Old style MSE treat for £3

VfM4meplse

Overthe last 24 hours, I have made 3 separate purchases and justified each as a treat to myself. Normally I would do this perhaps a couple of times a week at most, and they would be unplanned purchases from a chazzer / perhaps Poundland. A single purchase of £1 would normally bring me as much happiness as one of £3.

Treat #1: a large latte from Costa for £3.09. I'd all but given up my Costa habit, but was out for the evening and wasn't planning to eat, and thoroughly enjoyed it. £3 was not a huge price to pay for a lot of pleasure I thought at the time.

Treat #2: 3 separate shades of blusher that I haven't actually opened to see the colour yet, but they were being sold at just £1 a pallet so I thought I could take a punt and surprise myself. I doubt I'll open them any time soon.

Treat #3: 3 blouses from the chazzer for £1 each - 2 Monsoon silk and one Next. 2 of the 3 I'll get a lot of wear out of, the other just on special occasions. Nonetheless, I doubt I will part with any of them for years.

It made me think about the relative value of each. Out of all 3, I know which will last the longest! So in that sense #3 is the most MSE purchase. I was probably the least excited about #2, but the coffee left my system hours ago so that had the shortest longevity.

What's your most MSE treat for £3?

caronc

A huge tray of plants for £3 at local church fundraiser last year. A mix of potted of cuttings and annuals. if I had went to a garden centre I reckon I would have been 5-10 times the price! Definite bargain and lots of pleasure:D.

RebeccaAnn

Books from charity shops, our local library is rather lacking unfortunately but I have had 50p books that have made me feel that I have lived a whole other life.

Following from your theme, my ceramic reusable cup cost me less than £3 and that was a game changer. I was buying tea and coffee at uni almost daily, now I just take in tea bags.

I have bought houseplants and cacti for under £3 as well and they have given me years of joy. Houseplants definitely lift my mood.

lessonlearned

Moving house next week and the new garden has hardly anything in it. .

Today Aldi had a range of shrubs £1.79 each. I did actually buy 11 so of course did spend more than £3. But I am really chuffed. For 19.67 I will be able to really make a huge difference to that garden and the plants will grow and give years of pleasure. And like Caron said they would have cost much much more in a garden centre, the two camellias alone would have been £10 each.

My two real £3 treats this week were charity shop bargains. A lovely jewelled tapestry handbag, looks like new, immaculate inside. A pair of brand new with tags, turquoise leather gloves.

You don't have to spend much for a nice luxury treat. .

Once I've moved I will be stocking up on houseplants too. My usual trick is to buy small ones and nurture them.

[Deleted User]

My treat this week actually cost me nothing ,yesterday I went to the local country park as the day was absolutely gorgeous ,I took a small flask of coffee with me and had a very enjoyable wander around ,met a lady who stopped for a rest on the bench I was sitting at, and we admired the changing colour of the leaves for the autumn and both watched some birds flying across the River Medway which runs by the park.She had a little dog who was very cute and we had a natter about our respective grandchildren and families. I shared my coffee with her and then we went our respective ways .A small bit of contact in our lives and possibly I may never see her again but we both enjoyed our little break from the daily routine. I also spotted some blackberries that were just calling 'pick me,pick me ' so I did (I always have a small polybag with me in my handbag at this time of year ,just in case

I think no matter how well we look after the finances, and are careful with our spending it's also nice to have a little treat, and I keep a small amount of Happy Cash Stash in my purse separate for those occasions.

Mine too usually goes on perhaps a book from the CS, or even just a doughnut if I am at Bluewater,as I can rarely resist a Krispy Kreme but it's the little treats in life that make you happy which will keep you from the reckless spend, spend, spend that gets you into dire straits.

What a great idea, and it will be interesting to see what other folks 'treats' are

JackieO xx

Spendless

I once bought my DD a pair of jazz shoes, good brand in a dance shop sale for £3 for her to wear at her drama classes. Though big then they were ok for use due to the fitted style so still fit now a couple of years on. Jazz shoes normally cost in excess of £20/£25, so am really precious about them as know how much they would be to replace. Downside is they're brown so eventually I did have to pay full whack for black ones for a production.

lessonlearned

Spendless......could you dye the shoes.

dp1

My treat at Asda this morning....5 small packets of shrimps and bananas sweeties 5 for £1....my favourite!

Spendless

lessonlearned wrote: »

Spendless......could you dye the shoes.

Oh never thought of that...maybe:cool:

bexster1975

I must second books and plants. ( I know VfM4 will approve the books!) hours of pleasure from both - years for some plants if you are a little bit green fingered! I agree re: Costa coffee too. I met a friend for coffee yesterday and a mooch round charity shops.

As for free stuff, I am a complete convert to library e-services. I now regularly borrow Ebooks and audiobooks for free ( so even better than charity shop value!)

I have bought several items of clothing recently from CS ( a bit more than £3, but mostly brand new with tags).

I think the value has to be measured in the moment, not based on how long it lasts. Great idea for a thread!

Bexster

candygirl

Yesterday I got a gorg Monsoon gypsy style top, and a lovely Per Una dress, both for £4.50 from the chazzer:D