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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Forgot...weekly housecleaner because my husband is useless in that regard.

[Anonymous]

I’m single with an income of $200k. I splurge on cleaners twice a month.

[Anonymous]

Cars. We don’t need to luxury suvs that probably cost us $3500 a month, but we like cars.

[Anonymous]

Convenience on vacation. If we’re skiing, I want to walk out of the hotel and on to the lift. If we’re at the beach, I want to walk to the beach. If there is an option to hire a private guide or book a tour for just our group - sign me up. If it involves a shuttle bus or schlepping the kids with a bunch of gear in the car to get there, it better be freaking amazing and a once in a lifetime event. I would never pay to fly 1st class or pay extra for a hotel nicer than a full service Westin/Marriott/Hilton.

Last summer I paid a company to set up a beach cabana for us and bring us catered lunch at the beach. They also do bonfires and s’mores in the evening. The brought us towels, a cooler, and a trash can. It was a short trip with my beach loving but limited mobility elderly mother - and it made the day so much more fun and relaxing.

Workout clothes. I am such a cheapskate in some areas, but I run before sunrise 12 months of the year. Nice technical gear makes it so much more enjoyable.

Services. Designers, painters, landscapers, cleaners. Unless it’s something I truly enjoy doing, I hire it out. 99% of the time professionals can do it better and faster than me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Convenience on vacation. If we’re skiing, I want to walk out of the hotel and on to the lift. If we’re at the beach, I want to walk to the beach. If there is an option to hire a private guide or book a tour for just our group - sign me up. If it involves a shuttle bus or schlepping the kids with a bunch of gear in the car to get there, it better be freaking amazing and a once in a lifetime event. I would never pay to fly 1st class or pay extra for a hotel nicer than a full service Westin/Marriott/Hilton.

Last summer I paid a company to set up a beach cabana for us and bring us catered lunch at the beach. They also do bonfires and s’mores in the evening. The brought us towels, a cooler, and a trash can. It was a short trip with my beach loving but limited mobility elderly mother - and it made the day so much more fun and relaxing.

Workout clothes. I am such a cheapskate in some areas, but I run before sunrise 12 months of the year. Nice technical gear makes it so much more enjoyable.

Services. Designers, painters, landscapers, cleaners. Unless it’s something I truly enjoy doing, I hire it out. 99% of the time professionals can do it better and faster than me.

Please tell us what beach you can have someone do this! I’m so sick and tired of scrolling all of the stuff even from an oceanfront house.

[Anonymous]

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.

Read "The Secret Life of Groceries."

It will cure you of thinking that Whole Foods has better quality, and save you a lot of money. (The author even worked at Whole Foods for a period of time researching his book.)

[Anonymous]

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?

total scam. Again, read the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks Coffee on my work days. I am not Rich snd moztcof my kids clothes come from the thrift store. I can get nice quality barely used name brands for a few dollars. But I enjoy my frap in the afternoons 2-3 times a week. It brings me joy.

You go girl! Or guy! Nobody knows the difference with the kids clothes and they’ll have grown out of them in six months anyway. That coffee contributes to your mental well-being, and that it’s priceless!

[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?

total scam. Again, read the book.

How is it a scam? We buy our meat from a local farm (we don't live in DC anymore) that we've visited and know the animals are humanely treated and how they're processed.

[Anonymous]

Fresh berries.
We are not rich by DCUM standards, but we are comfortable and live within our means. The first year we were married I got a decent raise at work and a bonus. My bonuses are $3-30k, so nothing like sales or finance. We don’t budget for it and it’s a nice surprise. In prior years, I always spent part of my bonus on something nice for myself I wouldn’t otherwise buy - a designer purse, a nice dressy winter coat. It was a few months after our wedding and I literally wanted nothing - we had new dishes and towels, I had new clothes from my honeymoon, etc. my husband asked me “what is something you would buy if money was no object?” And I said “blackberries in the winter time.”

He got out a calculator and showed me that I could eat 2-3 boxes of organic berries from Whole Foods at full price all year long and it would be a fraction of my bonus. I’m still pretty frugal with groceries - I shop seasonally and consult the sale ad before making a plan for the week. But true to his word, he has never once questioned our grocery spending and often encourages me to buy what makes me happy even if it’s not on sale.

