Luxuries and treats you can't live without

[Asgard01]

Just a bit of fun this post. I type this after having a taste the difference (brand) orange ice lolly from Sainsburys - a more premium supermarket in the UK. I don't know if it's placebo but boy can I taste the difference whilst sitting outside in the sun partaking in this lovely treat.

What are some of those treats or luxuries that you just can't stop having or simply won't stop buying as we know this is not supposed to be depriving ourselves of all such occasional luxuries. Do you still buy that one brand of expensive perfume, or is it a must that you have that particular brand of velvet scented toilet paper :).

Chris

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

-Decent coffee. Not wallet-clearing coffee, but the beans are circa $10/lb. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.
-Seltzer. We have a 20lb C02 tank hooked up to a soda stream (and we don't use syrups or flavors), but still, it would obviously be cheaper to just drink tap water.
-Hiking boots. Not going to cheap out on these.

Clearly I feel strongly about beverages and feet.

[GuitarStv]

Coronation grapes.  For a month or so every year these little blue/black orbs of hedonistic joy begin their siren call at our supermarkets.  They are the crack cocaine of fruit, and I uncontrollably purchase and wolf down pounds of them each harvest time.  I don't even eat other grapes for the rest of the year because they suck so much in comparison.

[happy]

Lindt 90% dark chocolate

[MrFancypants]

Video games.  I don't need them all the time, but it's my prefered way to "check out" when I need some time to get my mind off of anything.

Thankfully this can be a very inexpensive activity if you keep an eye out for sales, look for free options, and don't go overboard on the hardware.  My three year old laptop, which wasn't top of the line, is plenty sufficient.

[so.mpls]

-Decent coffee. Not wallet-clearing coffee, but the beans are circa $10/lb. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Have you ever considered roasting your own?  All you need to do it is a $10 popcorn popper, and you can get green beans for $4-5/lb that will probably be much better than what you're drinking now.  It takes a bit of time (about 45 min for a week's worth for me), but it's really enjoyable imo.

[trailrated]

SUSHI

[BobToday]

Once in every while some wine/beer and a good steak :)

[Prepube]

I smoke one premium cigar and sip my favorite too-expensive tequila every week during the summer, and about once a month in the winter.  Including my wife's similar habit, the budget is 1000/year.  I would cut every other budget line or item to preserve this pleasure guiltlessly, so please don't suggest I roll my own. 

[Emilyngh]

Just a bit of fun this post. I type this after having a taste the difference (brand) orange ice lolly from Sainsburys - a more premium supermarket in the UK. I don't know if it's placebo but boy can I taste the difference whilst sitting outside in the sun partaking in this lovely treat.

What are some of those treats or luxuries that you just can't stop having or simply won't stop buying as we know this is not supposed to be depriving ourselves of all such occasional luxuries. Do you still buy that one brand of expensive perfume, or is it a must that you have that particular brand of velvet scented toilet paper :).

Chris

Lots of fresh fruits and veggies.   I'm not super particular about which ones (so eat in season when I can), as long as I have a good mix and large volumes of the two.   Oh, and nuts (raw almonds and pistachios mostly) and chocolate.   

Hmmm, outside of food, besides the basics of heat, shelter, needed medications and clean water......a comfortable bed, good shoes, and a humidifier in the winter.   Oh, and a car and gas (at least where we currently live).

[ryaner]

Bikes (the pedalling kind).
On a purely financial basis the hobby is probably adding 2-3 years to the time it'll take me FIRE, but I'm perfectly ok with that. They are probably adding 10-20 years to my life purely in health benefits.

[SpinGeek]

• Decent wool yarn and roving. I have some acrylic for baby things and donations that require it, but I hate knitting with the squeaky stuff. I'll save my allowance for weeks if necessary to buy the good stuff, since I'll be working with it for a month or more. I really like buying US-produced wool and indie dyers.
• My Schacht spinning wheel. Exercise and stress relief in one. I could produce yarn on a PVC wheel (and I have); but decent tools not only make it easier to make a good product, they also are more aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable to use.

My husband is very attached to his Saturday Starbucks Frappucino; I like the opportunity to take a break together during the errand-running more than I like the coffee myself.

