Dumbest Luxury Purchase - Share Your Experience

[ender]

Racecars. 

How dumb are racecars? 

I worked with someone once who was super frugal. He had great perspective on everything and as an engineer was making really good money for the CoL.

At some point I realized though he mostly was frugal so he could fund his hobby cars. The amount of his income percentage wise he spent on those was insane.

[ixtap]

Racecars. 

How dumb are racecars? 

I worked with someone once who was super frugal. He had great perspective on everything and as an engineer was making really good money for the CoL.

At some point I realized though he mostly was frugal so he could fund his hobby cars. The amount of his income percentage wise he spent on those was insane.

You must know my father in law!

[Gremlin]

How can a place be “warm in winter, cool in summer?”

It's in Australia

Well, I’m Australian, so yes it is.

It’s north facing (think south facing benefits if you are Northern Hemisphere). Winds in this area blow from the south in winter. So it gets winter sun whilst avoiding the winter winds. I’m sitting here in t-shirt and shorts but if I head outside will definitely need a jumper at a minimum (bearing in mind it’s winter here now).

In summer, the sun is higher in the sky so not as much direct sun into the apartment. In addition, a sea breeze is pretty common from the north or northeast. This is a cooling breeze. It has air con, but we rarely need it.

Warm in winter, cool in summer.

[Askel]

I worked with someone once who was super frugal. He had great perspective on everything and as an engineer was making really good money for the CoL.

At some point I realized though he mostly was frugal so he could fund his hobby cars. The amount of his income percentage wise he spent on those was insane.

I think the point where I really decided that cars were dumb was when I shared on elevator at an event with two long time competitors and one quipped to the other- "Man, all that money we've spent on this. Imagine if we had put that into property or something...."   (Both were late fifties and working very demanding careers)   

[YttriumNitrate]

Wait, no one's mentioned airplanes???

While in grad school I joined a flying club that owned three airplanes. By aviation standards, usage of the planes was extremely reasonable (these days they're charging $105/hr wet for the Piper Warriors, and 20 years ago it was closer to $60/hr). While the rates were reasonable, at one point I was spending over 25% of my income on flying. It was a lot of fun, and a great experience so I'm not sure I would consider it a dumb purchase since I got good value from it.

One day I'd like to compound the problem by learning how to fly a helicopter. 

[kite]

My personal dumb luxury was cable TV.

[Dicey]

When I was a teen (13 to 18)  I rode and raced motorcycles. I bought my own bike when I was 16 (and a beater van to haul it in) and "worked" for free at a local motorcycle park for free entrance and race fees. I had to buy my own fuel and do my own (endless and expensive) repairs but worked (for money after school) at a motorcycle shop just so I could get deals and access to tools. That and to meet boys ;-).

Dang, Spartana, you and my DH have so much in common! He started even younger with mini bikes and is pretty sure the huge bunion he just had removed from his left foot was from all the shifting. He started working (unofficially) at a minibike shop at age 12. He tells me he rode his (self-purchased) motorcycle to every single day of high school. You know, high school, which typically begins at age 14? When I asked him how he got away with it, he said he wore a full face mask and parked in the teacher's parking lot. This is why I joke he was raised by wolves. Where the hell were his parents?

I am so very glad he decided he was done with motorcycles when cell phones became prevalent.

[Adventine]

This thread makes me feel better about my dumbest luxury purchase - 10 years ago, I bought a $100 pair of high heels. I didn't even like wearing them all that much!

[sonofsven]

When I was a teen (13 to 18)  I rode and raced motorcycles. I bought my own bike when I was 16 (and a beater van to haul it in) and "worked" for free at a local motorcycle park for free entrance and race fees. I had to buy my own fuel and do my own (endless and expensive) repairs but worked (for money after school) at a motorcycle shop just so I could get deals and access to tools. That and to meet boys ;-).

Dang, Spartana, you and my DH have so much in common! He started even younger with mini bikes and is pretty sure the huge bunion he just had removed from his left foot was from all the shifting. He started working (unofficially) at a minibike shop at age 12. He tells me he rode his (self-purchased) motorcycle to every single day of high school. You know, high school, which typically begins at age 14? When I asked him how he got away with it, he said he wore a full face mask and parked in the teacher's parking lot. This is why I joke he was raised by wolves. Where the hell were his parents?

I am so very glad he decided he was done with motorcycles when cell phones became prevalent.

