Greetings Frugalists! We all know that the economy is weakening and that money may be a little tighter than normal. But, there are still some things that are recession proof. For example, people aren't giving up their wine, cigarettes or country music. Everyone needs a vice right? I guess my vice would be getting my hair professionally relaxed. No matter how hard times get, I won't become a kitchen beautician, relaxing my locks at home. I don't trust my hair styling savvy and I need someone to sue if my hair gets burned out! I've had major hair breakage before, and I ain't going back! Real talk. So, I know most everyone who reads this blog is frugalistic, but I KNOW there are some guilty pleasures you won't deny. Tell me!
What in your life do you refuse to give up, even though the economy is pillow soft? What's your vice? We all have one...or two *chortle.*
My vice is a nice bottle of Vinecol Organic Wine. I buy it at Whole Foods or Publix. Great Argentinian wine for less than 12.00 dollars, my girlfriend loves it too!!
Posted by: Gabriel Mendoza | August 26, 2008 at 09:03 AM
I'll color my own hair, but I'm not buying cheap wine. Life's too short, as they say...
Posted by: can't fight this feeling anymore | August 26, 2008 at 09:22 AM
My guilty vice is the "beer pool." I get one of those blue plastic pools to lounge in after a day of work. It beats anything you can take to relax. Got the idea from Kevin Costner's character in "Tin Cup." He came home, got a beer and sat in a wading pool to cool off. The "beer pool" was born. No beer, but the pool. And I was frugal. Pool was $99 at Target, went on sale for $89 and I opened a charge and got 10 percent off — $81 pool. Card sits in box of credit cards. Account is paid off. Pool is great relaxing time with hubby. By the way, this 10-foot pool is version 3.2. Version 1.0 was a 10x6-foot 22-inch wader. I loved it too.
Posted by: Lou Elliott Jones | August 26, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Well, I'm not sure what I'd say I can't give up. My cat? The little guy IS too cute for his own good.
Frugalista, the thing that I know about doing hair is that you're always better off with someone else doing it. I can't henna my own hair worth a darn, but I can do a great job on someone else! Maybe you can find a friend who will pair up with you for hair relaxing?
Posted by: GLM | August 26, 2008 at 09:32 AM
My personal vice is a manicure and pedicure bi weekly. I refuse to work and not pay me first.
Posted by: Thickness | August 26, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I'm gonna go with a DVD of one of my favorite TV shows (like The Wire or something) and Hennessey. There's nothing quite like it.
Posted by: JMB | August 26, 2008 at 10:14 AM
You'll never go broke when it comes to vice (legal or otherwise): gambling, liquor, tobacco, narcotics, and smut prosper no matter how tough the times are.
In South Florida, gambling, narcotics, and smut have always been the growth industries.
Have your doubts? Check out the blackjack tables at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: The blackjack tables -- ranging from $25 to $300 minimum per hand -- are always packed.
Posted by: Still Broke | August 26, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I cannot and mind you I have tried on several occasions to give up getting my nails professionally done. I have actually built this guilty pleasure into my monthly budget.
Posted by: Kiauna | August 26, 2008 at 10:56 AM
My vice would be buying products but specifically hair products. There is just something about silky bouncy healthy hair that makes me want to buy more products to recreate that look.
Posted by: Product Junkie Diva | August 26, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I do my own hair and nails, forgo cable TV and drink cheap wine. It sounds silly, but after college I vowed to never, ever eat ramen noodles again. Call me extravagant.
Posted by: Coco | August 26, 2008 at 01:32 PM
My recession proof vice is the same as you Natalie. Relaxer. Just can't give up the hair crack. I'll shampoo and style it myself, but I leave the chemicals to the experts.
Posted by: Tela | August 26, 2008 at 02:25 PM
I think you have to leave the chemical hair processes to the professionals (or a trusted basement beautician). too much can go wrong. My vice is cable TV. I love it (with my DVR & HD set)! It's expensive and definitely a luxury but I can't seem to give it up.
Posted by: Lisa | August 26, 2008 at 03:29 PM
All of your vices seem highly reasonable. Simple pleasures to keep you going in life.
Posted by: The Frugalista Files | August 26, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I agree with you Frugalista, I have to scrape together some pennies...I cannot be bothered with doing my hair. Last time, I just gave up and went natural. Since the Bohemian Look was in, it worked in my favor.
Love your blog btw. :)
Posted by: Moni | August 26, 2008 at 05:43 PM
I guess right now it's pedicures. I can do my own feet and they look so much better when someone else does them. But I will give myself a manicure in a heartbeat. Lately, I've just been too lazy to do them... Pedicures forever!
Posted by: Mirror Image | August 26, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Oh, and I have one more. Sushi dinner. At $25 once a week from the local takeout, that's not frugal, but definitely tasty...
Posted by: Mirror Image | August 26, 2008 at 06:12 PM
I'd have to go with the liquor. I just cut it down to happy hours only or drinking at home with friends. Especially with the way our industry is right now.
Posted by: Vanessa | August 26, 2008 at 06:19 PM
My $50 haircuts. I've tried cheaper ones but they end up costing me more because I always have to go back to my $50-a-cut hairdresser to fix them. Plus, I tell myself, if I get the haircuts on a Friday night, I can have a couple of glasses of free wine in the process. He keeps good stuff in stock, the kind that you'd pay $8 per glas or so at a bar. So see, in the end, the haircut actually costs me a little over $30.
Posted by: Jeannette Rivera-Lyles | August 27, 2008 at 04:53 PM
A good haircut every 7-9 weeks. ($37 + tip)
Good perfume, currently The Beat from Burberry.
Great site, btw.
Posted by: Lori | September 01, 2008 at 03:29 PM