Treat yourself
Great news: You don’t have to spend a bundle to pamper yourself! Here are the easy tricks to feeling like a millionaire— without needing big bucks
Sleep in the best sheets!
Surprise—sheets with a 600 to 1,000 thread count (that’s the number of threads per square inch) are higher quality than expensive sets that boast double the count! Why? “To get those higher numbers, manufacturers use thinner threads, which aren’t as strong,” says textile science instructor Deborah Young of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Plus, a super-high thread count isn’t what gives sheets their luxurious feel—the fiber and weave are what’s key! Young notes, “Those that are smoothest and crispest are Egyptian or Pima cotton, or a sateen weave.”
Dab on the best anti-agers!
Less-expensive drugstore products rejuvenate skin just as effectively as pricey anti-aging products, says dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D. The key? Look at ingredients, not cost, she says. “To reduce the appearance of fine lines, look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, ceramides or squalene, which moisturize, and retinol, which stimulates a quicker renewal of skin cells. The higher these are on the ingredients list, the greater concentration there is, making them more effective.” One to try: Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum Lightweight Moisturizer, $16, Target.com and Target stores.
Sip the best wines!
Ever wish you could treat yourself to highcaliber wine without emptying your wallet? You can, thanks to wine “flash sale” sites like Lastbottlewines.com, Lot18.com, WTSO.COM and Casemates.com, which offer bottles for up to 77% off their original price. Why such a discount? “It costs wine producers less to sell directly to consumers than selling through stores,” says Jon Thorsen, founder of Reversewinesnob.com. “Plus, it allows them to reach a new audience who they’re hoping will love their wine so much, they’ll buy directly from their winery.”
Eat the best food!
Love the quality and uniqueness of gourmet foods but not their high price? You can snag ’em for less at off-price stores like Homegoods, T.j.maxx and Gordmans, says Tracie Fobes, founder of Pennypinchinmom.com. “They offer a wide variety of perfectly good nonperishable gourmet items that you’d find in high-end stores—including candy, cookies, pasta, olive oil, coffee, jams and honey—for up to half their original cost!” In fact, the retailers often buy directly from the manufacturer in large quantities so they can pass the savings on to you.