Open Thread Update: Your Splurges Revealed

Last time we talked about splurges – what are the little luxuries we now enjoy occasionally, the ones that we often couldn’t afford when we were young?

Comments ran the gamut. Some were poignant…

My father passed away when I was twelve, and I remember getting my aunt’s worn clothing. She was in her late twenties. It felt very awkward being dressed in adult womanly dresses while still a teenager, but my mother was working two jobs and this was one way to save. As an adult, I was able to buy new clothes and to experience what it’s like to pay full price for my choice of clothing. When I found consignment stores, I decided this was a great way to get “new” clothes & not pay full price.

-Geri

And to readers like Lombardo and Lauren, powdered milk played a big role at the dinner table during those early, lean times. I hope Lauren buys all the ice cream sandwiches she wants now as she plays catch-up…

…like Reader Kim!

Now that I am retired my splurges are on trips and traveling. When I was working and struggling my splurge was shrimp for shrimp cocktail. The couple times a year I bought nice, big shrimp it felt like a real treat.

Reader and Contributor Jen offers this insight – how many of us feel the same?

I just bought a sterling bracelet for myself at an art festival here in Orlando and I feel so guilty buying something for myself. I don’t know why I don’t feel worthy of splurging on myself! I have no problem handing my brother my credit card when he comes here with the family to buy Disney tickets–for a family of 5! I’m really happy to do that for them. I am going to try and enjoy this bracelet and not feel guilty!

You go, girl!

Reader Marcelo did a classic “humblebrag”

I have been investing (not saving, investing) in the stock market since I was 24, I’m 70 now. I’ve invested in real estate, stocks, bonds, REITs, my own business, some startups… so I tend not to spend money uselessly. However, buying jumbo eggs? Really? How much will an extra $2 or $3 set you back? Many “savers” completely lose sight of reality. Splurging for me is a 4th trip to Europe this year, or an extra Canon 6D body. I think people need to get a grip.

Thanks to Readers Monica and Kim for straightening him out in the comments.

I like Sarah’s take the best:

It may sound financially foolish, but I use my credit card to take one trip out of the country every year. I can’t pay it all back at once but that’s ok because if I don’t charge it I will never be able to take trips. Here’s a tip: TODAY is your rainy day. Take the trip, splurge a bit, check things off the bucket list because we don’t know when our last day is!!

Thanks for the comments – all so interesting and different.

We will keep the comments open for a while so more folks can share their splurges. For anyone who didn’t catch the original content, here it is below:

Original Content:

I grew up with little to no understanding of money beyond the fact that we didn’t have any.  One of my earliest memories was being sent to the front door when the landlady came for the rent and instructed to say “Mommy not home” while my parents hid the the back room. Luckily my dad found steady work and once I was in school my mom got a job, but habits and beliefs born of that kind of poverty, that early, stick around. When I got my first job, at thirteen, became a savings fanatic.

I still am. Now years later, I cash in deposit bottles just like I did as a kid, only instead of trading Coke bottles for a nickel for a Crunch bar,  I save the change, roll it up and put it in the bank. That savings instinct is probably my best financial habit.

It’s also my worst one.  I have a real problem spending money.  It took me a long time to be comfortable buying jumbo sized eggs (I still feel like a Rockefeller when I do that).

I understand that the occasional splurge is fine (in the 80’s I had a huge shoe collection and a terrific wardrobe) but now that I’ve gotten older and retirement looms, I just….can’t.   It took me this long to realize that it’s okay to buy the big eggs.  Now I’m working on getting up the gumption to splurge on a spa weekend.

Still, I think saving money is a good problem to have…most of the time.  Now excuse me while I roll up some quarters.

YOUR TURN

How about you?  Are you a saver?  Did you have to learn how to spend?  What do you consider a splurge? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send  Open Thread suggestions to editor@seniorplanet.org.