My Unfrugal Splurge.

[spud]

What are chimney pots? Like those terra cotta ones?

Yes, tall terracotta things that the smoke of an open fire comes out of... I plan to sit a 'hanging basket' on top of them in the summer full of trailing plants. Meanwhile they look elegant and cheerful right outside my window. I just hope they are frost proof because it's a frost pocket here. Oh, maybe I should relocate to the gardening thread!

[rvijay]

Oh, maybe I should relocate to the gardening thread!

It helps to maintain continuity/smooth flow of discussions. In this regard, answering off topic questions, in one or two posts is perfectly OK with me. There is a chance that a few others may also have the same question. However, this is just my personal opinion.

Vijay

[sky73]

*L* You answered that like she bought a fancy new vacuum or something.


That exchange made me laugh out loud for the first time today. :p

[Descentia]

I spent about $300 on entertainment on the weekend - maybe a little more.

[rvijay]

Wasted Mint Leaves for $1.20. They went too dry. I could have bought just one for 60 cents, but no I wanted two. Also, knew they were a luxury and not essential.

Vijay :(

[MezzoEmi]

I spent $100 at Victoria's Secret and am not feeling the least bit guilty about it. :D

[rvijay]

I spent $100 at Victoria's Secret and am not feeling the least bit guilty about it. :D

Our levels of Frugality are different. If I lived in the US, I will be squeezing the pennies till Abraham Lincoln at the back of the penny saysss enough stop, stop pleasssee you are squeezing my neckk !!

I do waste time, am not efficient and material things. Time as we all know is priceless. In the future hope to get better control.

Vijay

[remilard]

I recently bought a pretty expensive (by any reasonable standards anyway) audio cable, and I am thinking of ordering in pizza this evening.

[Descentia]

I have bought dinner out every night this week because we were both too tired to cook - average $20-$30 a night.

<<< so unfrugal

[rvijay]

I recently bought a pretty expensive (by any reasonable standards anyway) audio cable, and I am thinking of ordering in pizza this evening.

Kindly explain why the audio cable is unfrugal and what would have been a more frugal purchase ? That seems like a good buy to me, as it will serve almost a lifetime. Also, a Pizza once in a while is OK, except if you are a Vegan.

Thanks.

Vijay

[rvijay]

I have bought dinner out every night this week because we were both too tired to cook - average $20-$30 a night.

<<< so unfrugal

Does this happen often ? In your opinion, what are the possible solutions for this ?

Thanks.

Vijay

[rvijay]

On Monday December 20th, I was tired during morning break and bought a Cookie from the Vending machine for 75 cents.

I could have made a whole bunch of cookies and stored them for that price. However, I didn't expect this need to arise suddenly.

Vijay

[remilard]

Kindly explain why the audio cable is unfrugal and what would have been a more frugal purchase ? That seems like a good buy to me, as it will serve almost a lifetime. Also, a Pizza once in a while is OK, except if you are a Vegan.

Thanks.

Vijay

It was a vegan pizza! The cable was about 10 times as expensive as the least expensive suitable alternative. It is built better and will last longer which mitigates some of the price difference. I think it is an unfrugal purchase because I chose an admittedly small improvement in how the recorded music I listen to sounds for a substancially higher price. However, I try to be frugal in other areas of my life to justify my music related expenses (most of which is CDs, 1 or 2 a week).

[Pisces Coda]

I thought you just wanted to know what people were spending money on that was unnecessary...why does it suddenly seem like you're a therapist trying to get people to change their ways? "What could you have done instead?", etc.

[rvijay]

I thought you just wanted to know what people were spending money on that was unnecessary...why does it suddenly seem like you're a therapist trying to get people to change their ways? "What could you have done instead?", etc.

This is just a simple/friendly thread to discuss unfrugal spending and ALSO look for solutions mutually. Such discussions go on in all Frugal Boards and not just here. Try to get a copy of 'The Complete Tigthwad Gazette by Amy D. and read it well. This will clarify several basic questions and doubts. I post some of my more important temptations to splurge/frugal issues on another board and welcome comments from all members and vice versa. I greatly value the experience, time and advice of all the good members there and here as well.

All suggestions given are just suggestions only for consideration. In frugality there are so many personal factors/variables and hence ultimately individual discretion is essential. No one can force anyone.

Infact here is the other board:
http://frugalliving.about.com

You are invited to visit the pages there and the forums. You can search for all my previous posts there as well.
(You will notice that in the other forum I get a lot more help/advice and give a lot lesser in return.)

You are also invited to take the FREE online Frugal Living Course:
http://frugalliving.about.com/c/ec/1.htm

Last but not least, there are several posts/articles on a wide variety of frugal topics all over the net. There is no way I can read them all. If a topic/author doesn't interest me then I just ignore all those topics/authors. Being selective in reading frugal posts is really frugal and I highly recommend this to others as well.

Best Regards,

Vijay :)

[rvijay]

Will be wasting almost a dollar worth of Lettuce, bought but not used and now rotting.

Today splurged on Voortman's Vegan Cookies for almost $2. However, this encourages the Vegan Cause.
Also, saw ginger beer for 79cents. Was tempted and tried it, the quantity was actually only 285 mls and the quality
very poor.

Vijay

[kitsch]

once again, rvijay, you've supplied me with a valuable resource. (the frugal message board.) thank you...i'm so excited!

[rvijay]

once again, rvijay, you've supplied me with a valuable resource. (the frugal message board.) thank you...i'm so excited!

You are very welcome.

My Unfrugal Splurge Continued
1. A pack of rotten carrots was thrown last week. Price 79 cents. This might not look like a big deal but today I just bought 3 similar packs for 50 cents each. Hence, need to ensure that I don't waste this time.

Vijay

[kristadb]

You need a worm composter, so that you don't need to throw out those carrots :)

[SilverC]

I've been taking a taxi home from work once a week for the past month and a half. It's a ten dollar trip, so that's $60 that I could have saved or spent on something more useful.

[renaissancesun]

Last year we bought an induction cooktop. I still love it. It was not frugal, but worth it.

[Sokara]

After I got my first job last summer, I spent $300 at http://www.sblades.com/

Well worth it though :) Nice people.

ETA: Oooohh.... They got some new stuff.... Time to get a job....

[rvijay]

You need a worm composter, so that you don't need to throw out those carrots :)

Thanks. This post encouraged me to cook and refrigerate two packs of carrots today. I also ate some of it along with some Fresh Romaine letteuce that I got (remember I also threw one of these in the garbage last week).

Vijay

[kristadb]

Cooked carrots freeze very well! I like to put them in 1 cup servings into plastic bags, so I can just pop then into a casserole when I need carrots (I don't eat a lot of carrots and, if I don't do this, they would always go bad).

[onyx]

wine!