Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:15     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
What a stupid question. So. Many. Things.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:14     Subject: Re:What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree


I know people who are considered full pay but can’t afford it, but I have yet to meet anyone who can easily afford expensive private who just refused to pay for their kid.

Plenty of wealthy kids want the state school, but it’s not because the parent refused to pay for a private.


Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:09     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Guacamole at Chipotle
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:07     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Fancy cars
Fancy watches
Bigger house
Beach house

But I am into:

Fancy handbags
Fancy meals
Fancy trips
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 10:02     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
The last time we purchased, the price difference between new and used really wasn’t much. Admittedly, we weren’t looking at buying used off an individual but looking at CarMax/Carvana.

We also got an interest free deal for like 5 years, so when you factored the annual interest earned on the principal…the new car was cheaper.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 09:47     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
We buy new cars but we keep them for a very long time. And we don’t buy luxury brands. Honda is fine.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 09:36     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm going to go against the grain here and say that used cars are just not worth the hassle anymore. It's easier just to buy new cars so you know you won't have any anoyying issues abour the car breaking down for a while.


I think this is a good point. I've always purchased used cars, but I bought my last one new and 9 years later I've had zero problems. I won't go back to buying used.


I’m 51 and have never bought a new car but I would like to have that experience once. We can afford and would pay cash but I see the prices and I always back down.

However I have also had an amazing run of luck with used cars and not run into maintenance issues. The one time DH bought a new car, it was a lemon and a disaster. I also hate dealing with dealerships, especially their service and repair shops.


We bought our two cars new and get them repaired at our favorite low-cost, reliable mechanic.

They're now 20 and 15 years old. We have yet to encounter major and costly issues. As soon as we do, we will have to get rid of them and buy new cars.

I think what matters in car world is looking for the most reliable models. Those are worth buying new.


Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 09:18     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm going to go against the grain here and say that used cars are just not worth the hassle anymore. It's easier just to buy new cars so you know you won't have any anoyying issues abour the car breaking down for a while.


I think this is a good point. I've always purchased used cars, but I bought my last one new and 9 years later I've had zero problems. I won't go back to buying used.


I’m 51 and have never bought a new car but I would like to have that experience once. We can afford and would pay cash but I see the prices and I always back down.

However I have also had an amazing run of luck with used cars and not run into maintenance issues. The one time DH bought a new car, it was a lemon and a disaster. I also hate dealing with dealerships, especially their service and repair shops.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 20:31     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Botox, but now that I’m over 50, I’m second guessing my choice.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 20:26     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:Luxury cars. DH and I are not car people at all. A friend was trying to convince DH to buy a 100K car and DH just kept saying "why would I get this when I can get basically the same one for $45K"


I'm not sure you can get "basically the same one" for half the price. But I wouldn't buy a 100k car either.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 20:24     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:I'm going to go against the grain here and say that used cars are just not worth the hassle anymore. It's easier just to buy new cars so you know you won't have any anoyying issues abour the car breaking down for a while.


I think this is a good point. I've always purchased used cars, but I bought my last one new and 9 years later I've had zero problems. I won't go back to buying used.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 20:23     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Makeup
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 20:19     Subject: Re:What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree


Great answer and I totally agree. In-state or merit-aid equivalent.


I like that you included merit-aid equivalent. So many won’t consider anything OOS. Our DS went OOS and the cost was the same or less than any in-state option.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 19:47     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Several orders of $ magnitude below this thread but I just saw an Insta ad for Alaskan salmon and thought to get some. It's $13 per filet and you have to buy about $200 worth. Not sure we like sockeye that much and didn't buy.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2026 19:43     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
I'm going to go against the grain here and say that used cars are just not worth the hassle anymore. It's easier just to buy new cars so you know you won't have any anoyying issues abour the car breaking down for a while.