[SnpKraklePhyz]

Before i even clicked on this I thought - coffee! With cream

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

-Decent coffee. Not wallet-clearing coffee, but the beans are circa $10/lb. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Have you ever considered roasting your own?  All you need to do it is a $10 popcorn popper, and you can get green beans for $4-5/lb that will probably be much better than what you're drinking now.  It takes a bit of time (about 45 min for a week's worth for me), but it's really enjoyable imo.

Funny you should ask--we have a saved Craigslist search for a used coffee roaster. I hadn't thought of roasting in a popcorn popper--that's certainly cheaper. It's definitely a goal of ours to get green beans and roast our own. Thanks for the tip!

[surfhb]

Only on this site would fruits and veggies be considered a luxury. Lol

For me it's my quiver of surfboards and a 93 Toyota pick up truck to haul them

I don't think any the things listed in this thread to be luxuries.   Even our ancient ancestors had luxuries if that would the case. :)

[blackomen]

Having a mechanic fix my car:

I get worked up in a sweat and start shaking over the thought of working on my car, after a few bad experiences that nearly left me stranded.

[swick]

Only on this site would fruits and veggies be considered a luxury. Lol

That entirely depends on where you live! Yeah, any time I have access to fresh fruits and veg I am a happy camper.  As for luxuries, those little expensive food things that really make a homemade meal special are my weakness - ohh fresh organic cream the one or two times a year I can get it.

[MoneyCat]

Our cats.  Yes, our lives would be less expensive without having to purchase all the pet supplies and pay veterinary bills for them, but they improve our lives so much that it is well worth the extra expense.

[Duchess of Stratosphear]

Dates and Turkish figs from the fancy grocery store. I say I won't buy them again, and then I always do. Not ALWAYS, just probably too often.

A hot shower everyday. Not having this feels like the apocalypse has happened and the end of civilization is nigh.

Pets are a good one. They are expensive, but they make me laugh everyday which must have some payback someday when it comes to health costs, right?

[Joggernot]

One cheap cigar a day smoked out on my deck while reading a good mystery and sipping my cheap whisky.

[RFAAOATB]

Preworkout.  Those tubs of power powder are $30-$40 each.  Taking C4 before PT helps me turn on the beast mode.

The luxury I'm not too happy with is paying for a gym membership.  It is the least bad choice of driving 12 miles across town to the armory that I no longer have 24 hour access to, buying a home treadmill and weight set for my smaller than I'd like house and worrying about treadmill maintenance, and running outside because the weather usually sucks here and I prefer looking at and controlling the numbers on the machine.

[TheFrugalFox]

My Sunday motorcycle rides with my wife. Normally a 100 mile round trip to another town for breakfast. Cost about $10 in petrol and  $10 for the breakfast for both. And yes, the dogs - although I do think, when not sleeping and farting, they do a fair job keeping buglers away.

[TurtleMarkets]

Food. I eat a lot and like to eat all kinds of food. Food budget is right behind housing cost. If I could learn to cook Indian, middle eastern, and sushi it may be cheaper.  One of the best things about living in Metro Detroit is the crazy mix of cultures. Food like we are living in a big city on the coast and cost of living just above normal midwest. Win Win

[NoraLenderbee]

We spent over $700 last year on coffee and over $800 on wine and liquor.
Our pets. I never want to be without a cat. (Maybe a dog someday.)
My vegetable garden. I doubt it saves us money when you factor in the cost of water . . . not to mention our housing cost would have been lower if we hadn't required a backyard. But I love growing everything.
(This one may stimulate face punches) Therapy. It's a luxury in the sense that it costs a bloody ton of money and most people can't or wouldn't do it. But it's been a literal lifesaver for me. I don't regret a penny. However, it has definitely pushed out FI a lot.

[RetiredAt63]

+! Any really good chocolate.  Also local honey - definitely more expensive, but it tastes wonderful and supports local beekeepers (which means better pollination in my garden).

and +1 with SpinGeek - nice fibres, my wheels.  Spinning is so Zen.  And then I have the luxury of donating really nice handspun for fund-raisers.

Of course I am retired, so I no longer have to worry about the accumulation phase, I am in enjoyment phase.

Lindt 90% dark chocolate

[boognish]

Moleskine notebooks - I use these overpriced planners. It's just a once a year $15 splurge but I have no rational basis for it (I like the paper?)

