<p>Here comes a big one! Mr B is about to put down a deposit on a tin can with an electric motor that costs twice the price he paid for our old Lexus van 5 years ago!!! :eek:</p>
<p>“My husband has a huge problem with it because he feels that housework and yard work are our responsibility, which we would be shirking if we paid other people to do these things.” </p>
<p>That cracked me up. We are all so different (no right or wrong). IF you are doing well and can easily afford to hire help, I think it’s a nice society give-back to do so. </p>
<p>For many years we had an excellent housecleaner who came every other week. She did a terrific job, and it really made it easier for us to be full time working parents. But I also felt good that this steady work was helping her to support the grandchildren that lived with her. I thought of it as win-win. Yes, we donate plenty to charity. But providing work opportunities to a diligent worker feels good too.</p>
<p>college tuition & pre-college ECs and summer dance intensives
luxury autos
first class air travel
luxury hotels
designer handbags
designer clothes, shoes, accessories for D
cleaning and landscape services
high-end kitchen appliances and cookware
luxury beddings
audiobook downloads</p>
<p>It is best that I stop now :).</p>
<p>We had an every other week cleaning lady for 15 years. She got married and stopped. Her last time here, she cried and said nice things about how we’d helped her out all those years and how much she appreciated the work etc. It did make me feel better. Haven’t hired another one yet.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, that wouldn’t be a Tesla, would it? My son talked me into buying a few shares.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, that’s the one! Add the excitement of rewiring the garage… which he wants to do all by himself. Hours and hours of fun. :rolleyes: As long as there are enough Mr B’s in the world, your shares are going to be OK. ;)</p>
<p>Yessssss!..</p>
<p>Is it yellow?
I love the yellow.</p>
<p>Well, I guess my two big splurges are behind me. One was college tuition, and the other was the 15 years I stayed at home with D. So these days the biggest chunk of disposable income is going toward catch-up on retirement. My small-scale splurges, which I very much enjoy :):</p>
<p>Bath & Body Works
Nook books
Jamba Juice
Yarn</p>
<p>True story of a splurge I should have done: When I had my first job out of college in the Seattle area, I used to carpool with a guy who lived on the east side of Lake Washington. One day he told me that a kid in his neighborhood was starting up a business, and was looking for investors. My carpool mate thought this thing could get really big. Seems the kid was calling his company “Microsoft.” Did I want to kick in $1000? </p>
<p>sigh…</p>
<p>Yeah, LasMa, you blew that one!</p>
<p>I’ll be looking for a bright yellow Tesla around town.</p>
<p>Ahhh, those missed opportunities… My grandmother knew Jean Nidetch, and did some diet support group thing with her. But my grandmother didn’t decide to contribute anything to the development of the diet program… Weight Watchers.</p>
<p>Club volleyball for daughter-huge investment at our income level for five years
Now, whenever acquaintances are discussing cost saving measures, the daily paper is automatic…I will NEVER convert willingly to on-line news…love the ritual in the a.m. And the feel of the paper… Won’t ever be included in a budget conversation!!</p>
<p>Fortunately- this is well in the past- but our kids went to boarding school. The reasons were very different for each kid (one was Interlochen Arts Academy), but it was something that was right for our kids. It was really expensive, needless to say, and not something I ever expected to do.</p>
<p>I’m about to do something I’ve resisted, and lay out quite a bit of money for a high end treadmill, even though I belong to a gym which has very nice treadmills. Winter is killing me, and I want the convenience of early morning (pre-work) runs in my house when it’s pouring rain or bitter cold outside.</p>
<p>@Shrinkrap, you’ll be happy to know that I made a $5000 deposit on the Tesla SUV which is not yet available. Some 6,000 people will get theirs before I get mine. My neighbor has the sedan, but I’m further up our steep and curvy hill than he is, and I need 4WD (or think I need it anyway). I think mine will be a silver colored one :-)</p>
<p>My wife, OTOH, will continue to buy Range Rovers (of which we’ve had 5), which I guess might count as a splurge that others would have a problem with.</p>
<p>MOfWC, I guarantee that you will get a lot of mileage of that money! 
I certainly did get (and still getting) my money’s worth out of my Precor. </p>
<p>IxnayBob, I guess Mr B will be 6002nd buyer of that thing. I hope he changes his mind…</p>
<p>The perils of bringing Mr. B to the mall one time too many… ;)</p>
<p>Buying books for kindle, instead of borrowing from library. When the desire to read hits, I cannot wait for my number to come up on the waitlist.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’ve had two Range Rovers (and two Land Rovers) that I loved. Terrific handling, comfortable for travelling, great cars. I never thought I’d find something else that I loved as much, until I got my Cayenne.</p>
<p>I saw a Tesla yesterday. It was an attractive car. IxnayBob, do you know what the range is?</p>
<p>@alwaysamom, It is heavier than the S model and will be offered with similar sized batteries. Although the official specs are not yet available, it’s a fair guess that unless dramatic changes in battery capabilities take place quickly, the range will be less than 300 miles. We intend, for the foreseeable future, to have at least one internal combustion automobile for longer trips.</p>
<p>We actually had considered a Cayenne, and were close to buying one. Two things kept it from happening (and both are not really rational, but they are what they are). </p>
<p>First was the sound of Edie Falco on Sopranos saying that her husband got her a Porsche Cayenne in that nasal voice of hers. </p>
<p>Second, and more importantly, the salesman said to my wife that she didn’t need a Turbo in a manner like the stereotypical “oh, don’t worry your pretty little head about math and things like that.” Even though I more than once pointedly told him that the car was for my wife, he kept trying to sell to me rather than her. We made sure that the salesman who sold my wife the Supercharged Range Rover told his colleague that he had lost the sale for being a sexist who didn’t think a woman really wanted a Turbo Cayenne. We just don’t like to reward behavior like his and wanted him to know. I should add that I’ve been a SAHD for a decade or so, and that my wife’s cars are paid for with her earnings.</p>
<p>Intparent, don’t feel bad AT ALL! My step-sisters first husband worked at L.L. Bean and he’d do returns sometimes. They’re used to it and totally okay with it!</p>