s/o on other thread...things you probably spend too much money on but think it's worth it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't spending money great sometimes? Here are some of my things:

- Groceries - I go to Costco like the rest of you but I also enjoy high quality produce and meat and organic stuff at Whole Foods that I know is probably overpriced but it feels nice to buy and eat. I honestly barely look at the prices unless it's ridiculous. $8 for milk from pasture raised cows? Works for me.
- Workout clothes - I'll spend $50-$100 on nice Lululemon gear and the quality is awesome and looks great.
- Appliances/technology - I've paid a good amount for very highly rated blenders, food processors, TVs, headphones, etc. They work well and last a long time.
- Baby gear when my kids were little. I bought that $1000 Uppbaby stroller and subscribed to Lovevery kits. I can afford it so why the heck not?
- Subscriptions. I subscribe to Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Apple TV - all of them! I love my shows and they bring me a lot of happiness.

All of these are dumb except for organic foods and good appliances. Materialistic snowplow parent + screen addict is not a great combo.

Private school + travel are the only luxuries worth spending $$$$ on.

I just looked up snowplow parent. Interesting that you can assume what kind of style parenting I have based on 2 things I bought. A lot of baby gear is for the parents to make their lives easier, not to spoil their kids, btw.

I actually don’t have that much time to watch TV (kids, housework, etc) but when a good show is on I will pay to watch it. Hopefully you have hobbies you enjoy too other than private school and travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a bit silly for people with high HHIs to talk about splurging. It’s far more interesting to hear about splurges if you don’t make much money because it truly is a splurge then.

Also, is “splurging” on travel THAT much more enjoyable than traveling affordably? My favorite part about traveling is sightseeing and it doesn’t really cost that much money if that’s your goal. I splurged on an expensive hotel for my honeymoon and didn’t feel like it made the trip that much better compared to a regular hotel or Airbnb.

[Anonymous]

We are not millionaires ($225k HHI) but we “splurge” on the following: monthly housecleaners, kids’ activities (not travel sport level splurge, but kids get music and dance/tennis lessons) and nice groceries/wine for regular “date” nights/small dinner parties at home. Home dates/entertaining save us the cost of a babysitter and Uber so I guess that’s a frugal choice as well! We also buy nice shoes and cold weather gear for all family members because there is no bad weather, only bad gear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a bit silly for people with high HHIs to talk about splurging. It’s far more interesting to hear about splurges if you don’t make much money because it truly is a splurge then.

Ha, that's what I thought too.
This thread really turned when those really high HHIs jumped in with both feet to list normal (to them) stuff they spend their money on.

[Anonymous]

Domestic first class tickets. But we never go overseas and we stay in cheap hotels or vacation rentals, so it feels worth it.

[Anonymous]

Growing my own food
Clothes not made in sweatshops

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Produce and meats - I buy from WF because the quality of the produce is much better than at my local supermarket. I pay extra at WF for meat, eggs, and dairy that have a humane label.

Clothes and shoes - I rarely buy but when I do I spend $$$ on quality things that will last me 10, 20 years or longer.

Doctor - I go to an expensive internist who doesn't take insurance. Upside is I never wait for an appointment and the doctor takes their time to be thorough.

Hotels on vacation - I'll splurge.

I'm really frugal in other areas to the point where family members joke about it. Reusing ziplocs, anyone?

Reusing Ziploc bags but voluntarily paying out of pocket for all medical services is objectively dumb.

NP. I have Tricare and pay out of pocket for lots of stuff. Worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Domestic first class tickets. But we never go overseas and we stay in cheap hotels or vacation rentals, so it feels worth it.

Our HHI is only $200k, for whatever that's worth. We spend entirely too much on travel, and I dread the day DH wakes up and realizes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel - lots of it. This year 3 trips to Europe, 1 to Asia, 2 long weekends in the Caribbean and one trip out west.

Activities for my kids - sleepaway camp, private sport and music lessons.

