Help me break DH’s “sunk cost” mindset

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[Post New]09/13/2023 07:42
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Anonymous
DH wants to buy something frivolous that’s around $1000. It’s not really in the budget right now, especially considering it’s frivolity.

He has some sporting equipment he hasn’t used since between 2018-2020; it just sits in our garage and basement, and he’s been meaning to sell it for a while now—only his idea of its value is grossly inflated for older, used sporting equipment.

I took survey of the items and explained to him that if he posted the stuff on Marketplace today and priced it dirt cheap to move, he’d have $1000 and his new item by the weekend, adding that right now, the items sit and are valued at $0. He insists he could get more for the items, which I suppose he could with time. But if he practically gave everything away today, he’d have the money he needs for the thing he covets right now.

So am I wrong to think this way? The stuff is worthless just sitting there. How can I get him to see that?
[Post New]09/13/2023 07:45
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:DH wants to buy something frivolous that’s around $1000. It’s not really in the budget right now, especially considering it’s frivolity.

He has some sporting equipment he hasn’t used since between 2018-2020; it just sits in our garage and basement, and he’s been meaning to sell it for a while now—only his idea of its value is grossly inflated for older, used sporting equipment.

I took survey of the items and explained to him that if he posted the stuff on Marketplace today and priced it dirt cheap to move, he’d have $1000 and his new item by the weekend, adding that right now, the items sit and are valued at $0. He insists he could get more for the items, which I suppose he could with time. But if he practically gave everything away today, he’d have the money he needs for the thing he covets right now.

So am I wrong to think this way? The stuff is worthless just sitting there. How can I get him to see that?


The stuff is not generating money as is but they are not "worthless". Give him 30 days to do it his way or you put it on whatever to sell them.
[Post New]09/13/2023 07:47
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Anonymous
I mean, if he thinks the old equipment is worth more, that doesn't seem like a problem as long as he agrees to sell it to finance the new purchase. That's the deal I would strike - it doesn't matter at all what the equipment is worth as long as there's a world where it comes close to covering the frivolous purchase.

If he's right, you guys have extra money at the end. If you're right, it's a net zero.
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:01
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Anonymous
I'm struggling to figure out what this scenario has to do with sunk costs.
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:02
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:DH wants to buy something frivolous that’s around $1000. It’s not really in the budget right now, especially considering it’s frivolity.

He has some sporting equipment he hasn’t used since between 2018-2020; it just sits in our garage and basement, and he’s been meaning to sell it for a while now—only his idea of its value is grossly inflated for older, used sporting equipment.

I took survey of the items and explained to him that if he posted the stuff on Marketplace today and priced it dirt cheap to move, he’d have $1000 and his new item by the weekend, adding that right now, the items sit and are valued at $0. He insists he could get more for the items, which I suppose he could with time. But if he practically gave everything away today, he’d have the money he needs for the thing he covets right now.

So am I wrong to think this way? The stuff is worthless just sitting there. How can I get him to see that?


The stuff is worthless *to you.* How can we get you to see that?
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:22
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'm struggling to figure out what this scenario has to do with sunk costs.


Same.
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:26
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Anonymous
Why not just let him posted at the price he thinks?
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:31
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Anonymous
If items brought you joy, you would not want to unload them at fire-sale prices either. How about apply the golden rule here?
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:56
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I mean, if he thinks the old equipment is worth more, that doesn't seem like a problem as long as he agrees to sell it to finance the new purchase. That's the deal I would strike - it doesn't matter at all what the equipment is worth as long as there's a world where it comes close to covering the frivolous purchase.

If he's right, you guys have extra money at the end. If you're right, it's a net zero.


Pretty much this!
[Post New]09/13/2023 08:58
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Anonymous
Maybe you could make a deal where he gets to buy the new thing and he gets 30 days to sell the equipment, at which point you get to sell it however you see fit.
[Post New]09/13/2023 09:00
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Anonymous
Just stay out of it. If he wants to try and sell the stuff for more money, fine. If it takes longer for him to get his new toy because of that, fine. If he never does it and so never gets the new toy… fine.

Don’t “make him see” anything. You made your case, leave him be.
[Post New]09/13/2023 09:02
quote
Anonymous
As long as he's not buying his new item before selling the old items, there's no problem, OP, right? So let him take his time with this.

I have a husband with ADHD/ASD who hoards because he has a very hard time getting rid of "valuable" stuff (in his case, items that actually have no value). I'd love to have your problem!

[Post New]09/13/2023 09:09
quote
Anonymous
This is not a sunk cost issue. The issue is that he is not accounting for the value of his time. He is also not accounting for the actual sale price.

When I had my first baby, I saw baby things listed for sale and assumed I’d sell my stroller and other large purchases. When the time came to sell my strollers I realized that people are not paying the listed price and not every post in my mommy list serve was sold. In the end I maximized my return by donating the large items to an organization who helps new moms and taking a tax write-off.

The other thing he is not accounting for is the value of his time. I saw moms who sell baby clothes and thought “I can do that!” Except it is a ton of work for a few dollars. Since my time has a cost, I find it more cost effective to donate and itemize taxes or consign special items like the suits my kids wore once in a family wedding. So your husband can probably find a buyer at his desired price - but at what cost for the effort and time until the sale?
[Post New]09/13/2023 09:10
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Maybe you could make a deal where he gets to buy the new thing and he gets 30 days to sell the equipment, at which point you get to sell it however you see fit.


Why does she need to solve this for him? Why should her time and effort be free? The only benefit to her is that he stops talking about it.
[Post New]09/13/2023 09:13
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe you could make a deal where he gets to buy the new thing and he gets 30 days to sell the equipment, at which point you get to sell it however you see fit.


Why does she need to solve this for him? Why should her time and effort be free? The only benefit to her is that he stops talking about it.


Fair but as far as he's concerned, there is nothing to solve. This is an issue for OP, not for DH.
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