Bringing back memories... I used to do my paper route on a KX-80 dirt bike when I was 14, ripping down the country road, and bought my first street bike when I was 16.
I don't ride anymore, sold my BMW ten years ago.

[iluvzbeach]

DH has had more motorbikes than he can probably remember. Got his first one when he was about 12 or 13 and still rides today at age 61. At times we’ve had upwards of 15+ motorbikes in the garage/workshop (not all ours) and I recall a time when he owned 9 of them. Today we’ve got four in the garage and he’s always looking for the next one. Additionally, he says he regrets selling almost every bike he’s sold. Not mustachian at all. Fortunately, he’s usually just using money from one bike sold to buy the next one. It’s the revolving door of titling & registration fees that I complain about.

He’s a mechanic by trade and goes through every bike & gets it in meticulous condition before selling. Anyone who buys a bike from my DH definitely scores in getting something in tiptop condition. 

[moof]

Boats seem to be utilized the least, and fall apart the fastest.
RV’s are only slightly better.
Vacation homes at least tend to appreciate, but egad the upkeep.  Getting contractors in a beach town is a nightmare, and unless you go for longer stretches than a weekend the time and money spent commuting is a disaster.

Still, I voted boat as the worst.

[ATtiny85]

This thread makes me feel better about my dumbest luxury purchase - 10 years ago, I bought a $100 pair of high heels. I didn't even like wearing them all that much!

You used past tense, are they still in the closet? In direct line of sight as a reminder? Or did you toss/donate them?

I burned a lot of money once on a snowmobile, and sometimes with I had kept a decal or something so I could see it now and then to remind myself how utterly stupid I was, to try and prevent a similar mistake.

[Adventine]

This thread makes me feel better about my dumbest luxury purchase - 10 years ago, I bought a $100 pair of high heels. I didn't even like wearing them all that much!

You used past tense, are they still in the closet? In direct line of sight as a reminder? Or did you toss/donate them?

I burned a lot of money once on a snowmobile, and sometimes with I had kept a decal or something so I could see it now and then to remind myself how utterly stupid I was, to try and prevent a similar mistake.

I threw them out some years ago. They were looking pretty ragged, and I simply didn't like wearing them all that much even when they still looked good.

[JAYSLOL]

Any of these could be fantastic uses of money if you buy them right and get good use out of them, and any of them could be the absolute worst, most wasteful money pits if you don’t.  It just depends on the one you pick.  I went with boat, because no matter how much you spend on an RV or a Beach House, there’s always a mega yacht that costs 100x more and has 100x the headaches. 

[Dicey]

When I was a teen (13 to 18)  I rode and raced motorcycles. I bought my own bike when I was 16 (and a beater van to haul it in) and "worked" for free at a local motorcycle park for free entrance and race fees. I had to buy my own fuel and do my own (endless and expensive) repairs but worked (for money after school) at a motorcycle shop just so I could get deals and access to tools. That and to meet boys ;-).

Dang, Spartana, you and my DH have so much in common! He started even younger with mini bikes and is pretty sure the huge bunion he just had removed from his left foot was from all the shifting. He started working (unofficially) at a minibike shop at age 12. He tells me he rode his (self-purchased) motorcycle to every single day of high school. You know, high school, which typically begins at age 14? When I asked him how he got away with it, he said he wore a full face mask and parked in the teacher's parking lot. This is why I joke he was raised by wolves. Where the hell were his parents?

I am so very glad he decided he was done with motorcycles when cell phones became prevalent.

Hope I get to meet him sometime (maybe Moab 2022??). I only rode dirt bikes until I was an adult then I switch to road/street bikes and they were MUCH less expensive. Gave up my last bike a few years ago when I moved back to the driving death trap of SoCal but I do miss it.  Overall it was very inexpensive and would be a good option now with gas prices b so high here but I kind of like keeping all my body parts intact and alive a bit longer ;-). The boats were definitely more expensive but again not terrible. I have bought some clothes, and like another poster mentioned - high heels and boots (my weakness) - that were expensive and I never wore.

We already have our reservations. We can't get there until Sunday night, but I think we're staying all week.

[sonofsven]

I would encourage everyone to purchase ocean front homes, they are a real job creator for some of us!
They are a near endless source of maintenance and repairs.

[Metalcat]

This thread makes me feel better about my dumbest luxury purchase - 10 years ago, I bought a $100 pair of high heels. I didn't even like wearing them all that much!

12 years ago I got a $1000 pair of heels that I wore once and they broke. Plus now Louboutin shoes are synonymous with escorting.

So...yeah...

