Talkback: What are you splurging on?
Times may be tough, but the holidays are approaching. What are you going to splurge on this year? In the past “luxury” might have meant a fancy TV or vacation. What does it mean this year? Something simple, or are you going all out?
We spent about 17k to finish our basement. It is nice to call contractors and actually have them return your phone calls unlike a few years ago……
Seafood, right now shrimp, scallops and lobster tails are dirt cheap! Besides that I’ve splurged on saving more in my health care spending account, restoring my retirement, investment and savings accounts. I’ve always been a tightwad, so I replaced my 16 year old car with less than 100,000 miles with a more efficient mercedes which I plan to keep just as long. Happy Holidays!
plane ticket to portland to see the love of my life, and my mom wants a laptop carrying bag. extra principal paid on student loans. that’s it. there is no money to be splurging this year, or any year really.
Time to replace a couple of the cashmere sweaters which have sprouted holes, since so many are on sale on sites like gilt.com, theoutnet, etc.
We are going to get through Christmas with the kids. Jan 2010 we are going to work on reducing debt. Also work on 6m savings and emergency food stocked up in our pantry. I am very concerned about war in the middle east. It looks inevitable so cash flow and food are a big priority in case gas prices skyrocket and they will if there is a war over there.
My splurge is a commitment not to buy anything made in China for the rest of the year. Seems like their is little to buy… oh well!
Nothing, Basically not buying any gifts except possibly small items for extended family. We will give cash to our kids for christmas since both are in collage and don’t need junk, but can use the money. Wife and I will probably buy small items we have put off buying until now.
I just graduated with a masters degree and i have a huge student loan on my head. The day i got my results was the day i realised i didn’t have a dime for a pine at the school pub. I have been splurging on ‘1-0-1′ aka, breakfast, no launch, and dinner.
I just paid off my debt, cut back on expenses and focus on more savings. I have two jobs to survive in this recession. I will spend less and save more.
My partner and I are fortunate enough to have weathered the downturn at our companies as they have done well in the recession. Our cars, both bought new in the ’90s by our respective parents and handed down to us are near their end of life, so we are consolidating into a single new BMW. We were able to get it for barely over wholesale invoice, unheard of 2 years ago. The plan is to maintain it meticulously and keep it in the family for the long term, just like the other two cars that served us well.
We originally planned to splurge for christmas, by taking the family to Florida for a visit to Disney. We are still making the trip, but have scaled back. Instead of flying and then renting a car their, we are renting the car here and driving down. Even though this adds two hotel nights and a little more on the rental, We will save about $1000.00 by forgoing airline tickets. We do this typoe of thing now with the kids, because there is really nothing more that any of us needs as far as gifts, and it ensures that we get some quality time together as a family. Last year was Chicago, with tickets to Wicked and museum tours and severl nights at the Palmer House Hilton. This year will be more modest, but just as fun!
Unlike those who are taking a conservative approach to spending this holiday season, I’m splurging as best I can. From gifts to my 3 year old son to buying a new TV set. The economy is coming back and I’m very optimistic.
Charity. I ain’t got much but some people have less. Everything’s on sale big time, so a little goes further.
I have read most of the comments posted here. It is my feeling that it is just this kind of thinking and the actions being taken that is going to turn this country around. Living debt free is living without threat. I’m debt free and life is about as good as it gets for me….
I am not buying anything. I am fortunate to have a job, but that doesn’t mean that things are good enough for me to be a stupid consumer. I am paying my bills. I cut cable off. My cell phone and internet is now a luxury, and the home phone got cut off. If something goes down, I am going to have a stash.
My wife has continually been splurging on the purchase of books, DVDs and music CDs. I have begun splurging on storage such as solid oak cases for CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes to hide these items away. Our house lacks closet space and I got tired of seeing these mass of collected items cluttering our house.
