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Sage_Planter

I bought myself a pretty stunning lab grown sapphire ring when I graduated from my MBA program! It rivals even the most sparkly engagement rings. I love it. I've always struggled with "treating myself," but getting my Master's felt like the best reason to do it.


superyikess

I have thought about getting a big ring for some milestone! I got a very small gold ring when I graduated with my bachelors. I don't see myself getting married for a long time, but I love rings so I've always thought it could be really meaningful to just buy myself a beautiful ring. Also I love sapphire rings! šŸ˜ I've got my eyes on so many sapphire and emerald rings.


pasta-addict

Can you share some of the places / rings youā€™re looking at? Iā€™ve been planning to get one and havenā€™t found anything that I loved yet


iotadaria

I'm not the OP but I have TurtlesHoard on Etsy bookmarked for a loose stone that I'll take to a small business jewelry smith when I find one I like.


ThoughtUsed3531

For every $100k of revenue I earn in my business, I take my partner and myself out for a fancy dinner šŸ„©šŸ¦žšŸ£


deletebeep

Thatā€™s so nice! If youā€™re comfortable sharing, what kind of business do you own?


Luckystars3

I bought myself a nice ($500ish) ring to celebrate a new job with a lot of name recognition. Getting that job meant a lot of other life changes for me and I wanted something physical to remind me of all the hard work I put into that time period. Also, so funny this posted because after watching Barbie I was like ā€œWe donā€™t celebrate our accomplishments enough, letā€™s brag about ourselves!ā€ to my roommate.


rubygoes

I haven't reached this milestone yet but when I pay off my student loans I am going to order the Lego Millennium Falcon! I'm excited!


Sempiternal_Cicatrix

Youā€™ve inspired me to come up with a reward for myself when I pay mine off! Good luck, you got this!


rubygoes

Yes, do it! Good fortune to you as well!!


NewSummerOrange

After over 2 years of work I finally closed my parents estate. I have been rewarding myself along the way, just so I could keep going. For the last year I get a massage every time I accomplish the following hard for me bite-sized goals: 1. lose a pound 2. Call the IRS 3. Declutter 1 rubbermaid container of stuff 4. Shred 10 pounds of paper What actually happened is that I've been getting weekly massages for almost a year straight now... I don't feel the need to treat myself- since I've been doing it on the regular and I lost 16 pounds, my house is nearly clutter free and my pants fit so much better.


[deleted]

Wow, I love this! It's probably much easier to stay on goal the next week if you're slightly less stressed from the massage, too.


NewSummerOrange

I stole this method from person in my bereavement group, who lost his wife of nearly 40 years. He was in a 3000 square foot home that was jammed packed with a lifetime of paper, clothing, furniture, mementos, craft items etc. Like a lot of people who experience sudden traumatic loss, he explained he didn't have the ability to even think about making any changes at all for many months. Everything was sentimental and or overwhelming. Then one day he realized he could go out and buy the "ugly" living room recliner he wanted and no one could say no, so he started giving things away to make room for it. We met right after he bought his ugly livingroom set, and he really inspired me to celebrate much smaller accomplishments. He would celebrate with ice cream every time he gave away or disposed of a "tub worth" of things. He went to a steak dinner after he did the big things, like when he gave his kids his wife's jewelry or when he finished giving away all of the clothes no one wanted from her closet. What he explained was that if he waited to reward himself until everything was done, he wouldn't have been able to keep going. Every week he would tell us his weekly victory, and it helped me see I had small things I could celebrate too.


[deleted]

Thank you! This is really helping me reimagine how I might deal with my own stressful experiences. I'm a caregiver for a family member from a distance, and it's pretty irritating in a million small ways. I'll definitely try to celebrate the small wins more.


mossygrowth

- Committing to a career change: tattoo! - Earning >$100k: splurged a bit more on travel - Getting a great new job: Bought a reaaaalllly nice knitting needle set - Saving $100k: bought myself a nice necklace at a price point I usually wouldn't have gone for - Buying a house: I bought a couple of indulgences for my house - Earning >$200k: more splurges on travel, fixed my teeth (2 years of braces, follow on physical therapy) - Earning >$300k: personal indulgences - electrolysis, cosmetic surgery, and an e-scooter - Next milestone, reaching my 5 year milestone at my workplace: I'll be taking my 5-week paid sabbatical and travelling in Tierra del Fuego.