[jeromedawg]

I commissioned the build of a $5k guitar from a lesser known boutique luthier back in my days of questing for the perfect sounding guitar. Underwhelmed after it was built I traded down for another boutique guitar and then went through a couple more trades. I probably lost $2-3k of my money in depreciation through trading... Granted, the guitar I ended up with is very nice sounding and I will probably end up keeping it. I have a couple more guitars in the $2-4k price range (which, hopefully, will have either held value or slightly appreciated) but I've gone through probably close to a dozen guitars before ending up with the current set. G.A.S.(guitar acquisition syndrome) is a serious disease that affects millions of people...  Don't get me started on my fishing gear btw

[GuitarStv]

I commissioned the build of a $5k guitar from a lesser known boutique luthier back in my days of questing for the perfect sounding guitar. Underwhelmed after it was built I traded down for another boutique guitar and then went through a couple more trades. I probably lost $2-3k of my money in depreciation through trading... Granted, the guitar I ended up with is very nice sounding and I will probably end up keeping it. I have a couple more guitars in the $2-4k price range (which, hopefully, will have either held value or slightly appreciated) but I've gone through probably close to a dozen guitars before ending up with the current set. G.A.S.(guitar acquisition syndrome) is a serious disease that affects millions of people...  Don't get me started on my fishing gear btw

The more time I spend playing, the more I've found that most guitars can be made to sound great . . . you've just got to figure out the right application for the particular sound that they do well, and the right technique to use to capitalize on that sound.  Something that's shrill with heavy handed flatpicking may sound beautifully detailed for fingerstyle play and vice-versa.

[TartanTallulah]

This thread is making me feel less isolated, because as a not very early retiree (58) I see lots of friends of a similar age buying motorhomes, holiday homes and boats. I'm not a watergoing person and don't want the responsibility of owning two houses so a boat and a holiday cottage were never in the frame, but so many smart middle aged couples we know have become motorhome owners and insist that they're saving a fortune and have much more freedom that my husband and I sat down and did the sums and concluded that even if the motorhome retained its entire value on resale we would still be better off renting a holiday cottage for six weeks every year and the occasional chain hotel room for weekend trips.

(I voted boat, because a boat is the option most likely to become a white elephant after the initial novelty wears off.)

[jeromedawg]

I commissioned the build of a $5k guitar from a lesser known boutique luthier back in my days of questing for the perfect sounding guitar. Underwhelmed after it was built I traded down for another boutique guitar and then went through a couple more trades. I probably lost $2-3k of my money in depreciation through trading... Granted, the guitar I ended up with is very nice sounding and I will probably end up keeping it. I have a couple more guitars in the $2-4k price range (which, hopefully, will have either held value or slightly appreciated) but I've gone through probably close to a dozen guitars before ending up with the current set. G.A.S.(guitar acquisition syndrome) is a serious disease that affects millions of people...  Don't get me started on my fishing gear btw

The more time I spend playing, the more I've found that most guitars can be made to sound great . . . you've just got to figure out the right application for the particular sound that they do well, and the right technique to use to capitalize on that sound.  Something that's shrill with heavy handed flatpicking may sound beautifully detailed for fingerstyle play and vice-versa.

Very much agreed - certain guitars 'fit' certain styles and vice-versa. Although there's always going to be that one guy at Guitar Center (or wherever) who can't stop himself from shredding on a classical guitar...

Anyway, I realize I went off-topic a bit since this thread is asking about RVs, Boats and Beach Homes... All three sound great to me, just as long as I don't have to pay for them LOL. My buddy has a very nice center console boat (Robalo) and I've gone out with him several times on it. With the salary he and his wife make, he can most certainly afford it... but the cost of gas, slip fees, cleaning, maintenance, etc is extremely high. I don't think it's something I could ever stomach, justify, or likely afford...unless I became a private boat capt running very successful bluefin charters LOL

[GuitarStv]

I commissioned the build of a $5k guitar from a lesser known boutique luthier back in my days of questing for the perfect sounding guitar. Underwhelmed after it was built I traded down for another boutique guitar and then went through a couple more trades. I probably lost $2-3k of my money in depreciation through trading... Granted, the guitar I ended up with is very nice sounding and I will probably end up keeping it. I have a couple more guitars in the $2-4k price range (which, hopefully, will have either held value or slightly appreciated) but I've gone through probably close to a dozen guitars before ending up with the current set. G.A.S.(guitar acquisition syndrome) is a serious disease that affects millions of people...  Don't get me started on my fishing gear btw

The more time I spend playing, the more I've found that most guitars can be made to sound great . . . you've just got to figure out the right application for the particular sound that they do well, and the right technique to use to capitalize on that sound.  Something that's shrill with heavy handed flatpicking may sound beautifully detailed for fingerstyle play and vice-versa.

