Worth it
What we spend our money on
Hello, friends,
For the past several weeks, I’ve been paying for grocery delivery. I had resisted before because Meijer is a 1-minute drive from my apartment and spending an additional $20 for the delivery fee and shopper tip felt like a waste of money when I was perfectly capable of shopping for my own groceries. But…
I did it for the first time during the snowstorm, when I was stressed and overwhelmed and sad. By the following week, I was feeling better and had every intention of going to the grocery store…but it was still cold…and I liked the idea of using the time I wasn’t shopping for something more enjoyable…so I paid for grocery delivery again. I haven’t actually gone to Meijer, other than to pick up a few things here and there, since that first delivery back in January.
And I’m loving it! Yes, it costs me an extra $20 each week, but that money buys more than just grocery delivery. It buys 1) convenience—it’s much easier to have someone else do the grocery shopping; 2) time—Sundays, the day I typically buy groceries, are busy, as I’m getting things ready to start the week with Elise or getting their things ready to take back to Shawn’s; 3) warmth—as someone who hates the cold, I really appreciate not having to go out when it’s freezing; 4) connection—every single shopper I’ve had has been delightfully friendly and helpful; and 5) joy—I know this is a luxury, and it feels like a treat.
Bottom line: just as I decided after I moved into my new apartment that it was worth $10 a week to buy fresh flowers to have a pop of color on the kitchen table, I’ve decided it’s worth $20 for this lovely little extravagance.
There is an endless array of options for what we can spend our money on. Some people buy designer purses, something I can’t fathom doing. When Elise and I go to the mall and walk through stores like Saks or Von Maur (only because we park at that entrance, not because we ever shop there), we often peek at the price tags of items we walk past, marveling that anyone would pay $498 (on sale for $333!) for a purse. I spent $13 on the purse I use every day, and that was almost 10 years ago.
That said, I’m sure many people can’t fathom what I spend on theatre. Renewals have come up recently, so within the past couple weeks, I’ve spent $774 for my seat in the Broadway series subscription my aunt and I have in Dayton (to be fair, that high price tag is due to the fact that we have arguably the best seats in the house, and we worked our way further forward and closer to the center for years to get them), as well as $1004 on a new 2-seat subscription to Short North Stage here in Columbus, which has become one of my favorite places to see shows.
So, while I may not understand why someone would spend hundreds of dollars on a purse, I know it’s because they’re passionate about purses or fashion in the same way I’m passionate about musicals. I imagine that a designer bag brings them joy, just as theatre does me. Although it’s on a smaller scale, grocery delivery brings me joy too. And joy is worth paying for.
Warmly,
Brie
P.S. What “nice to have” item do you feel is worth paying for?
Ok I know I say this with every weekly post, however, this one is truly my fav!🥰 I absolutely LOVE learning about how you treat yourself! This is so great and so very important on so many levels.
When I was in my 20s, I was so hungry for designer bags and that's all I wanted at that time. My parents bought me my first one at 16 years old when we were visiting NYC over Thanksgiving and I caught the designer bug! I had to have a collection. I used to buy them all the time. Fast forward now? No thank you as it completely makes my stomach turn thinking about how expensive they are and for what? We are twinning once again and agree on this topic!😍 Admittedly, I do have a handful of designer bags though very proud to share they were gifts which makes them all the more special.
My "nice to have" experience includes carefully assessing the added fee for a business class seat on a flight or even first class if I can rationalize the cost compared to duration of the flight. That's what it comes down to - do we NEED to have this on a less than one hour flight to Chicago or is it NICE to consider this for the added cost when flying out to California from Columbus? I'm a very efficient traveler so I get to the airport early and I want to get on a plane early, settle in, secure my carry-on and relax. When we have to connect flights, I'm that person who needs at least a couple of hours connecting time if we leave late, I don't have to stress about running for the next plane. Do we have to stop and kill time during a layover with a glass of wine? No, it's not a need but it sure is a nice to have when on the road. It's all about the experience for us and we enjoy that extra perk when it makes sense.
Final twining shout out: I pick up flowers for myself from the grocery store as well! I keep it under $10 - maybe I'll splurge if they are super pretty and they are $14. I love beautiful flowers on our dining room table as a little pick-me-up. #twinningagain
Yes! If possible, feed your soul in whatever way makes YOU happy, whether it is a purse, theatre, or posies (I won't name names!🤭🌺). And if money is not there, look for the many free ways to find joy.☺️