My anti-mustachian shame

[SugarMountain]

A few months ago someone asked what your least mustachian thing is.  I answered that mine is cars.  Specifically fancy pants German cars.  The other day I was thinking about this and started running the numbers.  Oof.
2000 BMW M-Roadster
Bought in 2004 for $28,500 with 23,000 miles (a few whiskers for a) buying used and b) paying cash?)
Now has 53,000 miles and is worth about $15,000.
Average registration $50 (this is cheap in Colorado because once a car is over 5 years old, the owner's tax goes to nearly nothing)
Insurance $900 a year
Mileage ~ 20 mpg.  Let's assume $3.00/gallon over those 8 years
Maintenance about 8 oil changes at $100 each.  Gotta go to someone who works on these, it's supposedly a bitch.  Of course, despite having torn apart an engine, changed a clutch, and general automechanical competence, I've been too lazy to try.
Other miscellaneous crap $250.  It's due for it's 60k soon.  Shudder.

So, let's add it up:
Depreciation $13,500
Registration $400
Insurance $7200 (oof)
Gas - (30,000/20)*3 = $4500
Maintenance - $1,250

Total = $26,850

$.89 a mile.  Well above the "industry standard" of $.55 a mile.  Worse yet, I need tires shortly + the 60k maintenance)

2004 Audi Allroad with 53k
Bought in 2008 for $19,500
Now 93k miles worth maybe $10k*
Registration ~$50/year
Insurance $800/year
Mileage (hangs head in shame) ~17 mpg.  ~$3.00/gallon
Maintenance $3000 (oil changes + 60k timing belt + tires + misc)

Total:
Depreciation - $9,500
Registration $200
Insurance $3200
Gas (40,000/17)*3= $7,050
Maintenance = $3000

Total - $22950/40000=$.57 per mile.  A little more normal.  Still shameful.  I did better with my '89 Mazda that I drove for 10 years 130,000 miles.

*Some jackass sideswiped the audi.  State Farm gave me a check for $6500.  Once that went in the bank, I found it really tough to get it fixed.  So I haven't.

But, I doubt I'll ever sell the Beemer.  I love that car.  Probably should at least move it to liability only.

<hangs head>

[arebelspy]

Hey, if that's your anti-Mustachian thing, and you know it, and you consciously decide that it's worth the delay to your FI, go for it.

The real test is: do you still ride a bicycle?  What is your other spending like?  What is your savings rate?

If you can answer yes, low, and high (say, 50-60%+), then I wouldn't worry about a little car vice like this.

[Kriegsspiel]

German cars FTMFF.  I am waiting for the dealership to give me a quote for selling them my BMW.  If it's anything above a ripoff I'll take it!

[tooqk4u22]

*Some jackass sideswiped the audi.  State Farm gave me a check for $6500.  Once that went in the bank, I found it really tough to get it fixed.  So I haven't.

Does the $10k value assume that the damage is fixed or as-is, if it is as-is then you should net the $6500 from insurance out of it and that would make the numbers look better.

[galaxie]

My anti-mustachian shame is fancy dinners.  I ate a $300 dinner the other day.  I mean, I only do that once a year, and I had a Groupon, but still. 

It was delicious.  I'm ok with it.  Thanks for sharing your Car Shame here so we can commiserate.

[SugarMountain]

*Some jackass sideswiped the audi.  State Farm gave me a check for $6500.  Once that went in the bank, I found it really tough to get it fixed.  So I haven't.

Does the $10k value assume that the damage is fixed or as-is, if it is as-is then you should net the $6500 from insurance out of it and that would make the numbers look better.

No, $10k is if it were fixed.  So it's probably sellable for about $5k, so I probably netted a bit with the damage.

[SugarMountain]

Hey, if that's your anti-Mustachian thing, and you know it, and you consciously decide that it's worth the delay to your FI, go for it.

The real test is: do you still ride a bicycle?  What is your other spending like?  What is your savings rate?

If you can answer yes, low, and high (say, 50-60%+), then I wouldn't worry about a little car vice like this.