[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

Why be a vegetarian? The cow is dying whether you eat that one steak, or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

total scam. Again, read the book.

How is it a scam? We buy our meat from a local farm (we don't live in DC anymore) that we've visited and know the animals are humanely treated and how they're processed.

So then you're not just relying on the label.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Convenience on vacation. If we’re skiing, I want to walk out of the hotel and on to the lift. If we’re at the beach, I want to walk to the beach. If there is an option to hire a private guide or book a tour for just our group - sign me up. If it involves a shuttle bus or schlepping the kids with a bunch of gear in the car to get there, it better be freaking amazing and a once in a lifetime event. I would never pay to fly 1st class or pay extra for a hotel nicer than a full service Westin/Marriott/Hilton.

Last summer I paid a company to set up a beach cabana for us and bring us catered lunch at the beach. They also do bonfires and s’mores in the evening. The brought us towels, a cooler, and a trash can. It was a short trip with my beach loving but limited mobility elderly mother - and it made the day so much more fun and relaxing.

Workout clothes. I am such a cheapskate in some areas, but I run before sunrise 12 months of the year. Nice technical gear makes it so much more enjoyable.

Services. Designers, painters, landscapers, cleaners. Unless it’s something I truly enjoy doing, I hire it out. 99% of the time professionals can do it better and faster than me.

Please tell us what beach you can have someone do this! I’m so sick and tired of scrolling all of the stuff even from an oceanfront house.

https://www.wildhorsecabanas.com/
The owner is super nice and answered all my questions to make sure my mom would be comfortable.

I swear I’ve seen what look like matching cabanas that look like a company set them up in NJ at beaches that don’t require beach tags - but I forget where. That’s how I got the idea and then searched the internet for “beach cabana service Maryland”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
- 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.

The only people who look good in workout gear are people with great bodies. But seriously, very few people look great with a huge dark sweat stain down their back. And if you don't have sweat stains, what is the point of the workout gear?
The only people I see in Lululemon are moms at school drop offs with makeup on. Don't think thet are hitting the gym with that styled hairdo.
As for appliances and tech - I have had my food processor since 1993. And still have original appliances since my renovation 18 years ago. If you have had to buy these every few years I would say your products don't work well nor last a long time.

DP - I don’t give a crap if you think I look great in my workout clothes or not. If you don’t see sweat, maybe it’s because of the amazing sweat wicking properties of technical clothing. If you don’t see me tugging at my clothes to adjust them, maybe it’s because Lulu is sold in sizes like 2/4/6 instead of S/M/L.
If you think I’m wearing makeup at school drop off, maybe you are confusing makeup with good skincare, lash extensions, Botox, and semi-permanently blushed lips.

[Anonymous]

SAHM

Being a SAHM costs me a lot of $$$ in lost income but I think it is worth it.

It impacts several things that in the long term saves us money -
- Education and ECs. While we spend a lot on enrichment and academics with tutors, coaches, boot camps, tournaments, traveling, infrastructure etc - my kids have been in magnet public schools and full tuition merit aid in college. So the overall cost saving for education has been tremendous and worthwhile. Besides I have all the motivation to make sure that my kids education is of the best quality and that they excel. .
- Food and nutrition. We spend a lot on organic and best produce, meat, dairy etc and do not look at the price. We also spend $$$ on culinary experiences at home or while travelling. I think it is a saving because I am a good cook and my family gets to eat very well. I believe that the best ingredients are important component in how the food tastes.
- Entertaining - We spend a lot of $$$ on hosting big and small parties. My love of hosting and cooking also goes hand in hand. Upside - a large network of people from different walks of life, some very close friendships, my kids are well socialized and know how to maintain friendships and entertain, we have helped and been helped by others in many ways (employment, investments, internships, intel, discounts etc.)
- Health - We spend $$$ on gym, instruction, equipment, gear. . Upside has been better health, better marriage and meeting new people.
- Space - We spend $$$ buying our spacious and well designed property. But, we are able to host friends and family and it fits our lifestyle.