Soccer cleats - I play in a number of soccer leagues and definitely fliff on shoes. However, I've started returning shoes to the manufacturer once I inevitably blow them out. They give me a voucher and the process begins anew.

gym membership - I mostly utilize my gym for the yoga classes offered (included with membership). If I needed to tighten my belt I could cancel my membership and yoga at home.

[Woodshark]

One really good vacation a year to someplace warm. Roatan Honduras, Virgin Islands, Belize. etc.

Another is food. I love diverse ethnic food. It doesn't have to be expensive if you go for lunch (as I do). I've gotta have my Thai for lunch at least once a week.  Usually costs me around $7.50 and that includes a 20% tip.  I figure it is cheaper to buy the lunch special then buying all the different raw ingredients and spices for making it at home. 

[libertarian4321]

Having a mechanic fix my car:

I get worked up in a sweat and start shaking over the thought of working on my car, after a few bad experiences that nearly left me stranded.

Lol.

My dad is a mechanic and general handyman who can fix anything (he kinda had to be, because he had no money).  I figured it must be genetic.  Plus, I'm a degreed engineer, I can fix anything, right?

So for many years, I tried to be a "fix it" kind of guy.  Occasionally, I'd get it right, but more often than not, I'd spend tons of time and money trying to "fix" things, only to end up going to a professional after I'd failed.

Bottom line:  For simple things, I'll do it myself.  But anything even moderately complex (e.g. most car repairs) or dangerous (electric), I'll hire a professional right off the bat.

[The Hamster]

Food.  As in good quality food such as organic produce, meat fish and eggs.  Also good quality chocolate, ice-cream and wine and eating out at nice restaurants once or twice a month as a treat.  I try to save money on groceries where I can but for the most part won't substitute good quality fresh food for packaged"home brand" to save a few cents.
I believe that the quality of food I eat will have a direct bearing on my health, and IMO health is just as important than wealth if not more so.

[MsRichLife]

-Decent coffee. Not wallet-clearing coffee, but the beans are circa $10/lb. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.
-Seltzer. We have a 20lb C02 tank hooked up to a soda stream (and we don't use syrups or flavors), but still, it would obviously be cheaper to just drink tap water.
-Hiking boots. Not going to cheap out on these.

Clearly I feel strongly about beverages and feet.

Beverages and feet :) Me too.

I will still happily pay for one decent coffee each day. It's more than a coffee...it's the experience. I find my best thinking gets done with coffee in hand and it's the thinking that's priceless.

Feet. We don't have many pairs of shoes, but the ones we do have cost a lot. My son lives in second hand clothes from the market, but I will happily pay $70 for the one pair of shoes he wears every day. Thankfully his feet don't grow too fast because we seem to get over six months wear out of them.

[Sarita]

Monthly subscriptions for NY Times online ($15) and ad-free Spotify ($5).

[Rural]

Dogs (the male is just about too old to hunt, so he's a couch baby now). Air conditioning and heat when this place really doesn't need it -- well, just enough to dehumidify and keep the mold off the walls in summer.


But I could live without the AC and heat.

[LonerMatt]

1. Food. Once a week I eat whatever I want, whatever the cost. Usually adds $30 spent, which isn't really much for me.

2. Travel. Twice a year, or so, I like to go OS. I wouldn't consider cutting this, ever. Flights are expensive, but when I'm at a destination I don't spend much.

3. Quality clothing. I wear it all day every day, I prefer that it fits well, feels good and looks good.

4. Haircuts. I love my hairdresser: he's great, a cool guy, charges reasonable money and makes me feel handsome. I've had ugly haircuts before and just hate how I look and feel when I've got them.

[Nords]

What are some of those treats or luxuries that you just can't stop having or simply won't stop buying as we know this is not supposed to be depriving ourselves of all such occasional luxuries. Do you still buy that one brand of expensive perfume, or is it a must that you have that particular brand of velvet scented toilet paper :).

I appreciate that this question is just for fun, but after being in the military and after downsizing my Dad from his apartment to a care facility... there's almost nothing that I "just can't stop having" or "simply won't stop buying". 

Don't get me wrong-- I'm very appreciative of what I have, and every day I have several "life is good" moments.  But if a hurricane wipes our house off the lot this weekend, then we'll just live out of a tent or a hotel room and get on with the rebuilding.

[daverobev]

Before i even clicked on this I thought - coffee! With cream

Yup, I foolishly made the switch to cream... and now I can't go back!

