The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Mortgage Free Mike on February 10, 2014, 02:24:07 PM
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Over the past few years as I paid off my mortgage, I adopted many of the strategies set forth by Mr. Money Mustache.
But let's be honest, we all have that ONE SPLURGE.
For me, I haven't been able to give up my gym membership. Sure, we have a small gym in my condo, but it's not the same as my real gym. It costs me $29.99 a month. I go almost every day, so it's about $1 a day. My workouts, no matter what I'm doing, give me the energy to conquer the world. For me, that's well worth the price.
Now, I'm curious, what's your ONE SPLURGE?
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I have to eat Arby's every month.
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On occasion, I splurge on new shoes. Ok, not "new" shoes, but shoes that are "new to me". I love high end shoes that I wear to work. My favorite brand is "Mephisto". They are AMAZING! I buy two or three pairs a year on Ebay for around $30.00 each. They retail for $250 to $450 each, so I don't feel too bad. I love getting the, "Wow, those are great looking shoes" comments. Everyone at my office knows that I'm ultra cheap and they snicker when attorneys, etc. comment on my shoes cause they know I only paid $30.00 for them. Anyways, that's my splurge!
For example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-In-Box-MEPHISTO-ABEL-Mens-Oxfords-Black-100-Authentic-RARE-/161216825625?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item2589458919
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Travel.
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I love to travel, but I would have to say my one splurge is McDonalds sugar free ice vanilla coffee. It helps me make it through the 12-16hr days on the weekend. I'm always thrilled when I get gift cards for my BD or Christmas and being able to buy it guilt free.
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one? LOL
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Clothes and computer parts are still my main splurges. Being an IT worker, the computer parts tend to get justified career related. I know I don't strictly need either at this point.
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Horseback riding lessons, once a week, $50 for a private lesson
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one? LOL
your right...I lied...Arby's and sushi..
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Having softener salt delivered. I hate carrying the 40 lb bags down to the basement. Also vacations.
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I built myself an airplane that cruises at 200mph, flys in instrument conditions (clouds) and is aerobatic.
It cost $90,000 to build and cost $3600 just to keep it sitting in the rented hangar ( it got flown every week.. more $$$)
This was madness, we were using it to travel 1200 miles twice per year to see the In laws!
I sold it back in October and put the money in Vanguard.. Then retired 4 weeks ago..:)
Frank
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cable.
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Mmmm, another vote for travel.
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Beer--a trip to the liquor store usually ends with a bottle of something imported from Belgium
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Once we're out of hair on fire, travel would be the big splurge.
Currently, it's booze. Very small amount, but it should arguably be zero. Thankfully I've developed a taste for bottom shelf vodka that keeps my writing wheels lubricated and I can spend very little on craft beer for special days.
I'd also love to own a cargo bike but find it really hard to see the $ return until more of them percolate into the used market.
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Gifts.
I'm trying to limit my spending there... But it's a work in progress :)
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Travel and sushi.
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Sushi. Specifically, the really great sushi train right near my house where all the food is super fresh and tasty, the staff are lovely and it's always a fun time to sit and eat there.
For a while we were there once a fortnight... we're trying to only go once every two months or so now.
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I have two: fancy pants coffee beans and piano lessons.
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Food. And it really is my only ridiculous category which is why I am cutting it. But damn, I do love it. I love the bad stuff to the good stuff, low cost to high price, almost every ethnic cuisine I have ever encountered (no I can't name one that I don't enjoy).
You are supposed to eat to live but I most definitely live to eat. People think I am social when I discuss food because I become so animated about it. I learn to make most things at home to cut costs (and to get access to it more often) but I could never understand an out to eat budget below $200 per month, its simply incomprehensible to me. Obsession is probably a better term for it...
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Lately it's been music. Seeing a good show these days can cost $40, so I try to limit it. I always make sure it's within budget, but it's hard to let great music pass through town without going to see it.
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Hookers. Filthy, dirty, hookers.
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Downhill skiing for a family of four. Seasons passes to local ski hill, and usually a 4 night mid-winter ski trip at another ski area (6 hour drive) including overnight accommodations. It's worth it to us, so much fun and great to be outdoors as a family all winter long.
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King crab legs maybe 2 or 3 times a year...but won't buy them unless I find them under $20 a lb.
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Travel and dogs. I get far more ROI on having such travel experiences and pleasure from my lovable mutts versus accumulating things I don't need.
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I spend way too much money on my hair. I wouldn't necessarily call it my "splurge" because that seems to imply, "Wheee! This is FUN." More, I get this feeling like "Good gravy, this is expensive."