Haven't ridden the bike much this year.  Lame excuse is I've been too busy and it's been a really hot summer.  Reality is I've just been lazy.  I did outfit my mountain bike to be a commuter, but it hasn't worked out that way.  Road bike just got stolen out of my garage in the past couple of weeks.

Answers are no, medium, and medium-high. 

For a long time the answers would have been sometimes, low, and high, so I do have a pretty good stash and if I could get the spending down, I'd pretty much be at FI level.  Got married this year, which is a big driver of the "medium" answer on the spending side.

[mindaugas]

I was so close to buying an Audi and then thought, who am I to buy a luxury car? I don't make millions of dollars a year! It had nothing to do with Mustachianism, it just felt weird to be looking at Audis when I only made $60k per year (at the time) and wasn't an executive of some sort. But damn did I want one. Instead I financed an older used Subaru Outback, but it did come with all the same luxuries since I got the "LL Bean" edition. In hindsight I should have just bought a used one outright. There were plenty of private parties selling them for $4-$5k less than dealers. If only I had been reading MMM at the time.

[tooqk4u22]

Not really a shame necessarily but my kids are my anti-MMM for a variety of reasons (activities, sports, schools, food, etc and no, not because I spend on designer this and that).

[kkbmustang]

Tooq- I'm with you. Private school for my kids is mine.

[Richard3]

My anti-mustachian shame is fancy dinners.  I ate a $300 dinner the other day.  I mean, I only do that once a year, and I had a Groupon, but still. 

It was delicious.  I'm ok with it.  Thanks for sharing your Car Shame here so we can commiserate.

Fancy dinners are definitely my weakness - I just had a medium to good one as a corporate team building event (FREE - can't get much more mustachian than that). Anyway, I started swapping reviews of Michelin starred places with a couple of the guys there and now am Jonesing hard for some molecular gastronomy. I try to limit my three figure meals (pounds) to  one a quarter but it's hard sometimes.

[namimomoftwo]

Starbucks... I know they are expensive. I don't buy clothes, shoes, bags. I even cut my own hair, but I can't help going back there.  They must have something in their coffee..

[ShanghaiStashing]

Mine is definitely travel. I spend money on little else and am frugal in almost every respect of my life, but when it comes to travel I love to hop on a plane and go somewhere new. I'm frugal when travelling, but am definitely past the 'backpacking' stage and as a result we stay at nice hotels.

I figure if I spend 2-3% of my income on travel per year it's worth it as it's the only exception that I make in my life to my total frugality otherwise. Since 60-70% of the reason I want to FI is so that I can travel a lot more, I figure I might as well enjoy some of the benefits today.

[MsGuided]

Not really a shame necessarily but my kids are my anti-MMM for a variety of reasons (activities, sports, schools, food, etc and no, not because I spend on designer this and that).

Like you, I wouldn't exactly call it shame, but we spend a boatload on our kids' activities.  I was reading Mrs MMM posts today (I have some unheard of time to myself this week and am binging on the MMM forums) and she mentioned that her parents had her in lots of activities as a child, then limited her to two at some point in her childhood, and I am curious to know what she thinks of this in retrospect?

Anyway, I was not even close to being poor growing up, but my parents were not in a position to allow me lots of activities and advantages (although compared to many kids I had tons of advantages & opportunities) growing up.  So, my husband & I spend quite a lot on activities for our 2 kids, piano lessons, soccer, gymnastics, summer sleepaway camp, etc.  I do have some reservations about this for purely financial reasons.   

For example, just yesterday, I signed my younger daughter up for a program called Girls on the Run.  The organization promotes fitness & healthy body image for girls.  Obviously, a worthy mission.  I also did this for convenience, since my daughter is on a (pricey) soccer team in which we are in a carpool with all the other girls that go to her school that are also on the team to transport them to practices.  All the other girls signed up for the Girls on the Run activity & will go straight from there to practice. 