No small junk purchases that add up like new holiday decor, tons of small gifts for everyone we know, and replacing shoes, clothing, jackets that will work one more year. Only big ticket items so the reward is really there. So, that means skipping all the little things. For us this has meant a designer handbag, a weekend trip to Manhattan with a shopping spree at American Girl Place for our six year old, two new LCD tv’s and a few days away the week after Christmas in Orange County, CA. Heavy on memories, short on “stuff”
Lest see, the house is paid for, the cars are old but paid for, don’t have any credit card debt. I guess we can buy whatever the heck we want.
Feels good never having taken a second on the house and having some financial security instead of a fancy house and cars that are hard to make payments on.
Nothing.. My husband was laid off 6 months ago and things are really tight. I guess if I’m splurging on anything it would be called survival
I splurged on electic blankets. I turn off the heat at night and have cut my heating bill by 75% last month!
My wife and I just purchased a condominium in Marco Island, FL (what a great buy!). We are now furnishing it – we recently purchased a new mattress and box-spring set on sale at Macy’s, along with other household furnishings. We found a great deal a used dinning room table and chair set for $800, and used sofa and loveseat for $600. Yes, we are doing our part to rebuild this economy, one block at a time! Stay positive!
As of yesterday I was jotting down a few items from the Black Friday Deals. After reading a few CNN articles I realized I was falling into their trap…I have shredded my list and decided that I will stay home. I realized I am better off saving. I am not saying I will not buy gifts but I will be a smarter shopper and wait until the “hype” surrounding BF is over. Time for change I guess. I don’t plan on spending more that $20 for gifts for nieces/nephews. Of course we have 1 daughter and I will probably spend 100-200 at the most. That is a real cut back versus last year. Last year I “splurged”, an this year I will not!
Currently employed (8+ years at the same company) and not splurging on anything.
Applying any extra money to pay off debt. Once done with that will do like someone else here said and “splurge” on saving for retirement, inflation and other general life expenses.
This recession has changed the way I feel about money forever.
Unfortunately no splurging this holiday season. If it wasn’t for my savings I would be underwater every month. No imported products for me, my family or my friends this year. Dontcha hate it when someone else blows out your birthday candles?
We have no debt. Never had a TV bigger than 27 inches. Always paid cash for consumables. Buying big TV 47 inch because they are soooo cheap now. Not using credit keeps you from buying fad things
Coffee and DVD purchases. It’s allot cheaper to spend $15 on a DVD then $20 to go out to the movies:) Good quality cloths, not made in China. I would rather purchase a $100 pair of pants that are made well and will last 5 years then some piece of crap that is $19.95 and wear out in less then 6 months.
First to all thoes eople that complain about what people buy (the guy who buys used, which someone used for two years… you think they took care of that car? Problems down the line…) stop, this is about spending not about complaining… you want to complain, do it to fox, which continues to doctor its footage to makes its cause bigger…
anyway, I am splurging big, a new MAcbook, a new GPS, new phone, buying new electroics for peoples christmas, and spending even bigger on fun. mostly because i am going into the AF, so i want to have fun before basic… but i try to buy new stuff every year, and i always try to make deals… it usually works
I will buy a bike for my daughter for xmas along with a few coloring books and close. the focus for xmas is to pay down debt and not create any. I want to be debt free and close all my credit cards.
We’re “splurging” on continuing to save for retirement and education, paying down our reasonable fixed-rate mortgage, and living within our means – boring, but unusual lately…
For all those that splurged and bought a new car. Be sure to look up the value of your new car 2 years from now. Then ask yourself how much you could have saved buying the same car used with under 25K miles. I guess some idiot needs to buy new before I can buy used! SUCKERS!
My wife and I got married in August and built and moved into our first ever home prior to that in July. We plan on spluging with the $8,000 first time home buyer credit we’ll be getting by building a deck. If we have anything left after that, then we’ll put that money towards more things for the home, such as curtains, a coffee table, and maybe a bigger and newer kitchen table. We will also hopefully have enough so we can put a little into savings.
