Discussion on my purchase?

[CoryWM]

So Saturday my cell phone starts going on the fritz, randomly shutting off, droping calls, contact service error etc. Now I rely on my phone alot, for 1) My gf is going to school outa state. We talk for free because we have the same cell phone carrier. 2) I am "on call" this week for my work, and having a cell phone makes my life a ton easier. 3) I am Duplex/house hunting and my cell phone is my call back number.

Anyways, my purchase was a cell phone. The past two months, I've thought it'd be cool to get a new cell phone, as mine was about 14 months old. And t-mobile would give me a deal and/or free phone if I resubscribed for 1-2 years depending on phone etc. Eventually I decided that, I didn't need a new phone, and locking in another year or two wasn't the smartest, because me and the gf were talking about getting a new phone plan to save money in the future.

Well I end up buying THE phone I was looking for, but t-mobile didnt carry anymore ( They also didn't carry it when I was looking 2 months ago) So I did pay more but i got the phone I actually was searching for.MOTOROLA PEBL U6 ORANGE UNLOCKED T-MOBILE/CINGULAR NEW! - (item 320138577019 end time Jul-21-07 16:58:39 PDT)

I end up spending roughly $170 for the phone I wanted... But I feel like if I would have given into my impulse a month or two ago, I would have actually saved money.

Does this happen to others, something becomes a necessary replacement, and you go overboard with spending?

The same thing happened to my subwoofers in my car. They gave up the ghost about 6 months ago. I went without. Until I missed them enough that I decided I wanted to replace them. I figured it's about the only item that I continually enjoyed for 7 years(how long I had and used them) and that it'd be a worthy item for me to buy.

I then liquidated some other fun items on ebay. And ended up spending 1100 on subs and a new amp etc. When I could have gone a cheaper route.

It seems like I've mastered the I can live without that attitude. However when something I am living with breaks, I end up upgrading. I can remember doing it for computers, bikes, cars etc. I am always in a better financial situation than I was when i got the item before.

Is this seen as a bad practice or justified because the money is spent on well used items that are only being replaced due to wearing them out?

[CoryWM]

Furthermore, I am finding this line of thinking carrying over to my duplex/house rental shopping. I deally I'd like to stay under 1000 a month including utilities. However Most of the places I view in my range, don't seem up to my standards. Living near seattle rent isn't the cheapest. 1000 a month can get you anywhere from 800-1600 square feet, from painted shut windows to double paned energy package etc. However most are leaning to the side of amateur renovations, with house conversions too duplexs due to not being able to afford their mortages.

So I find myself constantly thinking, if I'd just spend 1200+ utilities I could get a nice duplex/house, which is true, they're leaps and bounds better. And I would share the rent with my girlfriend. However 2-300 dollars more a month, would be almost 1800 more a year I could be saving.

I'm having a hard time settling... I feel like either I need to live in the ghetto for 675 a month or somewhere I'd actually like to call home, with parking for two, not being street parking and maybe even a garage for 1200+ a month.

I feel like if I take anything inbetween I'm just cheating myself.

What would you do? Spend a little more for a place you enjoy and would want to stay at for 2-5 years while saving for a house or try and live cheaper?

I'd say our monthly income is/will be 4-5000 a month. I say will be, because she has to finish an externship. She's a baker from Cordon bleu of Portland.

[humandraydel]

This is really a nearly impossible question to answer. Every situation is different. I would say that if you are saving at least 10-20% of your income then the extra for rent is more acceptable. If saving an extra $300 per month is a lot to you though, it'd be wise to go with the lower rent. I can't help but notice that $300 x 12 = $3600 which would make a large dent in your $4800 line of credit!