Maine Nesties
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Splurges - Discussion
I spent a bunch of money on a nice camera...when it came down to it that camera was the best for me even though it was the most expensive. Then this morning I was brushing my teeth with my new Target brand toothbrush and I was thinking how much I hate that damn toothbrush and I miss my brand name one.
So. Let's talk about the stuff that you splurge on and the stuff that you don't mind buying cheap.
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Dry goods (cereal, rice, beans) - store brand
Chocolate - Ghirardelli all the way
Phone - cheap one
Coffee - name brand and local
Shoes - name brand - in the long run you pay less because they last longer
hair stuff - cheap but not store brand
bag/purse/wallet - cheap
What else?
Re: Splurges - Discussion
Chocolate - I appreciate great chocolate, but really don't turn much away
Phone - We have iPhones, but no landlone
Coffee - Name brand (kcups)
Shoes - Name brand - in the long run you pay less because they last longer- agreed
Hair stuff - I have really finicky hair, so I have to go with what works. I can find some cheap shampoo/conditioners that work well, but stick with certain name or salon brands for styling products
Bag/purse/wallet - I'm a big Vera Bradley fan, but I only buy stuff on super sale
What else?
Chocolate - I'll eat anything chocolate I won't discriminate
Phone - we both have blackberries but no land line
Coffee - name brand but not very often
Shoes -name brand for the most part
bag/purse/wallet - I have a coach bag and wallet but it was a gift and we got it at the outlet for like 80% off
There's not much I splurge on since I don't really do a whole lot of spending, but here's a quick breakdown:
Food- individual items: Generally cheap- Most things I have no problem with generic and non-organic. I buy by the brand for Cheerios, Kate's butter, Hood eggnog, Mario something-somthing pasta sauce, Land O Lakes american cheese, Kraft mac n cheese, & Skippy PB.
Food- meal planning: I splurge by making whatever meals I want. If I want to buy salmon or crab legs or steak or fancy cheese or whatever for a particular meal, I will. DH and I both love food and since it's our primary hobby these days and you've gotta' eat anyway, so I don't feel bad about spending a little more for a delicious, fancy, home cooked meal with more expensive ingredients.
Clothing, Shoes, Accessories: cheap
Hair: cheap
Car: as cheap as possible; only put what we have to in order to maintain status quo and keep the cars new for as long as possible
Decorating/Home: cheap- I hardly decorate, we desperately need new pillows, sheets, towels, etc (if I get them, they'll be cheaper out of necessity) and any home repairs we try to do ourselves
Electronics: cheaper- we do our research to make sure we're milking every penny of what we spend. I spent a little more on the water proof small camera for Hawaii because it was only a little more expensive than all the hidden costs of the disposables, the quality was better, and it was perfect back at home with a little kid for durable & wet fun. We don't own MP3 players or smartphones. Our laptop is 6 years old. Our TV is 12 years old. Our stereo is 16 years old.
Vacations: splurge - If I'm going to spend the money, which is never particularly small to begin with, on an experience and memory making event, it's going to be good. Trips are few and far between and I'm not going to ruin a nice time by cheaping out on sleeping arrangements or not seeing a sight because it's a little pricey.
James: split- cheap & splurge - I almost always look for deals and bargains when shopping for him, especially since he's still little and doesn't care about new v. used and the like. But I still spend way more on him than me, DH, date nights and the house combined. (Not including food- that's my big spend!) He gets new clothes every season, has the big Xmas budget, and we'll do weekend fun based on his likes, so the money spent is really for him to maximize his fun.
Dancing: I try to be good with spending on costumes and accessories, but it feels like I splurge with quarterly dues and needing to pick up accessories a couple of times a year. I guess that's just because I don't have extra to spend, so it seems frivolous. I suppose that makes it a splurge.
Some things I'll go store brand but others I can't. Like ice cream and Doritos have to be name brand.
Dry goods (cereal, rice, beans) - really depends, cereals are name brand but we hardly buy any. Rice and beans I don't care. I coupon a lot so I can get name brand stuff cheaper usually.
BUT for baking and things I give to others I mostly go high end.
Chocolate -I'll eat whatever
Phone - This is mostly DH. But we have iphones and landline. He actually just got the new Android and I'm waiting on my new iPhone. The landline is my stickler. I used to dispatch for 911 and I know that cell phone GPS still isn't what it should be, plus our security system needs a landline.
Coffee - We save here b/c we don't drink coffee!
