I'm just curious if there are any others out there that love quality items for themselves, but just can't see spending the money for themselves. Here's why I ask.

For christmas, Mike (hubby) is putting in a new kitchen countertop. We are in need of a new tap, so I go out shopping. I should have sent him instead with a list!

Walk into a showroom, and suddenly, the sink isn't good enough. Mine has scratches... can't have that with a new countertop and tap set! And looky here, now the size sink I have isn't adequate any longer, you can get deeper wider styles that accomodate dish drainers, cutting boards, all these great gadgets so you don't clutter your countertop!

The estimate for what I WANTED was well over $1000. I intitially went to pick up a new tap with a higher neck than we have, for under $200.

A sink is something we use everyday, and several times a day! It's not a needless item that will sit and collect dust. You divide the price by how many hours you'll use that thing and it becomes a downright bargain! And your kitchen will only prosper! Less clutter on counters in an already too small kitchen area, etc.

So did I get the new sink? No. I came home with my tap set. Sigh... I'm going to live with the small sink and scratches for another few years it seems.

Why do we cheap out on ourselves? Is it a terrible thing to want nice things if we can afford it? I know I've always had 'good taste', and I can letter up a $1000 job lickety split but to respend it on myself? I think nothing of spending that amount on a supplier invoice.

There's what we need.

There's what we want.

There's what the sales person is trying to sell us.

There's what we can afford.

There's what we actually do spend after considering the above four.

The final decision depends on which factor is strongest at the time.

If I cant afford what I want, no big deal, I just wait til *can* afford it.

If there's something I need immediately but cannot afford the high end version at the time, I'll go with the bottom dollar version then get the high end replacement when I can afford it.

If the money is there when I find something I want or need, it's a no brainer - I'm gonna buy it in a heartbeat and it's gonna be the high end version.

point in fact
devo and i decided this xmas to buy one big present for the whole family instead of many smaller ones, keeping in mind that we have a heap of kids to buy for

so what we really wanted was a 'pool table' for our new back room and as they are quite expensive new, we thought a good second hand table would do the job nicely

last week we went out looking at secondhand tables and guess what... we saw absobloodylutly beautiful brand new tables that would not only be great fun but look really good at the same time

we decided to cut back even more on xmas spending and buy one of these brand new tables... but which one?

we twoed and froed as to which model and which supplier to buy from and in the end even started to argue

devo said just get this one (the most expensive) and i said but if we get the cheaper one we can still have enough money for sum little presents in the stockings

finally in desparation i went on-line to check
and see if there were any other retailers that we'd not spoken to and guess what!

we are now the proud owners of a wonderfull pub table from a manufacturer who is moving buildings and so needs to downsize his inventory!!!

and he threw in a heap of excessories
and at the last min gave us a hanging light retail $400) cause he worked out that we were the folk that had donated a santa cut-out to a handicapped boy who had had his stolen (long story)

all in all we got exactly what we wanted and still have enough for the ham on the chrissy table
hehehe

making the money stretch is a bad habbit i got into and when it works out it feels great but i know it annoys the hell outa devo

When Donna mentions how quickly she can do a $1000 lettering job to cover the sink, I know that only 1/3 of what I earn is what comes home. That sink will cost over three of those $1000 jobs.

I'd like to see my wife driving a new Volvo too!
And my kids newer trucks. And have money aside for retirement and vacations. To buy furniture new instead of getting some good deal at a yard sale.

I can find myself being frugal from time to time, but mostly when I cheap out, I regret it. In the long run that costs me money.

I got Dana. Enough said. LOL!

I want a new harley, But I can rent a new one each sunny weekend cheaper than I can buy one, so why do it?

We got 4 snow storms last winter. I rented the latest and greatest 4x4 each time for a total of $825

I don't get driving a a gas guzzling, high insurance vehicle "just in case I get stuck" in The VA DC metro area.

We save $150 a month in gas and $135 a month in insurance driving a 2 wheel drive truck...(this is how I afford the harley rentals)

As far as everyday use items, If it's old but looks new (thanks HGTV)it stays. If it's old and I can't make it look new..It's gone. Your home is an investment unlike most of our expenditures and quality lasts.

My wife and I are redecorating our new (10 yr old) home from the top down, but we plan to be here for a while and It saves money doing it now than later.

We did this because it struck us funny that many home sellers spent thousands on thier home so it would look good,and sell so they could move OUT after everything was new.

We're spending now so WE can enjoy it, go figure.

[ December 17, 2001: Message edited by: Mikes Mischeif ]