Downhill skiing for a family of four.
On a side note, if anyone happens to be considering a trip to beautiful Utah, I work at one of the ski resorts here, and know my way around as far as cheapest rentals, cheapest lift tickets, etc. Happy to share more info by PM if it can be useful to anyone.
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Three children. I suspect they cost more than the aforementioned acrobatic airplane, or piano lessons and iced coffee, or kitesurfing trips to the Carribean (which I just can't possible give up because there is seriously no room in my budget. Seriously. (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/reader-case-study-i-seriously-have-almost-no-choices-seriously/msg217231/))
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Whisky. I love exploring the different distilleries and just taking the time to discover all the variety in flavour. Unfortunately it's a bit expensive and fancypants, I have a €1500/year whisky budget to splurge on this hobby.
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Whisky. I love exploring the different distilleries and just taking the time to discover all the variety in flavour. Unfortunately it's a bit expensive and fancypants, I have a €1500/year whisky budget to splurge on this hobby.
Haha wow! You must indeed really love whisky!
My biggest expense/splurge each month is rent, could be cheaper if we were willing to live further away from the city center or in a smaller town nearby. But I love our neighbourhood and appartment.
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4 kids in select soccer = alot of travel. But it has become really away of life and time with kids so its worth it but expensive.
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PIZZA!!!
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Hookers. Filthy, dirty, hookers.
Okay, sorry....that just cracked me up.
Healthy food. Our food category is ridiculous. And our Vitamix and Juicer are the most expensive things in our house.
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Hookers. Filthy, dirty, hookers.
Okay, sorry....that just cracked me up.
Healthy food. Our food category is ridiculous. And our Vitamix and Juicer are the most expensive things in our house.
I've been contemplating changing my lifestyle to include more healthy food, even if it's more expensive. Too much ramen (and healthy things like daal) and not enough out of season fruit :D
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Haha wow! You must indeed really love whisky!
I'm trying to cut back :) Well I don't even drink that much, but the specialist stuff is just really expensive. Still, most of the whisky I drink is created by small distilleries using traditional craftsmanship so despite the price I feel like it has a certain mustachian charm to it.
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or kitesurfing trips to the Carribean (which I just can't possible give up because there is seriously no room in my budget. Seriously.)
HA!!
Your hands must be tied!
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Crossfit. For the wife and I it is nearly 3,000 per year. Pretty crazy. Worth it for so many reasons.
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I do not need but I WANT the new iphone every year. For me it makes sense as the price is only about 1% of my net income and I spend hours and hours using it.
Then there's the carrier plan for voice and data. But this I truly NEED and I can expense part of it.
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I guess clothing, I don't spend a crazy amount but if I didn't care at all about style I could DEFINITELY spend half what I spend now. If I don't like what I'm wearing I feel really not myself, it seriously affects my mood, plus I'm very petite so finding my size in cheaper brands usually doesn't happen.
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Yoga (we use Yogaglo @ $19/mo), Bicycles (1 for everyone plus a Yuba Mundo & trailer). The enjoyment we get from these has a huge ROI. Bike camping w/ your two kids is an amazing experience & is a key component to our annual travels.
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Very LONG HOT showers. probably costs me an extra $5-$10 a month.
Very relaxing and totally worth it.
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Our dog.
We spent way too much money. WAY TOO MUCH. But I love her so much!
I don't have a dog for the first time in my life and I hate it so much.
We're calculating the upcoming dog splurge now (heee!). We can't find dog-friendly apartments in our ideal price range, so we'll have to fork over an extra 100-150/mo in rent, which we pile on top of the additional 1,500/yr we're estimating for regular care, not including adoption fees (300-400 for my very favorite rescues, who have high adoption fees to cover excellent interim care).
That's 3,300/yr for a pooch! That's an additional 82,500 I need to add to the 'stache to sustain a pup. That's just one pup.
And then there's the cats...
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Another vote for dogs...we have 3 and can't imagine what it would be like not to have any of them
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Monthly massages. Started getting them during pregnancy for the stress relief, now I keep getting them as my "me time". It's $50/month and I tip $20 on top of that. This is the only beauty thing I pay for since I can cut my own hair, paint my own nails, wash my own face... but I can't give myself a backrub. It helps me get mentally centered too, I love it.
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This thread is rapidly devolving into consumerist BS. There's a whole internet you can go hang out at if you want to brag about the things you spend money on. I suggest starting with facebook.
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I guess kids here.