So, I decided to sign my daughter up for GOTR.  This made the carpool run more easily & the organization appears to be pretty worthwhile.  I went to register her & was surprised to find that this activity cost over $150!  I have become somewhat immune to the crazy costs associated with kids' activities, but even this gave me pause.  The girls will meet at the school & run & get a tee shirt & run in a race together at the end.  This does not seem to add up to $150 worth of value, though.  This is just one example of fees I have encountered. 

Would love to hear some input from MMM readers on how they approach this with their kids or plan to in the future. 

Thanks!

[tooqk4u22]

Not really a shame necessarily but my kids are my anti-MMM for a variety of reasons (activities, sports, schools, food, etc and no, not because I spend on designer this and that).

Like you, I wouldn't exactly call it shame, but we spend a boatload on our kids' activities....

....So, my husband & I spend quite a lot on activities for our 2 kids, piano lessons, soccer, gymnastics, summer sleepaway camp, etc.  I do have some reservations about this for purely financial reasons.   

I have become somewhat immune to the crazy costs associated with kids' activities, but even this gave me pause.

This sums it up perfectly.  Financially it is tough, in the last 3 weeks I dropped $900 for hockey (still need some gear) and $200 for soccer on top of $100 for REQUIRED school supplies. 

A big part of the problem with sports nowadays is that kids, at least in suburban areas, they are all so organized with a cost to everything. 

[mechanic baird]

To those parents who've got kids cost dilemma, I hear ya! My mate's mom used to make pants herself and made the kids to wear them to school and they got picked on bad. That still left scars till this day!!

Today the suburban life, man, tell me about it. Kids wanna fit in... 30 years ago, it might be a piece of clothe, now it's the activities.. when all the other kids are engaging in activities, learning stuff like piano, fencing, yada yada and your kids are showing great interests in certain things, should I tell them, "Back off, mama and daddy wanna hit FI so you guys stay put in the backyard!!" It's tough..

But I think if you've got nice stash, high savings rate and cutting every cost on yourself, I would go let the kids have some fun and learn a few things. I am spending money on piano lessons.. for example... It has been fulfilling and joy to the entire family... I am learning now to read music for the first time. Awesome!

[bigchrisb]

I think every-one has a vice.  Mine is scuba diving - I'd spend about $10k a year on it one way or another.  However, I tried to give it up, and I was miserable, and stopped performing in other areas.  I figure if I can maintain it at the same time as an 80% savings rate, its all good.  I think the key is to realize you have a vice, work out what you think it is worth to you, and how much time longer you are preared to remain working for it.   At the end of the day, I'm making a 'stash to facilitate a lifestyle for the rest of my life.  Not for the sake of a 'stash itself!  Maybe for others the 'stash is the endpoint in itself, but for me, its much more a means to an end. 

[DocCyane]

I think every-one has a vice.  Mine is scuba diving - I'd spend about $10k a year on it one way or another.  However, I tried to give it up, and I was miserable, and stopped performing in other areas.

This is where I'm at.

I have cut back on so many things, things that gave me joy, that it's impacting my well being. I feel like a miser instead of a mustachian. And I feel way more money anxiety now than I ever did as a young adult with a poor income and no savings.

I have an aggressive five year goal, but I may need to revise it in order to have more balance.

[mindaugas]

I have an aggressive five year goal, but I may need to revise it in order to have more balance.

You can adjust and when you have gobs of money and free time from saving and not working so you can spend more time scuba diving, you'll thank yourself for being dedicated.

[arebelspy]

I absolutely agree that one has to have balance. 

Don't be miserable, or miserly.  I'd argue both of those are anti-Mustachian (which is ultimately, IMO, about living the good, reflective life).

Try to cut back more gradually on stuff, Doc.  Trying to cut back too much at once sounds like a big reason you're unhappy.

And bigchris: completely agree that it's absolutely fine to have high spending on a particular area, as long as it's deliberate and you're cutting back on others.  If you manage an 80% savings rate with 10k spending on SCUBA, that's fantastic!  (And I hear ya - I'm SCUBA certified.)

