That $10 'Splurge' That Gets You Through the Day Doesn't Mean You're Bad With Money, Say Redditors
To hear certain popular financial experts — as well as particularly adamant social media influencers — tell it, living frugally means keeping your spending on total lockdown. Even a simple $10 splurge, they argue, could be the small ripple that becomes an ocean of debt. That’s an intense and unpleasant way to live.
Fortunately, everyday people on platforms like Reddit are pushing back against this supposed financial wisdom. Their take is far more nuanced: A $10 splurge that gets you through a hard day — and may even keep you on track with other financial and life goals — doesn’t make you bad with money. Far from it.
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Sometimes, That Small Splurge Is a Necessity
A $10 splurge isn’t all fancy lattes and avocado toast — though if that really is the “breakfast of champions” that helps you power through a high-stakes meeting at work, many Redditors would argue it’s money well spent.
For one Redditor, the splurge looked like buying a pair of thrift store leggings that helped them feel comfortable and secure while going to physical therapy for a fractured spine. She described putting herself on trial in her own mind over the purchase but decided that being confident and supported during such a difficult, uncomfortable process was far too important to begrudge herself the expense.
Another Redditor, writing under the apt username SeeingWhatWorks, described a healthier way to think about small splurges:
“That shift from ‘do I deserve this?’ to ‘does this actually help me function?’ is huge because small, practical upgrades often save you money and stress long term without derailing your budget,” they wrote.
In other words, the value of a splurge isn’t just what it costs — it’s what it enables you to do.
Even Splurge Items Can Have Long-Term Value
The question of “to splurge or not to splurge?” is an age-old one, so it’s not surprising that it has surfaced repeatedly in Reddit threads over the years. One Redditor described spending a bit more than $10 on a winter coat that was pricey for them as a full-time student working three part-time jobs. That coat, however, lasted more than a decade, more than proving its value.
Other Redditors chimed in with tales of coats they’d “splurged" on in leaner times, only to find that the purchase spared them the expense of replacing cheaper options again and again.
“Splurging is often seen as an unnecessary purchase, but you can totally splurge to have something that may last a lifetime,” said one Redditor. “I also bought a $200 coat just before I moved to the East Coast 12 years ago. Five of those years, I had some financial hardships, and it was the only coat I owned. Now I own several, but I wear this one to work almost every day in the winter.”
Taken together, these examples show how sometimes a strategic splurge can be a form of long-term financial strategy, not a failure of discipline.
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Smart Splurges Avoid an ‘All-or-Nothing’ Mentality That Can Lead to Overspending
Many Redditors — and probably people in your own life — are fond of quoting that familiar mantra from "Parks and Recreation": “Treat yourself.” One Redditor had a guess why that motto has endured.
“Humans are not robots. An entire field of economics exists related to studying utility (personal consumption and satisfaction),” they wrote. “If humans didn’t need pleasure, economics would be 100% describable in terms of mathematics, but economics doesn’t work like that because of the human factor. You have to enjoy life on top of savings.”
Their logic is simple: If you don’t release a pressure valve of spending and fun every now and again, you’re more likely to burn out and then overcorrect with far more expensive, impulsive spending later.
As that Redditor put it bluntly: “What’s the point of saving every single dime you have if you’ll just end up the wealthiest corpse in the graveyard?”
That said, most Redditors emphasized moderation, not constant indulgence. The key is being strategic — splurging occasionally, budgeting for it when possible, and focusing on purchases that genuinely improve your quality of life.
“Finance is like eating and drinking and virtually everything else in life. Live with moderation,” the Redditor added. “Splurging every so often won’t destroy you financially if you saved for it, just like how eating out at McDonald’s or going to the pub for beers occasionally won’t ruin your waistline.”
The Bottom Line
Is that $10 splurge going to financially decimate you? Probably not. If a small, thoughtful splurge helps you function, stay motivated or avoid burnout, it may actually support your financial goals rather than sabotage them.
Like the mantra says, it’s OK to “treat yourself” — as long as you’re smart about it.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice.
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