Financial Choices

[HundredK]

My husband and I just spent $90 on a bottle of Scotch at Costco last night. We both like Scotch and didn't celebrate our anniversary, so we decided to splurge. Neither of us care for it. It is barely ok and we expected to have our socks knocked off. We need to stop buying alcohol from Costco because we have a huge Binny's right by our house and we can taste the Scotch before we buy it there.

Doesn't Costco let you return just about anything? I do agree though, I don't ever buy alcohol from there, they rarely carry the good brands. In fact, I don't even have a Costco membership anymore. They carry middle of the road stuff, and I find there are better deals if you keep an eye out for sales at other markets.

[msomnipotent]

Doesn't Costco let you return just about anything? I do agree though, I don't ever buy alcohol from there, they rarely carry the good brands. In fact, I don't even have a Costco membership anymore. They carry middle of the road stuff, and I find there are better deals if you keep an eye out for sales at other markets.

Nope, no returns on open alcohol. I'm not even sure if you can return unopened alcohol. Now that I think about it, we have returned a few bottles of opened wine to Binny's in the past without a problem. Yet another strike against Costco! I wished they still sold the Scotch my husband likes. It was $42 at Costco and it is $60 at Binny's.

[snafu]

Do I have it backwards? We make our financial choices in order to have the funds to spend or splurge on the things we love to do and bring joy even in anticipation of results. It's incredibly easy to cut back spending in things that don't matter, don't negatively impact our day-by-day living. I drive a ridiculously old car because I like it as much today as I did when I made the decision to buy it. We pay an outrageous amount for tier 3 Cable so that DH can have his 'fix' of CNN. I take contracts in other countries to facilitate our desire to travel and try out 'living other cultures' but knowing we can fly to safety if things get tough. I understand the lottery/casino thing because it's fun to 'gamble' on individual stocks. The rush from getting a 10 bagger is indescribable.

On the other hand, I have an unreasonable aversion to paying interest and go to silly lengths to work out avoidance. We paid off our first house in 13 years with razor focus on interest on the amotorization schedule. I buy major purchases on the CC one day after cut-off date so that I have at least 3 pay cycles to ensure I can clear the balance from cash flow. I don't care to eat in restaurants because most of it is frozen, prepackaged, full of unpronounceable chemicals, salt, fat and sugar.

I'm likely over influenced by family and personal history of medical problems that are life threatening.

[phantom]

I need a place to sample the booze before I buy. I have purchased a few different Rums this year that I did not enjoy. And each time I ended up saying "I should have stuck with my Bacardi"

My husband's solution to this has been to start a Whiskey Club. He and a group of friends get together once a month to try different whiskey. One person buys a new bottle each time. Whatever they don't drink, they add to the club stash. I think they have about 7 different bottles right now. Everyone has different tastes, so if one person doesn't like something, someone else usually does. Some people like scotch, some bourbon, some ryes, and many of them have discovered new things that they actually enjoy more than their previous favorites. I almost wish I liked whiskey so I could join in.

[disneysteve]

I need a place to sample the booze before I buy.

I believe that's called a bar.

It isn't a free sample, but it's much cheaper to buy a shot at your local watering hole before committing to buying a whole bottle

[DaveInPgh]

My husband's solution to this has been to start a Whiskey Club. He and a group of friends get together once a month to try different whiskey. One person buys a new bottle each time. Whatever they don't drink, they add to the club stash. I think they have about 7 different bottles right now. Everyone has different tastes, so if one person doesn't like something, someone else usually does. Some people like scotch, some bourbon, some ryes, and many of them have discovered new things that they actually enjoy more than their previous favorites. I almost wish I liked whiskey so I could join in.

That is a great idea except that all of my friends that I socialize with are beer drinkers.

[DaveInPgh]

I believe that's called a bar.

It isn't a free sample, but it's much cheaper to buy a shot at your local watering hole before committing to buying a whole bottle

Ha! I don't even like to buy the tiny one serving bottles because they are not a great deal. It is extremely rare for me to go to a bar.

What I think is the better solution is for phantom to hook me up with an invite to her husband's Whiskey Club

[Singuy]

My downfall is that I intend to spend in excess for my house. I think it's the thought of "oh the value is still there, so it's not like I am throwing money away like alcohol/expensive dinners" that gets me. I live in way too big of a house and pay way too much in property taxes. But infact I know I am throwing money away. Property taxes, HOA fees, insurance, 8% return I could be getting..etc etc.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

So do I. But I need a place to live. and my husband hates the idea of being a landlord. So we'll spend too much on a house.

But I am impressed with the number of people on here who are drinkers.

[phantom]

Ha! I don't even like to buy the tiny one serving bottles because they are not a great deal. It is extremely rare for me to go to a bar.

What I think is the better solution is for phantom to hook me up with an invite to her husband's Whiskey Club

That's exactly why the whiskey club got started. My husband enjoys whiskey bars, but has a hard time paying $20 for a shot if he can get a bottle for $60. (I don't remember the exact numbers he uses, but it's something like that.) I'll PM you some details.

[DaveInPgh]

That's exactly why the whiskey club got started. My husband enjoys whiskey bars, but has a hard time paying $20 for a shot if he can get a bottle for $60. (I don't remember the exact numbers he uses, but it's something like that.) I'll PM you some details.

I often go into the liquor store with the intent to buy the 750ml and end up buying the 1.75L bottle because it is a better deal.

Of course that also makes it easier to exceed desired consumption levels when you have such a big bottle.

[scfr]

I don't currently have "financial regrets" regarding spending. But I do have some very minor ones that I don't lose any sleep over --- they are worth it because they are in the interest of marital harmony.

I'd like to buy some more Series EE savings bonds, but DH doesn't want to because he doesn't think he'll be around in 20 years. Never mind that I might be!

I'd like to at least consider buying some munis but that ain't gonna happen.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I'll admit to buying 6 bottles of wine because you get 10% off knowing we'll consume it eventually.

[GoodSteward]

I don't drink so I save a ton on alcohol

[DaveInPgh]

I don't drink so I save a ton on alcohol