An hour of "The Real Desperate Housewives of New York" left me feeling over worked, underpaid, and clearly way to frugal. These woman barely breathe without the aid of someone. They have maid services, gardeners, cooks, and car services. They have time to shop, play tennis, go horse back riding, and meet friends for brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks. I decided it was time to treat myself to something grand. Sure it wasn't going to be a limo ride to high end designer stores, but it was going to be something to make me the queen of my modest New York studio apartment.

Still holding on to the deep rooted thriftiness that holds my purse strings, I knew I couldn't go nuts. I had to choose something that would give me the most bang for my buck so to speak. I started thinking about what I could do that would really make me feel more like a pampered princess and less like a jaded nine-to-fiver. Here is the list I came up with.

1. A Maid Service: Possibly the most enticing option, the thought of not having to scrub the floors or dust those hard to reach corners made me feel free. How nice it must be to never have to waste ol' fashion elbow grease on tile grout. The best part was, it's actually not as expensive as I would have once assumed, and the plans can vary to fit my budget and my needs. Another plus, If I get the right package, this can give me that pampered feeling several days, weeks, or months in a row.



2. Day at the Spa: What better way to feel like a million bucks than to treat my self to a day of top notch spa. Massages, facials, manicure, pedicures, and every other service known the woman. All while donning a fluffy white robe and holding a glass of my favorite sauvignon blanc. This was definitely a good use of my hard earned money. My only concern? Would it be to fleeting?



3. Get Groceries Delivered: If there is nothing I hate more, it's hauling a week or two worth of groceries from the grocery store, to my building and then up four flights of stairs. Grocery shopping can take way to long, I end up spending way to much, and it's generally more than I care to deal with at any given moment. I was recently informed that grocery stores deliver. For a small fee you can get your cheerios, milk, and eggs delivered right to your door.



4. Hire a Chef: While I love to cook, it be nice to enjoy a home cooked meal prepared by someone else. Enjoying in the privacy and comfort of my own home is even more enticing. All you need to do is pick a cuisine, and a chef and low and behold there is culinary magic happening in the same spot you burn eggs. Another plus – you can watch as they prepare and gain some valuable cooking techniques.