Very much agreed - certain guitars 'fit' certain styles and vice-versa. Although there's always going to be that one guy at Guitar Center (or wherever) who can't stop himself from shredding on a classical guitar...

I play jazz on a neon pink guitar with a floyd.  :P

[ATtiny85]

This thread is making me feel less isolated, because as a not very early retiree (58) I see lots of friends of a similar age buying motorhomes, holiday homes and boats. I'm not a watergoing person and don't want the responsibility of owning two houses so a boat and a holiday cottage were never in the frame, but so many smart middle aged couples we know have become motorhome owners and insist that they're saving a fortune and have much more freedom that my husband and I sat down and did the sums and concluded that even if the motorhome retained its entire value on resale we would still be better off renting a holiday cottage for six weeks every year and the occasional chain hotel room for weekend trips.

(I voted boat, because a boat is the option most likely to become a white elephant after the initial novelty wears off.)

They are saving a small fortune by having spent a large fortune…

[TheAnonOne]

Racecars. 

How dumb are racecars? 

I worked with someone once who was super frugal. He had great perspective on everything and as an engineer was making really good money for the CoL.

At some point I realized though he mostly was frugal so he could fund his hobby cars. The amount of his income percentage wise he spent on those was insane.

Personally in this trap.

I've had "3" though they keep getting newer and more expensive. A single track day is $1500. ($300 fee, $300 insurance, $300 hotel, $300 wear parts, $300 prep)

Mid 30s now, probably spent $200k on cars since I was 18. That said, I won't stop, there is NOTHING like driving fast for me. Everything else is some version of "grey" as far as adrenaline goes. Hedonistic adaptation I guess haha.

[Padonak]

Many, many vacations in different countries and continents but I learned how to use miles and points so haven't really spent a lot of money on vacations since 2012 or so. Bars... too much money wasted in bars.

[Jon Bon]

This thread is making me feel less isolated, because as a not very early retiree (58) I see lots of friends of a similar age buying motorhomes, holiday homes and boats. I'm not a watergoing person and don't want the responsibility of owning two houses so a boat and a holiday cottage were never in the frame, but so many smart middle aged couples we know have become motorhome owners and insist that they're saving a fortune and have much more freedom that my husband and I sat down and did the sums and concluded that even if the motorhome retained its entire value on resale we would still be better off renting a holiday cottage for six weeks every year and the occasional chain hotel room for weekend trips.

(I voted boat, because a boat is the option most likely to become a white elephant after the initial novelty wears off.)

They are saving a small fortune by having spent a large fortune…

New Term: Ego Assets - an asset with little or no return. Usually only owned by rich people to tell other slightly less rich people that they own one. Examples included beach houses, and airplanes.

[Metalcat]

This thread is making me feel less isolated, because as a not very early retiree (58) I see lots of friends of a similar age buying motorhomes, holiday homes and boats. I'm not a watergoing person and don't want the responsibility of owning two houses so a boat and a holiday cottage were never in the frame, but so many smart middle aged couples we know have become motorhome owners and insist that they're saving a fortune and have much more freedom that my husband and I sat down and did the sums and concluded that even if the motorhome retained its entire value on resale we would still be better off renting a holiday cottage for six weeks every year and the occasional chain hotel room for weekend trips.

(I voted boat, because a boat is the option most likely to become a white elephant after the initial novelty wears off.)

They are saving a small fortune by having spent a large fortune…

New Term: Ego Assets - an asset with little or no return. Usually only owned by rich people to tell other slightly less rich people that they own one. Examples included beach houses, and airplanes.

Beach houses and airplanes serve A LOT of purpose, I think better examples would be watches, designer clothes, and in many cases but certainly not all, private schools for children.

I am most certain *not* saying this because I am currently writing this with a view of the ocean, or because I seriously considered buying a plane in 2020. Not at all...I'm being completely objective :P

[Metalcat]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

[GuitarStv]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You can fan yourself with the paper at least!  (Is it paper?  Didn't they used to be sheep skin?)

[Metalcat]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You can fan yourself with the paper at least!  (Is it paper?  Didn't they used to be sheep skin?)

It's in a big heavy frame. I could use it to prop open a door.

