Luxuries that are worth it to you

[shaggy]

Steve's thread on $200 Jeans got me to thinking: Are there any luxuries you splurge on that are worth it to you?

I splurge on:

* MY COMPUTER. I have a souped-up Sony Vaio with 8 GB RAM and a 256 MB SSD.

* KITCHENWARE. I have Wusthoff knives and All Clad or Calphalon cookware.

* MY APARTMENT. It's $3k per month but I have a great view, good neighbors, and a remodeled kitchen.

* AIRFARE. I fly first class. It's easier on my back.

* VACUUM. I love my Miele vacuum.



Apologies if there's a similar thread. I've been reading for a few months and haven't see one.

[hamchan]

Good haircuts- I will stretch them out as long as I can, but there is a certain amount of skill level required to deal with this thick, wavy, frizzy, dry mess I have.

Food- Kind of. I try to keep it pretty frugal, but I am picky about meat and we have to watch sodium so sometimes that means buying the brand that is not on sale, or making things from scratch that are normally pretty cheap anyway. I am also picky about yogurt and there are only a couple brands and flavors I like. The biggest expense is produce because I think canned and frozen fruit and veggies are gross. It's fresh or nothing. Freezing most foods ruins them, IMO. I will deal with frozen chicken for the cost and convenience even though it's not as good. It's still pretty good if you avoid certain cooking methods. I also occasionally buy some pricier "foodie" type things like goat cheese and scallops, though only when on sale.

My kid- I have to really fight the urge to spend tons of money on her. She has always been a really good kid, never asks for anything, really grateful for everything, and she has been that way even through extremely difficult financial times. If anyone deserves nice things, she does. I don't spend much on myself, but spending money on her is a huge weakness.

[sarah]

Food and eating out. I grew up hungry and promised myself as a child that when I was an adult I'd eat only the best and I do.

[TBH]

Computers. I buy a new Mac laptop every 3 years. I know PCs are cheaper and just as good, but I love my Mac laptops. I use my computer very heavily for work, and it makes a huge difference to me to have a computer I really love.

Also, my house is an extravagance. It's old, and big, and takes a lot of money to maintain it and heat it.

We're pretty frugal about travel, food, clothing, cars, etc.

[cypher1]

My list would include:

Furniture: I don't buy a lot, but have very particular taste for certain styles like modern/contemporary design for my couch, sectional, comforter.

Home theater equipment: Mostly buy used on CL for deals with speakers/sub, amplifier. Only thing new was the processor and projector.

Tools: If I need a tool for a project, I'll buy pretty quick. Larger toys like an air compressor or certain saw I'll hunt on CL. While I may hardly use them, I can't always justify paying full price brand new.

Computer/server/storage: Tough one. While I don't splurge on these, I do buy a lot for what I use at work for testing/fun.

[disneysteve]

* KITCHENWARE. I have Wusthoff knives and ... Calphalon cookware.

We also have Wusthoff knives and Calphalon cookware. In some ways, though, I really don't consider those to be splurges. Before we bought our Calphalon, we had cheap cookware and we found we were replacing it every 2-3 years because it broke or wore out. After going through 4 sets, we decided it was time to stop being penny wise and pound foolish and actually buy a set that would last a lifetime.

We splurge on travel. We don't go to luxury hotels or exotic locales but we travel frequently. We do so somewhat frugally but still spend a lot by traveling a lot.

We splurge on dining out. If I'm going to spend the time and money to eat out, I want good food, not chain restaurant crap. You won't find me in Chili's or Applebee's (or McDonald's or Burger King). I want to enjoy the food and the experience and have something made to order by a chef, not a high school kid working an after school job.

[siggy_freud]

Computer - I usually build a pretty high-end gaming machine so I can enjoy the latest games at maximum performance and graphics.

Tools - Quality tools are so much easier to use, and in a way aren't a splurge because they tend to last longer and carry better warranties.