[maryofdoom]

My vice is embroidery. Fancy patterns and materials aren't always necessary for a project, but they do make the projects I do way more enjoyable. Plus I've been embroidering for 20+ years, so I'm pretty good at it, and using fancy materials allows me to try new techniques that I can't do with the cheap stuff, like silk and metal embroidery.

However, I claim that embroidery is actually quite cost-effective if you're taking a great deal of time to do something. Sure, the project I'm working on right now requires about $200 of materials, but it will take me at least 200 hours to complete. And when it's done, I'll have something lovely for my house. So it's all about balance, as many people have said.

[Jamesqf]

I have cut back on so many things, things that gave me joy, that it's impacting my well being. I feel like a miser instead of a mustachian. And I feel way more money anxiety now than I ever did as a young adult with a poor income and no savings.

I think you may need to do a bit of re-grouping.  For me, there were (and are) always more fun things to do than time to do them in, so I select the cheap things first.  I get a lot of enjoyment out of just taking the dogs for a hike or mountain bike ride, which costs only a bit for gas (plus gear which tends to last for years); a vacation spent backpacking or bike touring is just as much fun (if not more!) as one spent on an expensive cruise or resort...

So pause to figure out where your real enjoyment comes from, and how to get that enjoyment at moderate cost, and life may well improve a lot :-)

[MB]

My anti-mustachian shame is my dog.  He started out as a bargain puppy - $150 adoption fee... but then I started buying him higher quality food than myself, obedience classes, toys, and on and on... but he is really my only anti-mustachian shame and he provides exercise, entertainment, and something cute to love on until the timing is right for kids.

[mindaugas]

but then I started buying him higher quality food than myself, obedience classes, toys, and on and on

I got a shelter dog as well, but an adult not a puppy. She can't eat the cheap food, craps all over the carpet. Some health problems as well, we've racked up a few grand in medical bills. But godamnit I love her, really don't consider her in the budget same as my son. It's just a cost I have that I cannot lower or get rid of. I at least track it to know how bad it is. "Hey Moya, I loved you $138 worth last month!" Hehe.

And I just bought a bottle of single malt, I did venture out of my normal $40 range and found a speyside for $21. Here's to hoping it's tasty because I just spent the rest of my alcohol budget for September!

[AdrianM]

My Anti-Mustachian shame is my 4.3m Tinnie. I love to go fishing and where I come from you don't fish from the banks or kayaks as the locals will think you are a tasty snack. Even in a boat you are not safe.



That said I used as many of my mustachian powers I could to buy it.

Debt emergency - Between my wife and I we paid off all our debt first (home loan).
Paid Cash - No debt was used.
Avoid the stealership - While we don't have CL in my area I did find a local seller through a facebook group.
Hedonic adaptation - Orgianlly wanted a boat worth $30,000 but realised that in a $10,000 boat I would be able to do the same.
Buy Secondhand - Avoided the masive depriciation hit that boats take when you tow them from the Stealership.
King for a day -  I have let my mates and other members of my family but the big reef boats and when the weather is good i go with them off shore.

[SugarMountain]

You can adjust and when you have gobs of money and free time from saving and not working so you can spend more time scuba diving, you'll thank yourself for being dedicated.

I think that's not quite right.  My take on the whole goal of a lot of what is talked about here is to make choices with your eyes wide open.  If you want to spend $10k a year on scuba diving, there is nothing inherently wrong with that if you are okay with the trade off that it may add years to your being financially independent.  Maybe this makes you consider other options such as becoming a certified instructor so you can get free trips.

In my case, one thing I've toyed with is getting a used car dealer license so that I can buy cool cars at wholesale, drive them a bit, sort out any major issues, and then flip them.  This would create a little side business to generate some revenue, and let me enjoy cool cars while getting subsidized.  One downside is it's actually tough to get this license in Colorado.  If you don't have the license you don't get access to the wholesale auctions and you have to pay sales tax on every car you buy, adding 8% to your costs.

