Chloé bags
Sauna
fractional private jet ownership

Wellness - massages, spa, skincare
Beauty - nice jewelry (once or twice a year)
Gear and memberships for activities I like (outdoor activities, concerts, museums)

what brings you pleasure? what are your values? maybe that can guide you?

Adventure/travel: go to a new place every month. (not sure about your work situation but if you can swing a few days off each month). Driving, flying, air BNB, etc.

Community/Friends/Family: host a party each month with a different group of people: at your home or a restaurant, or alternate. Make it a "salon" with reading or performances or ?

Art/Culture: go to performances, buy art (I could spend 5k on small things, like photographs very easily), etc

Healthy Lifestyle: personal chef, trainer, massage therapist; declutterer,

Beauty/fashion: not my wheelhouse but clothes, jewelry, etc...seems like it would get boring)

Or maybe some combination of the above?

I would never blow dry my own hair again! Lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty specific hypothetical: you have an extra 5K/month that cannot be saved/invested/donated/etc., only spent on unnecessary indulgences for yourself. Travel aside, what do you buy simply for the joy of it?

I've been thinking about this. I think the only way I could do this is put my kids in private school, b/c my DH wouldn't want the daily maid/chef that I would want.

Then your DH would get to do the "work of the daily maid/chef" if he doesn't want them around. He doesn't get it both ways

+1 That sounds borderline abusive to invent reasons why the pp can't have help. I would hire the daily maid and chef anyway and start talking to a divorce attorney.

Let's see,

expensive clothes
equinox membership
a kitchen maid

I would buy a really, really good bottle of whiskey each month, and drink it all up (and share it with friends). Lather, rinse, repeat.

Weekly lawn service.

That would exhaust the $5k (and some months I'd skip the lawn service, and use it all on the whiskey).

I’m *great* at frivolous spending (unfortunately) and really have to restrain myself. I am a natural spender!

In no particular order:

Nice meals out
Spa days
Hairstyling
Manis/pedis
Clothes and SHOES
Makeup and beauty products
Concert tickets
Books

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty specific hypothetical: you have an extra 5K/month that cannot be saved/invested/donated/etc., only spent on unnecessary indulgences for yourself. Travel aside, what do you buy simply for the joy of it?

I've been thinking about this. I think the only way I could do this is put my kids in private school, b/c my DH wouldn't want the daily maid/chef that I would want.

Then your DH would get to do the "work of the daily maid/chef" if he doesn't want them around. He doesn't get it both ways

Anonymous wrote:Follow-up question: I’ve been keeping mum about my unorthodox inheritance which I only began receiving a few months ago, but my friends have begun noticing my upgraded bags and such and also that I’m offering to treat more often when we go out. How do I discreetly sidestep questions of whether I’ve found myself a sugar daddy/mommy?? Should I be totally candid or is it ok to just say I got a raise (perhaps hard to believe in my nonprofit world, but better than nothing)?

If these are good friends, I cannot imagine why you wouldn't just tell them the truth. Because yes they will know you don't get raises like that in nonprofit world.

And if they are friends who would be jealous or weird about this, then IMO, they are not great friends anyhow

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love everyone’s ideas! Just to be clear, I fully appreciate that folks are thinking about philanthropy - I actually happen to work in nonprofit and am also a donor (of my own funds) to various causes - but my relative did not wish for this particular inheritance to be used for such (he left a *lot* to his favorite philanthropies for those purposes). For the 5K/month to me (and yes, it’s indefinite), he truly just wanted me to spoil myself a little.

Again, I’m not looking for loopholes; however, I do think treating friends and family to some nice gifts/experiences is totally within the spirit of the bequest and so I have and will continue to do so.

I’m sure it was a well meaning sentiment but this is so wasteful and unrealistic. Sure the first few months would be fun but wasting 60K a year on things and stuff you neither really desire nor need is ridiculous.

I agree about unwanted and unnecessary stuff, but the other ideas in this thread are great!

+1

The way it seems set up is more about "experiences" and "treating the OP to self care". I cannot imagine who cannot find a way to do that. If you cannot, then it sounds like you need more "self care". As PP stated, take an uber to a nice dinner and a show (or concert or sporting event), that can easily run $1K+ for just that night (Uber of $100 each way, dinner for $250, $250-300 for great seats at a performance).