[Turtle]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned timeshares yet.

Not my dumb purchase, but my parents.  They would have been better off just renting vacation homes.

[ATtiny85]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned timeshares yet.

Not my dumb purchase, but my parents.  They would have been better off just renting vacation homes.

Be sure they don’t have it tagged with your name in the will. Generously offer that they leave it to someone else…

[Villanelle]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned timeshares yet.

Not my dumb purchase, but my parents.  They would have been better off just renting vacation homes.

Be sure they don’t have it tagged with your name in the will. Generously offer that they leave it to someone else…

Even if it is left to someone in a will, that person can decline it.  Much like debts, unless you sign something taking on the obligation, you can't be forced to take on an "asset", much less one that comes with annual expenses. 


~~~

That said, my parents have had a timeshare for bout 25 years and have more than gotten their money out of it, but I know they are significant minority in that.  It allows then to to any week (or multiple weeks in a year) and to any of a couple dozen locations.  They generally use it 2x per year, usually with various friends.  It's not something I'd consider buying, but for them, it has saved them money compared to the costs of those trips without it.  And since they are generally quite frugal, I suspect they would have just gone on far fewer vacations, which would have been a major quality-of-life downgrade for them.  (And I can't stress enough that they can easily afford these trips.)

[ChickenStash]

Racecars. 

How dumb are racecars? 

I worked with someone once who was super frugal. He had great perspective on everything and as an engineer was making really good money for the CoL.

At some point I realized though he mostly was frugal so he could fund his hobby cars. The amount of his income percentage wise he spent on those was insane.

Personally in this trap.

I've had "3" though they keep getting newer and more expensive. A single track day is $1500. ($300 fee, $300 insurance, $300 hotel, $300 wear parts, $300 prep)

Mid 30s now, probably spent $200k on cars since I was 18. That said, I won't stop, there is NOTHING like driving fast for me. Everything else is some version of "grey" as far as adrenaline goes. Hedonistic adaptation I guess haha.

I feel your pain. I've been getting into track days the last few years and love them. I do what I can to mitigate it, but the expenses make my eyes water sometimes. It is 100% a luxury but it's one I plan for and try not to let get out of hand.

[2sk22]

You all must have surely heard the dictum  "if it floats or flies, rent, don't buy" :-)

[Dicey]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You didn't know you weren't going to be able to use it, and it wasn't in a field without earning power to offset the cost.  Not dumb in your case.

[YttriumNitrate]

You all must have surely heard the dictum  "if it floats or flies, rent, don't buy" :-)

I thought it was "if it floats, flies, or flirts,* rent, don't buy." Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

*There is a more vulgar "F" word that is sometimes used, but this is a family friendly thread, damn it.

[ender]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You didn't know you weren't going to be able to use it, and it wasn't in a field without earning power to offset the cost.  Not dumb in your case.

Most things in this thread are more in hindsight.

Few people would consider an expensive purchase they love and highly value and get tons of value out of their 'dumbest' purchase.

[Dicey]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You didn't know you weren't going to be able to use it, and it wasn't in a field without earning power to offset the cost.  Not dumb in your case.

Most things in this thread are more in hindsight.

Few people would consider an expensive purchase they love and highly value and get tons of value out of their 'dumbest' purchase.

Agreed, but that's not why Malcat isn't using her degree.

[Askel]

flirts?  That is the most PC version I've yet to hear of "If to floats, flies, or fucks- it's cheaper by the hour." :D 

[Metalcat]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You didn't know you weren't going to be able to use it, and it wasn't in a field without earning power to offset the cost.  Not dumb in your case.

Not dumb at the time, but in the end I could have done anything and chose, like, the ONE degree that would become completely useless, lol.

Thankfully the new degree is a fraction of the cost and gives me a hell of a lot more options.

[Dicey]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You didn't know you weren't going to be able to use it, and it wasn't in a field without earning power to offset the cost.  Not dumb in your case.

Not dumb at the time, but in the end I could have done anything and chose, like, the ONE degree that would become completely useless, lol.

Thankfully the new degree is a fraction of the cost and gives me a hell of a lot more options.

I would not have wanted to be the one attempting to convince Young Malcat to pursue a different career path. You made the decision you wanted to at the time. You didn't know what your future held. Not dumb at all.

[Metalcat]

Oh! I have an example!

