What's your achilles heel for unplanned spending?

[Albert]

Moderately fancy Indian restaurant in a very expensive city plus an expensive bottle of wine. Total bill which we split was 180 chf (ca 200 $) including the tip. It was silly, we didn't really mean it to be THAT expensive and it certainly was not mustachian, but in the grand picture it doesn't really matter. Both of us make a lot more than that every day and save a significant portion of it.

[southern granny]

besides buying things for the grandchildren... it is eating out with friends.  There isn't much else to do where I live, so almost every weekend various friends will call wanting to go out to eat.  We don't eat real expensive, but it is still $35 or so.  It doesn't really help to invite them to my house, because then we buy the food for everyone and spend at least the same.  Don't suggest we ask everyone to bring something, my southern manners would not permit me to do that.  I am trying to limit it to once a week.

[KLina]

For my family, it is definitely take-out food. We were MORTIFIED when delivery.com sent us a special coupon for spending $500 (over 6 months or so, I think).

Do I get a pass on ordering food because my husband is a resident (aka gone all the time) and I have 3 young children? I doubt it, but I thought I would ask ;) I don't work...

[golfer44]

For my family, it is definitely take-out food. We were MORTIFIED when delivery.com sent us a special coupon for spending $500 (over 6 months or so, I think).

Do I get a pass on ordering food because my husband is a resident (aka gone all the time) and I have 3 young children? I doubt it, but I thought I would ask ;) I don't work...

Nope :)

[Russ]

Do I get a pass on ordering food because my husband is a resident (aka gone all the time) and I have 3 young children? I doubt it, but I thought I would ask ;) I don't work...

Isn't the point of having kids so that you can make them do the cooking for you? ;-)

[Wolf_Stache]

Books... def books.

I'm a writer in my spare time, and when I meet other authors I like picking up their books. I like picking up books that sound interesting. I have a huge pile of unread books, although I've been getting through them slowly.

[MrFancypants]

I have a cat that cost me $400 at the vet yesterday, and will possibly cost me as much as $1000 after all is said and done (if surgery is required).  Granted, as far as pets go his lifetime cost has been pretty low, but it's really hard to write off an animal that you're thoroughly bonded with after a decade when you know you can figure out how to make it work.

Eating out might be the next one, but myself and the wife pay for that out of our budged allowances that we give ourselves each month.

[Hedge_87]

Pretty sure mine is Friday night. Normally end up at bar/grill for dinner and a couple drinks. I wouldn't mind that part but I get talking to people and end up staying WAY later than need be

[Mrs WW]

Any type of bargain really, but only cheap bargains at that. So food shopping usually does not go as planned since I have the need to get unplanned things because of the bargain factor. Bad habit, yes, expensive one to have, no.

[lizzzi]

Books and DVDs--either movies or TV series boxed sets--on Amazon. With Amazon Prime and one-click ordering, all my MMM principles disappear when I see something I want and know the library won't have. (I do check the library first…then go on Amazon "just to take a look" and CLICK!!  And two days later I'm $$$$ poorer and curled up on the sofa watching Bab 5 or Crusade. Yay!

[nvmama]

The clearance end caps at Target. Especially the decorative home goods stuff. Or, post-holidays, clearance christmas candy. I just cannot argue with the economics of 6 Reese Trees for $1.

Target clearance is my major weakness.  Especially the after holiday clearance.  After this last Christmas clearance sale I truly was like "I have a problem."  I rationalize it because I get most things at the 70% and 90% off price point and I only get things that I know we will use.  Those shopping trips basically took care of all of the birthday gifts I need to get for my children (and parties they are invited to),gift bags at their birthday parties, gifts for my nieces and nephew, teacher gifts, and some cheap flavored coffee and snacks for around the house and for the kids school. 

I have a cabinet in out basement that is my "gift cabinet" that I keep locked.  It is now stuffed full. I like giving gifts, especially when they are nice ones that I know I got for a great price.

[Will]

I guess for me, since I am in Costco just about every day, when I see something significantly marked down it is hard for me to resist.  Michael Kors dress shirts for $6.97?  Yes, please!  Oxo cutlery set for $8.97?  Sure!  French oven for 2/3 off?  I suppose I could find a need for a french oven (or I can sell it on CL for more...).  While unplanned, they are all in the budget somewhere (because of course I am going to have a clothing budget, etc.).