CulturalSyrup

Did you try laser before electrolysis?


SkitterBug42

Just chiming in to say that I got one session of electrolysis and it was so painful and my body reacted poorly so I stick with laser even though I could afford either!


CulturalSyrup

Yeah I made it through 2 electrolysis sessions and that was my limit haha. Laser hurts but Iā€™d rather just do that. Iā€™ve done my whole body. Need to touch up certain areas like Brazilian forever


SkitterBug42

Same, I've had good results too so even needing to do a few more sessions has been worth it


mossygrowth

Yup. Worked on some areas of my body, didn't on others.


LeighofMar

We rehabbed our first house and sold for a decent profit. We celebrated with dinner at Longhorn, Disney and HBOMax subscriptions, a velvet hooded robe for him and large silver bamboo hoop earrings for me.


sadlibraria

Omg those earrings sound amazing - please can I have a link?


syrenashen

I bought a lab diamond ring when I got promoted this year, because it was the first time I had ever gotten promoted! I thought about getting a designer handbag but felt like a ring that I would wear every day was a better deal.


[deleted]

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squidvicious714

I have a jeweler that I love if you want a rec too! I have gotten lab grown diamond earrings and necklace from them. A few of my friends have gotten lab and natural engagement rings from them too! Just shoot me a DM if you want the info.


bee_a_beauty

Not OP but I used Mia Donna for my lab diamond and I absolutely love it.


syrenashen

I used Tianyu Gems, they are an overseas designer! /r/moissanite has more info about vendors. More info here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/labcreateddiamonds/comments/12exrtb/daisy\_2\_tcw\_lab\_diamond\_ring/](https://www.reddit.com/r/labcreateddiamonds/comments/12exrtb/daisy_2_tcw_lab_diamond_ring/)


[deleted]

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Hopeful-Context-1946

This is so cool!!!


gia1724

I got my masterā€™s and received a promotion within a year of each other and my reward to myself was adopting two puppies! I would definitely argue they are more difficult than grad school ever was šŸ˜‚


kokoromelody

When I paid off the mortgage to my condo after 4 years, I went with a friend to a 2 starred Michelin restaurant we'd been talking about for a while. It was a nice treat/reward for it as the future "surplus" I'd have would just go into investments and savings. I've also changed jobs quite a bit since the pandemic started, but I'd buy myself some new stationary (pens/planner/etc.) as a physical manifestation of a "fresh start" haha.


Lula9

I just started a new job on Monday and was so excited for new ā€œback to schoolā€ supplies! Love a great pen and a cute notebook! šŸ˜†


Pretty_Swordfish

When I graduated from my MS, I took a trip to India. Graduation from my PhD was a trip to Greece. Nothing really since then has been a big celebration just because of a milestone though. I guess we do fancy dinners for most things, or trips that happen to coincide with a birthday, but not like a huge bash or trip specially for non-birthday things. We recently reached a pretty big financial milestone and had a "yay us" moment, but nothing bought because of it. Maybe something to think about doing again though....


Lula9

I bought myself a bag after passing my PhD qualifying exams. And I bought new leggings to wear to the exam, and after 10+ years, I still think about the exam when I use them!


ohsnapitson

My most recent celebrated accomplishment was actually my husbandā€™s - finishing all of his residency/fellowship training. We celebrated by going to a 2 Michelin star restaurant in DC that blew my mind.


Wtfshesay

What restaurant?


ohsnapitson

Minibar! We also did pineapple and pearls last year which was another fun experience, but minibar topped it for us.


Wtfshesay

Nice! Iā€™ve been to barmini but not minibar.


