“I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. If you enjoy something, you just enjoy it. No sense feeling guilty about it.”
― Cristina Moracho
Tell truths, minions, what is your guilty spending pleasure? Some friends I know always buy fresh flowers for their house, one loves going to the movies and is willing to splurge on weekly theatre tickets, a colleague I once had gets a professional blowdry a couple of times a month, one friend makes it a priority to go on a nice date with her partner every week. Mine is magazines. I don’t buy them every month, but when I’m feeling the need for some beauty therapy, a Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, or Tatler will do the trick.
On the flip side, what’s your guilty FREE pleasure? One of my brothers has managed, through birthday and holiday gifts to have a running subscription to XBox Live that he has never had to drop a dime on. One of my friends has an uncanny knack for finding left behind magazines and newspapers on the Tube that she reads instead of buying them (a trick I need to learn!), and yet another–a fitness and wellness queen–forgoes the gym to work out in London’s many parks. I give myself a manicure once a week, something I personally would never pay for, which helps me keep from picking at my nails and helps me feel more put together for the week.
What are yours? Spill!
Small Dog Syndrome 
I get my hair done regularly. It all started after I had my first baby. I was a hop-and-a-skip away from becoming a frumpy mom, but I refused to let it happen. I had never dyed my hair before, but I knew I wanted something drastic. I wanted red. Really red– copper to be specific. I’ve never looked back. My natural hair color will never see the light of day again, and I’m not even remotely sorry about it. There’s a new man in my life these days. His name is Mitch, he’s my colorist. We’re very happy.
Mazel tov on your union! That’s a great guilty pleasure example, I’ve always been tempted to go red but the upkeep and work haven’t allowed me to try. Plus, haircare and maintenance have always eluded my skill set…
no guilty pleasures. no guilt.
my deliberate pleasures: drinks late on weeknights with friends; buying books in hardback so they’ll look nice on my shelves; chai lattes in the winter and mocha frappuccinos in the summer; only investment brands.
free deliberate pleasures: concerts and shows and exhibitions, most of the time–i know enough people in the arts that i can go to events quite often without having to spend much (or at all); drinks because flirting is a feminist act; sitting in barnes & noble and reading entire books in one sitting.
Hard cosign to pretty much all of this. In Utah we used to have a Barnes & Noble across the street from our house, and I was known to spend whole Saturdays there reading. And the comment about investment brands you know I believe in! I’d far rather buy significantly fewer things made of much higher quality (and speaking frankly, carry a certain cache) than shell out small amounts on cheap stuff.
Hmmm. I’d say anything for our home — linen napkins, flowers, plants, good food and wine. I love entertaining guests, so would ideally like to have people over every week…but $$$$. Same with parties. Hair cut and color are non-negotiables.
Free pleasures — I give myself manicures and pedicures and have stellar parking karma. Often, when I drive in Manhattan, I can find free parking within a block of my destination, sometimes right in front of it. I listen to a tremendous amount of radio — NPR and TSF Jazz from Paris online.