My wife and I had a discussion the other night about buying ‘fun’ things, for example, I really want a play station 3 and she wants a more expensive brand of make up. However, being 27 and 25 years old and fiscally conservative (take notes, Congress), we realized that its better to put money into things that will grow, such as savings and home improvements. With any luck, both will go up in value in the years ahead.
We are planning a family vacation to Disney for March. Since the economy tanked vacationing is more affordable than ever. My wife and I have been to Vegas and Florida already this year. We are also planning a fall vacation for 2010 to either Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach.
My wife and I saved up(!) and just bought a new Mac Mini to replace my 7 year old homemade bachelor PC that took 15 minutes and 6 resets to run without freezing.
Now we’re saving all we can to “splurge” on our first baby in June! We recently got 30 baby outfits at a garage sale for $0.50 each: Old Navy and similar brands. I never thought I’d see a 26 year old, straight man loving garage sales but here I am!
Nothing money could buy is what we need this holiday season.
We are celebrating the love that surrounds us.
Peace on earth, goodwill towards humanity.
I believe that it is NOT too late to believe.
I am one with you we make two and then three, thus the beginning…
I just paid off one of my 2 credit cards. With a few more payments I will be debt free..fingers and toes crossed that nothing out of te ordinary happens which got me into debt in the first place…
Spurge on rethinking life and purpose. I’m indulging by finding more time for myself and slowing down the pace of life. Splurging on the simple things in life and not getting caught up the consumer machine, eliminating TV, becoming less dependent on creditors and rejecting the status quo.
I’m spending a lot more this year on eating healthy, regardless of cost. I figure that improving my health will only save money down the road. Sure, one could spend money on exercise – But walking and jogging are free.
This year I went crazy and purchased the components to replace the roof on our investment property. Next, our 2007 tax refund was earmarked for a flat pannel television, A few weeks ago, I finally purchased it. It is fabulous. I also started to develop a piece of comunity property by planting fruit trees, blue berry bushes, rasberry line, and black berry section. In 2010, I will add in pears, and more berry bushes.
Lastly, I added to the portfolio, assuming that the worst is over for the main economy. Sure there is probably a few more what-ifs(commercial real estate,jobless recovery, etc), but I may look back and wonder, like I did in 2002. This time I am in it to win it.
Decided that I will splurge on increasing the amount I’m putting away in my 401K by a percent or two, will throw some extra bucks each month against the mortgage to pay down principal a bit faster, pay off the credit card bills, and take the family out to a nice dinner(gotta spend on one fun thing!). Kids will get a few presents this year but my wife and I will forgo gifts this year. Presents for the extended family this year… no way. We have already told them to not give us gifts since we will not be giving any. It is also time to start beefing up the emergency savings!
In our family (& extended), there is a high concentration of birthdays from Nov – Apr. Since me and my wife are fortunate enough to be gainfully employed, we are splurging by giving cash gifts to others in the family who are no so luck. With an unemployment rate in the double digits, we all know someone who is out of work.
‘Splurge’ is not in my vocabulary. For years now I’ve always asked before making a significant purchase ‘what’s my ROI?’ Family first (vacation time together) is one exception. However, it’s all alloted in the household operating budget.
I bought a car to replace my old 8 year old one. It was time and other than that I have not purchased much over the years outside of a new TV, so I figured this was due. I have to say I’m very happy with it – Audi’s are great cars.
Cancelling Satellite service. Will then be buying a media extender and dual tuner device to convert to over the air television which will then be able to record my favorite programs using my personal computer. Also moving to video and movie streaming over the internet. Return on investment in 4 months. total expenditure $389. that’s Christmas this year.
Going practical this year. The wife and I got each other a woodburning stove for the living room. This is after a few years spent paying off the mortgage. I know most people consider just having a morgage and a car loan as debt free, I think it is time to rethink that. Consider spending a few painfull years now getting out from under and avoid the catastrophe that most american families are headed for.
