Confession thread: indulgences

[houseelf]

This is a riff off of the stylist expense thread but what do you spend more money on than the average joe? Or Jane, as the case may be.

I have some amount of guilt over mine so I feel compelled to state I spend way less on decorating, purses, jewelry, books, gym memberships, technology, cars, and clothes than many of the posts on thus board would suggest. Not saying this judgmentally, pretty sure you all aren't going to drop a couple of Ben Franklins to run 26 miles soon. Viva la difference, my friends.

Anyway, outside of the kids, my big splurges are on travel. Travel has always been a line item expense, even during training. After that, I get at least a monthly massage (and if I am training for a big race, sometimes as much as biweekly). This is at least 75/month. In the past few years I have been spending more on high end dermatology products like TNS serum and facials. what can I say? Vainity is my sin of choice.

Spill the beans. What makes you drop cash like a drunken sailor In a new port? Be honest.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Family pictures for SURE. Once or twice a year we spend a ridic amount and I don't even care. I buy zero clothes/shoes/anything for DH and I but pics I'll spend tons of money on without batting an eye.

[JDAZ11]

I spend WAY TOO MUCH on skin care (although actually less than many people I know, but still too much), fitness in general, healthy food, and wine.

Beyond that, I'm pretty ok. I used to spend way too much on clothes, but I've really scaled back on that.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Clothes for the girls. Someday, family pics. Technology. Vanity - although that seems to come in spurts (clothes, makeup, hair).

[Vanquisher]

Food. Definitely food.

[mommax3]

I spend more on my hair than most people I know. However, I have more hair than most people I know, so it's okay. DH and I together splurge most on eating out and on travel. We also pay someone to clean twice a month, someone to mow our lawn as needed, someone to keep our lawn healthy, and someone to clean up our landscaping (twice a year). So I guess protecting our time off is another splurge.

[v-girl]

Shopping. I love to shop.

Once in a while, purse or shoes. Okay, I buy shoes a lot.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MsSassyBaskets]

Clothes and wine. I don't go too expensive for either, but I definitely spend more than some. DH does the same, plus we enjoy nice dinners out every once in a while, and we replace our electronics with top of the line when they die. Most of those things are off the table or not necessary for right now, so instead we're spending for baby and interview season. We balance it by having no car payments, no cable TV, low rent, and few other personal indulgences.

[OrionGrad]

I'm embarrassed about how much I spend at Starbucks. I go way too frequently, but in my defense, they have a drive thru and sometimes we just need to get out of the house.

Otherwise I think I'm pretty low maintenance. DH thinks I spend too much on the kids' clothes, but everything I get is on sale and it usually doesn't cost very much.

[Phoebe]

Furniture as of late. I spend more on clothes than I used to since Athleta came to my town. I spend most of my money on running shoes, the gym, tennis and exercise videos. I get bored easily. ☺️

[WolfpackWife]

Dinners out/trying new restaurants. Hands down. We LOVE trying new places, sampling their cocktails, etc. We frequent happy hours around town. The drinks add up.

I could also bankrupt us with my affinity for buying books and home decor. If I didn't have such a negative self image right now I'd be spending loads more on clothes now that I've gotten a raise. I can't justify it right now knowing that I'm working on getting into better shape.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Clothes for the girls is another of mine for sure. I can't help it. I go to Target and every tiny piece of clothing is $5, you're like I should get this, it's so affordable! $100 later you leave Target...

[rainbabies]

Horses. Lessons, clinics, shows, the trailer, tack, traveling with them, boarding in the winter months. Only one kid is into it with me....which dh and I are both thankful for.
I'm not a shopper, clothes, shoes, purses, makeup, jewelry. Don't care about it. Dh says other than horses, I'm low maintenance. Lol

[spotty_dog]

Food and wine. Buying local meat and produce makes me happy, and I have standards for the not-local stuff that I'm not really willing to compromise, plus I have a bad habit of splurging on *something* almost every shopping trip, be it a nicer wine or some out-of-season fruit or a packaged something from the health food section. We also like to support our local wine shop.

To hear the surprise in people's voices, our annual Hawaii vacation is quite the splurge. (It's funny because it's people who go to Disney at least annually who make the comments.) They don't know the half of it though -- we got spoiled last year with a luxury VRBO so this year DH didn't even consider properties that didn't have the nice touches. I still want to choke when I think of the cost but it's going to be really nice to grill on that gorgeous lanai!

[MrsK]

IDK. I think it depends on how we define the "average Joe". Most likely, I have a much higher standard of living than the "average" person in this country. I feel like everything is an indulgence by "average" standards. Every time we eat out on a whim, go to Starbucks, buy anything that is not absolutely necessary, I feel like I've indulged. But, then, our household income is greater than average.

In general, I think I shop more than average but it's largely thrift/resale/estate sales, etc. I probably pay less for individual items but accumulate more items all together. I like buying art, antiques, jewelry, furniture but never feel like it's in our budget. I probably spend a lot less on technology than most people do. I feel like our family spends a lot on childcare/entertainment/educational needs for our kids. K1's OT is a substantial budget item that most people don't have. I buy the kids' clothes and toys secondhand and then blow the budget on museum memberships, outings, babysitters/mother's helpers....