[Wendyimhome]

I have the kid problem, as well as a spouse problem, both of which seem to feed off one another.  Have to admit, I'm not completely without blame, but my vice(s) are relatively small.  I do eat out too much (but generally at fast food/cheap places), and I am a Coke-aholic.  As much as I would like to just free myself of Cokes, I pretty much have to have a couple to get through the day.  I figure it's the one steady, daily pleasure I have, and if that's what it takes to get me through day by day, so be it.

[arebelspy]

I do eat out too much (but generally at fast food/cheap places), and I am a Coke-aholic.  ...  I figure it's the one steady, daily pleasure I have, and if that's what it takes to get me through day by day, so be it.

Would you, by any chance, like a catheter and a bedpan to go with that?


;)

[NotAnExpert]

As I am very new on this forum, but a long time 'mustachian'.  I dug up this old thread because I feel compelled to share our big anti-mustachian shame.  We struggle with this all the time, but in the end we give in.  Travel!
My wife and I always liked to travel, but in our young days it was inexpensive trips, mostly hiking or canoeing, visiting relatives, etc.  However, now that she works for a very big airline that gives us benefits to basically go anywhere in the world with our kids for very cheap or next to nothing, we take full advantage.  But airfare is only part of the cost of travel.  For the past few years we've been blowing over $10k per year on this hobby.  Always good times, and we don't regret any of the trips we have taken, but I do feel a sense of shame about the amount of money that is spent, more than 10% of our take-home pay.  Even though we always try to be as 'mustachian' as possible in our travels, seeking out accommodation deals and taking advantage of couchsurfing.org whenever possible, our trips have been generally getting more exotic and expensive.  i don't even want to add up the money over the 12 years that my wife has been with the airline, but we would probably be FI by now if it wasn't for the travel expenses.  The justification we always use is that we will be able to travel on the cheap when we are retired, but now that we make decent money - let's do something more exotic...
When we talk about cutting down on the traveling, then we come to a conclusion that my wife should just quit her job, other than the travel benefits there is nothing good about it - low pay, bad schedules, dealing with angry people all the time, stress, etc.  But whenever we talk about her quitting her job, the biggest fear we have is 'how will we travel???' It would become so much more expensive to get to Europe/Asia/Africa/ etc...
There's our biggest mustachian dilemma.  Everything else we're willing to cut down on or eliminate, but travel expenses are growing every year. 

[strider3700]

Every night since last december I've taken my dog to the dog park for some exercise.  It's 1.7km 1.07 from home and should take 22 minutes walking.   I've driven there every single time.   

30 mpg from the car 2 miles per trip means 15 trips per gallon.   Lets say 42 weeks 6 times a week or 252 trips.  16.8 gallons used which is 63.6 liters

$85.86 cents spent on gas alone exercising the dog rather then walking or even better running and exercising myself and the dog while on the way.

All that I gained by driving was more time to sit my ass on a bench at the park

[savingtofreedom]

I have the kid problem, as well as a spouse problem, both of which seem to feed off one another.  Have to admit, I'm not completely without blame, but my vice(s) are relatively small.  I do eat out too much (but generally at fast food/cheap places), and I am a Coke-aholic.  As much as I would like to just free myself of Cokes, I pretty much have to have a couple to get through the day.  I figure it's the one steady, daily pleasure I have, and if that's what it takes to get me through day by day, so be it.

I have some of the same vices - I like eating out as well.  I am trying to cut back and at least use a coupon if I go.  I am a recovering Coke Zero fiend.  I like having a flavored drink sometimes and I have been able to either replace it with iced tea.  It was painful but eventually I was able to brake free. 

My closet is my shame room.  While I never spent much on an individual item (I am a super deal finder) - in total I have way more clothes than necessary. 