I graduated from a UC school June 2008, and was lucky to find a great job with a local city government in October 2008. Since then I’ve already started putting money away in a 457 plan, and into a personal savings account. I splurged last weekend on buying a 2010 Mazda CX-7. The truck I had since I turned 16 was still running, but even with rent, utilities and a car payment I will be able to put money into savings. I figure why not buy myself something nice while I don’t have kids and a house to take care of.
Honestly: Things that need people to do. I just had a shed built, a foundation dug for it, and this year I’m going to have people paint the inside of the house and rake/blow my leaves.
Theory being that the best gift this Christmas is to have local people do work that makes our lives better. More beneficial than buying yet more plastic garbage from China.
I splurged recently on a piece of jewelry I have had my eye on for a very long time. Normally I am a very frugal person (not just in tough financial times), so jewlery is pretty much at the bottom of my list. I was just talking to my husband about this and I couldn’t understand why I have been so ‘free’ with my money lately. After I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I have been holding back on spending ANYTHING for so long, and was just so ready to do something simply because I wanted to. So there you have it. Our vehicles are both paid for, and we have few other bills besides our mortgage, so I don’t think I have been unreasonable with my recent splurge. I had forgotten how great it feels to actually splurge on myself!
I would consider having a cell phone a splurge considering how expensive the monthly bill is. We have two iPhones that we’re looking to get rid of because of how much they cost per month.
Working one full time temp office job and one part time night and weekend retail job. I have a BS in Bus. Mgmt and Finance and earn less than 20,000 a year. There will be no spending, specifically, no splurging.
I splurged on paying off my credit cards and my auto loan. I will spend on low-cost activities to spend time with family and friends. No new clothes for close to a year, no trips on the credit card. I will probably discontinue the iPhone since I’m paying $30 per month for the data part of it and all I use it for is to check the stock market every 10 minutes.
I am buying my family new cell phones on a carrier that works where we live and costs $$$ less a month than the provider we are on now- We’re all happy because we get new toys, but it’s money in my pocket throughout the year.
Bought a house while I can still afford one. Other than that we still drive our 10+yr old cars and have no interest in buying thing. I just rebuilt my 15yr old bicycle for less than a new one would cost.
No holiday splurges. Putting money into fixing things in house, paint, varnish, wood trim, various supplies, and a new energy efficient fireplace insert (qualifying for the 30% tax credit).
In short, ’splurge’ on more practical things.
We purchased a new 95% efficient furnace(old one 37 yrs.)and central air. We also put in a privacy fence at the back property line. We will cut back on holiday spending.
Nothing,
If BS was music then CNBS,CNN and MSNBC would be a brass band. The consumer is 70% of the GDP and with 10.25 unemployed and another 7% underemployed and 20% scared not to mention the self employed I think there may be a problem. Save your money the tax man is staving.
A new Apple Macbook Pro – absolutely nothing else. Okay,maybe a good cup of coffee. It’s pretty scary when it hits and you realize there’s no new money to refill the pot.
Eat home almost every night. All the clothes and shoes I never wore are getting used. Selling stuff on ebay for pizza money. Hate to say, but I’m thinking like my parents did (which now makes sense). If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. All across America there are garages, basements and storage rooms full of unnecessary item bought on impulse. The money spent would feel good right now.
Donating to charity and my bank account, who needs crap from China. People think you can save money buying a cheap TV, you are still spending money you don’t have. I recommend people splurge on business books or an education, it will take them further than a snuggy or a grill…
Just finished our projection-based home theater, and will be adding artwork to the family room. Will be redoing the master br and guest room with wall and window treatments in early January. Will likely splurge on a new car in 2010 – if we are smart, a Mazda 6. If we aren’t, a BMW M3.
Thrift Store items that can be repainted, altered, reshaped, and sewn. Yes, this year, everyone will get thrift store items with a twist. The items will be “crafted” to look new.
