If you are of an improved SES as an adult, what items/products did you start buying?

[Anonymous]

Butter (instead of margarine!)

Salmon.

European vacations.

Better brands of clothes.

Better restaurants.

Just buying what I need/want without stress/delay.

[Anonymous]

Sending DC to my K-12 private school full pay after I was on financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Smart toilet.
Cook who comes to our house two times a week.
Housekeeper.

[Anonymous]

I started getting mediums just because I can. Medium ice creams, drinks, coffees. Growing up, getting anything out was a real treat and we were only allowed to get a kiddie size, small, or something off the budget menu like a plain vanilla cone for 99 cents. I feel accomplished every time I get my medium now, but still only let my kids get smalls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to spend my hard earned money on local talented artists. Nothing gives me more pleasure than buying art. I also have more time to be an artist myself. I love buying paint supplies and watching YouTube videos of artists and following along.

Me too! Specifically pottery. My entire dinnerware set is handmade pottery from an artist I met at a farmers market in Durham, NC. I have had it at least two years and it seriously brings be SO much job every time I eat dinner. They're not only beautiful, but they're the perfect mix between plate/bowl and they're great for things like salads, pastas, rice bowls. I absolutely LOVE them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The red bell peppers. We were only ever allowed to buy the green ones.

So true!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents had high SES but were so frugal so in adulthood I spring for nicer things.

Definitely massages, spa treatments, fancy restaurants, luxurious vacations in five star hotels, high quality clothes, organic foods.

You may not be wealthy for long.

Wow, quite the judgmental post. My husband and I both work hard and do well, no kids. I don't get massages and spa treatments frequently, but I spring for them occasionally. I also eat at home a lot and cook. We do a really nice vacation once or twice a year. High quality doesn't mean necessarily expensive clothes - but I might spend 200-300 on a dress instead of 50, I am not huge on big labels and don't care about luxury brands.

[Anonymous]

Organic berries and other produce

More freedom purchasing at farmers markets

Organic/green lawn care

Tennis lessons and camps for kid

Totally understand the comment about red/orange/yellow vs green bell peppers! Just paid an extra 20 cents or something on an orange bell pepper instead of green and it felt DECADENT.

I still do things like save paper bags from the bakery to pack lunch, save sturdy takeout containers and hand wash them, etc. Drives DH crazy sometimes but we both grew up in middle class and it’s hard to break habits. His MC family was use once and throw out, overflowing waste cans full of Kleenex and paper towels household. My family was the save and wash Ziplock bags and save Folgers jars immigrant mentality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quality food. Housekeepers. Bombas. Love my fancy socks. I’m a simple gal.

Bombas are fancy socks? The one time I tried them, all three pairs developed holes really quickly. No thanks, bad quality.

I didn't realize that green peppers vs. fully ripened peppers were a thing? I loved green peppers as a kid, refused to eat red or yellow ones!

We definitely spend more on fresh fruits and vegetables than my family did as a kid. I still go by sales though, wherever I'm buying!

[Anonymous]

Out of season produce.

Berries. Though I still don’t buy them unless they are on sale.

[Anonymous]

Pasture eggs

Pasture meat

Organic produce

Eczema safe lotion, which is like $14 a tub at the drugstore! Similarly, tinted moisturizer at $35+ a tube.

Lots of organic plants, potting mix, etc doe gardening. Still balk at buying pretty planter pots (why are pots like $90+?! Even $40 a pot seems like a lot.).

I am a lot more willing to spend on hobbies, which for me is education, music, and gardening. Spent $50 on a picture book writing course (did wait a few months for a sale, usually it’s $90). Spend on hardcover books now instead of paperback everything. Thinking of buying an upgraded piano (have a starter Yamaha upright I bought used for $3500). Thinking of buying a couple expensive trellises to grow roses on the south side of the house. Want to put in a rose covered arch as well.

[Anonymous]

I’m a PP but I forgot to mention I spend more on clothing, which always seems frivolous to me. I bought all organic cotton boxers for my kid and organic non-toxic dyed lounge pants for me. We do both have very sensitive skin. Poly pajama pants make both of us break out in rash! I buy shoes more often, instead of wearing the same beat up sneakers for 3 years at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regular massage. Lawn service. Really high quality, local food. Good white t-shirts.

Where do you buy your tshirts?

[Anonymous]

For all the massage goers, where do you find good MTs? I’ve tried the Massage Envy type places as well as “luxe” places and it’s been hard to get a decent massage. At best it’s just Ok. At worst I hurt afterwards (not in a good way).

[Anonymous]

higher end shampoo