It’s absolutely okay to have money that you spend on things that you want, rather than things that you need. I love buying books, makeup products, and going on outings- the zoo, summer festivals, museums, day trips, and vacations. That’s what I love, and I’m willing to spend a little bit extra to travel and have things that I like. But I budget my money, and make sure I can afford it. And that’s fine! However, there are tons of items out there that people waste MILLIONS of dollars on each year, and I’m guilty of some of them. They won’t actually make you happy, and you won’t miss them when you stop buying them. For a list of things that frugal people never purchase (at least, not at full price), check out this post by Jennifer at The Intentional Mom:
-Bottled water- a complete waste of money, it’s all literally tap water in a plastic bottle.
-Paper cups or paper plates- they’re convenient for a BBQ or picnic, otherwise, stick with reusable plastic/glass.
-Household repairs- there are some instances where you should call a professional, but most simple repairs can be learned from Youtube.
-Late fees, speeding tickets, parking tickets- completely avoidable.
-Movie rentals or books- go to the library for free!