Keeping It Cheap… Until the Receipt

I’m not much of a spender. Really. Apart from a laptop and a tablet, the “expensive” list is pretty empty. Once in a blue moon, I’ll buy a little gold, just to remind myself I can still sparkle. But other than that, I’m practical to the core. Every time I’m tempted to splurge, my mind goes into overdrive with one question: “Do I need it, or do I want it?” (Spoiler: the need usually wins.)

This doesn’t mean I don’t spend at all! I do—just in little bits that somehow add up. My strategy? Small indulgences! It’s funny because even though I avoid buying a single “expensive” item, my collection of little purchases somehow adds up to a big total by the end of the month, testing our budget’s limits. But what’s life without a few tiny treats, right?

As a true foodie, my Zomato app is my best buddy. If a week goes by without an order, I swear Zomato would check in, wondering if I’m okay. “Treat yourself,” it whispers, and who am I to ignore good advice?

Then, there’s my daughter’s love for art. Apparently, art supplies are a black hole for money. “Mom, I need markers and sketch pens and paints…” Little did I know, creativity came at such a price! Each trip to the art supply store is a test of my wallet’s strength—and my patience.

But hey, life’s all about the little indulgences, right? Whether it’s my occasional food splurge or my daughter’s Picasso dreams, I’m learning to embrace these “small” expenses. After all, as they say, “Money can’t buy happiness—but it can buy art supplies, and that’s close enough!”