Slippery Slope or Slip?

The jury is still out - not sure if my extravagant expenditures are rooted in feeling less than or healthy enhancement of the self.

I do know I spent a lot of dough in less than 24 hours in SF. Box of hair color $16, chemical free make-up (I know, hypocritical, chemicals in hair dye - just not the really bad ones as the dime store hair dye) - this one hurts to admit: close to $70 (includes $6.50 for peppermint oil to make my own toothpaste) - one bright spot 20% coupon off everything (or not - if I did not have the coupon I would have probably spent ZERO. AND clothes at great consignment store - 3 items total a touch over $200. Haircut $70. (not finished yet) tea, coffee & one meal out, give or take $30.

The good news is a spending spree such as this is only once a year - and if I cost average, not too bad. Could I have made due with what I have? Certainly. Is it worth replaying the "should I take back such and such" or should I just move on. Certainly get over it, enjoy what I got and close the chapter.

Simplicity: the mind sometimes throws "good" ideas into the mix and gets me off track = slippery slope.

Frugality: no - spending money is never frugal, in my book - esp. if it's on sale.

Design: I can go for the self-design aspect - why not look as good as I can? Who sees me more than I do (right now) and not crazy about an unzippy reflection.

My last night in San Francisco and was I ever tempted

to stop at a corner store and buy a nice bunch of greens, maybe a piece of fruit, maybe a container of creamy Strauss whole milk yogurt and then the little (or big) voice said "Make It Work" - if I am seriously going to stick to a budget of $1,000 a month - it is not going to cut it, the stopping and buying anything on a whim. Hmm "Make it Work" an hour later: brown rice, mustard stems sauteed in combo olive oil/butter, smothered with a cup of strawberries I had slightly mashed and frozen months ago (defrosted of course). The wierd thing was the combo actually worked and I got more practice at changing my ideas of what constitutes a good meal AND no money left my hands today.