June 18th is National Splurge Day #NationalSplurgeDay and I was thinking with David being at work and Charlie sleeping since my friends are busy I would splurge and order lunch for myself then I can keep working. Instead I’m going to keep the little bit of money I have and when David gets home this evening go to Ollies and purchase two Rose bushes I found. Would you like to go with me ?
We all know a little careful splurging never harmed anyone and splurging can be good for the soul too. Which is why we celebrate National Splurge Day in style each year on June 18th. National Splurge Day is held to encourage us to, you guessed it, crack open our wallets and splurge. This fun day is a respite from our 24*7 moderation, frugality, and budgeting. What are you waiting for? Come, spend a little money with us!
We all know trade and commerce probably existed as far back as man’s existence goes, say historians. People began with the barter system, exchanging cattle and livestock. This changed to money years later, as currency developed around the world. America’s history with shopping and spending has also seen drastic changes. Pioneers began the trend of shopping locally and would visit the general stores around them.
By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mom-and-pop stores were aplenty throughout the U.S. These were followed by the great department stores a decade later. As America’s business and economic sectors changed dramatically in the twentieth century, agriculture was replaced with manufacturing and industry. This change saw employment opportunities increase, which put money in the hands of people.
Naturally, more money meant people were able to spend more. Newly wealthy customers launched department stores into the stratosphere; these places sold more than ‘items,’ they sold a way of life. The second half of the nineteenth century also brought a new type of shopping experience — the malls
. While the concept of people visiting multiple vendors in a common-place had been around a long time — Ancient Greeks developed one-place-for-all-goods type marketplaces called ‘agoras,’ the initial mall as we came to know them developed in this age. The rise of the malls was spurred by the rise in the automobile industry too; the more cars people could buy, the easier they could travel to these malls.
The turning point in shopping history came with the rise of e-commerce. As access to the internet grew, so too did the people making purchases online. The e-commerce trend was soon followed by sales on social media; multiple brands can now sell their products directly on channels like Facebook and Instagram.
More than 20 years ago, Chicago native Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith decided she was fed up with traditional holidays. Calling herself ‘America’s Premier Eventologist,’ because she founded more than 1,900 different holidays — she came up with the idea for a lavish, one-of-a-kind holiday called the National Splurge Day, that we have been celebrating ever since.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL SPLURGE DAY
- Splurging does not mean you have to wipe out your savings. Treat national Splurge Day as an occasional, or even a yearly event. Want to add Whipped Cream to your dessert? Dying to try out a new Sushi place? Dreaming of going on vacation? Want to upgrade your car? Take a moment to give yourself a little gift, and never mind the shape this splurge takes. Go ahead, savor the indulgence(s). You’ve earned it.
- Remember splurges aren’t only for yourself. Splurges can be experiences with loved ones too, whether you explore the wilds together, or plan a day at the spa. National Splurge Day encourages us to make incredible memories with loved ones and treating others to your generosity and thoughtfulness.
FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL SPLURGE DAY
- Bono — the lead vocalist of the popular rock band U2, spent $700 to buy a seat on an airplane for his hat.
- Barbara Streisand turned her basement into a shopping mall.
- Lady Gaga bought a portable ghost detector worth $47,000.
- Katy Perry spent $200,000 on two tickets for a Virgin Galactic flight to space for Russell Brand’s birthday.
- Sir Elton John spent £293,000 (approximately $300,000) on flowers over 20 months.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL SPLURGE DAY
- Our lives are chock full of anxiety, stress, and mental health triggers. Self-care, any kind of self-care, redirects our attention to what is most important and reminds us to stop worrying. Intermittent and yes, strategic self-indulgence in the form of a quick splurge now and then reduces the effects of toxic stress and keeps us happy mentally. We are all for the dopamine this brings, honestly.
- Splurging, when done right, can actually help us keep our spending in control. At least when it comes to things we want, but don’t always need. National Splurge Day shows us the benefits of a little self-indulgence while reminding us that constant splurging causes financial stress and promotes unhealthy social behaviors.
- If we want to indulge in a little self-care, we need to have the moolah to do it; not always, as there are multiple ways to splurge even without money, like a luxurious nap, a bubble bath, etc. Creating a fund, however, frees your mind when you choose to indulge yourself. You might not need the money, but you can take comfort from knowing it is there.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