Food - whatever I want at the grocery store, plus fresh fish from an expensive fish market, meat from an organic farm, milk and eggs from South Mountain, fruit and veg from the farmers market

I don’t care about cars, jewelry, electronics

Do you worry at all about your environmental impact with that much long haul travel?

Their environmental impact? Presumable they’re flying commercial. The flights are going whether they’re on them or not. Eye roll, from a moderate Democrat who is very much pro-environment

That’s just such incredibly bad logic I don’t know where to start. And since I assume you’re not an idiot I think you could figure it out for yourself but don’t want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gel manicures. Pretty nails make me foolishly happy.

Nice VRBOs when we travel - we have three kids and want to be comfortable.

Fresh flowers, weekly.

Whenever I order from Wegmans on Instacart - I know I’m paying too much, but get slightly giddy from all the options.

Twins! Except I don't do my nails. No judgement.

But travel is my splurge. Usually VRBOs because the kids are very picky about food and I want to be able to cook for them.

Flowers are fresh all the time.

Something about that Wegmans order on Instacart. I know it adds up, but when I want to splurge that's where I go.

Love it! Already thinking about that next Wegmans order…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a bit silly for people with high HHIs to talk about splurging. It’s far more interesting to hear about splurges if you don’t make much money because it truly is a splurge then.

Also, is “splurging” on travel THAT much more enjoyable than traveling affordably? My favorite part about traveling is sightseeing and it doesn’t really cost that much money if that’s your goal. I splurged on an expensive hotel for my honeymoon and didn’t feel like it made the trip that much better compared to a regular hotel or Airbnb.

It makes a difference for me, but it also depends on the trip. We stayed in a fairly no frills but clean and cute boutique hotel in Paris, because it was centrally located and we spent very little time in the room.

Contrast to Disney world, where we’ve been twice recently- once at the four seasons and once at the yacht club. The yacht club felt old, tired, dark and dirty. The furniture was all beat up and vanities were peeling. I was afraid to put anything on the upholstered couch because god only knows when it was cleaned. It made being in the hotel unenjoyable. I suppose it’s less a factor of luxury and more of a factor of being clean and updated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lol so what's the Swedish clog brand? I like my Birkenstocks, they are a splurge for me

+1 I want a happy back at whatever the price!

Well my fellow cloggers - there's always trusty Danskos and Sanitas. Those are the ones that doctors and chefs wear. I also like them for walking.

The ones I go broke over are Svens: https://svensclogs.com/

The most fashion-y clogs you can find, that are still great for your back, are No 6. They are ungodly expensive. I've never bought a pair new; one day! https://no6store.com/collections/clogs-all

Others to check out:

Sandgrens: https://sandgrensclogs.com/

Troentorps (these run large): https://troentorpsclogs.com/

Lotta from Stockholm (this place carries some other brands, and also has in-house made clogs): https://www.lottafromstockholm.co.uk/

I haven't yet bought a pair of Magubas so I can't speak to their sizing or comfort, but they are pretty: https://www.maguba.com/

Swedish Hasbeens run a little narrow in my experience: https://www.swedishhasbeens.com/

I can keep going if you want - I have spent more time than anyone ought to have, thinking about clogs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Domestic first class tickets. But we never go overseas and we stay in cheap hotels or vacation rentals, so it feels worth it.

Our HHI is only $200k, for whatever that's worth. We spend entirely too much on travel, and I dread the day DH wakes up and realizes it.

Ours is about $200k, too, which I fully recognize is very high compared to the world - and is not considered remotely rich by DCUM standards. We're the clogs and good food people. We also have housecleaners every three weeks or so, which feels like a huge splurge.

[Anonymous]

We are very much an experiences-not-stuff family and throw gobs of money at travel, camps for kids, a house cleaner, etc

But I buy myself a $27 deodorant and fancy designer lipstick

[Anonymous]

Hobbies. I have a full studio in my home for my hobby that has about 100k in equipment. We have a horse.

Private school for kid but for special needs so not sure that is not necessary spending.

Vacations multiple times a year but try to save money doing them.