At This Age, I've Stopped Cheaping Out on the Things That Matter

As I'm writing this, I’m surrounded by the gorgeous scent of a five-star hotel in coastal Spain. It’s not that I finally booked my dream vacation to the Mediterranean. It’s because I decided that a beautiful home scent is well worth a few extra bucks. 

My shift to making small, specific splurges in places that really matter to me is just one of the changes I’ve made since embracing the wisdom that comes with turning 60. This is not about tossing around my credit card like confetti at a parade. I’m still an avid believer in drugstore skincare, and I always find a way to repurpose fancy gift bags. And my kids can attest to my habit of turning almost any restaurant doggie bag into a delicious, morning-after breakfast taco. 

Yet, I have learned that there are some places that actually cost too much to cheap out on.  

I Always Opt for the Direct Flight

It may cost a bit more, but direct flights save me time, stress, and energy, not to mention the odds of my luggage ending up on the opposite side of the globe. Travel is tough these days, with long lines, inevitable delays, surly passengers, and in-flight turbulence that can rattle even the most experienced traveler. Anything that minimizes the hassle is worth the money to me. 

I want to get on the plane, get off the plane, and get to my destination with plenty of energy left to enjoy my day. 

The Keys Are in the Cupholder

I love the convenience of valet parking, and I’m not ashamed to say it. While I’m happy to park among the masses when there’s a dedicated parking lot, I live in a city where dinner at a cozy bistro may mean circling side streets for 20 minutes or more thanks to all of those “protected” parking zones. That’s a surefire way to start a fun evening feeling frazzled and frustrated. 

In a land of giant SUVs whose drivers can’t navigate two white lines, I’m happy to part with some cash to have someone else negotiate the geometry of parking. I’ve learned that my comfort does indeed have a price. Not having to walk five blocks in the Texas heat costs me about $15, and like the L’Oreal commercial says, “I’m worth it.” 

Leaves and Lawn Are Someone Else’s Job 

I did it for years. Cutting grass, edging sidewalks, trimming shrubs, raking leaves, and bagging it all up for bulk trash pickup used to be part of my weekend chore list. And that doesn’t include engaging in mortal combat with whatever weeds or creepy crawlers were invading my flower beds. 

When I reached the age where I no longer looked cute in calamine lotion, I happily began paying a landscape service to handle the hot, sweaty, itchy, outside work. Now, whenever I drive up to my beautifully maintained yard, I think: that’s money well spent. 

This isn’t a question of whether or not I’m capable of doing the outside work. I’m not the least bit shy about building an entire closet system or painting every wall in my house. This is about releasing the sense of obligation that said: if I could, I should. 

That's another important lesson age has taught me: capability doesn't automatically create responsibility. Sometimes paying someone with the equipment, expertise, and, frankly, the desire to do a job is simply the smarter choice, and it frees me up to spend those hours doing something I actually want to do.

A Beautiful Scent Makes All the Difference

In previous jobs, I worked in open spaces where the office either smelled like a co-worker's eye-watering cologne or my boss's daily fast food run. There was no escaping it. You just learned to breathe through your mouth and hope the smell of somebody's burrito didn't follow you into a 2:00 pm meeting. 

These days I get to work from my home office. And while I may not be situated on a hotel balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, with the right candle burning, I can close my eyes for a second and pretend room service is on its way.

With a carefully curated selection of candles, diffusers, and room sprays, I’m able to live and work in an environment that is beautifully scented. Our living and working spaces affect us. The light, the clutter, the music, the flowers on the counter, and yes, the way the rooms smell, all of it shapes how we feel. If I'm going to spend this much of my life here, I want to enjoy the experience. 

The Splurge Has to Earn Its Keep

The internet has gotten very good at convincing women that spending money is self-care. We’re encouraged to buy the serums, upgrade our technology, wrap ourselves in the fluffiest towels, all because we deserve it. 

And maybe you do, but "I deserve it" isn't a particularly sound financial strategy, and at this stage, I don't want an algorithm deciding what luxury looks like for me. I want to decide, so I've started asking a better question before I splurge: Will paying extra meaningfully improve my experience?

The answers are instantly obvious to me. Arriving rested and ready to go after a direct flight does. Not having to walk blocks in heels when there’s a valet stand is definitely a yes. Having a landscape service give me back hours of time every weekend is a no-brainer. Working in a space that smells beautiful is a daily gift. The latest must-have gadget Instagram has shown me 14 times this week? That’s a no. 

Your list may look nothing like mine. Maybe you spend more on really good shoes because your feet have made their demands known. Maybe it's a housecleaner, a great haircut, concert tickets, fresh flowers, grocery delivery, or the good olive oil. 

At our age, we’ve learned that life is about discernment. We get to choose which things genuinely make life better, and we refuse to spend money, time, or energy anywhere else.

Patty is the founder of The Brilliant Age, a lifestyle platform for women navigating later life and beyond with curiosity, style, and intention. Through thoughtful essays on reinvention, personal style, relationships, and purposeful living later in life, she encourages women to question outdated rules and design lives that feel vibrant and true. Patty also writes Spark 60, a weekly one-minute dose of inspiration delivered every Wednesday. Explore more at The-Brilliant-Age.com, and on Substack and follow on Instagram and Facebook and start living your most brilliant chapter yet.