Guest post from Erin of The No Drama Mama
Fancy and frugal don't seem to go together, but they certainly CAN go hand in hand quite nicely. I don't consider myself to be a fancy person at all, but I am very frugal and have learned how to make money-saving habits feel rich.
If you want to treat yourself, here are five habits that might look fancy, but are actually frugal.
1. Using Your Good China
I find that even using simple washable dishware makes everyday meals feel fancier than if I had used paper plates. Don't wait for special guests to come over. Treat your family as the special people they are by grabbing the good china and make a special meal on an ordinary week day. Even macaroni and cheese will feel fancy on nice dishes.
My husband and I have been using the same dishes for 14 years. That's 14 years of not buying paper plates every single month. We are fortunate to have a dishwasher with a delay setting so we're able to set it to run after midnight when the electric rates go down and wake up to clean dishes.
2. Using Cloth Napkins
I often think one of the tell-tale signs of a fancy restaurant versus a non-fancy one is if they use cloth napkins. I started using cloth napkins about four years ago and took one more disposable item off my grocery list.
Not only does it save money, but it makes meal-time feel special just like eating at a fancy restaurant. Plus, they hardly take up any space in the washing machine.
3. Having Your Clothes Tailored
When you save a ton of money buying second-hand clothes, you can afford to get your clothes tailored to fit you. When my husband was up for a job promotion he found a $30 suit at a thrift shop and spent $10 to have it tailored. He ended up getting the promotion without breaking the bank on a new suit.
You can check out thrift stores in the expensive areas in your community and score really great work and special occasion attire, which you can have tailored to make you look like you spent a million bucks.
4. Celebrating With A Fancy Meal (At Home)
Americans love to celebrate special occasions by going out to dinner… and while that's fancy, it's not exactly frugal.
Instead, get that expensive dish you're craving by stopping by your local grocery store or butcher shop. Some grocery stores will even steam a fresh lobster for you. You can find great cuts of meat at the butcher or even reduced for quick sale at the grocery store.
The internet is chock full of recipes for any dish you can dream up. I'm no expert chef, but I've learned that I can be extremely good at following directions. So have your steak and lobster on occasion, but do it at home and save a ton of money.
Better yet eat it on your good china with real cloth napkins, wearing your custom fit party dress. Now that's fancy!
5. Giving Generously
Nothing makes you feel more like a million bucks then being able to give back — whether it's to your favorite charity, your church or even a friend in need.
You don't need to have a lot of money to give generously. Living frugally has taught me to use my money-saving skills to help others. I've used coupons to purchase food and household items for local homeless shelters and the troops stationed overseas.
Giving generously could be as simple as giving a couple with kids some free babysitting so they can have a date night or inviting an elderly neighbor over for a fancy dinner at your house. When you remind yourself of your blessings by being a blessing to others, you are rich indeed.
Living richer has more to do with the state of your heart, than the state of your wallet. So go ahead and treat yourself to a life of contentment where the fancy choice is often the frugal one.
Erin Johnson is the author of "So, You're Broke? 18 Drama-Free Steps To A Richer Life." She also blogs at The No Drama Mama.
photo source