This year I told my wife to just focus on making sure the kids have an OK christmas. Nothing WOW! No computers or Iphones, or new cars or vacations for us. Just things the kids would like and that we can budget in. For me the gifts are going to be work shirts, new socks and underwear. My wife will get some warm PJs so we can turn down the house thermostat to about 62 degrees.
No trips to see relatives in other states, this year. We’ve stopped giving gifts to extended family under mutual agreement.
Rumors of lay-off and down-sizing have us too spooked to run up a credit card bill. We might use it but only as long as we can pay it off in January. We paid the cards all off a few years back because we saw this “Great Recession” coming . Have seen 1 cost of living raise in about 5 years, now. It’s funny, a common man like me saw this coming and the high paid economists didn’t. Wish I could have their jobs – they aren’t doing them and I know I can do better.
We’ve got each other. That’s all we really need. It’s a good lesson in life for the kids to learn, though. This will do them way better in life than any gift we could ever give them. For that I am grateful.
My “splurge” is a GPS for my parents. I actually don’t want to buy this anymore since the black friday deals on them aren’t as good as I thought they were going to be. But I already told them like 3 months ago that is what they were getting.
Not splurging on anything this year. We refinanced the house at a lower rate. Will be debt free mid December.With just the mortgage and car payment, we will be putting everything into savings.
Did shopping all year round most of the gift bags are ready filled and tagged. All cash not credit.
So i guess our splurge will be in our savings account.
We already created our black Friday list: a navigator, grill, sewing machine, computer desk, laptop, TV, and maybe a car.
Yes, I am serious. I am hoping the prices for this year will be a cost saving!
Extra monthly mortgage payment! I’m employed and in a nice-paying job but if there’s one thing this recession taught me is that you have to strive to be financially free because you never know when it’s your turn to join the ranks of the unemployed.
I think I might get a 72″ plasma screen TV, on discount. Maybe I will put it on my credit card. Let’s see, what else is made in china, that I can buy and increase the trade imbalance.
TV’s, tires, plates, toys.
I would like to spend alot of money I don’t have, but I would never do that. So, if you do, and then claim bankruptcy because you spent too much on your credit cards, you might as well keep going.
I divorced my wife earlier this year because she was a spendthrift who refuesed to heed my calls to reign in her spending. Since then, I have been putting almost half of my net salary to savings with the bulk of it going into an individual stock account. I dod not have any children so I am under no pressure to worry about medical expenses and private school tuition for them.
Hello, I’m getting EVERYONE in the family one of those snuggie blankets, Santa hats, and those funny sox with different colored toes. I will still do all the special cooking. I started getting the extra groceries last month. Still have all my old decorations but I want a manger sceen for outside.
I asked for socks for christmas from my wife. That is all. Unemployed and went back to college for a teaching certificate since there are no engineering jobs.
We know it is rough out there. My husband and I both have pretty secure jobs. We are increasing our giving. More to the food bank, meals on wheels, etc.. We are giving triple our usual allowance.
All these people that are saying to screw the retailers and not buy anything are only making matters worse. By all means I am a big proponent to saving money but do it for yourself, don’t do it to harm the retailers which will cause them to cut more jobs for more of your neighbors. If you have the money spend it if you want, it couldn’t hurt.
I have not been nor will i even venture out into the stores this year. I traded in my $1600/mo lease for a $925/mo 6-month lease. Sold off more than half of my furniture and put the $3300 I made from it into savings. Been saving half my salary for 6 months now. Cut way way back on many unnesssary expenses like cable, movie rentals, Costco splurges — I don’t go there anymore. I only purchase clothes from JcPenny when they are $3.99 for $55 items …
My new wife and I just bought a home in July, got married in October, and are going to be adding a new puppy (welsh terrier) to our home as our one and only present this year. Guess that means no 12am Walmart, sitting in a camping chair, freezing cold in my sweatshirt with my Angels baseball blanket, so that I can fight a crowd of a thousand only to check out at the register with 10 dvds I didn’t want at $3 each.
