THE SAVVY SHOPPER: splurges

Showing posts with label splurges. Show all posts

Monday, September 29, 2025

Anticipation + 6 Ways To Save For Big Ticket Items

In 2023 interviewer Bruce Bozzi on Table for Two asked actress Sarah Jessica Parker what she’d most like to give to her children. She responded she wants her children to have the ability to “pine for” or “want things,” believing it to be a positive trait. Sarah’s childhood of sometimes in want taught her the value of hard work and gave her the motivation to earn things through her own efforts.

Moreover, compared to instant gratification, sometimes the anticipation and sacrifice of saving up for a purchase, whether a necessity or a splurge gives us additional pleasure, endorphins, or satisfaction as we get closer and closer to reaching our goal. Often we appreciate a yearned for article all the more because we worked and saved to have enough moola to finally buy it.

6 Ways To Save Extra Cash may involve cutting back on other luxuries and impulse buys such as:

(1) [Never signing up or] cutting the cable. The average cost of cable tv bundles for an American family is $1,600 per year, and another increase is expected before 2025 ends.

(2) [Never signing up or] cancelling subscriptions. Watching the sum of not spending grow in a piggy or bank account gives you a buzz.

(3) Cooking at home and eating out less, plus looking at the supermarket flyers for sales.

(4) Walking to our destinations whenever possible to save transportation costs and the price of a gym membership!

(5) Washing, reusing and repurposing what we already own when an item is re-useable.

(6) Researching and keeping an eye on the item we are pining for to catch it at a discount. Never buy anything without looking for deals!

In a similar vein, European parents with their young children along may shop in the morning at a pastry shop with the understanding that it won’t get eaten until after dinner. They are teaching their children to plan and wait for treats.

It’s been noted that instant gratification and over consumption don’t make people happier. When you never work or wait for anything, food and material things seem to loose their value -- their specialness.

In fact, waiting can double the pleasure: Often the anticipation brings us as much joy as the actual purchase. Then we can savor it all the more! Sarah Jessica Parker, you are one wise mama!

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Splurge Like A Savvy Shopper

How does a Savvy Shopper make decisions about a splurge? I'll use 2 emerald rings that (as of now) are on the market for sale to illustrate the thinking involved in whether (and if, yes, which ring) to spend your money on. But feel free to fill in the blank with designer shoes, bags, clothes, or whatever your temptation tends to be.

Let's start with: Don't tell yourself an emerald ring is an investment. Jewelry isn't, a Chanel double flap bag isn't, and Manolo Blahnik pumps aren't investments ... or even needs. All these pricey items are splurges, not necessities. We buy them because we want them, not need them, and more often than not, if we were to sell them, we won't make a profit. So never confuse a splurge with a need or a true investment! No and no!

That said, if you can afford a splurge sometimes it makes a hard working person happy and is well worth the money.

To demonstrate, let's say we decide to splurge and spend our money on an emerald ring. It allows me to post some lovely images today.😛😁

The next question to ask is what's our budget?

This 1st emerald ring is a stunner. It's a 6.14 carat natural Columbian emerald in a 4-prong setting of 18 carat gold. The emerald is surrounded by round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds. For average wage earners, the pricetag is a stunner too! Cost: $32,000.

So Savvy Shoppers who earn regular salaries, do we forget about a splurge? Heck, no ... if you can afford to treat yourself, you should every once in awhile! However, as a Savvy Shopper you should search for a ring that has a similar effect within your personal budget. Use the out-of-your-budget temptation as inspiration!

Be flexible and willing to compromise to find something similar that you can afford. Many people who don't wish to go into debt wouldn't pay $32,000 for a single piece of jewelry just because they have the money in the bank. Ask if this ring is worth 32,000 smackers leaving your bank account? Proof!

THE SAVVY SHOPPER way is to be a dreamer, then a realist! Obviously someone with deep pockets wouldn't have to deplete their savings to spend $32,000 on jewelry. But one day perhaps your $32,000 will have to cover unexpected expenses. Know and stick to your own budget. Spending like high rollers doesn't make us high rollers. No one should break the bank on a splurge. A splurge is meant to bring us happiness, not worry and insecurity. So let's take our dream ring and shop like a Savvy Shopper!

The 2nd emerald ring is what an ordinary wage earner might end up buying. It's a 2 1/5 carat natural (origin not stated) emerald in a 4-prong setting of 14k yellow or 14k white gold. It is surrounded by brilliant round diamonds with additional baguette cut diamonds to equal 1/2 carat of diamonds. Cost: Full retail - $5,000. Ebay price $2,900. Macy's sale prices - $1,499 and sometimes as low as $1,049.

The compromises are 2 1/5 carats vs 6.14 carats, 14k gold vs 18k gold. Both are natural emeralds but I would bet that the $32,000 emerald is a higher color grade. The emerald likely has a more desirable saturation of color. Both emeralds have inclusions, which are accepted in the gemstone.

Between the 2 rings, the 6.14 carat emerald is deeper and the 2 1/5 carat emerald is shallower, but much of the bigger stone in this design cannot be seen. The 6.14 carat emerald has a higher setting. You'd have to try on both rings to know if you'd get more finger coverage and if bigger or smaller looks better on your hand. A higher ring setting is not de facto more desirable.

Finally, there's the cost of insurance. Whether to insure a ring you pay slightly more than $1,000 for is debatable because you likely could afford to replace it. However, more risk and pain would follow not insuring a $32,000 ring that was lost or stolen, which a Savvy Shopper takes into account before making the purchase. How pricey should your splurge be? Sales taxes and insurance add up. Total expenses can slap you in the face!

In summary: Splurges should make us happy, not penniless! If a material thing would burst your budget, figure out what you love about the article but compromise to bring the cost down. Find something affordable that gives you the similar effect as your temptation. First a dreamer, then a realist is THE SAVVY SHOPPER way to buy all things -- needs and splurges.♥

Extra Tip: If you wait for Macy's promotions, you can get a ring, earrings, and a necklace for less than the price of the 1st ring, but will you wear them all? It's a beautiful collection. Still buy only the pieces you know you'll wear often. Never buy jewelry that stays in a box.🛍

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Nordstrom's Valentine's Day Themed Offerings

Part II: At Nordstrom🌹

While consumers can great an assortment of pleasing merchandise at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, IMHO, Macy's has a better selection of quality goods at every price point so you can find a wide selection of fabulous merchandise for less there. You'll spend more at Nordstrom and much more at Saks Fifth Avenue for desirable stuff, plus the promotions aren't as deep as the sales at Macy's due to each department store's respective business models.

That said, posted on today's blog are some lovely Valentine's Day-themed articles suitable as gifts or a splurge for yourself.

I selected only jewelry that is sterling silver or 14k gold, so no fashion jewelry pieces. To find them search for "hearts earrings" or "14k gold hoop earrings" on the retailer's website.

Diptyque (1) fragrance or (2) a candle in a rose sent.🌹

The last fun piece from Cult Gaia is an over-priced acrylic box clutch purse typical of some of the articles Nordstrom carries (also it was characteristic of the now-defunct uptown Barnes). The Venus et Fleur rose in a box (look up 👆) is another enchanting overpriced item. Appreciate them for inspiration, then go out and find something similar to get the same effect for less if you wish! Here is the Eos by Cult Gaia bag at Saks Off Fifth Avenue discounted but still a lot of moola. Keep looking until the price is right.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

For him:

(1) Faherty cotton and cashmere cardigan, (2) Jo Malone London cologne, or (3) Ugg slippers

You'll find everything featured on Nordstrom's website here.♥

THE SAVVY SHOPPER