[okits]

As I am very new on this forum, but a long time 'mustachian'.  I dug up this old thread because I feel compelled to share our big anti-mustachian shame.  We struggle with this all the time, but in the end we give in.  Travel!
My wife and I always liked to travel, but in our young days it was inexpensive trips, mostly hiking or canoeing, visiting relatives, etc.  However, now that she works for a very big airline that gives us benefits to basically go anywhere in the world with our kids for very cheap or next to nothing, we take full advantage.  But airfare is only part of the cost of travel.  For the past few years we've been blowing over $10k per year on this hobby.  Always good times, and we don't regret any of the trips we have taken, but I do feel a sense of shame about the amount of money that is spent, more than 10% of our take-home pay.  Even though we always try to be as 'mustachian' as possible in our travels, seeking out accommodation deals and taking advantage of couchsurfing.org whenever possible, our trips have been generally getting more exotic and expensive.  i don't even want to add up the money over the 12 years that my wife has been with the airline, but we would probably be FI by now if it wasn't for the travel expenses.  The justification we always use is that we will be able to travel on the cheap when we are retired, but now that we make decent money - let's do something more exotic...
When we talk about cutting down on the traveling, then we come to a conclusion that my wife should just quit her job, other than the travel benefits there is nothing good about it - low pay, bad schedules, dealing with angry people all the time, stress, etc.  But whenever we talk about her quitting her job, the biggest fear we have is 'how will we travel???' It would become so much more expensive to get to Europe/Asia/Africa/ etc...
There's our biggest mustachian dilemma.  Everything else we're willing to cut down on or eliminate, but travel expenses are growing every year.

This is me. I don't even work for an airline, so I also pay for the flights. This and last year I did a couple of bucket-list trips. My annual travel expenses have been similar to your family's, but that's just for me. Yes, it does make me a little sick when I think about it, but at least I've had those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and didn't have to also pay to bring a spouse and a couple of kids along (I've tried to save the less-expensive trips for the future, when the cost will be for a whole family to go.)

I had always intended for this and last year's travel costs to be one-offs, but the recent Middle Class vs. Kickass comparison really strengthened my conviction. My travel budget is going to be about 50% smaller next year, maybe less (will depend on what family obligations come up) and going forward. I'll still go on holidays as I'm willing to work a bit longer to have some fun now, but I'm more focused on super-charging my savings rate.  I would rather save that money than take more/fancier trips.  I do find I'm currently paying a premium to travel within the restrictions imposed by working full time, so deferring some planned holidays will bring down their cost if I take them once semi-FI.

While I'm in the confessional anyway: eating out (+ some junk food), live performances, office lottery pool, and race fees.  Hey Mindaugas, I had to love my dog $250-worth at the vet today. (w)Oof!

[JJ]

Every night since last december I've taken my dog to the dog park for some exercise.  It's 1.7km 1.07 from home and should take 22 minutes walking.   I've driven there every single time.   

30 mpg from the car 2 miles per trip means 15 trips per gallon.   Lets say 42 weeks 6 times a week or 252 trips.  16.8 gallons used which is 63.6 liters

$85.86 cents spent on gas alone exercising the dog rather then walking or even better running and exercising myself and the dog while on the way.

All that I gained by driving was more time to sit my ass on a bench at the park

Hi Strider,
Sounds like you should change your forum name to Sitter3700!

While it is a waste of money and gas driving to the park, I was vaguely following you until the part where you sit on the bench to watch your dog run around. It's good that you 'fess up to this.  Consider your face punched, pull on some good walking shoes and get walking. No more excuses. If it's wet wear a coat. If it's cold wear a heavy coat. If you're short on time walk faster. Your dog, your wallet and your heart will all thank you for it.

Happy striding!

[destron]

My car is also my shame, although not as extreme. My car and my commute.

I bought a new 2011 Hyundai Sonata ($24,000 after taxes, fees, etc...) with $16,000 loan @2.5%.

Commute is 52 miles round trip, I drive into work 16x/month. I get around 32 mpg.

The plus side: I am working towards changing my living/working situation. I will soon be moving to a new city with a new career (to start at a pay cut, but also at a spending cut).

I wish I hadn't bought the new car, but, at the time, I thought I would have to put 150,000 miles on it in the next 10 years.

[Saving mom]

Mine is my car- Mercedes station wagon. But I love it and I am willing to bike more to rationalize it. Cars are paid for and stash is healthy. I am hypermiling as much as possible but it still only gets about 20mpg.

