Comments on: Frivolous Massages and Contempt for Manicurists

By: Agreed!

Agreed! — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:01:14 +0000

I am ashamed to admit that as a frugal person myself, I am a massage practitioner, esthetician AND nail tech. I NEVER get massages or manis/pedis because it’s a WASTE, and providing them for other vain, frivolous people is bothering my conscience. They’ll still get them somewhere, but it ain’t gonna be from me!

I am now earning a master’s degree in accounting and hope to earn my CPA. I’ll feel better about offering high quality, NECESSARY services at affordable prices to the public…

By: catherine

catherine — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:52:40 +0000

When I grew up my grandmother would have her hair and nails done every week. My grandfather was a middle class union trade worker and they owned their home and car outright. Their lifestyle was lost with the explosion of the housing market, the de-regulation of credit markets and the outsourcing of well paying factory and labor jobs to countries with more lax labor standards and corporate greed.
I’m a member of the Service Workers Union, selling cosmetics at Macy’s and I have to fight tooth and nail for the opportunity to work even 27 hours a week. Until that happens I also help manage a small accessories store in the mall. Like most Americans, I have to work two jobs to get by.
Perhaps we should write long winded blogs about why Americans can’t seem to work 40 hours a week for a living wage. Instead we resent those who indulge in small luxuries. Cutting your own hair and wearing hemp and driving a hybrid and not wearing any makeup are not things to brag about. These are not things that are helping the economy or employing anyone or contributing to society. These are personal badges of sacrifice to be rubbed in the faces of others. Perhaps one of you could look into a manicure or massage and start to do some good by contributing to some hard working person who’s just trying to make a living in your community.

By: Persephone

Persephone — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:25:05 +0000

I don’t like to think of dark days, but I do like to save money and make responisble decisions. For me it’s a balance. It’s about personal priorities. I wouln’t have a manicure or a massage if it meant that my family would go without what they need (and that includes saving money for retirement and college). But if I have extra money, I decide what’s important to me. I prefer a trip to the hair salon or a massage over a dinner out anytime.

By: Don’t Tell Me Your Money Problems - SavingAdvice.com Blog

Don’t Tell Me Your Money Problems - SavingAdvice.com Blog — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:01:47 +0000

[...] By comparison, her husband has a good job. She also drives a new $70,000 vehicle, always has her nails perfectly manicured and has a wardrobe that is always being filled with new clothes. She carries designer handbags and [...]

By: Si

Si — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:52:28 +0000

I live in Brazil, and even thought manicures and pedicures are extremely unexpensive around here (you can get them both done at a great place for 15 dollars TOPS), i hardly ever get my nails done. I usually do them myself at home. I never really understood why american women seem to need so much make up and accessories just for everyday life, especially people my age i’m 22). seems to me that my generation was just raised to be frivolous.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:53:25 +0000

Heh, Heibi, don’t pick on those poor people! LOL Maybe they are either not very good at doing things like that (remember the kids who never could color within the lines ) or they hate doing it themselves.

At one time, I had someone coming in to clean my house for me once a month for two reasons. I worked terribly long hours and valued every free minute too highly to waste it cleaning. And I HATE housecleaning! LOL Love a clean house, but… Actually, there was a third reason. I have bad knees and this lady was willing and able to get down on hers and clean the dust bunnies out of the hard to reach places.

A lot of people would have considered that a worthless luxury. I considered it a relief.

By: Heibi

Heibi — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:13:05 +0000

I have never understood why women pay for manicures and pedicures either. I got a gift card once for a manicure and never used it because I thought it a waste of time. I still remember a wife of a co-worker keeping her 9/11/01 manicure appointment… figuring that the downtown (not nyc) wouldn’t be very busy…so why not keep it? At the time I was thinking the world is coming to an end and she is getting her nails done?!

By: David G. Mitchell

David G. Mitchell — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:56:59 +0000

Fanny — As we have noted in a lot of articles (and their comments), medical needs always take precedence over saving money. You have every reason to get your massages and I hope your pain stays away for good!

By: Fanny

Fanny — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:08:42 +0000

I don’t get manicures or pedicures much, only for very special occasions. But I do get monthly massages. It may seem like a luxury to some people, but if you have chronic pain, a regular massage is a necessity for overall health and sanity. For a few months, I stopped getting my regular massage and my condition got worse. So now, even if we have to pinch pennies, my husband and I see the value in a regular massage.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:46:00 +0000

Thanks for the chuckle! As the commenters have said, everyone has their own priorities, their own luxuries. Some like to golf, or fish, or watch movies, or boat, or ski, or have a new car, or have in-home theaters or computer gadgets. Some like manicures and massages. And that’s what makes the world go ’round! (Out of all things I listed, I’d opt for the manicure and massage.)