Cars - I drive a lot for work (currently 100 miles per day) and cars are a hobby of mine, so I try and enjoy the car I drive. I want something with performance and handling. 100 miles on a back road in a Camry would be unbearably boring. No offense to Camry owners. They're generally great cars, just not a joymaker to me.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I can't really think of anything I buy or have that I now consider much of a luxury. Oh, there were times when I could not have afforded some things, or when I just prioritized other things, even if in the US probably they would not be considered much of a luxury. For instance-- air conditioning, shoes over $15, my mattress set, sterling silver and simple costume jewelry, perrenials plants I did not start from seed or cuttings, more than one coat, a matching set of dishes music recordings, a professional haircut. None of these were ever things I took for granted or could always just buy without thought.

Which things are luxury all depend on "where you are" in life, e.g., Air conditioning for me 30 years ago? Luxury! Air conditioning now? Every day fact of life, May to October!

I count myself very lucky to have so very much comfort.

[QuarterMillionMan]

For me it's watching sports. I have the Time Warner sports package (includes Outdoor channel, NBA gametime, Tennis channel, Fuel TV, Lakers Channel, NFL Red Zone, etc), $8.99 a month. Every year I order MLB.TV which is about $120 for the season. This year I ordered MLB extra innings for $200. I used to order UFC pay-per-view at $60 a pop but not anymore since I now work Saturday nights so that's a good thing. And I bought a device called a sling box ($199) and the app ($30) which allows me to watch my home tv on my smartphone or laptop anywhere an internet connection exists. Note that there are no monthly fees such as Direct TV's television anywhere. Now that I've listed just about everything I realize that I'm watching too much TV (lol). By the way I have San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA championships, it they do it I'll make $75. I made a couple hundred each when Baltimore Ravens beat the 49'ers in the Superbowl and when San Fran Giants beat Detroit Tigers in the last World Series. Anyone remember the controversial call on the Monday Night Football game when the refs called a touchdown on the hailmary pass where Seahawk's Golden Tate had one arm around the ball and Packer's Jennings had two arms around the ball. Lost a few hundred, Booo! That must have been the worst call in NFL history.

[~bs]

cars, eating out, and middle-higher tier liquor.

walk to work, so driving is mostly pleasure driving.

by eating out, I mean relatively cheap eating out. I'd rather spend $10 and get a lot of food, then spend $100 a head fine dining and still be hungry afterwards. Still expensive compared to home cooked meals.

don't drink hards too often, but there's a huge difference between cheap liquor and expensive. I'd rather pay triple the price than drink cheap crap.

[Barclay]

Handbags ! I love nice handbags and not cheap outlet Coach either. I have a couple decent Kate Spades but I really love my $3000 Versace bag. Also really enjoy a few of my Louis Vuitton bags.

I spend a few bucks on vibrams for the gym too. They don't wear out, but after 6 days a week for 6 months or so, they are no longer that fresh. Lifting weights and working out are a big part of my life tho.

[scfr]

Regular Indulgences:
Toll Road Fees
Netflix Membership ($4.99 per month plan)
Hiring a neighborhood kid to mow the lawn when my husband is out of town
Hot showers
Etc.

Generally speaking, I have more than I need in all categories.

[Blessed]

Vacations, date night,stuff for the kids, my too many pets.

[shaggy]

Handbags ! I love nice handbags and not cheap outlet Coach either. I have a couple decent Kate Spades but I really love my $3000 Versace bag. Also really enjoy a few of my Louis Vuitton bags.

I forgot to put Accessories on my list! I haven't bought any lately, but I have about 50 Hermes scarves, and I have a few very nice handbags (Bottega Veneta and Salvatore Ferragamo).

[Redraidernurse]

I like to splurge on nice ingredients to cook with.

Love to buy nice cheese - gorgonzola, gouda, chevere, asiago, etc. We buy them at Sam's club so they are still a cheaper option than some high class one, but much more expensive than the standard off brand cheddar.