Books, which can get a bit spendy since most of the books I want to read are not in the library. And music CDs (I like having the artwork and printed information and the shiny discs in the cases! No MP3s, thank you!). And high-end skincare products. And artworks on paper, especially good etchings.
This is an easy one for me...I like my electronics. My fiancee and I have two computers that cost me $1000-$1200 each to build, even though we easily could have "settled" on one (shared) in the $600ish range that would have been adequate for our uses at only a minor inconvenience.
I purchased components for a home theater totaling approximately $1500, but can never turn it up to what I consider a good movie volume/balance due to the neighbors that share a wall. Luckily, we're only renting and plan to buy a single-family house within the next two years...
I've got a brand loyalty thing too...for example, my computer monitors and TV's will always be Samsung, which carries quite a premium over even other name-brands like Toshiba or Sony.
As for reducing the amount spent on such splurges, for the most part I do this anyway. I tend to be a generation behind on a lot of electronics (except video game consoles, but I always wait for the first price drop). I don't buy a new $500 video card for my computers when I build them. I buy the one that came out 6 months ago, is almost as good, costs $175, and often times includes some recent computer game for free.
I always tend to splurge on camping and hiking equipment. Specifically on a good pair of hiking boots and sandals every few years. I justify this cost because I generally go hiking and camping 2-3 times per month, so I get a lot of use out of my purchases.
Our largest splurge is eating out, but we do cut back on other things to handle this. I also try to order items that are lower priced on the menu, and we use coupons and deals when we can.
I splurge on really expensive makeup and beauty products. I know they are so much more but i have been using them for years and have tried to live without them and just cant manage. I use tiny amounts and spatula the last remaining bits out of containers. To help with these splurges i always aske for them for christmas and birthday presents. My mom always says she feels ridiculous buying me moisturizer for my birthday but i tell her i love it, use it all and REALLY appreciate it.
Travel. We have a budget line for our expenses that generally runs 15-20k a year. It's our main hobby and major vice. We like to stay at luxury hotels but try to get the best deals by going at off-peak times, using a high-end (no fee to us) travel agent.
Experiences...such as vacation. When I travel to someplace that I know I won't visit again I will splurge on a special dinner or a unique experience. For example when we vacationed in Key West our family went on an all day Adventure Trip that included Jet Skiiing, Parasailing, Snorkeling, Trampoline on the Ocean and Sunset Cruise. It was a blast and memories I will have forever with my husband and two teenage children.
I splurge on soap from Bath And Body Works. Of course, I haven't had to buy any in over a year and won't for several more years since I used gift cards and an awesome sale to buy 18 bottles for a grand total of $5. :)
Other than that, we splurge on good cheeses, sparkling juice (we don't drink alcohol, so that is our "fun" drink), and good quality food. We don't eat out much, maybe once every 2 months or so, but we eat really well at home!
Books, books, books. Budgeting would be FAR easier if I wasn't such a bibliophile. You can guess what I would do with that Amazon gift card. I would add to my 1150 book collection.
I "splurge" on alternative health therapies - just finished a 12-week course of structural integration treatment and now going back to my monthly massages. These treatments do so much more than relieve back pain and are well worth the splurge for the increase in my quality of life :)
I use to be a shopaholic. I have found the cure for the addiction- WORK RETAIL, you'll never shop again!!! I was a store manager for 4 years at a maternity store. The keep cost down by paying little wages and making employees work alone for long periods of time. At the same time the give you a sales goal for every client. Throw everything at the client fill the fitting rooms to capacity and at the same time do shipment, eat at the cash counter and get on that 3pm conference call with your $tore numbers!
I HATE RETAIL, THE CLIENT, & UPPER MANAGEMENT whom view us as we are only good as the $ales volume we bring. Nevermind perks for the clients, how about some incentive for the employees? You know, little things like concern for our morale and/or making sure we do not have employee burn out!!!
As a marathon runner and yoga instructor, I caution anyone against the Trail Mix, without at least 3 hours time to digest. Great source of protein and fiber, but can also be very upsetting to the stomach without alot of time to process...word to the wise!
I actually saw some smartphones on the StraightTalk website as well. I've been doing some looking around because I need to get out of this vicious cycle of 2 year contracts. Definitely interested in going prepaid and the fact that I can get a smartphone now is making it even more attractive. I was surprised at what I discovered when I actually looked at my cell phone bills...
So I have been feeling kinda crappy for about 2 weeks, sometimes I fall asleep within an hour after getting up and having coffee with my wife before she goes off to work, sometimes I get motivated and bake something, I use diabetic flours and splenda sweeteners and I eat regular meals but for (as I said ) the 2 weeks I have been feeling pretty crappy and the stoma site has flared up again and I just took my blood sugar count and it's 165 and I haven't eaten anything for 7 hours and what I did eat was split pea soup. I take Metforman in the A M 500 mg, and I'm thinking I should take one now at 12 am but I don't want to go poof, so how can I lower the level so I can get some sleep?
Good practical advice. The only one I take issue with is #3. Large management fees rarely make sense in the long run. A 2.5% management fee versus a 1% fee would mean that one fund would have to consistently outperform by 1.5% per year. Given the average annual expected return is in the 8% range, taking 1.5% additional in fees would rarely pay off in the long run.
Thank again.
Ken Faulkenberry
The instant gratification thing so true. It's why I check all my online investment accounts obsessively. Doesn't make the money grow faster but I still can't help it. ;)
Books, which can get a bit spendy since most of the books I want to read are not in the library. And music CDs (I like having the artwork and printed information and the shiny discs in the cases! No MP3s, thank you!). And high-end skincare products. And artworks on paper, especially good etchings.
Winter gear - I don't like freezing my toes off!
