Do you find it hard to splurge?

[Duchesse]

The last time I received a windfall $30,000 I went shopping at macy's and didn't buy a thing. My baby sister was with me, and when my older sister asked her, what did I buy, she replied, "You know her, scared to spend the money." LOL

Maybe I've been saving too long, Do you find it hard to splurge?

[boefixepa]

Splurge?!? ... I'm still waiting for a 30K windfall! (That would more than pay off my second! WOOHHOOO!!)

I got an extra $5 in change at Wal-mart the other day (didn't notice until later) and I felt like I'd won the lottery!

But the answer...sometimes. I have a hard time buying something I didn't PLAN for. If I am saving for something and I reach the goal I have no problem buying it. When I reach my goal the spending it is the reward and I love it!

I have however wondered many stores and walked out with nothig. I just couldn't find anything worth spending my money on!

[Reldon]

I rarely splurge. One month before my vacation comes up, I plan a Vegas trip or some road trip. One week before my vacation, I cancel the trip and stay home.

That is no fun for my friends but everytime I think about the 500 dollars I might have spent, I feel good.

[PrincessPerky]

nope, I could easily spend money...gladdly......might have a hard time settlling on one thing, but I could spend it.

nxt time you have extra, send it my way, I'll spend it .

lessee 30grand...25k to house, 3k to church, 1k to computer/DH junk, 1k loan to BZ for her bills/glasses/drivers ed, 1k to take family out (several outs, one in PA, one here, one in GA, and a second wherever mom is)and new wjite dress shirts (I prefer a proper white dress shirt on a boy, and DS outgrew his ...not letting him wear it out to eat though!)

btw why loan to BZ, not gift, because she needs to learn responsibility...I would start reducing loan for increased help around here though..with my kids/house/internet.

[pearlieq]

It honestly depends on the day. Sometimes I chicken out before making a big purchase, and sometimes I close my eyes and jump in with both feet.

I will say, that I'm usually happy with the outcome either way. I guess there's some truth in the old saying to always trust your gut!

[Great to be Debt Free]

I'd probably go buy a bunch of stuff, and then turn around and return it once I got it home and looked it all over. I am a notorious returner! Although I have gotten better since I am not spending so much to begin with now. LOL

[kealina]

duchesse, that's great about your windfall... maybe you should budget just a little to spend on yourself? i guess i can be hard for savers to spend a little... everybody in my family used to tease me about being tightfisted and even now i am not what anybody would call a spender...

normally i would have a hard time spending a significant amount of money unless it's planned or opportune... maybe save it for now and if you end up going on a trip somewhere or doing something special you can splurge just a little bit extra...

i don't blame you for not being able to find anything while shopping though...i never seem to buy anything by shopping at the mall...

i actually find it easier to encourage others who don't splurge to splurge on themselves than i am at actually splurging on myself... although i think about splurging quite a bit i rarely actually do so... i find it hard to splurge unless i've got a reason (like our wedding) and i need something ...or it's a good opportunity that might not come along again in awhile...for example, a really good sale or something at a garage sale/swap meet that i rarely see or that is exceptionally cheap... it helps if the splurge doesn't cost too much...even when splurging i rarely spend more than $20 on myself...

[Broken Arrow]

I have to try hard NOT to splurge.

Oh come on now, everybody needs an inflatable palm tree and neon martini sign in their living room!

[murphyc]

Splurging for me is like what I found yesterday at my favorite thrift store. I've been watching off and on for a few years for a pair of navy blue leather boots. Low and behold, I found them yesterday, all but brand new, for $3.99. (Navy apparently isn't in right now but I predict it will be sooner or later). I say if it ain't a bargain, it just ain't no fun to even think about buying it. I'd bank the $30,000, windfall or no and daydream for awhile.

Cindy M

[Duchesse]

That's why I love the people on this site, they understand.

[disneysteve]

I'm definitely not a splurger, nor is my wife. I guess that is what keeps us out of trouble.

I hate buying things I don't need or can manage to do without, even when it is something I'd really like to have.

If I got a 30K windfall, chances are I'd invest it before I went out and bought any kind of gift for myself or my family. Although we have been in the market for a shed or the yard. I'd probably take 3K and get the shed finally, but the rest would get invested.

[Ima saver]

I had a piece of property in Florida that I held a mortgage on (just land) and I was supposed to receive payments for 15 years.
About a year later, i received full payment of over $30,000 and i was shocked!1 One of my co workers asked me what i was going to do with it and I said, save it!
She was surprised, she said she would have gone shopping.

I did take $4,000 of it and had central heat/air in the house cause all we had was wood heat and no airconditioning. I put $4000 in our IRA's and I saved the rest.

[Fizgig]

Yeah, I have a hard time. I can talk myself out of any purchase. I really value financial responsibility and saving, but I also want to live a little. I'm very fortunate to be in a good financial position at a young age, and I want to loosen the reins a little. To give myself "permission" I'm trying out something new - I've opened a "splurge account" and I'm going to chuck money in there every month. Maybe if I have the money earmarked as non-productive, I'll let myself actually buy some furniture this year.

[puppypal]

oooooooooo yes indeed! I didn't realize how bad it was until I sub-contracted my new home. I was searching the sales from the beginning to the end! Blushing! I even made the floor man wait an extra two weeks because My tile I wanted was going to be on sale for 33% off . I have to take my hubby to talk me into any major buy. Even just recently, When we bought his car,,,,,did all the research but taking that risk of spending was soooooo hard for me!

[LuxLiving]

Yes and no. Sometimes I make little splurges even now. But I used to make little splurges A LOT! Which means that a lot of little splurges can EAT YOUR LUNCH!!

I do not splurge as often any more and they are usually pre-planned, pre-saved for before I pop off and buy. The biggest place I'd usually splurge was in a thrift or junk store when I'd find something I'd wanted for a long time and bingo there it is in front of me for only $4.99, so I'm keeping myself out of them for the most part anymore! Is 4.99 gonna break me? No - not now, but calculate that out compounded at 8% and my future senior self might just thank me for not splurgin'!! {that's how I rationalize NOT splurging anyway. How do ya'll talk yourselves out of a splurge urge?

[sakigt]

I certainly dont!

I look at everything on a value per dollar basis. If I see something Ill REALLY be happy with, I have no problem spending for it!

Likewise, If I know I wont use something, or I figure its a waste I have NO issue leaving my wallet in my purse.

[Bookie]

I don't really have a problem with cashflow splurges, those little excesses that I can fund out of my normal income stream. There's enough slack in my spending plan to absorb the occasional extravagance, and I refuse to turn my budget into a hairshirt that only fits if it's uncomfortable.

Windfall spending is another matter entirely. The urge to splurge is always tempered by an awareness of how long it would take me to amass a similar amount. Dropping the equivalent of a year's savings on some gadget or other would make me physically ill.

It's hard enough for me to actually spend money I've saved for a scheduled payout -- insurance, say. I'll do my best to to cover a bill out of current income, at least in part, before I dip into money I think of as having been "saved".

[Ima saver]

I just don't have the urge to splurge, but my husband would have no problem buying another old car. He loves them.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by Bookie

Dropping the equivalent of a year's savings on some gadget or other would make me physically ill.

THE POWER OF SHINY COMPELS YOU! THE POWER OF SHINY COMPELS YOU!

[Bookie]

Rather limited it its application, isn't it? I was taught that gentlemen do not sport diamonds except for evening wear, and it's been years since I last attended a white-tie function.