How about the quarter million dollar degree that I can't use? I think that one counts as a dumb luxury purchase.

You didn't know you weren't going to be able to use it, and it wasn't in a field without earning power to offset the cost.  Not dumb in your case.

Not dumb at the time, but in the end I could have done anything and chose, like, the ONE degree that would become completely useless, lol.

Thankfully the new degree is a fraction of the cost and gives me a hell of a lot more options.

I would not have wanted to be the one attempting to convince Young Malcat to pursue a different career path. You made the decision you wanted to at the time. You didn't know what your future held. Not dumb at all.

Fair assumption, but it wouldn't have been hard, I basically flipped a coin between what I chose then, what I'm doing now, and a third option. I really just chose based on which interview was the most pleasant, thinking that it reflected on what the school experience would be like.

Oof, I was so, sooooo wrong. Total bait and switch.
I figured out *why* later on when I was part of the admissions committee myself. It was run by a completely different section of the faculty. The nice people.

So yeah, I could have easily chosen differently. However, I don't actually regret choosing a career that I had to give up. I medically retired about a year before all of this leg surgery stuff came up. So I already spent a year in therapy processing losing my career, decompressing, and adjusting.

Had I still had a rich, fulfilling career when I found out about the surgeries, I would have HUGE career stress on top of the surgical stress. Not knowing when I would be able to get back to work, for upwards of 2 years would be unbelievably stressful.

In a way, this whole surgery thing is a million times more bearable *because* my career had already fallen apart. And by the time the surgeries are done, I'll have a new license and a new career.

So roughly the same amount of time off of work, but without the pressure. Plus the degree gives me something to do while I'm lying around feeling helpless with a broken femur.

Win win

[GuitarStv]

Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

'Wedding ring' has probably been my all time best investment.  ROI has been outstanding.

[Metalcat]

Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

'Wedding ring' has probably been my all time best investment.  ROI has been outstanding.

Same.

[Villanelle]

flirts?  That is the most PC version I've yet to hear of "If to floats, flies, or fucks- it's cheaper by the hour." :D

Since I'm married to a Naval Aviator, I suppose it's fair to say that he does all three.  And I assure you, buying has been far, far cheaper than renting. 

[nereo]

Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

'Wedding ring' has probably been my all time best investment.  ROI has been outstanding.

Same.

My spouse stopped wearing hers (and I’ve never had one) - yet we are happily married. Not sure if that puts it into a “dumb luxury purchase” or not…

[sonofsven]

Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

'Wedding ring' has probably been my all time best investment.  ROI has been outstanding.

Same.

My spouse stopped wearing hers (and I’ve never had one) - yet we are happily married. Not sure if that puts it into a “dumb luxury purchase” or not…

I sold mine for the value of the gold. At the time I was doing a lot of metal scrapping, so it seemed natural.

[Metalcat]

Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

'Wedding ring' has probably been my all time best investment.  ROI has been outstanding.

Same.

My spouse stopped wearing hers (and I’ve never had one) - yet we are happily married. Not sure if that puts it into a “dumb luxury purchase” or not…

Lol, I never wear my engagement ring, but I go through phases of wearing my wedding ring. But I purposefully bought the simplest, thinnest gold band possible so that I would barely notice it and it wouldn't catch on my gloves or harbour pathogens at work.

In terms of gold jewelry, it's about as cheap as it gets.

I still wear the engagement ring whenever I dress up though. It's a special occasion thing, so I don't consider it a waste.

DH pretty much stopped wearing his ring though because he gets hit on a lot less when he doesn't.

[GuitarStv]

Surprisingly, no one yet has listed "wedding ring" in this thread as their dumbest luxury purchase.

'Wedding ring' has probably been my all time best investment.  ROI has been outstanding.

Same.

My spouse stopped wearing hers (and I’ve never had one) - yet we are happily married. Not sure if that puts it into a “dumb luxury purchase” or not…

Lol, I never wear my engagement ring, but I go through phases of wearing my wedding ring. But I purposefully bought the simplest, thinnest gold band possible so that I would barely notice it and it wouldn't catch on my gloves or harbour pathogens at work.

In terms of gold jewelry, it's about as cheap as it gets.

I still wear the engagement ring whenever I dress up though. It's a special occasion thing, so I don't consider it a waste.

DH pretty much stopped wearing his ring though because he gets hit on a lot less when he doesn't.

My wedding ring is a 20$ stainless steel band.  I take rings off to play guitar, bass, for boxing, for bike rides, etc. and I figured that the risk of loss was too high to spend much money.  That said, it's been more than a decade and a half and I haven't lost the original ring yet so maybe the concern was unfounded.