Shoes -It's been a long time since I've bought shoes b/c of my foot, but the sneakers I have to wear are Brooks and they are not cheap and I have to replace every 2 months .
bag/purse/wallet - Designer purses , but for some reason I have a cheap wallet more often than not. I beat the crap out of my wallets.
Hair/lotions - I don't go through a lot of hair stuff so it's usually name brand salon stuff that lasts forever. Lotions, I have wicked sensitive skin so I use prescription stuff mixed with origins.
DH and I are also different on a lot of things, like he hates Colgate and has to have crest. I could care less and get whatever is on sale. Hmm reading this I don't feel as frugal as I normally feel lol
Dry goods (cereal, rice, beans) - Store brand is fine. The issue for me is whether it's organic or not. We try to stick with more organics because of all the weird chemical sensitivities I have and the fibromyalgia-related flare-ups of IBS. The organics help. So I pay more than for conventional store brand but it's still less than name brand organic.
Chocolate - It's chocolate. I'll eat it. But I like to splurge on Lake Champlain every once in awhile.
Phone - We splurge on MH but not on me. That will change though, once MH is working again. I want my iphone, darn it!
Coffee - We alternate on splurge vs. inexpensive. We get one big bag of Costco coffee and then a smaller bag of a brand name we like that's on sale.
Shoes - Name brand. Again, my body is a pain. I have the longest toes I've ever seen so I have to buy decent shoes to get anything remotely close to a good fit.
bag/purse/wallet - For my work bags, I go inexpensive. I go through them quickly because they take a lot of abuse. For non-work bags and purses and my wallet, I love Coach! The nice thing is the bags last forever so I only buy a new one every several years. My favorite is one I got for high school graduation. Only looks a couple of years old.
hair - Inexpensive. Suave's shea butter products are inexpensive AND great for my skin allergies. Finally a win for my cantankerous body!
clothes - I don't go cheap but it needs to be on sale or promotion or I need to have a gift card.
I buy organic cereal, some brand names but never skimp on peanut butter or flour.
Chocolate- I'll eat what I can get- but really appreciate a good chocolate.
Shoes- depends on what they are for. I'll splurge on a pair that I will wear daily. Not so much if it's to match a dress or random wear.
Clothes- again depends. I usually am a bargain shopper but will splurge on a nice sweater or a good pair of pants.
purse- I have a coach purse and wallet that I love. I have had it for a few years and it last for ever
hair- I splurge to have it cut and colored professionally. I use organic shampoo and conditioners because I don't like all the chemicals in the cheap stuff. Same goes with our soap (goats milk) and lotions.
Some of my splurges are:
- hair cut/color (only twice a year)
- toothpaste (fancy ProNamel stuff, I like to tell myself it helps)
- shoes (I buy cheap flip-flops, but for boots and winter shoes, running shoes, etc.I buy good ones that last)
- bags (usually I'll buy a good one on sale that lasts forever)
Some of my saves:
- shampoo/conditioner (herbal essence)
- face wash
- makeup, mostly, but sometimes my mom gives me the good stuff for Christmas
- dry goods except for cereal
- hairspray & dry shampoo (suave dry shampoo is amazing)
My phone is an HTC incredible which is a nice phone, but I didn't pay much for it - I always wait till my upgrade is due and then get the best phone I can without spending more than one month's bill. So I guess that's kind of a save, but not as save-y as having a less techy/refurb/older style phone.
I guess for me it comes down to whether the splurge is worthwhile in the actual utility of the item, not in having brand name for brand name's sake. For instance I want to get a Lululemon workout tank but if it isn't the best darn shirt I've ever worn, I won't buy another.
Dry goods (cereal, rice, beans) - store brand for just about everything. There is very little we buy name brand of as a rule.
Chocolate - Jumbo bag of Nestle. My DH is the chocolate fiend (especially since I can't stand it now that I'm PG), so that's his preference.
Phone - We both have Droid 1s that we got for $50 with a contract, which we plan to use until they really die.
Coffee - DH doesn't drink it. And I just use K-cups, so they have to be brand name. But I get them for less than $0.40 per cup and save money by only needing to brew one cup at a time as opposed to 4 or more like with a traditional brewer.
Cars - We both drive good, reliable cards. DH is wicked picky, so he drives a fancy car. And I drive a newer car as well, but it has a power train warranty for life, so it will be my last car for a while.
Clothes - My favorite jeans are from Walmart. And, beyond that, I get whatever fits (and DH approves of) and typically when it's on sale.
Cosmetics - I spend money to get good stuff since my skin is happier with it. But the majority is bought with Sephora giftcards from my favorite cousin.
