POPS OF RED & WHEN IT’S OK TO SPLURGE

Red is my favorite color to add into my otherwise neutral outfits, especially around the holiday season. So, I decided to splurge on a a new red Gucci bag as a little gift to myself. I felt guilty at first. But, after thinking about it I realized that it’s important to treat yourself every once in awhile. Today I’m sharing my tips for when it’s OK to splurge…

SHOP MY LOOK

PANTS: Zara // BOOTIES: Public Desire // SWEATER: Calvin Klein (similar here and here) // JACKET: Thrifted (similar here and here) // BAG: Gucci // HAT: Target (similar here and here)

*To shop my favorite makeup click here

I’m the type of person who overthinks every purchase, especially when it comes to shopping for myself. I don’t think I’m alone in this boat either. But, there are times when it’s important to treat yourself, especially if you haven’t in awhile.

I knew I wanted this Gucci bag for looooong time, but felt too guilty to actually pull the trigger. Was it worth it? Am I being selfish?

So, here is my advice when deciding on when it’s OK to splurge…

COST PER WEAR

You may have heard of the cost per wear equation? If not, all you do is take the total cost of the item and divide it by the number of days you’ll wear it.

Cost per wear = Total $ / # of days you’ll wear it

This puts things into perspective when you’re debating whether or not to make a purchase. Sometimes a $30 pair of Forever 21 jeans that you’ll only war once is a total waste of money, but a $250 pair of jeans that you’ll wear at least  twice per week – well, that comes out to be less than $4. That’s less than most Starbucks orders!

I figured, I wear a bag every day and wear pops of red more than any other color. My CPW ended up being around $6, which I thought was justifiable.

BILLS ARE PAID

I think it’s safe to say that if you have a mass amount of outstanding debt, it’s best to pay that off before making any huge purchases. But, if you’re on time with all your payments (rent/mortgage, cell phone bill, etc.) and you have some extra savings, maybe it’s time to spend a little dough on yourself.

I put all of my paychecks from working at the station towards the house and bills, and keep my blogging money for purchases having to do with The Nomis Niche. Those purchases can include everything from Facebook ads to hiring an editor or photographer for special shoots. I also consider staple pieces to be a worthwhile investment piece. So hello Gucci!

WILL IT LAST

I don’t really like spending a lot of money on things that don’t last. Fancy dinners, super trendy clothing, overpriced flower bouquets. I’d rather drop my earnings on something I can enjoy for years to come. At least with a trip you’ll have the memories and hopefully a few great photos. When it comes to fashion, I believe that purses and jewelry are the best items to spend your money on because you can pass them on. All you have to do is make sure you take care of them and they become future heirlooms.

IS THERE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE

I had been eyeballing this Soho Disco Gucci Bag for a full year. But, I always thought it would be smarter to save for the house we wanted. After we bought the house, I continued to save for any upgrades. We did the necessary upgrades and I continued to save for… what? My blog was doing better than every before and I hadn’t realized how much I had actually saved. So, I decided to hit the purchase button on the bag I had been dreaming of. Now, every time I wear my splurge worthy bag it’s a reminder of the hard work I put into making The Nomis Niche grow.

DOES IT MAKE YOU HAPPY

At the end of the day, is this splurge worthy item going to make you happy? I know it sounds super shallow. The best things in life are free and blah blah blah, but humor me for a minute.

For instance, if there’s a piece of art that makes you smile whenever you see it, buy that piece of art and put it up in your home so you can smile everyday. If you feel like you can take on the world in a pair of super-expensive heels, buy the heels and be a total Boss Babe!

We all know things like love, family and health are what makes us truly happy, but a little Gucci never hurt either 😉

Love, Lindsey