[Sparky]

Extreme travel habits..... Having a slow year and only been travelling for 5 months this year so far.... Thankfully I sleep in a tent generally, bicycle tour and have an incredibly flexible job......

[totoro]

I think every-one has a vice.  Mine is scuba diving - I'd spend about $10k a year on it one way or another.  However, I tried to give it up, and I was miserable, and stopped performing in other areas.

This is where I'm at.

I have cut back on so many things, things that gave me joy, that it's impacting my well being. I feel like a miser instead of a mustachian. And I feel way more money anxiety now than I ever did as a young adult with a poor income and no savings.

I have an aggressive five year goal, but I may need to revise it in order to have more balance.

This is something worth attention.  It seems like a principle worth exploring. 

Something is out of balance and it may be that:

1. the goal is the end at the cost of loss of joy; or,
2. you haven't replaced the things that gave you joy with new things that fit with your goal.

Are you trying to do too much and getting burned out?  What if FI was not the only goal.  What if increasing everyday joy was also a goal?  This does not have to cost a lot of money, but it may require a lot of thought.  I'm working on it.

Think about value each day, not the value of reaching FI alone, but the quality of the journey.  For some, extreme frugality is really fun because it is a challenge.  For others, it just does not give the same reward.  I think its better to know yourself than follow what doesn't make you happy.

[FrugalHawk]

My anti-mustachian shame is that I spent 10K trying to save my cat's life while my spouse was unemployed.

It's a long story. My 6 year old cat got sick with hepatic lipidosis, and the vet said if we paid $3,000 for treatment he had an 80% survival rate. Since my spouse was unemployed and thus had the time to do the frequent care and treatments we went ahead and paid the 3K, thinking another 8-10 years with the cat was worth that cost. What the vet didn't tell us what that my cat also had a genetic condition where his liver and gallbladder were in the heart sac and it would only be a (short) matter of time before he died anyway.

Well, the $3,000 ballooned with the vet visits to run panels and check his recovery process. My cat did recover from the hepatic lipidosis and was back to his old self but 4 months later he died in his sleep from heart failure due to his genetic condition. The only reason we knew about the genetic condition was after his recovery we took him to a new vet who told us the truth.

The only "mustachian" thing I can say from this is that we paid for the entire thing in cash. Do I regret paying to try and save my cat's life? No, but I wish we had been told the truth.

We have a surviving cat, and to be honest I don't know what I'll do when he gets sick.

[DocCyane]

My anti-mustachian shame is that I spent 10K trying to save my cat's life while my spouse was unemployed.

You did the best you could based on the information you were provided. It's unfortunate, but there are a lot of vets out there who play on emotion or lack of information to pad their pockets.

I'm going to take your story as an opportunity to talk with my partner about our three animals and perhaps make a plan -- while everyone is happy and healthy -- regarding what extremes we will go to.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

[totoro]

We have vet insurance.  I have not really explored whether it is worth it in great detail.  We got it based on the recommendation of a friend who had a puppy who needed surgery which was covered by the insurance. 

[Orvell]

In September I spent just a hair under 20% of my income on art supplies and materials and conference fees. It was and continues to be worth it.

[Bakari]

Ironically enough, the entire point of modding my truck for efficiency was to SAVE FUEL MONEY

The environmental benefit is negligible, because I run it on 100% biodiesel made from 100% recycled used vegetable oil.
So the only point in getting better mileage is saving money.

But then I just kind of got carried away...

True, on the one hand, getting 34mpg instead of 15mpg means spending about $1,000 a year less on fuel.
But I've spent close to $3000 up front (in about 2 years) making it by far the largest single expense in my budget.

[thurston howell iv]

HA!  Even though I am brand-shiney-new here, I think I can claim the title of possible the most anti-mustachian (at least I think)- Hence my screen name LOL.

