Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 12:23     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:Apple products. I just don't like the interface and navigation.


+1

People get weirdly judgmental over it! I have one for work, so I know what I'm "missing."
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 12:19     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
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 bought my current vehicle new. It was the first time I'd ever bought new. I've got my monies worth as I've kept it for nearly 11 years, but I doubt I'll ever buy new again. I do want another vehicle with more space, but the fact that my vehicle is paid off and there's nothing wrong with it mechanically makes me think twice about replacing it.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 12:04     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:Designer purses. I just don’t get it.


Same. They lost their appeal for me when I could buy whatever I wanted. I assume most buyers are aspirational purchasers and then a smaller cohort truly values the designs, history of the brands, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 11:55     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Designer purses. I just don’t get it.


I am sort of fascinated by them. On Housewives it's so interesting to see women like Kyle Richards, who is incredibly wealthy, be obsessed with other women's Hermes bags. And irl I see women looking super frumpy (Walmart, discheveled level frumpy) with real Vuitton bags. It's like people attach some sort of supernatural powers to those bags.


Nearly all have decent resale value and some in fact appreciate (though I think the Birkin craze has died down somewhat). For a while, you could immediately re-sell a Birkin for like double what you just paid.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 11:52     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:Designer purses. I just don’t get it.


I am sort of fascinated by them. On Housewives it's so interesting to see women like Kyle Richards, who is incredibly wealthy, be obsessed with other women's Hermes bags. And irl I see women looking super frumpy (Walmart, discheveled level frumpy) with real Vuitton bags. It's like people attach some sort of supernatural powers to those bags.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 11:33     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Coffee out as a regular thing.

I treat myself to a latte maybe once a month, but otherwise make coffee at home.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 11:21     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
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.


Well, OK...but if you do have that free time...then it's actually cost-effective. Like I said, you can also pop over and play for just an hour or two if you want because golf is free (well, it's not free...but you aren't paying per pop) and it's only 10 minutes away.

BTW, he has kids who are now like 5 and 7 and actually takes them both with him for lessons, and his wife likes to play and they go to the pool as a family.

My only point is it can be actually fairly cost-effective for people who make use of all the facilities fairly often.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 11:16     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
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.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:56     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Apple products. I just don't like the interface and navigation.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:55     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
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.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:43     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
The only thing I REALLY want to buy but have not bought is a beach house in Maine. Have been looking for a few years but it has to be cheap enough and the good ones get snapped up fast.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:42     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Designer purses. I just don’t get it.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:42     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
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.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:34     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
Anonymous wrote:
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’m 60 and have never bought a new car either. I just don’t care about cars enough to even want a new one.


NP- Have never bought a new car, but I like nice cars. I have a Mercedes but paid 25k for it used. I treat it very well and plan to drive it forever, as I did with the previous one.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2026 10:33     Subject: What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?
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")