What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A beach house. I really want one in theory, but I know that we'd never actually be able to go to it.

Private school. My kids prefer to stay with neighborhood kids.

Country Club. I cannot stand the pretentiousness out them.

In defense of country clubs, if you like to play a lot of golf, it's not a bad investment. One of the clubs in close-in DC is like $75k up-front and like $1,000/month but includes unlimited golf for husband, spouse, kids under 26, has a gym, pool, etc. You can easily pay $150+/round for golf on a nice course, plus you may pay say another $500/month for family gym/pool membership.

If the whole family is playing golf, that's $600 a pop. So, based on how many times you play and who plays, you are saving possibly $1000+ per week, not to mention the course is far less crowded than courses open to the public and it's a 10 minute drive from Upper NW DC/Bethesda, so you can decide to just go play 9 holes in the evening if you want.

A friend who is really not a country club type laid it all out, and I had to admit the numbers were actually compelling...again, if you like to play a lot of golf. This guy plays at least 2x a week in the dead of winter.

Most people don’t have that kind of free time. Golf isn’t a good hobby for parents of young kids - it’s too time consuming and not fair to the other parent.

Also, I’ve yet to meet a country club member who isn’t snobby and doesn’t think they are too good to hang around regular people. It’s just not our style.

Because normal people don't play golf 2x/week+ year round and have young kids. It's just not possible to have an activity that requires so much time and money and be present for your kids (all while working a FT job as well)

[Anonymous]

Expensive cars; sticking with mid-range or cheaper
Dining out at expensive restaurants or much dining out at all
Club memberships
Expensive hotels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't buy expensive sunglasses. They get lost or broken way too easily, especially with small kids.

I never understood this craze either. But my prescription sunglasses are pricey and I can’t do anything about that.

Warby Parker or other online places will help you save money on prescription glasses. I have a really strong prescription and my glasses from my eye doctor used to cost $500. Now they are $150.

Really? I have a strong script and when I priced the titanium frame, the thin lenses, the progressive lens with the light changing option, they priced out at $700. That's what I pay at the eye doctor.

[Anonymous]

A Rolex.

I keep toying with the idea of getting one, but I haven’t pulled the trigger. I have decided that I hate my Apple Watch. I do not like being this connected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A beach house. I really want one in theory, but I know that we'd never actually be able to go to it.

Private school. My kids prefer to stay with neighborhood kids.

Country Club. I cannot stand the pretentiousness out them.

+1 to all of these. Skipping the latter two also keeps me away from the kinds of people I dislike. Also luxury brand anything (cars, clothes, shoes.) I buy for quality and durability but not for label.

What generic car do you buy? I am the PP and I love cars and spend a lot of money on them. I want to be comfortable for the hours I drive a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm worth about 25M.

There are lots of things I can afford that I don't buy, lots of things I want that I cannot afford, and a few things I want that no money can buy

Regardless of how much you have, OP, the above largely holds true.

I agree with this 100%!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A beach house. I really want one in theory, but I know that we'd never actually be able to go to it.

Private school. My kids prefer to stay with neighborhood kids.

Country Club. I cannot stand the pretentiousness out them.

+1 to all of these. Skipping the latter two also keeps me away from the kinds of people I dislike. Also luxury brand anything (cars, clothes, shoes.) I buy for quality and durability but not for label.

What generic car do you buy? I am the PP and I love cars and spend a lot of money on them. I want to be comfortable for the hours I drive a day.

I doubt there is any car I could list that you wouldn’t bash. You should spend your money as you wish, just like I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A boat.

That is a very good one. I have less than zero interest in owning a boat!

But I want a boat.

[Anonymous]

I always buy used cars that are a year or two old with 15,000 miles or less. Basically new cars at a steep discount. The initial depreciation on a new car is staggering. Works well unless you’re picky about color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always buy used cars that are a year or two old with 15,000 miles or less. Basically new cars at a steep discount. The initial depreciation on a new car is staggering. Works well unless you’re picky about color.

This was always the case but less so in the post covid era now

[Anonymous]

Extra guac and queso...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Extra guac and queso...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A beach house. I really want one in theory, but I know that we'd never actually be able to go to it.

Private school. My kids prefer to stay with neighborhood kids.

Country Club. I cannot stand the pretentiousness out them.

Country clubs are pretty great if you play golf. Otherwise, yeah, pretentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A new car.

I’ve never bought a new car. I always think that I would like one but I don’t do it.

I pulled the trigger on this and it was amazing. I'd always bought used cars before, it makes sense to do so given how much a car depreciates the minute you drive it off of the lot. But 9 years ago I decided I wanted a new one, and I got one. And 9 years later I'm still driving the same car, and it still feels new to me. I love the feeling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't buy expensive sunglasses. They get lost or broken way too easily, especially with small kids.

I never understood this craze either. But my prescription sunglasses are pricey and I can’t do anything about that.

Once you try Maui Jims (including prescriptions) you won't go back to anything else. They are such high quality lenses and last forever (but I don't typically break mine or loose them, I'm used to having prescriptions so any sunglasses are too valuable to "loose")

+1

I've been wearing a pair of Maui Jims that I bought at Costco for years now. I love Ray Ban Wayfarers and these are pretty much the same thing, but lighter weight, which is much better for me. They cost me a tiny bit more than the Ray Bans, but I like them better given that they are lightweight.