While I don't have generally bad habits (besides beer- I need to learn to brew my own) I do have one affliction- Cars...Six of them... (and ancillary parts- yes, I work on them myself)... All of our regular "bills" such as water, electricity, etc are kept in check compared to most folks (probably not compared to mustachians- but, hey- I'm here ain't I?- I'm working on it)

I had been patting myself on the back for keeping a nearly 6 year old cell phone with no data and getting our AT&T bill to about $65 bucks a month... Then I read the article and I guiltily splurged on "newer" used smartphones and am currently in the process of switching to the $10 a month plan like MMM...

Next I need to do something about those cars...

[thrifted]

Mine is definitely travel. I spend money on little else and am frugal in almost every respect of my life, but when it comes to travel I love to hop on a plane and go somewhere new. I'm frugal when travelling, but am definitely past the 'backpacking' stage and as a result we stay at nice hotels.

I figure if I spend 2-3% of my income on travel per year it's worth it as it's the only exception that I make in my life to my total frugality otherwise. Since 60-70% of the reason I want to FI is so that I can travel a lot more, I figure I might as well enjoy some of the benefits today.

i thought i already jumped in on this thread, but i have many anti-mustachian shames... and this one i share with you. 

i have spent 5% of my income on travel this year.  similarly, travel is something i plan to do in FI.

[cbr shadow]

I decided about a year ago that I wanted to build an electric bike.  In doing my research on the electric bike forum (not sure if you can post links here, so just look up electric bikes and you'll end up there) I decided I should definitely build one.  I figured why not since i'm going to be saving tons of money on gas anyway..
So when you look at the numbers on paper they make a TON of sense for building an electric bike..
-$1000 for the kit + bike
-Long range batteries can be ordered
-30-35mph top speed
-Great for commuting, uses no gas, approximately $0.05 to 'fill up' on electricity

So I ordered the parts, ordered a bike to attach it to, then started to realize I needed MORE things.. An expensive charger, power supply, battery balancing parts, wiring harness, panier bags for the bike, torque arms, etc etc.. the list goes on forever.
In the end I now have a very functional and REALLY fun/practical electric bike that works wonderfully, but I've sunk ~$2500 into it!  It's everything I had hoped and I do take it to work some days, but it's definitely not a money saver when you factor in the high initial cost.  I'd have to ride it a lot of miles before I got a postitive ROI

[Paul der Krake]

I haven't made many mistakes financially yet. When I was 17 I bought a $1,800 collector surfboard that sits unused most of the year and is now in another continent because I just moved to the US. But I don't regret it for a second. I must have logged around 300 hours of pure bliss in the water with it and I'm expecting to ride/cherish it until the day I die. It is by far the most valuable of my possessions, including my car, both on the monetary and sentimental aspects.

I lost an iPhone at last new year's eve because I was drunk off my ass though.

[Jamesqf]

In the end I now have a very functional and REALLY fun/practical electric bike that works wonderfully, but I've sunk ~$2500 into it!  It's everything I had hoped and I do take it to work some days, but it's definitely not a money saver when you factor in the high initial cost.  I'd have to ride it a lot of miles before I got a postitive ROI

Consider that say $2K of that $2500 was spent on education and entertainment (possibly displacing more expensive activities).  Then remember that the point is not to become a miser, but to cut out waste so you have money (and time) to spend on the things you really enjoy, like building electric bikes.

[Bakari]

but I've sunk ~$2500 into it!  It's everything I had hoped and I do take it to work some days, but it's definitely not a money saver when you factor in the high initial cost.  I'd have to ride it a lot of miles before I got a postitive ROI

plenty of people spend $2500 a year on gas alone.  Add in all the other car costs, and it shouldn't take all that long

[sol]

My antimustashian shame has been reignited by a recent spending spree.  About $200 in totally frivolous and basement-space-consuming Halloween decorations, bought at 50% off on November 1st for next year and added to my growing collection.

On the bright side, few things bring more joy to my family than giving children unhealthy candy and then frightening them so badly they drop it and run off porch.   

[Paul der Krake]

I hit the grocery store today, and will be surprised if I ever need to buy chocolate in the next two years. Amazing what $20 and a timed visit can get you.