[freeazabird]

Nice hotels. Our home is nicely decorated, so if we travel and stay at a cheap hotel we really feel the difference.

[tanhanivar]

Having a mechanic fix my car:

I get worked up in a sweat and start shaking over the thought of working on my car, after a few bad experiences that nearly left me stranded.

I get this if I try to cut mat board: I start running a low-grade fever! I pay someone to cut it now and we are all so much happier.

My other luxury is violet creams. Just found them in a chocolate shop on my lunchbreak. $2.20 is a bit pricey for one mouthful, but they are so good and hard to find. (Fortunately, more than one and I feel like I've been doing shots of perfume, so they are self-limiting).

[Rienk]

Single Malt Whisky. A good whisky is an experience by itself for me, occasionally I turn off the lights and just stare out of my 10th story appartment window enjoying the smell and taste, possibly accompanied by some relaxing music or a personal finance podcast.

And of course, as Nords points out, I could easily live without if I had to.

[tarheeldan]

Dog. About $1000/yr in rent, boarding, vet etc.

Used but kinda snazzy car.

Healthier foods

[makincaid]

- International backpacking adventures
- Adult Education workshops
- Gear for outdoor sports

I could live without them if I had to, but I would probably not retire if it meant giving them up.

[jackiedeeh]

Hi there,
I'm a long-time lurker and first time commenter.  This seems like an easy enough thread to jump into so hopefully this works...

This time of year a splurge of us at the grocery store are Mount Ranier cherries - yummy, yummy.  I live in Minnesota and they magically appear for only a couple of months.  Also, as others have said, our pets are our weakness/kids particularly since our only daughter is going away to college in a few weeks. 

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

Hi there,
I'm a long-time lurker and first time commenter.  This seems like an easy enough thread to jump into so hopefully this works...

This time of year a splurge of us at the grocery store are Mount Ranier cherries - yummy, yummy.  I live in Minnesota and they magically appear for only a couple of months.  Also, as others have said, our pets are our weakness/kids particularly since our only daughter is going away to college in a few weeks.

Welcome to the world of commenting! Glad you jumped in!

[Thegoblinchief]

(Practically) infinite clean drinking water.

Enough financial freedom for one of us to be home with the kids at all times.

That's pretty much it. Perhaps I'm taking the "can't" in the thread title too seriously, but I chuckled at a lot of the replies, no offense.

[surfhb]

My take is this:

I'd rather retire at 55 and enjoy the luxuries of travel, eating / drinking out with friends, having my iPad, ect then retire at 35 any day.

Maybe eating butter and drinking a case of month of craft beer shaves 3 years off my life?   That's a pretty good trade off IMO

[legacyoneup]

-mangoes ( unfortunately, most of the varieties of mangoes available in the US are junk)
-rare stamps
-Cherries
-Strawberry ice-cream loaded with pecans and walnuts.
-White Chocolate Lindor Truffles
-apfelkorn (Berentzen)

[Ms. Peachfuzz]

My list:
 - a monthly latte & raspberry white chocolate scone from my local coffee shop
 - microbrew beer
 - travel (budget of course!)

[MidwestGal]

The pets.  No matter how bad a day gets, coming home to warm furries is awesome.

Steak.  Has to be ribeye, teres major, new york strip.

Good tea, especially Irish breakfast.  I have both loose teas and in bags.  Best on my porch in the morning.

[Asgard01]

Would defo not give up my 2 cats that's for sure just like others have said.

[greaper007]

-Decent coffee. Not wallet-clearing coffee, but the beans are circa $10/lb. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Have you ever considered roasting your own?  All you need to do it is a $10 popcorn popper, and you can get green beans for $4-5/lb that will probably be much better than what you're drinking now.  It takes a bit of time (about 45 min for a week's worth for me), but it's really enjoyable imo.

I'm drinking a Costa Rican blend from Costco right now.   It's about $5.50 a lbs and really pretty decent.    Not monkeys that poop out beans good, but as good as the $12 a lbs stuff I used to drink from Whole Foods in the bad old days.

[ThriftyD]

Mine is definitely craft beer.  I don't touch cheap, macro-brewed procuts from Miller or Anheuser-Busch.  I like to try new beers regularly and am ok with the fact that my 6-pack of premium craft bottles costs more than a 24 can pack of Bud Light.