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(http://i60.tinypic.com/nvcmtz.jpg)(http://i60.tinypic.com/2dqit1c.jpg)
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Personal training and a locker at the campus gym. I've scrimped on my fitness my whole life, but finally decided that if there was anything I was willing to put money into, it should be my health. I did, and it worked (I go 2-3x week regularly now and enjoy it).
After reading this, I'll acknowledge travel as well. Not exactly a must, but seeing my family twice a year, and my boyfriend twice a month, are worth the ~$1k that each adds up to over the year. I think if I didn't value the people I loved that much, I'd be crossing from frugal to cheap, for sure.
This thread is rapidly devolving into consumerist BS. There's a whole internet you can go hang out at if you want to brag about the things you spend money on. I suggest starting with facebook.
On the rest of the internet it's bragging, here it's confession. It annoys you? Don't read! Why do so many people here have trouble with this concept??
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ketchup, is your splurge your dog? Or is it the professional photographer for your dog? ;) Your dog is beautiful!
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ketchup, is your splurge your dog? Or is it the professional photographer for your dog? ;) Your dog is beautiful!
Two very similar-looking Australian shepherds, actually (everyone says they look exactly the same, but those two pictures are of two different dogs). Photography by the girlfriend, grooming also by the girlfriend. Professional photography costs us $0. :)
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ketchup, is your splurge your dog? Or is it the professional photographer for your dog? ;) Your dog is beautiful!
Two very similar-looking Australian shepherds, actually (everyone says they look exactly the same, but those two pictures are of two different dogs). Photography by the girlfriend, grooming also by the girlfriend. Professional photography costs us $0. :)
I looked a little closer, and I can tell the difference. BOTH of your dogs are beautiful! And your girlfriend did a great job with the grooming and pictures.
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ketchup, is your splurge your dog? Or is it the professional photographer for your dog? ;) Your dog is beautiful!
Two very similar-looking Australian shepherds, actually (everyone says they look exactly the same, but those two pictures are of two different dogs). Photography by the girlfriend, grooming also by the girlfriend. Professional photography costs us $0. :)
I looked a little closer, and I can tell the difference. BOTH of your dogs are beautiful! And your girlfriend did a great job with the grooming and pictures.
Gorgeous beasties, ketchup!
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ketchup, is your splurge your dog? Or is it the professional photographer for your dog? ;) Your dog is beautiful!
Two very similar-looking Australian shepherds, actually (everyone says they look exactly the same, but those two pictures are of two different dogs). Photography by the girlfriend, grooming also by the girlfriend. Professional photography costs us $0. :)
I looked a little closer, and I can tell the difference. BOTH of your dogs are beautiful! And your girlfriend did a great job with the grooming and pictures.
Thanks! She worked in dog grooming for a while, and now is working hard to get her photography business off the ground!
Gorgeous beasties, ketchup!
Thanks!
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Monthly massages. Started getting them during pregnancy for the stress relief, now I keep getting them as my "me time". It's $50/month and I tip $20 on top of that. This is the only beauty thing I pay for since I can cut my own hair, paint my own nails, wash my own face... but I can't give myself a backrub. It helps me get mentally centered too, I love it.
Whoa, why do you tip 40%?
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Sushi and audiobooks.
Sushi seems to be a common theme here=)
I've made my own sushi before and it isn't too bad (although a little messy and time intensive), this might be something to explore?
In my case there's a decent sushi place that halves their prices at the end of the day, meaning I can get a decent meal for less than the cost of a starbucks coffee
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Just catching up on this thread. Picked up on two themes: dogs and sushi. Love that! To the critic, I didn't create this thread with the intent of upsetting anyone. Quite the opposite, actually.
I believe our splurges are a glimpse into what makes us HAPPY! There's always room for that in the budget.
P.S. - Meet Lucy.
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Seeing photos of cute dogs sure makes me happy :D so keep those coming, everyone!
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Travel and organic food.
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I have too many! Chocolate, beer, Chick-fa-le, and night clubs. And it was clothing (at places like ross and only good sales at the mall, not fresh out of the expense guzzler) until having enough in my closet to look beautiful everyday, so that one is eliminated for the time being (Yes MMM, and young ladies, you don't have to wear ripped jeans and baggy used t-shirts to save money on clothing!).
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Monthly massages. Started getting them during pregnancy for the stress relief, now I keep getting them as my "me time". It's $50/month and I tip $20 on top of that. This is the only beauty thing I pay for since I can cut my own hair, paint my own nails, wash my own face... but I can't give myself a backrub. It helps me get mentally centered too, I love it.
Whoa, why do you tip 40%?
