What is your "latte" ?

[Nika]

Things that are not necessary, but you really enjoy, unfrugally.
Things that may seem ridiculous to your coworkers and other forum regulars?

[thekid]

i kinda like nice cars.

that's alot of lattes.

[GREENBACK]

I put bottled creamer in my coffee every morning. It's from Kroger and comes in various flavors and I really like it. I know I shouldn't splurge on this homemade "latte"($3 a week) but I can't control the urge

[disneysteve]

My wife and I enjoy going to the casino. She plays slots. I play a little bit of everything - blackjack, video poker, 3 card poker and slots. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Over the course of time, we lose but we have a lot of fun, get plenty of comps and just like getting away and escaping for a few hours.

A couple of people are very surprised when they learn that I gamble since they know I'm very good with money but as we always discuss, it is all about priorities and budgeting and living below your means. If I can invest 25% of my income, pay all of the bills, maintain a comfortable lifestyle and include a trip to the casino once a month or so, it works for me.

[cypher1]

Coca-Cola. Although I've cut down soda from every other day to one can every two weeks on average. Other than that, not much for sweets, but love Better Cheddars. I suppose these are more for guilty pleasures.

[frugalfarmwife]

My horses, they cost me money and time but they are great therapy for me. I have 2 retired Amish buggy horses that I hop on one or the other bareback and walk around the farm every week or so, Buster and Bob pay their way as my relaxation. Also my miniature horses, we used to breed, sell and show before the economy tanked, now they're retired hayburners but they were good to us so they have a good retirement home here.

They're not cheap and the honestly horses are nothing but a luxury, but they're my thing.

ff

[Angio333]

Dr. Pepper, pay-per view MMA fights (UFC)and fencing.

[marvholly]

Manicures & pedicures. This was something I could NEVER afford while raising my kids. Most of the places around me charge $30-35 for the combo + tip.

A friend told me about a nearby (10 minutes) school where the combo is $12 + tip; mani alone is $5. I now do a mani every month-6 weeks and the combo every 2-3 months.

[seen]

A couple of people are very surprised when they learn that I gamble since they know I'm very good with money but as we always discuss, it is all about priorities and budgeting and living below your means. If I can invest 25% of my income, pay all of the bills, maintain a comfortable lifestyle and include a trip to the casino once a month or so, it works for me.

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the surprise stems from the fact that I've seen you judge others for their unfrugal decisions; no one in particular, but generally speaking. ie. You'll say something along the lines of "I don't know why anyone would do this or that", or "It makes no sense to do this or that", etc..

True, you might be following the golden rule of living below your means, but because you indulge in these patterns yourself, regardless of priorities it does somewhat make you look like a bit of a hypocrite (atleast until you explain why you do it). Of course, I'm no exception. I too indulge in the lottery with my co-workers.

[Nika]

I put bottled creamer in my coffee every morning. It's from Kroger and comes in various flavors and I really like it. I know I shouldn't splurge on this homemade "latte"($3 a week)

Now, you are just showing off.

[disneysteve]

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the surprise stems from the fact that I've seen you judge others for their unfrugal decisions; no one in particular, but generally speaking. ie. You'll say something along the lines of "I don't know why anyone would do this or that", or "It makes no sense to do this or that", etc..

True, you might be following the golden rule of living below your means, but because you indulge in these patterns yourself, regardless of priorities it does somewhat make you look like a bit of a hypocrite (atleast until you explain why you do it). Of course, I'm no exception. I too indulge in the lottery with my co-workers.

If I've been judgmental about a particular expense to someone who was saving adequately and living below their means, I apologize. Now if someone comes here looking for help or buried in debt or not saving for retirement, that's a different story. Then I'll certainly point out where they are spending frivolously. Heck, if I came here and said we gamble a couple hundred/month and we have 10K in credit card debt and 2 car loans, I'd expect to get nailed on that.

As I've said many times, my wife and I do not budget our spending. We invest 23% of my gross and 50% of her gross. How we spend the remainder really doesn't matter to me as long as all the bills are paid in full and on time. Some months we spend more dining out. Some months on travel. Some months on gambling. Some months on technology purchases. Whatever. It's all wants but as long as the needs are taken care of, I don't see a problem with that. The problem arises when people are spending on the wants and the needs are not taken care of first.

[bjl584]

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the surprise stems from the fact that I've seen you judge others for their unfrugal decisions; no one in particular, but generally speaking. ie. You'll say something along the lines of "I don't know why anyone would do this or that", or "It makes no sense to do this or that", etc..

True, you might be following the golden rule of living below your means, but because you indulge in these patterns yourself, regardless of priorities it does somewhat make you look like a bit of a hypocrite (atleast until you explain why you do it). Of course, I'm no exception. I too indulge in the lottery with my co-workers.

There is a big difference between someone that is worth over a half million dollars going to the casino here and there and someone drowning in debt going to the casino here and there.

Steve and a lot of the rest of us have been very judgemental when people come here and post up there situations, but the advice, most of the time, is coming from people that have their financial house in order. Many of us have been in these peoples; situations. We got out of them by changing our behaviors and attitudes toward money. Even if we have never been in their situation many of us have follwed a strategy that has been successful. We can now pass on that advice to others looking for help. I don't find that hypocritical at all.

[thekid]

deleted, thought i'd start a thread as it's a seperate subject

[Shaabenanizer]

Starbuck frappuccino coffee drinks at $2 a bottle, everyday. I like them so much that if I get a bigger drink at $3.50, I save the bottles afterwards to turn into little flower vases and paintbrush holders.

And I can't seem to stop "improving" the aesthetics of my condo with DIY projects (paid $30 for a surplus kitchen cabinet from Craigslist and then spend $50 on materials to customize the cabinet into a sideboard to store my office supplies) and paying professionals to do the rest i.e hardwood floors and overhead lighting. After 3 years I'm sure I spent at least $6,000. Every year I say "this year no more expensive projects". This year I say, "next year no more expensive projects."

[fe2o3ez]

Golf and drinking. Often enjoyed together, but not necessarily.

(ever looked at how much you would save by replacing the occasional "beer with dinner" with water? ouch. Drinking is expensive.)