Overall, I'm pretty aware of pricing and where to get what we want for cheaper. But we are fortunate that we both have good paying jobs that mean we can afford to splurge every so often.
Dry goods: I try to stick with organic, but if I can't it's no big deal
Chocolate: Don't eat a lot of it, but I like Lindt Caramel and Sea Salt.
Phone: only have a landline currently.
Coffee: name brand, organic
Shoes: I'll buy new sneakers as needed, but have enough pairs of shoes that I shouldn't have to buy another pair until I'm old and gray. Thank goodness my shoe size didn't change after having kids!
Hair stuff: I don't shampoo or condition my hair, or my daughters. I've found even all natural ones weigh my hair and I was shampooing almost every day. We use baking soda and water with a little essential oil mixes in to make it smell nice. During dry winter months we use an apple cider vinegar rinse as conditioner.
Bag/purse/wallet: I like Vera Bradley and have a couple of her bags. One was a gift and one I bought on Rue LaLa for super cheap.
Kids clothes/shoes/ect: Is a bit more of a splurge. I'll look for things on sale, or even ebay and sites like Zulilly. I try to buy with the intention that they'll last through more than one kiddo. The better the quality, the more likely the chance.
Clothing, Shoes, Accessories: DH and I both wear expensive shoes... he only wears Birkenstocks, and I primarily wear danskos or sneakers (which I have to pay more for because of the shape of my foot) plus I pay a bit more for the boys shoes because I know how important shoes are to walking and good posture and development. I am pretty cheap with my clothes, most of my stuff comes from Old Navy because its cheap and readily available in my size... DH likes LLBean shirts, but will wear cheap pants... I spend A TON on the boys clothes... they have tons of clothes and they are all new and name brand... Carters, OshKosh, Gap, Old Navy... but I try to buy at the outlets or on sale... but every year in the spring and late summer I make a big clothing purchase for them.
Hair: expensive... I use organic products for me and the boys, and DH uses a bodywash/shampoo from Bath and Body Works...
Car: we both have good cars... for now, we will have to buy DH a new car soon but for right now both are running well and we make the necessary repairs and maintenance to keep them that way.
Decorating/Home: one word: IKEA... I love their stuff and the price
Electronics: splurge- we both have iPhone 4 and apple tv, playstation 3, a nice TV, a nice desktop, DH uses his school laptop and I will be buying a new laptop soon
Vacations: splurge - a vacation is creating memories. It is a splurge just by definition, but I want to make it the best splurge it can be!
Coffee - DH doesn't drink it. And I just use K-cups, so they have to be brand name.
Cosmetics - I have super sensitive skin so I use mostly Origins products
Cleaning/laundry supplies- I buy mostly organic for this stuff too so I do end up spending a bit more, but I have found that they last longer so I am not buying as frequently.
Good discussion!
Food: Dry goods and the like for the most part I will buy on the cheap- beans, rice, pasta and the like I really have no preference. Now that we're down to one income, I try to be as savvy as possible and make our dollar stretch. I'm in charge of our food budget and have an "allowance" for it, so it really comes down to me hunting out good deals. We eat at home 95% of the time, so if we want something higher end, I'm happy to make it, and it's so much less expensive than going out- not to mention we can enjoy a delicious meal in our sweatpants on the back porch! We can both be coffee snobs, but given our current financial status, we'll buy whatever is on sale that looks best, but I don't buy the canned stuff if I can avoid it (why, I'm not totally sure). I'm not a sweet tooth, so chocolate doesn't play into my concerns really at all.
Hair/personal care: When I was working, I would totally splurge on this stuff, but now I've pulled back on the reins a bit. I stocked up on a bunch of products I really like while I was making cash so that I'd have some for now, and the rest I augment with Suave and whatnot. I will most likely continue to pay more for a good haircut though, I see that as a worthwhile treat and I don't go that often.
Clothes/Shoes/Bags: I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for, and buying timeless pieces that last. Most of the time, I look to purchase well made, brand name goods- but I also pride myself on being a sale maven! Having access to the military bases has been a Godsend, since it's usually a straight 20% markdown on anything, and when their goods go on sale, it's even better. Thanks to them I've been able to indulge my love of Brooks Brothers, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Vineyard Vines, Brooks Bros, etc. I also have a bit of a soft spot for what I call "disposable fashion": cheap pieces that I pick up for fun, and if they breakdown, meh, it's not the end of the world.