High-tech gadgets! I love technology and spend way too much money on it! It is my addiction.
coffee and books. (especially now that I have a kindle.. it's just too easy!)
Mexican food and Mocca java chillers from Sonic
This is an easy one for me...I like my electronics. My fiancee and I have two computers that cost me $1000-$1200 each to build, even though we easily could have "settled" on one (shared) in the $600ish range that would have been adequate for our uses at only a minor inconvenience.
I purchased components for a home theater totaling approximately $1500, but can never turn it up to what I consider a good movie volume/balance due to the neighbors that share a wall. Luckily, we're only renting and plan to buy a single-family house within the next two years...
I've got a brand loyalty thing too...for example, my computer monitors and TV's will always be Samsung, which carries quite a premium over even other name-brands like Toshiba or Sony.
As for reducing the amount spent on such splurges, for the most part I do this anyway. I tend to be a generation behind on a lot of electronics (except video game consoles, but I always wait for the first price drop). I don't buy a new $500 video card for my computers when I build them. I buy the one that came out 6 months ago, is almost as good, costs $175, and often times includes some recent computer game for free.
I splurge on Chocolate. So yummy and so tasty. I love the Vosges brand, expensive but worth it!!
I always tend to splurge on camping and hiking equipment. Specifically on a good pair of hiking boots and sandals every few years. I justify this cost because I generally go hiking and camping 2-3 times per month, so I get a lot of use out of my purchases.
Our largest splurge is eating out, but we do cut back on other things to handle this. I also try to order items that are lower priced on the menu, and we use coupons and deals when we can.
I tend to splurge on clothing, shoes, and handbags.
I splurge on really expensive makeup and beauty products. I know they are so much more but i have been using them for years and have tried to live without them and just cant manage. I use tiny amounts and spatula the last remaining bits out of containers. To help with these splurges i always aske for them for christmas and birthday presents. My mom always says she feels ridiculous buying me moisturizer for my birthday but i tell her i love it, use it all and REALLY appreciate it.
Food!
Travel. We have a budget line for our expenses that generally runs 15-20k a year. It's our main hobby and major vice. We like to stay at luxury hotels but try to get the best deals by going at off-peak times, using a high-end (no fee to us) travel agent.
Experiences...such as vacation. When I travel to someplace that I know I won't visit again I will splurge on a special dinner or a unique experience. For example when we vacationed in Key West our family went on an all day Adventure Trip that included Jet Skiiing, Parasailing, Snorkeling, Trampoline on the Ocean and Sunset Cruise. It was a blast and memories I will have forever with my husband and two teenage children.
I splurge on soap from Bath And Body Works. Of course, I haven't had to buy any in over a year and won't for several more years since I used gift cards and an awesome sale to buy 18 bottles for a grand total of $5. :)
Other than that, we splurge on good cheeses, sparkling juice (we don't drink alcohol, so that is our "fun" drink), and good quality food. We don't eat out much, maybe once every 2 months or so, but we eat really well at home!
Books.
Books, books, books. Budgeting would be FAR easier if I wasn't such a bibliophile. You can guess what I would do with that Amazon gift card. I would add to my 1150 book collection.
I "splurge" on alternative health therapies - just finished a 12-week course of structural integration treatment and now going back to my monthly massages. These treatments do so much more than relieve back pain and are well worth the splurge for the increase in my quality of life :)
Music. But I work in the music industry, so somehow I justify it that way!
I use to be a shopaholic. I have found the cure for the addiction- WORK RETAIL, you'll never shop again!!! I was a store manager for 4 years at a maternity store. The keep cost down by paying little wages and making employees work alone for long periods of time. At the same time the give you a sales goal for every client. Throw everything at the client fill the fitting rooms to capacity and at the same time do shipment, eat at the cash counter and get on that 3pm conference call with your $tore numbers!
I HATE RETAIL, THE CLIENT, & UPPER MANAGEMENT whom view us as we are only good as the $ales volume we bring. Nevermind perks for the clients, how about some incentive for the employees? You know, little things like concern for our morale and/or making sure we do not have employee burn out!!!
As a marathon runner and yoga instructor, I caution anyone against the Trail Mix, without at least 3 hours time to digest. Great source of protein and fiber, but can also be very upsetting to the stomach without alot of time to process...word to the wise!
Do you have a good recipe for cannellini spread/dip? Thank you!
I actually saw some smartphones on the StraightTalk website as well. I've been doing some looking around because I need to get out of this vicious cycle of 2 year contracts. Definitely interested in going prepaid and the fact that I can get a smartphone now is making it even more attractive. I was surprised at what I discovered when I actually looked at my cell phone bills...
So I have been feeling kinda crappy for about 2 weeks, sometimes I fall asleep within an hour after getting up and having coffee with my wife before she goes off to work, sometimes I get motivated and bake something, I use diabetic flours and splenda sweeteners and I eat regular meals but for (as I said ) the 2 weeks I have been feeling pretty crappy and the stoma site has flared up again and I just took my blood sugar count and it's 165 and I haven't eaten anything for 7 hours and what I did eat was split pea soup. I take Metforman in the A M 500 mg, and I'm thinking I should take one now at 12 am but I don't want to go poof, so how can I lower the level so I can get some sleep?
Good practical advice. The only one I take issue with is #3. Large management fees rarely make sense in the long run. A 2.5% management fee versus a 1% fee would mean that one fund would have to consistently outperform by 1.5% per year. Given the average annual expected return is in the 8% range, taking 1.5% additional in fees would rarely pay off in the long run.
Thank again.
Ken Faulkenberry
The instant gratification thing so true. It's why I check all my online investment accounts obsessively. Doesn't make the money grow faster but I still can't help it. ;)