Wait, did I just hear they are having dog chew toys on sale? Let me get my Angels blanket.(j/k)
I’m not splurging on anything–I did enough of that pre-September 2009. Now I’m splurging paying off that credit card. Things have been going well over the past year–no new charges and significant reduction in debt and increase in savings, but spouse was just laid off union job. Should go back to work hopefully no longer than six months, so we’ll keep the belt tight and hope we don’t have to dip into retirement funds.
This year is going to be the same as last year. The entire family will only by smaller gifts for each other and only splurge for the children. This keeps the kids happy and the spirit alive. Besides, who says that Christmas should be all about gifts (retail stores?). Our family understands this and makes it a focus on family (not gifts).
Bravo to the people here who are taking care of their financial health and not succumbing to blind consumerism.
Don’t buy anything you don’t need and let the retailers squirm. They make all of their junk in third world countries and bring it here to sell at first world prices. Perhaps if people don’t bite, the retailers will get scared and mark down their merchandise to something closer to its true cost.
Not splurging on anything…but that’s mostly because my fiance and I just bought some waterfront land and are throwing most of our extra money at it to pay off the loan ASAP so we can build a house on the land.
Being able to build our house on the lake as quickly as possible is our Christmas present to ourselves:).
A nice two week vacation, a Kindle DX and some books is about it. No COLA this year, no raise next year either so less spending overall and increasing my savings is the best option.
Nothing I have everything I could ever want! A wonderful wife of 29 GLORIOUS Years, Two Children that have NEVER once been any type of a problem Both are Dentist! Semi retired at age 53 YIPIEEEE and Debt free to boot!
We’re splurging on our savings account – building up the savings for our new baby boy due in 3.5 months. Which will mean more medical expenses and unpaid time off work. Would prefer to have the cash now than pay it off later.
I’ve been splurging on anything related to Michael Jackson–books, CDs, etc. And I’m finally going to get an iPod so I can put all of Michael’s music on it and won’t have to listen to the garbage on radio any more.
nothing.. i most likely wont even buy a christmas tree and only give my son a hug and kiss as a christmas present. i went from a six figure sales job to being unemployed, divorced and will barely make 30k this year. My parents pay my mortgage so My son and I will not be homeless. That is an over 80% drop in pay. I am college educated and right now I am working another sales job with a min. wage base pay. Recession(this is really a Depression) over??? I THINK NOT!!!!!!
We are getting a Willy Bird Turkey and a rack of Baby Back Ribs for Thanksgiving.
This year, that’s splurging.
I am splurging right into my savings accounts. Why buy anyhting now, let the retailers suffer this Christmas and you will see REAL Quality sales not these Mediocre Black Friday Sales.
If all consumers would wise up and not go shopping on black Friday you will see retailers blink and instead of cheap $3 toasters you will see Higher end merchandise at significant discounts. 3 Board games for $15 how about 5 for $12 if things go as badly as predicted? It is the CONSUMERS who hold the power right now–USE IT–
Well let’s see, I bought a home in June 2009. My next purchase is to replace my current leaking dish washer. I also plan to buy a Playstation 3 to keep my XBOX 360 company.
Nothing… I don’t have very much money to splurge in the first place, but thankfully, I do have a job.
We’ve already spulrged enough in the last year and a half (new car, addition on the house), so we’re toning it down just a bit and getting items we think are needed for the house. We just bought a brand new refrigerator. Ours was on it’s last leg, we were sure it was going to stop working at any minute! So I guess it was a necessity, but we splurged and got more than we “needed” – with ice maker in the door and all kinds of cool features.
Next month we plan to get an estimate for replacing all the windows on our house.
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New golf clubs. There are some great deals out there right now and I need to work on my game