My father calls my mother a squirrel because of her frugality. I am my mother’s daughter in so many ways. I definitely came into frugality honestly. I hate to spend money unnecessarily, but there are a few items that I am willing to stretch my budget for because in such instances, you get what you pay for. Here is a list of items that are totally worth the extra few bucks:

Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

This stuff is wonderful on so many levels. First of all, it is the most soothing brand of lip balm ever. Second, it smells like pomegranates. Pomegranates are a favorite fruit of mine, and for some reason they are growing in popularity. I think it is all the antioxidants. Third, it is a little bit pink on your lips. Not too much, just enough. This stuff is totally worth the extra cash because frankly, a tube of chapstick lasts a long time. So it is an investment.

Express Sexy Basics Bra Cami

I hope no men read this blog. If you are a man, I apologize for the inappropriate picture. Just skip to the next item on the list. Better yet, just skip to the next post because this is the girliest post ever.

Ladies, the picture really is necessary to explain the wonder of this product. These things are expensive, but I wear one nearly every single day. EVERY DAY. See the picture? This cami is LONG, the only long cami to be found in a world of camis that are just too short! Also, this cami does not show cleavage. I use these to make every thing I wear modest. If a shirt may rise up revealing my stomach when I reach up, this cami keeps everything covered. If a shirt may reveal too much of my upper half, this cami keeps everything covered. This cami also hugs tightly. I LOVE the feel of clothes that hug my body, but I hate to wear tight clothes for the sake of the men in my life. So I just wear these under everything I wear. They hug my body AND keep me modest! Who knew two opposites could co-exist in one cami?? I have 5 different colors…black, white, tealquoise, purple, and red. Because of the use I get out of them, these are totally worth the investment ($16….ouch!).

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

I love coffee, but I refuse to spend $4 on specialty drinks when I can have a cup of their wonderful coffee of the day for a third of the price. I am a staunch patron of Sweet Eugene’s House of Java, but occasionally find myself at Starbucks. I always get just a cup of coffee. No latte, no frapp, no extra million calories or extra million dollars. Just a cup of coffee. They have wonderful coffee. Just plain coffee. I think if more people realized this, they would be saving a lot of money.

But once a year, the holiday season rolls around. I am a sucker for the holidays. It is September and I am already listening to my Rat Pack Christmas music because it has been “cool” today. (Cool in Texas means not 90 degrees.) And once a year, Starbucks sells their pumpkin spice lattes. I am also a sucker for anything with pumpkin in it – pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin dump cake, pumpkin seeds… When I hear the pumpkin spice latte is back I always buy at least one. And it is ALWAYS worth the cash.

Boleslawiec Polish Pottery

I love this stuff. It is a traditional hand-painted Polish pottery. It is beautiful. I first started loving it on my first visit in Poland (2006). Then I discovered that of all places…Ross Dress for Less sells this stuff. (WHAT?? You are asking yourself. Yes, that is what I ask myself every time I see it there.) Ross has a wonderful housewares department. I realize that this is shocking, but they have great brands (like Calphalon, OXO, Cuisinart) for a ridiculous amount of cheap. I once bought an OXO brand ladle there for less than $3. I buy all of my kitchen wares at Ross, including wedding gifts that I would usually buy for twice the price at Target.

So, I saw a cup that looks just like the one in the picture, and thought, “Wow, that looks Polish!” I looked at the bottom, and sure enough, MADE IN POLAND with the Boleslawiec stamp and everything! So I bought all they had (only 2 mugs). I went back another time and found a spoon rest. Last month I bought a bowl. When you pair these with the teapot I bought in Poland and sugar bowl I received as a gift, I have a nice collection of Boleslawiec growing. I have decided to budget in one item per month. I am really hoping for a plate next month…

In the grocery shopping department I almost always buy store brand. However there are 3 things that I really believe you get what you pay for:

Buitoni Tortellini, Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese, and Honey Crisp apples. The extra flavor and substance in these three things make them worth the extra money. Now my secret indulgences are exposed!