buying yourself something nice

[Caoineag]

Hmmm...hard to answer.

My normal splurge is out to eat which I have been cutting back on.

My big splurges depends on the item. My LCD TV 720p 32"(not the 1080p I originally wanted but I still couldn't justify the higher one) took me over a year to buy. But when my much wanted ps3 (Final Fantasy Addict) went on sale plus they were discontinuing backwards compatibility on all other models (I got the 60gb ps3 and I own tons of ps2 and ps1 games), I made room in my budget by cutting back on my other splurges (groceries and out to eat).

Usually I try to wait a year for my really big ones, sometimes more if they are really expensive but my little splurges I am trying to get to once a week or less...

[Scanner]

How long do you plan on staying in your house? That's probably the biggest factor you should consider.

Sweeps,

Barring any major life changes (job loss, disability, etc), after our unplanned pregnancy, I told my DW to take a good look at our house - this is it. This is the house we will be in, probably even if we can afford something more.

Last year, we drove through a nice neighborhood - about the same size houses as ours but an acre of land. Really well done neighborhood - sprawling land for our kids to actually play on. My wife said, "I want to live the good life." I know she wanted to live there.

But truthfully, with the business, a baby on the way (and I am hoping the Twin-O-Meter is broken), I just don't think I can care for that amount of property. I like lawn care but the idea of riding a tractor 3 hours every Saturday. . .I don't know. . .if I was retired, I'd do it. I'm just pulled so many different directions.

Funny thing is, I think she's releived to know this is our house, the house the kids will grow up in. Maybe she's growing old but she's more accustomed to just "settling" and not being so ambitious.

So. . .the short answer, we'll be a long time in this house, our McMansion.

So. . .can I have the endlesspool?

[disneysteve]

I pretty much buy what I want. But, I usually ask myself do I really want it and will I use it. I don't buy more than I can afford and don't have debt.

I almost never buy myself much of anything.

When we do buy something special, it is something that we have really wanted for a long time and have saved up money to afford.

These quotes describe me pretty well. If there is something I really want and know I will make use of, I buy it as long as the price is reasonable. Most commonly, a "treat" will be a nice but practical item, like new cookware or a top-quality kitchen knife. I'm not one to buy frivolous things. One exception is items for our collection of Walt Disney memorabilia, though in recent years, we've drastically slowed our collecting. Years ago, we routinely spent a few thousand/year on items to add to our collection. Now, we may only pick up one or two pieces a year.

Like some others, I like to splurge with a nice meal out or a trip to the casino. I'd rather do that anyday than buy some useless piece of junk that will end up on our yard sale table in a few years.

[cschin4]

So. . .can I have the endlesspool?


Do you want to do pool care? Do you want to maintain the water, clean it , add the chemicals, etc? Do you want to maintain the filtration system and so forth?
If you like to swim, why not get a local YMCA membership and swim there a couple of times a week? They do the maintainence and you get to swim laps in a real pool. I would think swimming in place would get quite boring in a short time.

[Scanner]

The local Y is 28 minute drive away. There is a pool about 15 minutes away in a gym and I actually went there about 2-3 weeks ago and got a temporay 1 week free membership.

I was going to convert it into a full membership when the wife dropped the pregnancy bomb. It's not the money as so much the time. 15 minutes there. . .15 minutes back. . .30 minute workout. 2 kids and now a baby.

But if it was down my basement, I do it. I'd make the kids do it as I sat in a chair and coached them with a whistle. I know I would. I lovvvvvve to swim. BAck and forth, back and forth (or in place). The sound of bubbles in my ear.

I would swear too. . .I feel better and get less disease.

[Fizgig]

I have a "splurge account" that I automatically deposit money to with each paycheck, just like my long term savings, house account, retirement accounts. If I really, really want something and there's enough money in the splurge account, the purchase is fair game.

My biggest spluge recently was $100 for a friend's used iPod. Before that, it was $700 for a trip to Florida to watch last June's space shuttle launch.

[Broken Arrow]

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with buying... anything really.

So long as it's a meaningful purchase, and more importantly, it is done within reason and without compromising the budget.

[kimiko]

Small stuff (less than $10)
Mocha...actually it turns into Jamba now

Medium Stuff(less than $100)
Games, games and more games, Anime too.

Large stuff ($100+)
Electronic gadgets, and PS3(maybe, someday)

The lust for the PS3 cooled considerably when I saw the price tag. There is no way I'm spending an entire month income on toy. Is it just me or had electronic went through quite a bit of price upgrade lately? A couple of years ago it was a few hundreds max, now we're talking thousands. Electronic is is the most depreciating assets, and yet people keep shelling out full price for them. I just don't understand it.