A perfect present

Posted on March 16, 2006 3 Comments

I was going to write about the best buy I made at Trader Joe’s last weekend, which would have been a beautiful potted Iris plant that only cost $2.19. I was going to write how it brightened my day yesterday when I spotted another gorgeous purple blossom blooming. I was even going to suggest that I give the bulbs to my mom in the fall, so the flowers can grow again in her garden next spring.

But alas, I’ve overwatered the darn thing and now all the flowers are dead. Add gardening to the list of skills I never picked up.

IN MY DEFENSE…
In response to your comments about some of the more questionable practices I mentioned in my last post…

- I said “successfully” sew a button, sillies! The problem is not getting the button in place, it’s making it stay connected once it’s been sewed. Typically, my button fastening only lasts about one week, at which point said button usually falls off and onto the street. Or, as it happened last time, out of the bus and under an idling car in the middle of a busy street. With all that hassle, I’m better off just covering up the non-bottoned part of my coat. I can’t deal with button rage!

Thanks to the reader who recommended upholstery thread…I’m going to try that next.

- Why the high price of a hair cut? As a b-day present and usually another christmas present, I receive a $50 gift certificate to my hair stylist’s shop. Therefore, I don’t spend any more than most women in Chicago who trust their hairdressers. It’s a three-hour process for the cut, highlights and color (hence, the high price). I can’t explain to you the difference in self-confidence that comes from a good haircut. Self-confidence translates into evey aspect of life, from work to relationships. So, while some prefer to splurge a bit on weekends out, gambling, cars, clothes, shoes, golf, skiing, etc., I splurge on my hair. It’s relaxing and gives me a shot of self-confidence. Also, I don’t get manicures, pedicures, waxing (except for last week), and I don’t tan. I do the first three at home, and I totally skip the last one. So, in conclusion, my total spa/hairdresser expenses for the year are not anything outlandish, relatively speaking, and they fit into my budget.

Obviously, when I’m in a pinch, my quarterly hair appointment is the first service I ditch. Last year, I only saw my stylist once or twice, I think.

PLEASE NOTE! This does not mean I’m telling everyone to go out and blow your budget on a haircut. In fact, I’ve tried cheaper stylists many times, but was never happy with the results. Overall, I definitely believe women spend too much time and money in salons and spas, and we could do the same things cheaply and easily at home. Contradiction, I know. But that’s the exciting part, right? What will actually make the Budgeting Babe give up all her spendy ways over the years? (The guy who calculated the retirement value of my hair came pretty close!)

- To those who asked how I can only go to the stylist four times per year, I get a really good haircut (long layers) that can grow with me, and for color I do highlights (which don’t need as much maintenance as full color) and a semi-permanent dye, which does not leave roots. I have naturally blond-ish hair, though, so I’m not sure whether this would work on darker hues.

- Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who understood!

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