Have you heard? The recession could be drawing to a close! 
I'm cautiously optimistic that our economy is rebounding. So are my brother and sister-in-law, who just purchased a new car through the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Although I'm not planning on making any major purchases anytime soon, my financial situation has changed for the better. I sold my old house in June, so my months of double mortgage payments are over. (Huge sigh of relief.)
But during those months, even as I was pulling funds out of savings to cover two mortgages and trying to find ways to cut back on entertainment costs, there were a few "splurge items" I couldn't live without:
Care for my Corgi
Pets are expensive, and my eight-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Pie Elizabeth, is no exception. She has allergies and requires special food and treats, plus medication and vet visits to keep her from gnawing on her paws. I've read many news articles about families having to abandon their pets because they can't afford them, which makes me beyond sad (yes, I also cry during those Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials ). So even though I'm watching my pennies, I budget for both my own pet's needs and donations to the local animal shelter.- Coffee
I became addicted to Peet's Coffee when I lived in California. After I left nine years ago, I set up recurring orders through their Peetniks program. Every 34 days, two pounds of whole bean Arabian Mocha Java arrive on my doorstep via UPS. It might be slightly more expensive than buying coffee at the grocery store, but in the long run, it probably saves me money because I'm not splurging on lattes and mochas as often. - Online music downloads
iTunes has raised its prices, but $1.29 + tax for a little piece of music happiness is still a bargain in any economy. I try to restrict my purchases to a song a week or an occasional new release album from one of my favorite artists. Fortunately, my friends and family are aware of my love of music and often give me iTunes giftcards for birthdays and holidays — making them free to me!
These might be small indulgences, but they sure make my life a little better (and me a little happier) during tough economic times. 
Anyone else have a splurge story to share?
My Daughter in law is in college for nursing, she wants to apply for a wells Fargo student loan to help with household expenses while she is in school. They live in GA and scholarships pay for the tuition but they are struggling with bills even with their paychecks. The loan must be paid back in 2 years after graduation. She wants to borrow $25,000.00 I have concerns and they want advise?
Hi, my name is Emily and I'm a splurger. (Hi,Emily) I am a Sephora junkee. Most people can get by with Cover Girl and Maybelline, but I need my Bare Minerals and my Smashbox (not to mention my Diorshow and Urban Decay). I like to justify it in my head by saying that this is something I use EVERYDAY...and on my face. Embarassing confession: It's been rumored that I have once lived off of Ramen and PB&J to afford my Sephora purchase for the month. (I can't help it- if I spend more than $50, shipping is free!)
I may look back at this and say I was very impractical, but for now- that's one indulgence I can stand by!
Hi there – I want to clarify a couple things for you. Your daughter-in-law’s living expenses during school are something she could cover with a student loan. You said her tuition was covered by scholarships, but if she hasn’t yet used federal student loans, those are an option she should look into for living expenses. Federal loans are what students who need to borrow should consider first. If she’s interested in a private loan to cover those costs, most of our private student loans have a 15-year repayment term, so I’m unsure where the 2 years you mentioned is coming from. There are both certified and non-certified private student loans to consider. Check out this post for differences between the two: http://blog.wellsfargo.com/StudentLoanDown/2007/10/paying_for_unexpected_expenses.html. You can see all the student loan options through Wells Fargo at https://www.wellsfargo.com/student/.
Thanks for sharing your splurge story, Emily! I fall into the "most people" category when it comes to cosmetics--a tube of Carmex and some Maybelline mascara and I'm good to go--but several years ago I battled a severe MAC addiction. I still use their Studio Tech foundation/powder and order it online (as long as there's free shipping, of course!).