One day, I calculated how much money goes toward things that might look like mere indulgences to an outsider: a cleaning service every two weeks; a taxi instead of the subway when I’m tired; grocery delivery so I don’t waste an hour and a half at the supermarket; coffee to go, simply because I enjoy the ritual rather than the drink itself.

A friend once told me, "You’re a spendthrift. You could save money." I could. But I don’t want to.

I don’t spend money on designer brands. I don’t own a handbag costing two hundred thousand or a diamond-studded watch. I don’t chase after the latest iPhone or collect things just to show them off. That doesn’t interest me. For me, money isn’t a way to prove I’m successful; it’s a way to buy the things I can’t produce myself: time and peace of mind.

Hiring a cleaner isn’t about laziness. It buys me two hours that I spend with a book or at the gym instead of a cleaning rag. Taking a taxi isn’t about showing off; it saves me half an hour of being crushed in a crowd after a hard day. Grocery delivery isn’t a whim—it’s the chance to stop thinking about shopping lists and lines and simply live my life.

I don’t earn millions. I’m an ordinary woman with an ordinary salary. But I realized a simple truth a long time ago: skimping on yourself isn’t a virtue. It’s just a habit of enduring things. And I don’t want to endure. I want to live in a way that makes every day feel manageable, not burdensome.

At the same time, I’m not a spendthrift in the grand scheme of things. I have savings. I don’t go into debt. I know exactly how much I earn and how much I spend. My priorities are simply different. It’s not about "what people will say," but "what will make my life easier."

And you know what? I’ve never once regretted it. I have never regretted a single penny spent on myself. But I have regretted every item bought simply because I "had to."

What do *you* refuse to skimp on? Or do you still count every penny just to win others' approval?

Yana