Is Splurging is Good for My Frugality?

If I try and stay within my $400 household and grocery (H&G) average budget per month, I'm left with $107 for the remainder of March. That's a mere $5.09 per  day. We've splurged a lot this month-hitting Trader Joe's and adding indulgences like olive tapenade, pilak paneer, and artisan breads and cheeses. We bought fresh salads and pricier vegetables like avocados and fat big boy tomatoes and cucumbers, both expensively out of season. I even picked up Chinese food from the  Asian food counter. Yes, this has been an unusual shopping month for us so far. I blame the weather. I blame no oven. Mostly though, I blame it on the fact that sometimes, I just want to ignore the budget and just buy the items we really enjoy, even if they don't fit a thrifty mind set. Am I turning into a spend thrift? No, just the opposite. I think when I let myself spurge, it actually helps me stay focused on our spending priorities in the long run. 

Indulging in  jar of olive tapenade, a loaf of crusty ciabatta bread, some herbed goat cheese and opening a bottle of wine is a simple pleasure that to me exudes memories of vacations and lazy days on the deck or by the lake. Eating naan bread with the pilak paneer chatting with my daughter gives me  one on one time, on a weeknight, when neither of us have to rush anywhere. Picking up Chinese food means no big clean-up after a night of movies, making a night in an easy choice rather than going out. In short, splurging once in a while feels like a treat that doesn't bust the budget, but get's me out of a hotdish, pasta, and popcorn rut. 

Similarly, sometimes a small splurge in other areas keeps the wants at bay. DD2 needed new underwear. She got the four pack of Fruit of the Loom hipsters, but a couple pair of pricier ones. I've shared my chagrin of growing up wearing bulk purchased granny panties and how I vowed I would spend more for my daughters. Fortunately, the FoL are much cuter than the styles 30 years ago, but I still feel a desire to buy a few of higher style and quality, which she'll wear under her discounted jeans.  

I like a good wander around department stores and sometimes pick up items  that are not a need. I got a 69 cent stocking with pup's initial on it-realizing I didn't have a special stocking for him. I got a small housewarming gift for my niece, a pet ornament, and a six pack of washcloths (ours disappear like lost socks). I looked at lots of things that could have satisfied  retail therapy. DD1 helped keep me from buying yet more clutter, which I almost did just because things like holiday candles, picture frames and Christmas stuff were 80% off at Kohl's. 

Perhaps I am justify spending on wants. With really aggressive savings goals again this month, and an unknown job situation for DH, I should be ignoring even the small urges to splurge. However, not saying no to myself all the time makes it feel easier to be frugal most of the time.