National Splurge Day Date in the current year: June 18, 2026

Splurging means spending more money than usual, often on something unnecessary but pleasurable, comfortable, or exciting. Examples of splurges include buying an expensive meal, booking a luxury hotel, purchasing designer clothing, or treating yourself to a new gadget. The term typically implies somewhat indulgent spending that exceeds a person’s regular budget or habits.

People splurge for many reasons. Sometimes it’s a way to celebrate a special occasion, reward themselves for hard work, or enjoy an anticipated experience. While the occasional splurge can be enjoyable and satisfying, frequent splurging without considering one’s finances can lead to overspending and financial stress. The key difference between a thoughtful splurge and reckless spending is whether the expense fits within a person’s overall financial situation and goals.

National Splurge Day was created to encourage people to treat themselves to something special for the sake of their mental health. Unlike many other unofficial holidays with murky origins, National Splurge Day’s inventor is known. Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith, who also created National Hug a G.I. Day, invented the holiday in 1994. A self-proclaimed “America’s Premier Eventologist”, Koopersmith began creating holidays to cope with a traumatic event in her life and has since created more than 1,900 celebrations.

National Splurge Day isn’t about recklessly spending all your money. It’s about self-care and living in the moment. Splurging comes in many forms. To some, it means buying a fancy coffee instead of their regular drip coffee. To others, it means finally going on their dream vacation. You decide how much to spend on National Splurge Day. Indulge, but don’t go bankrupt! If you’re not sure what to choose, here are a few ideas:

• Have lunch or dinner at your favorite restaurant and order something you’ve always wanted to try instead of the cheapest items on the menu.
• Treat yourself to a spa day, manicure, pedicure, massage, or new haircut.
• Take a fun hobby class.
• Update your wardrobe and buy something you don’t need, but that brings you joy.
• Buy an expensive bottle of wine and share it with a friend.
• Splurge on something you’ll enjoy long term, such as upgrading your car or renovating your bedroom.
• If you’re having a hard time splurging on yourself, splurge on someone you love. Ideally, it should be something that allows you to spend time together enjoying nice things and creating memories.

If you can’t splurge without feeling anxious about spending money, which you may want to discuss with your therapist, a good way to celebrate National Splurge Day is to revise your budged and set aside some “fun” money for occasional splurges. This will allow you to spend money on something you enjoy but don’t need without feeling guilty.