Wine/Spirits/Beer (I noticed no one else had mentioned this- hope it doesn't make me look like a lush!): I have no problem enjoying a cheap glass of wine or beer, as long as I like it- I've never been much of a label wh*re for that stuff, although I would of course prefer to have the good stuff. Much like the personal care products, when I was still working I went on a huge buying spree of wine (as in we have around 50 btls now) of some pretty good stuff to have on hand for entertaining, gift giving, etc. and I'm glad I did. When it comes to spirits, I can be a bit of a snob, depending on what I'm drinking. If it's something like a martini, glass of scotch or a Manhattan, I will snob out, since it's all about the flavor of the spirit. If it's a Bloody Mary or some other crazy mixed concoction, I'm a lot less caring. I really do find that cheap booze will give me the mother of all hangovers as well, even if I only have one drink!
House decor/Electronics: We're sort of 50/50. Most of our furniture is either Ikea, Crate & Barrel or from the LL Bean employee store, so it's nothing over the top. Our TV is a 32" Dynex that took us forever bite the bullet and buy (only one we own), and last year DH got me a lovely MacBook for my birthday. Art is one thing I have a tendency to splurge on. My dad is an art dealer, and I grew up with some pretty incredible pieces, so I enjoy having something good on the walls. Occasionally he'll find a great piece at a screaming dealing and we'll pick it up. That being said, I still have framed up posters from college on the walls as well, so it's a bit all over the board- we just like what we like!
The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware; joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. -Henry Miller
http://cookthehumbletable.blogspot.com/
I should have since DH is always en route to NH to buy liqour. He doesn't drink wine or beer and he always tries new things etc. We have a very well stocked bar and he only buys top shelf so it definitely adds up! So, I wont be thinking your a lush if you don't think DH is an alcoholic LOL
Oh, how did I forget this category? Right now, we're in the relatively inexpensive range for wine. First, I'm drinking most of it myself since MH has class or needs to study most evenings. Second, it is sadly one of the budget items we thought we could shrink while MH was in school. We had a good stash built up before he started, but it's been 15 months so it's gone. I am really looking forward to buying good wine again! There is a great wine shop near us that we used to go to on Saturday afternoons when we were running low. We'd leisurely browse around until we had a case ready to take home with us.
Dry goods (cereal, rice, beans) - brand name
Chocolate - depends-- for baking, ghirdaelli... for eating, most anything
Phone - now I have a droid but I usually go with whatever I can get for cheap wtih renewing my contract.
Coffee - don't drink it
Shoes - I hate shoes-- I tend to pay a decent price for them though but don't have anything super fancy
hair stuff - not store brand but not expensive salon products
bag/purse/wallet - purse, I purchased my first Coach at major discount prices last year but typically get them as gifts.
Cosmetics-- buy good stuff, better for my skin and totally worth it in my opinion
I am trying to remember what I buy store brand... not much I guess! I'm pretty loyal to certain products either for their organic stance or good quality.
Fun post!
Dry goods: Mostly store brand. I make and can most everything, so the few things I do buy, I just do storebrand.
Chocolate -We've been into hershey's dark chocolate. Skip milk chocolate or semi sweet. I could eat the whole bag of dark chocolate.
Phone - We don't have a cell phone.
Coffee - Local: Carpe Diem for DH. Although it's less than Dunkin Donuts price. And better.
Shoes - I'm lucky that I mostly wear sneakers. My job requires a lot of up/down, moving, and chasing run away kids, so I almost always wear my Nikes. My other shoes are name brand, so they've lasted years.
hair stuff - i only use payntene. mostly because I'm not brave enough to see if something else works. I trimmed my own hair last cut so I didn't have to shell out the dough. That's pretty cheap.
bag/purse/wallet - cheap or homemade.
Toys, clothes: Mostly thrift shop stuff or homemade. I have an eye to spot the good stuff.
Home decor: Homemade. Geez, I sound amish.
electronics...all have been gifts...tv, two computers, land line phones, mp3. we're so cheap that we don't even buy them, family thinks we're ridiculous so they buy for us. they want to buy us cable, but we don't want it.
cars: cheap. we're into paying cash and not buying new so we don't pay interest.
entertainment: mostly free and outdoors. we spend lots of time at the beach, hiking, boating (non motor), cross country skiing, library, etc
What we spend money on....my husband's marital arts class. pet supplies. kitchen stuff and food. home improvements-latest was brand new garage. sometimes a vacation (although we have a family camp that we usually go to). retirement. saving because we always pay cash for everything. i see that we're pretty darn boring now that i write this.