Finances - Irrational Spending?

[Branca's Mom]

We all have our things that we scrimp on, and things that we will pay top dollar for. I assume that since this is a dog board, may people will say that they will spend a lot on their dogs.... but otherwise?

What made me think of this is my sister constantly complaining about how badly she sleeps due to the state of her mattress. It's a king size given to her more than 15 years ago by my Aunt and Uncle who had already used it for 10 years or more. So they are sleeping on a 25 year old mattress. When I bring up the fact that it may be time to get a new mattress she always says "have you seen the price they charge for mattresses?"

However, they just spend 35K to enlarge the pond in their yard cause "it sure looks pretty from the road" and her husband plans on stocking it at the cost of a couple extra grand. He likes to fish.

This seems to me completely irrational thinking!! I mean, how can you not be willing to buy a new mattress but have no problem shelling out more than 30K to enlarge a pond?

Me, I have no love of fancy houses or most other stuff, but will not hesitate to spend major bucks on travel. also, I use paper towels over and over again....

[frenchie27]

some people's priorities are not in sync with the rest of the world. i totally would have purchased a new mattress. a good night sleep = happy days.

[Lilie]

Funny - we just bought a new mattress...spent too much money on it, but it is so worth it. Hope to have it for many years.

I'm not a jewelry, fancy clothes sort of girl. I am a bargin shopper. I already have a lot of my Christmas shopping done. I'm not into pricey vehicles. Although I do have a nice home, it isn't over the top and I've lived in it for 28 years or so.

BUT! When it comes to buying tack, or dog supplies I am TERRIBLE! Can't have enough. If it's a good price, I want it. I have one butt, but I have 7 saddles. Many are the same kind, just a different maker. I have an entire room in my house that I call my 'tack' room. Nobody needs that much. My dogs have every toy you can imagine, and I can't go to the store with out buying them a treat. Hondo has 3 different crates, pillows, dog pads etc. It is so silly. And I KNOW it is.

I am so glad that I am able to control myself when it comes to purchasing / adopting animals. Ya'll see me on the news as one of those hoarders.

[Liesje]

My mom is always on my back about my dog training dues, so the other day I calculated it all up. I spend LESS on dog training on Friday nights than most people spend on their cell phone plans and hitting the bars every Friday, two things that would be considered perfectly normal and acceptable for me to spend money on. I don't have a cell phone and I'm training dogs on Fridays and weekends, not at the bar so there you have it. I also pay less per hour for dog training (when you add up the dues plus helper fees divided by time) than what people spend for a gymnastics class or piano lesson.

My mom is the same way about her mattress but she is frugal about everything. I bought her a computer for Christmas because it was honestly worth it to me to not have her calling me and complaining about the old one every day (also one I originally gave her). I keep telling her she could even spend $300 at Ikea and get something better than she has now.

[LJsMom]

Originally Posted by Liesje

I keep telling her she could even spend $300 at Ikea and get something better than she has now.

My Ikea mattress is awful! If I didn't spend so much money on the dogs, I'd get a new one.

[angelas]

I'm frugal about most things. Bought a new mattress/box spring at auction for $450 instead of buying a new one at The Brick for $2,000.

I spent $5 on an old CRT monitor instead of buying a new LCD.

But I didn't even blink an eye today when dropping $900 at the vet's.

[Dainerra]

watch for specials at mattress stores. Our local Sleep Mart recently had Queen Pillowtop sets for less than $1000. they also do layaway.

[Vault_101]

Originally Posted by Branca's Mom

What made me think of this is my sister constantly complaining about how badly she sleeps due to the state of her mattress. It's a king size given to her more than 15 years ago by my Aunt and Uncle who had already used it for 10 years or more. So they are sleeping on a 25 year old mattress. When I bring up the fact that it may be time to get a new mattress she always says "have you seen the price they charge for mattresses?"

However, they just spend 35K to enlarge the pond in their yard cause "it sure looks pretty from the road" and her husband plans on stocking it at the cost of a couple extra grand. He likes to fish.

I agree especially since we spend so much of our time in our beds, not to mention how a nice bed can affect the rest of your day, quality of sleep, relief of back pains and body aches in general.

[Sigurd's Mom]

We bought a new mattress in September - best thing we've done! I scrimp on buying things for myself. If it's for Sigurd, I do it, he gets toys and treats, 3x a week at dog day care... if it's for my boyfriend, I buy him clothes and this and that... but me, I can't even justify spending $20 on a pair of shoes! lol!

[butch33611]

My wife and I are fairly careful about the way we spend money. But I gota say makin the pond bigger and stocking it with fish is an AWSOME way to spend cash. Id sleep on the floor and ride a moped to work to have a setup like that!!!