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| Image: Tapio Haaja on Unsplash |
Last weekend we talked about the physical items worth spending our hard-earned money on. Now let's talk about the free experiences that feel like pure luxury, those that add a sense of abundance and indulgence without spending a single dime.
Redefining Luxury
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image: Debby Hudson on Unsplash |
When we think of luxury, thoughts of plush furnishings, high-end vacations, or expensive watches and handbags come to mind. But as a frugal blogger, I've come to realize that the most profound luxuries in life don't have a price tag at all. True luxury is about stillness, observation, and what I like to call "found time." Today, I'm sharing three completely free experiences in my life that make me feel incredibly indulgent.
Sunrise and Solitude
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Photo by Resul Baltacı on Unsplash |
I wake up around 5 AM every morning, often before anyone else in the house. I make my coffee in that serenely quiet moment, one where I can be alone with my thoughts as my mind becomes awake. There are no questions about what is going on that day, no phone calls to answer -- there are no conversations outside of my own mind. I'm able to live in the moment for a brief period each day. I watch the sun crest the horizon as I sip my coffee. Upon opening a window to freshen the indoor air, I hear birdsong in those early hours. The core luxury here is the absence of demands—no phone calls, no questions, and no expectations. It is just me, my thoughts, and a hot cup of coffee.
Breakfast by the Water
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image: Albert Stoynov on Unsplash |
It's our family tradition in summer to spend a few of those glorious mornings at the beach. Bringing a thermos of coffee and a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls, we have breakfast by the water. It's such a great time to be at the shore. Early in the day parking is easy to find. There are interesting things to watch at that hour, such as the divers coming ashore from a dive in their wetsuits, or the dog-walkers strolling past on the sidewalk that lines the sandy beach. And the air is cool enough to not need to find a shady spot.
One of our favorite waterside spots for one of these summertime al fresco breakfasts is a small boating community. In summer, folks moor their crafts at the marina in this town for their weekend getaways. We will sit on a bench at the water's edge with our breakfast in hand and watch the boaters as they slowly start their own days, coming up from the sleeping quarters below to their decks with their own cups of coffee in hand. We don't intrude on their moment of quiet. The core luxury is the enjoyment of the maritime beauty as a quiet observer. We don't call out or wave; we are simply sharing a peaceful, parallel morning moment with the world around us.
"Found Time"
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| image: Adele Nosova on Unsplash |
There's a concept I like to call "found time." It's when a situation cancels the day's or hour's plans, like those magic moments when an afternoon summer rainstorm chases me out of the garden, or a meeting or appointment that I've dreaded for weeks drops off my schedule. I find myself gifted with unanticipated free time -- time to choose my next mini adventure.
Vintage Inspiration
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| image: Annie Spratt on Unsplash |
My favorite frugal way to spend this found time is an afternoon spent watching black and white movies or reading vintage cookbooks for free via Internet Archive online. Curled up under a fleece throw, I lose myself in a 1940s intrigue story or peruse 1950s recipes. I don't make enough time in my week to do these things, so when a block of time suddenly opens up, I try to do something that will delight my mind. The core luxury I'm describing is permission. Because the weather or circumstances made my plans impossible, I get to enjoy guilt-free relaxation.
The "essence" of frugal luxury is not about spending money; it's about protecting your peace, noticing the small details, and embracing "found time." The best things in life truly are free, if we just slow down long enough to notice them.
Your turn: I would love to hear from you this weekend. Do any of my frugal luxuries resonate with you? Or does indulgence come to you in a different way? Does the thought of a giant stack of library books or magazines perk you up? Or perhaps a long hot bath with oils, a lit candle, and warm towel speaks luxury to you. How about the moment you slide into a bed made with freshly laundered linens -- is that the moment you feel indulged? Tell me about your favorite free experiences that feel like pure luxury in the comments below. I'll be here all weekend, reading and responding to your thoughts on luxury.
Lili, your times of reflection and refreshment are awesome. I, on the other hand, am trapped in working outside the home (by my choice) and do not have those delicious mornings watching the sun come up. I see it as I drive to work but it's not refreshing as I maneuver through traffic. There was a time that life was slower paced when the children were young and I worked lightly outside the home. Once they were in school I started back up into the fast paced working world. As I get closer to retirement and the cost of living we need to prepare for having enough money in our aging years so working outside the home to increase my SS income and try to save as much as possible now. WE have had a lot of conversation lately about retirement and SS because my husband is of age and I will be shortly. Stay at home moms really got a bad deal from SS because they didn't contribute like a working spouse did thus their own payout is very little. An SAHM work very hard all day long 24/7. Added to that is my 35 year average goes back to my teenage and college years where I earned $4 per hour so my average over 35 years is not good (because of those 10 years I worked outside the home very little). Even on Saturdays we are busy getting the things done around the house that we couldn't during the week when we were working. I'm not complaining just seeing the result of our choices. Maybe retirement will change how we spend out days.
ReplyDeleteHi Alice,
DeleteI completely hear you and want to validate how exhausting a packed schedule can be. When you're in a survival season with work or family, sometimes a whole hour to yourself just doesn't exist. I'm sorry you're feeling the weight of this current season of life.
For me, when time to myself has been more limited, my peaceful moments have come in the form of listening to a worship song on the radio in the car while I drove my kids to and from school, or standing in a hot shower in the early hours before anyone else was up. I think that's why "found time" has felt like such a blessing to me, and probably to others as well. When a schedule feels packed, and suddenly you have that extra time due to cancellations or weather keeping you from prior plans, to have that break feels like a gift.
Do you have anything, even very small, in your plan for this weekend that will give you a moment of peace and refreshment? Something like listening to refreshing music while you catch up on housework or fold laundry, or taking a walk outdoors in nature to get your steps in? Sending you grace this weekend, Alice -- I hope a pocket of peace finds you.