What Do You Splurge On? is one of my favorite posts of all time because it reverses the normal flow of conversation here. Instead of dealing with SAVING money, we're talking about SPENDING money. Now who can't have fun with that???!!!!! ;-)
I'm working on a very big splurge that I'll be sharing with all of you if and when it comes about (anyone want to guess what I'm planning?) but until then, check out What Do You Splurge On? -- it's one of my favorites here.
I splurge on fancy bath products. Yes, I could use the $8 lotion from the drugstore, but I much prefer the $30 lotion from Kiehl's :-D
And I would guess you are planning to buy a big diamond ring and propose to your sweet-baboo.
Posted by: MissPinkKate | February 08, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Nice guess, but I'm already married. I think my wife would be mad if I proposed to my sweet-baboo. ;-)
Posted by: FMF | February 08, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Good coffee beans and work stuff (Thinkpad t60p)
Posted by: Adam | February 08, 2007 at 04:14 PM
I tend to splurge on gifts for other people. I often spend more on friends and family at Christmas time than I spend on non living expenses all year. You may say it is better to give than to receive, but even when it puts you in debt?
Posted by: Austin | February 08, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Travel-- seeing the world.
Posted by: Bronco | February 08, 2007 at 04:33 PM
I splurge on books. I allow myself to go ahead and make a trip to the bookstore a couple of times a month. (I do try to keep it below $25 a trip.)
I also have a little yearly splurge buying the proof Silver Eagle of the year from the US Mint. It's a beautiful coin and an affordable investment in silver. And at Christmas I splurged BIG with my Christmas cash by buying the gold Buffalo coin (first time ever issued and 24K gold).
Posted by: gmv | February 08, 2007 at 09:17 PM
OH -- I forgot one more splurgey thing I allow myself, and that is I have a list of my favorite TV shows/movies of all time that I want to own. Periodically I go ahead and purchase one. A movie isn't all that much, but I'm much more interested in my favorite TV series, which can be pricey. I don't watch much TV, but I've enjoyed catching up with favorite programs and it gives me something to save up for that's fun (next on my list for later this year, aka Christmas: the complete classic Star Trek at $175 from amazon.com).
The truth is it's natural for me to splurge and I've had to learn to save and be frugal.
Posted by: gmv | February 08, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Books. Lots of books. And books. Also books. And did I mention books? Erasmus once said "when I get a little money, I buy books, and if I have any left after that I buy food and clothes". I feel much the same way.
I mean, there are plenty of not-strictly-necessary things that I spend significant amounts of money on, but to my mind it's not splurging if you spend significant effort locating and procuring the lowest cost option of good quality, regardless of whether the purchase is "unnecessary" or expensive in absolute terms.
And for me, books are the only purchase which meet that criterion. They're my only true impulse buy...I don't even buy chewing gum on impulse (I go through a lot of it, so I buy in bulk at Costco for less than 1/10 the single-package retail price). But I seldom complete a session at Amazon after buying only the item I specifically looked for, and although my bookseller-of-choice does happen to be a major discounter, I never bother hunting around for slightly better deals on books, despite knowing that they are sometimes available.
Posted by: Matt | February 09, 2007 at 03:11 AM
Travel and computer-related equipment. I will not so much as spend money on cutting my hair or buying from a vending machine, but I always splurge on the aforementioned items. At least one costly trip per year and several electronic purchases a year.
Posted by: Jen W | February 09, 2007 at 07:55 AM
watches and fountain pens. my wife likes kiehl's too. ok, so do i.
Posted by: Tim | February 09, 2007 at 09:06 AM
A new titanium road bike! Not only would it be a nice ride but it would assist with your health, which in turn protects your most valuable asset ... you!
Posted by: buhler | February 09, 2007 at 11:22 AM
HOW DID YOU GUESS????????? That's it!!!!!!!
Actually, I'm debating between steel and titanium, but you're still spot on. Good for you!
Posted by: FMF | February 09, 2007 at 11:35 AM
As a fellow cyclist there is nothing better to splurge on than a new bike. Although, I mostly Moutain Bike. A friend has a Litespeed and if I was going to splurge on a road bike that is the direction I would look first. No matter a "new bike" is still a new bike.
p.s. Have you seen the new Treks that the Posties are riding this year? Very, very nice!
Posted by: buhler | February 09, 2007 at 04:28 PM
I'll detail the whole process later in a post, but I'm going the whole route -- had a bike fitting a week ago and am getting a custom bike from Serotta. ;-)
Posted by: FMF | February 09, 2007 at 04:52 PM