I came up with the $20 because I always like to tip generously for their time (not as generous with waiters but these girls work hard). The $50 rate is for members, normally it's like $80/hr so I wanted to tip them based on the full rate instead of the member discounted rate. Plus they remember me the next time I go in there and when I see them around town (happens a lot, small neighborhood). I've had bad massages before where I didn't tip at all, and so-so massages where I tipped 10%, but these girls are wonderful and it makes me happy to be generous.
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Well, since everyone else is doing it, these are my little "splurges". Mustachians apparently have very adorable pets!
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My splurge is restaurant food.
I know it costs a lot over time, and I try to be good and eat at home most of the time, but sometimes I want some good food... or sometimes some Taco Bell.
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One!?! LOL... I'm hoping to clean up my act in March :)
February has been pretty expensive... headphones, games, electronics, laundry room reno... plus got some repairs done on the car. Spent something like $1500, and it's only 12 days in!!!
Bit tough as my SO is on parental leave effectively eliminating her 6fig salary, lol.
But good news I managed go get a side job setting up a small network for a dental office for a friends friend. They get the friendly rate of $50/hr :)
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Uhoh. You guys have caught me.
Mine is mountaineering, snowboard alpine touring, rock and ice climbing, and mountain biking trips. Almost all of my trips are within the state, but 2/3rds of my driving is for these almost weekly trips. Even with carpooling, the associated cost of gas and maintenance on my cheap old car probably adds up to $2k/year. $500/year for a season pass to the ski resorts isn't cheap. I probably spend another $1500/year on equipment for all these sports, since it DOES wear out when you use it all the time. Another $1500/year is spent on motels and food when it's 0F out and I don't want to sleep in a tent/car and when I don't want to cook. (I could probably cut down on food costs here...).
Having said that the $5000-$6000 I likely spend on it per year is absolutely worth it to me for the crazy adventures and memories. It is definitely worth retiring later for.
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Living in a "planned community". Truman show jokes aside, we love it here. But damn, it's expensive in comparison to the other subdivision a mile away.
And good yarn/spinning fiber. But that comes out of my $15 allowance and provides hours of entertainment. Not to mention warm clothes for our -4 degree F. mornings this winter.
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We have a few....our cats, cable, tools, and travel.
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my kids, big time splurge
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Flushable wipes.
Originally bought for the kids when they were learning how to use the toilet and didn't always do a very thorough job of wiping. But once I tried them, and it was so much nicer than dry paper...I just couldn't go back.
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Cable. And it is a splurge in two aspects --
1) Money (though we have cut out a bit)
2) Time
We watch way too much TV, but it makes the amount of money we spend on the cable seem like a small amount based on usage…
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One splurge ... Man if i only had 1
1. We Vacation (alot) but most is free b/c i travel 40% for my job so our vacations total 4-5k/ year out of pocket
2. Boat - I own a boat
3. Dogs
4. She has cable. It will be gone in 1 year again. B/c the discount she is getting will be gone.
Man look at all that waste in our budget.
Vacation 5000
Boat - dock 250 gas 500 maint 400 storage 350 cost of money that could be invested 20k*.055% - 1100 boat total 2600
Dogs 150/month = 1800
Cable 50/month = 600
Total budget increase for our pure pleasure . 10000 a year give or take.
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After eliminating most of my splurges, the one I can't seem to get rid of is my art education classes. They cost me $100/month. It's not a ton of money considering what it is, but I could probably do it all on my own and save that $100/month. I'm starting to get really close to cancelling it and just working completely on my own. Undecided still though.
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I do Tae Kwon Do. It's way too big a percentage of my budget. But I figure I'm saving money down the road by maintaining good musco-skeletal health? The "What you wish you knew when you were 30" thread has provided confirmation (bias) of this :)
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Travel to Madeira, Portugal ... other side of the family visit :) Can't wait to go after the baby is born this year! We will be there for 6-8 months (and then won't be back for at least 2 years).
I think that for us family is the most important part of our lives ... and I am willing to work longer in order to keep us all as close as possible.
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Five and a half kids. And a big house to go with them. Still trying to convince the bosses to move us an hour east into Indiana--it would mean a 10% raise straight off for me, thanks to the stupidly high tax rates in IL.
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Quality Food = all organic food and humanely raised/organic meat = $$$
Gourmet Food = nice cheeses, homemade pasta (not by us), wine, fresh herbs, etc.
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Videogames - I'm such a sucker for nostalgia.
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My daughter's private school tuition
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3 very spoiled rescued Maltese dogs and eating out!!! The babies have been worth every penny I have spent on them.