bill of the week is that I was able in August to buy my first UM town house by myself here in Denver as a single woman, which I was very proud about. And so the first bill would be that I get to pay my mortgage every single month and that feels like such a blessing, um like an opportunity to build wealth. So I'm very

excited about that. And then the second bill is that with this house UM comes a lot of home improvement projects as you both well know, and I was thinking about decorating my bathroom or renovating my bathroom, i should say, and was wondering how I could do that in the most frugal way possible. So of course I have a tub and tiles surround. That's from the nineteen seventies when this house was built. It is all of green, and I was thinking to myself, how do I get this

to not be all as green? Well started googling and found the option of tub reglazing, so ended up deciding to go with a tub reglazing service. It was going to be eleven and I was able to negotiate them down to nine. So that is my second bill of the week. That's awesome. Oh my gosh. I was really scared that you were going to say, like you, you painted it, because we got painted tubs and they did not last. But a reglazing, yes, that's awesome. And negotiating

a reblazing price, that's amazing. And owning a town from home by yourself finding that that wealth and equity love it. Well done, great bill. These were definitely some great bills. So many good bills all in in place. If you've got a good bill, Um, you want to share it with us, visit for girl Friends podcast dot com. Slash Bill tell us about your bill. We're so looking forward to hearing it. And now it's time for m not that. So today we are talking personally about how we add

luxury to our lives without spending lavishly. So I love luxury. I'm a spender. I mean, I'm frugal, but like I love quality things, you know, I just love it. So my thing is travel rewards points. It allows me to like stay in places and travel to places I was never able to as a kid, and do it for

really inexpensively. So, like we are planning to go back to our favorite all inclusive resort in Mexico and pay you know, very little to get over there, nothing to stay there, obviously nothing while we're there because the resorts are inclusive. I've been able to stay at the park Hyat and I got to taste what an espresso is. Oh gosh, Jill an espresso makers. Those are where that yes, And we're about to go to Maine and we're going to be staying right downtown, right on the water for free.

Like so these are just really rich experiences that I get to have and I don't have to save or like you know, spend a lot of money to experience them. I cannot hi like what you're saying enough, I don't want to repeat you, but similar for me, it's how I get to experience some really great things. I mean, even with the credit card that we have, we get to utilize some of the lounges in airports because of our rewards credit card, and so yeah, that feels very

luxurious also for me. Okay, So the thing about luxury, since you asked, it's special, right, So not just I mean some of these things, yes, I'll do every day, but there's an element of not just constantly getting everything that you want. And that's part of the frugal mentality, is like living with intention, identifying your values and saving

for that and investing in that. But then for me, luxury a lot of times is defined by simple pleasures and rituals that just feel really special and set apart for me. So I do have a lot of these things in my life. It's funny to like talk through this episode because yeah, this is really important to me, just these special things that are simple. So some of those things include when I can not all the time, but sometimes I'll get some fresh flowers, either from the

grocery store the local farmers market. Usually it's around when I have guests in town, and that's like my little special excuse to like get fresh flowers and have them in my house. I love putting some fresh squeezed lemon in my water in the afternoon. I really enjoy drinking our own pour over coffee. We are a little bit of coffee snobs, but that's just because our very best friends are like coffee roasters and it's their fault. But drinking coffee on my porch in the morning and listening

to the birds. Also, my grandmother taught me this one lipstick. She is on Polish, lived through the Depression, her parents immigrated here to the United States, and she's a very simple woman. But she always wore lipstick, always had lipstick in her purse. And I think she kind of taught me this little trick, just this little beauty hack that can make you feel, i don't know, luxurious and beautiful.

So I love lipstick. I will often have all kinds of colors actually, just like too because I'm minimalist two and I limit myself having hand lotion in my purse that smells good. And also for me, gift giving feels like luxurious, something that is extra and it's special. And so having some of these hacks like keeping gift wrapping in my car so that I can deliver gifts to people when the mood strikes, and these are the simple things for me that are a part of my everyday

ritual and routine and just feel so special. Yeah, we didn't talk about generosity, but that is truly like can make you feel luxurious. You don't think about it, but like, yeah, when I'm giving not just an automated gift to a church organization, but actually giving a gift card or giving a gift to someone not on their birthday, not because it's expected, but just because they're in need or you want to like, that's that's luxurious. Yeah, it's extra, it's special,

it's above and beyond, it's luxury. Yeah. So I love that you included that, and I love all of your little luxurious things. So we would love to hear what your little luxuries are in our Facebook groups. So Frugal Friends Podcast dot com slash group to join and thank you so much for listening and leaving your kind of views. We feel luxurious reading all of your reviews, So like

this one from Teaching over the Rainbow forty one. It's titled chatting with Friends just happens to be five stars quality information delivered in simple, digestible chunks, perfect for anyone with a frugal mindset in finance, consumerism, and environmental sustainability. These ladies bring it full circle. Jen's finance background and Jill's mental health background make this the perfect blend of actionable steps you can take to bring frugality into your life.

Jen and Jill are relatable in a way that feels like my friends are chatting on our car pool to work in our paid off use car, drinking coffee we brought from home coffee it is. It's still coffee. All mine is instant coffee and it is a paid off used card. You know. Sames, Sames, what a beautiful We also want to thank our friends who share these episodes on social media. So when you share the latest episode and tag us on Facebook or Instagram, we're adding you

to our monthly drawing. Here's what the monthly drawing is. For every five tags and reviews we get each month, we give away a copy of the Frugal Friends workbook one in five Chances. So keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or stitcher, sending the screenshot to Frugal Friends podcast at gmail dot com, and don't forget to tag us on social. See you next week. Be Fancy, Frugal Fancy. Frugal Friends is produced by Eric Syrian. I love being fancy, and I love how fancy the summit is going to be. Oh,

and the summit makes me feel fancy. Just saying that word makes me feel fancy, Like we're having a summit, like we're climbing to the top. If you have a wallet that's short five hundred dollars, then you're definitely going to want to attend this summit. Because one of our sponsors, Cube Money, is hosting a five hundred dollar cash giveaway. I can't even believe the reality of this. Yeah, and five hundred dollars that's no small thing. I mean, I would do whatever just to try to win ten dollars.

I mean not whatever. I do have standards and boundaries, but like, I would do a lot of people to win ten dollars. I can't even imagine what people are going to do. I can exciting want to see a penny on the ground, So we're saying you might win five hundred dollars cash money us D. We are giving away books. We are giving away three memberships to our new exclusive member community, our Accountability community, and those are

going to be some coveted spots. So we are giving away a lot of things in addition to amazing amazing like experience and wisdom. It was an honor and a privilege to just chat with some of these people that we have coming on. So I'm so excited to share it. Me too. Can't wait, Jen Love to be on this luxurious journey with you. Yes, you bring luxury to my life. Frugal Living Summit dot com by y'all