AnnRichards was visiting me over the new year, and I was hemming a new pair of jeans I bought at Costco. The jeans were Sevens, and I paid way, way too much money for them. (Okay, fine, confessional is open: they were $115, before tax.) As I worked, I mused to AnnRichards about how I was really developing rich people's tastes. He laughed in my face, saying, "You are sitting there, hemming your own jeans, that you bought at COSTCO, and you are telling me you are developing rich people's tastes?"
I guess he had a point.
But not really. My taste in jeans has become almost irretrievably fancypants (so to speak). I have already confessed to you guys my taste for expensive sunscreen and my absolute refusal to clean my own bathtub. Sure, sure, when I overpay for an item that I really don't need, that I simply want because I enjoy the luxury, I do try to get the best price possible. So those $115 jeans would have cost me $250 at Macy's. But hell, I know that $15 Target jeans (or $10 used one) would have served the purpose just as well.
So what are your unnecessary luxuries? I know for Momcat one is new clothes purchased at places like Talbots. For her, UncleSam and Kipsy, it is buying cars new instead of used. I don't know what it is for Chip. And I know there are more for all of you. The question is: what do you spend on? Come up with all the lame rationalizations you like ("But they fit so well, and they last so much longer!"), but come clean.
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I have already confessed to not cleaning my house - and I have not bought new clothes for over 6 months except shoes. I pay $6.99 for jeans at Goodwill and gripe about the price. (my usual ceiling is $3.99)
ReplyDeleteMy big bad is travel and its accompanying costs such as photographs, postcards, travel guides and maps,and the occasional souvenir. It is a real extravagance improving a mind that is as old as mine, and I no longer go on the cheap (as I did with UTA trips to Israel & Kenya) I require room with bath.
Second luxury is eating out. I spend $250-300 a month at restaurants, but practically nothing for food otherwise. Eating out is my social life.
I guess I need to include plays, concerts and museum memberships as a luxury - the old mind thing again. And books, but I buy used and share with at least one other person.
My book collection is on hold as I re-group my finances, but I will get back to it soon.
I splurge on house cleaners, too, but I've cut down to every other week, until more money comes in. Then I'll be back up to once a week...but I have three kids, a dog, a cat and a housemate!!
ReplyDeleteMy other occassional (did I spell that right?) splurge would be going out to eat. But really I don't splurge on anything for myself these days. The kids still get their classes...does that count as a splurge?
Since when do you have a dog, Chip?
ReplyDeleteWe've had Milkie (short fro Milkshake) since about Feb or March of last year. She was cousin C's dog, which he got cutody of in the divorce. But he was having to keep her in the crate all day while he was at work and felt guilty about that, so he brought her up when he came to visit with his kids, and in a moment of weakness, UncleSam and I agreed to adopt her.
ReplyDeleteNew clothes are a definite for me. I just spent $185 on EddieBauer.com, but I got 3 pairs of pant, 3 tops, a skirt, AND a pair of shorts. They were ALL on sale. It was first clothing purchase of the year. And I don't have a house cleaner. Except me. When I'm in a mood or Coal's mom is coming over. Good dark chocolate is another splurge. I've been out to eat twice all month (both lunch with co-workers and I would have prefered my own cooking).
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of... we're having an ice storm right now (got to come to school 2 hours late!)so I made chili and corn bread last night. I also made that Gee Whiz from the "Uncheese Cookbook." It was soooo good! Chili-cheez cornbread. Yum!
And about the clothes, since I worth with teenagers, I have to dress somewhat fashionable or they won't think I'm hip. I found out yesterday that our ELA teacher heard some of the kids talking and they think that I should be the one teaching health class because I'm healthy. I'm glad I can be a healthy role model for them.
I don't usually buy a new car. This is the first new car I've purchased since the Toyota Tercel over 20 years ago! The only reason I bought new was because I wanted a hybrid because of the emissions and there was no way I was going to find a used Hybrid at that time. I really don't thing that counts as a splurge.
ReplyDeleteI guess my splurge would be that I do tend to buy a new computer every 2 years (although I did hold off for 4 years before buying my last one. At least I now only get a laptop not a desktop with a huge monitor.
Uncle Sam, your computer buying is frugal becasue you pass on the old ones to us...
ReplyDelete