A Cuban woman who relocated to Europe has taken her followers by surprise on TikTok by sharing that there are expenses she used to indulge in while living in Cuba that she no longer prioritizes, despite having more financial means.
The content creator, known as @legmyross, recorded a video from her car while sipping coffee. She highlighted three specific areas: beauty services, perfumes, and impulsive shopping.
"Things I allowed myself while living in Cuba that I no longer do in Europe, even with more resources," she began, setting the tone for her introspective revelation.
Beauty Services: A Forgotten Luxury
The first habit she has abandoned is professional personal care. In Cuba, she regularly allocated funds for nails, hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and keratin treatments. "When I lived in Cuba, I spent money monthly on nails, hair, brows, lashes, and keratin," she reminisced. Nowadays, she trims, files, and moisturizes her nails at home, and visits to the salon are no longer part of her schedule.
This contrasts sharply with the current cost of beauty services in Cuba, where a basic manicure can cost around 500 Cuban pesos, and keratin treatments can reach up to 9,000 CUP depending on hair length—prices that many Cuban women considered routine expenses.
Perfumes: From Luxury to Nonexistent
Next, she mentioned her love for perfumes. In Cuba, she adored expensive fragrances—especially men's—and didn't hesitate to invest in them. Since moving, she hasn't purchased a single bottle.
"Since living here, I haven't bought one, literally, I don't wear perfume," she stated. She partially attributes this change to pregnancy, which left her unable to tolerate any scents. Now, she substitutes with shower gel, body lotion, scented laundry beads, and hair perfumes. "People in America smell nice because of perfume, but it's really the fabric softener that smells good," she quipped humorously.
Impulsive Shopping: A Thing of the Past
The third habit she described is impulsive shopping. She recalled how, with just 20 dollars—or its Cuban currency equivalent—she would enter a store and leave with chocolates and "junk" without acquiring anything of practical value.
"I remember having 20 dollars in hand and I'd enter a store, leaving with junk, only snacks, like chocolate, and when I got home, I had nothing useful," she recounted. In contrast, at a European supermarket, she carefully examines each item before adding it to her cart and avoids spending on alcohol or nightclub entries.
This reflection is part of a growing trend among Cuban expatriates who share their lifestyle changes on social media, particularly in Spain and other European countries. While some describe new luxuries they can afford abroad, others—like @legmyross—highlight the inverse: indulgences in Cuba that have become less important overseas.
The cultural importance of personal care in Cuba, social pressures, and the relatively lower cost of aesthetic services on the island partly explain why many emigrants experienced better personal grooming in Cuba than abroad, at least in terms of self-image.
"I remember going with five dollars and one dollar to look back," the author concluded, encapsulating with a single image the different relationship she had with money while living on the island.
Understanding Lifestyle Changes for Cuban Emigrants
What are some expenses Cuban emigrants prioritize differently in Europe?
Many Cuban emigrants, like @legmyross, have shifted priorities, often spending less on beauty services, perfumes, and impulsive buys compared to their time in Cuba.
Why do Cuban emigrants spend less on beauty services abroad?
The higher costs and different cultural attitudes towards beauty services in Europe compared to Cuba lead many emigrants to reduce spending in this area.
How has fragrance use changed for Cuban emigrants in Europe?
Some, like @legmyross, have stopped using perfumes altogether, often due to personal changes such as pregnancy or a shift to more practical scent alternatives.