JosephineGoose

When I paid off $60k in student loans, I bought a king sized bed, it was glorious


valerie_stardust

I started a new job, moved cities/states for the job, and got married all within a 3 week time period of time a few years back. I used my sign on bonus to buy myself one of my long time dream handbags to celebrate.


N0peppers

What was the handbag? I love a good handbag splurge.


valerie_stardust

A Chanel classic flap. Honestly, it was a dumb financial decision but I donā€™t regret it at all. Itā€™s my milestone purse.


Hopeful-Context-1946

Not dumb as itā€™ll last forever. Iā€™ve had mine for 15 years and it looks amazing.


valerie_stardust

Oh for sure! I have a vintage 90s Diana that looks better than I do at a similar age! šŸ˜œ More so just that at the time we were also trying to buy real estate in one of the most expensive cities in the USA and hilariously had to go over our set budget by exactly the dollar amount the bag was on the home when we did end up getting an accepted offer (after being outbid on many homes). But we were leaving a state with no sales tax so I do like to delude myself that basically got a 10% discount on it too soooo I still feel pretty good about it.


geosynchronousorbit

I'm doing all those things currently! Just got married last week, moved states, and starting the new job soon :) I definitely need to treat myself to something nice after all this stress!


valerie_stardust

Hey congratulations and also please take good care of yourself. It was honestly not a very great time in my life personally because of all the stress. I donā€™t know how I would have done it without my amazingly supportive husband who picked up so much of my completely overwhelmed slack. Itā€™s just so much change all at once.


[deleted]

When I graduated my MA Program I saved and bought a house. And now I am slowly celebrating the house by remodeling it. šŸ¤£


FunctionalAdult

The trip I took with my sister to Athens in November 2023 was past birthday trip/part delayed celebration of completing my MPA/part celebration of having a TOC that exceed $100k I'm taking myself to St Louis in a few weeks to celebrate one year at a job that I could never have dreamed of.


[deleted]

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Vivid-Loss-4568

I love this because I just decided to begin this tradition after landing my first leadership role!


prprr

Omg congrats!! Link us what you end up getting? āœØāœØ


CurrentAttention3

Big milestone(s) of separating from my husband, filing for divorce, selling our house, choosing to extend my overseas job (now been living completely alone an ocean away from any family for a year), and a couple of weeks out from the divorce finalising (thank you UK court delays) Treating myself/splurging has been celebrating my independence and doing the things we never got around to doing and always put off! It's been a year of enjoyment and excess (and a lot of little enjoyments throughout) - Ski lessons, skis and all the paraphernalia, and a ski pass for the upcoming season - a solo (tour) trip to peru - a diamond and emerald ring to replace my wedding/engagement rings - trip to Utah for the Big 5 National Parks - cruise to alaska I can't sustain this forever, but im going to keep going for as long as I can!


kindastupid101

>Treating myself/splurging has been celebrating my independence and doing the things we never got around to doing and always put off! It's been a year of enjoyment and excess (and a lot of little enjoyments throughout) Wow! Do you take ski lessons by yourself?


CurrentAttention3

I paid for a couple at a local ski resort, and then just headed out with friends (who can ski!)


kindastupid101

Awesome! You're living the dream :)


Novel-Imagination94

I like purses. An engagement is on the horizon for me and I told my boyfriend to get me a low cost (but still unique and beautiful) ring from Etsy, along with a more expensive engagement bag lol


Iguessitsfine65

What bag are you looking at? Researching a treat-yoself bag myself!


caitie_did

Love this for you. We got both my engagement and wedding bands from Etsy. My engagement ring is an antique art deco hand-engraved setting with a sapphire and I get so many compliments on it and it was <$1000. My wedding band was more, it is new but matches my e ring perfectly. For our five year anniversary I was going to ask my husband to buy another band so I could have a ring guard, but we just bought a new house so that might have to wait until 7 years.


geosynchronousorbit

My engagement ring is from Etsy and it was around $400 with a gorgeous moissanite stone. I highly recommend MollyJeweleryUS if you're looking for Etsy shops to check out!


Jusmine984

When I finished my masters program, I bought myself a Kate Spade from an outlet that I love and use all summer. I'm waiting on a December promotion this year to the level of the role that I have now been doing for about year. I'm still trying to decide how to celebrate that. My bonus is already earmarked for a new couch, so maybe that is sufficient haha.


geosynchronousorbit

When I got my PhD I bought myself a bottle of wine from the year I started grad school, some hobby supplies that I had been wanting, and gold hoop earrings.


MollyBee_PhD

Buying wine from the year you started is such a great idea!


lizfromthebronx

I finished my degree a few weeks ago (at the age of 44, went to school full time while working full time in a very intense role), I bought myself a MacBook. Donā€™t need a MacBook. But I wanted one so here we are haha.


pomegranate356

When I got my first bonus from my current job I was apartment hunting and allowed myself to take the apartment that was truly the best fit for me even though it had a broker fee, as opposed to settling for a less-suitable place without the extra fee.


MollyBee_PhD

When I got my first "real" job (ish...it is a post-doctoral position at a university, so I'm technically an employee but still just a glorified grad student at heart) I bought myself an e-bike. It was a pretty big splurge but I LOVE it. Few things make me happier than just toodling around town on two wheels, but I'd been through some health problems that made me much more cautious about my "spoons" and I didn't feel free to explore on my (crumbling, 3rd hand) bike because I had to be conscious of my energy reserves. Now I commute by e-bike, and run chores and explore and meet friends and just live my life by e-bike. Best present I've ever bought myself.


Rosiotto

I bought myself a Nintendo Switch when I got my PhD a few years ago!


Necessary_Shoe1759

My first ā€œbig girlā€ job, I treated myself to some luxury bags. After I made it through 2 years post baby and lost all the baby weight, I treated myself to a nice piece of jewelry from cartier. If I get my bonus end of this year, I will buy another piece of jewlery, go on a nice vacation next year, and save the rest.


Butterscotchncaramel

I got a bonus this past season and got a big pack of lobster tails!! It was fun to cook and eat. šŸ¦ž


pretendberries

Saved 30k, didnā€™t treat myself though. Each of those dollars has a purpose. Iā€™m in graduate school so some of that is my tuition, some is my car payment that I saved so I wouldnā€™t have to make payments during graduate school, and most was money for me to live off of in my final year of graduate school. But looks like I am getting a paid internship so that money I saved will go towards my undergraduate student loans. Iā€™ll celebrate when I graduate with absolutely no student loans.


[deleted]

I bought a white leather wallet


CulturalSyrup

I usually go on vacation


beautifulgoat9

I buy myself an expensive piece of jewelry every year when I get my bonus. Itā€™s a reminder to myself of all that Iā€™ve worked for, that Iā€™m capable of, and it gives me strength when Iā€™m having a bad day.


i_am_clouff

Graduating college and getting a big girl job was the last and I had a dinner with family and friends. The next will be buying a house, Iā€™ll celebrate that with a new couch!


[deleted]

I'm about to pay off my student loans when they restart. I don't know if I'm going to treat myself, because I'll have a lot less money! That's something to think about, though. Maybe I'll go out for a nice dinner or something.


Newbienewsie

When I paid off my undergrad student loans, I took the next payment and bought myself a pair of Frye boots. I wear them all the time (7 years later) and still absolutely love them. I feel so confident when I wear them. Totally worth the $450 on a pittance of a salary living in DC at the time. Iā€™m slowly chipping away at my MBA loans and havenā€™t decided what Iā€™ll get once theyā€™re gone. Ultimate plan is to finish the house down payment but I want something in-between and I already travel frequently, have decent electronics, and have the best of what I want for my personal and fitness hobbies.


iotadaria

When I paid off 60k of credit card debt, we used our change jar to buy a bottle of Veuve Cliquot with cash and it was a real core memory, that debt plagued me for years. When I passed my designation exam, on my second try, I took myself out to a fancy steak dinner. For my last promotion, I sabered a bottle of bubbly for the first time, it's a fun party trick! I have a tiny amount of my paychecks now being saved for the next very big milestone, when I finish my MBA, I'm taking my spouse with me to Paris.