What do you spend your money on?!?

[Mill]

per year:

gambling is my biggest splurge a few thousand
cigarettes a few hundred
alcohol a few hundred
travel about a thousand
eating out about a thousand

 

[happy2bretired]

Actually I've found Amazon has gotten quite liberal in giving away "free" books, typically early books in a given well regarded series to get you hooked so you'll spring for the pay to play content later. They were not overly forthcoming when the Kindle 1 was new, but now I expect the Kindle 2 is faltering in a weak economy and with little reason for early adopters to upgrade, Amazon is trying harder in their marketing efforts.

But seriously, the amount of completely free quality free content the IGBW and I have found so far is astounding! We will never be able to read it all. Keep in mind anything in PDF, not to mention nearly any other format is will translate into Kindle's PRC or MOBI formats. Not just old classics from your HS summer reading lists but current stuff is out there and waiting to be read. We use the library on a regular basis as well, the Kindle is just another way to enjoy a good book. It's a matter of having the time (oh yah we're FIRE we HAVE THE TIME) to go out there on the net and find where folks have kindly left Kindle content for you. It's kinda like when you find that newspaper or magazine someone leaves you in the Diner after they are finished with it.

Thanks! Sounds like I have some things to check out.

 

[Ronstar]

Taxes
Travel - about once a month

 

[Poundkey]

My last splurge was a parakeet. She was the high end model at $20, but I wanted nothing but the best for my little boy parakeet. He is sooo happy now.

 

[bbbamI]

My last splurge was a parakeet. She was the high end model at $20, but I wanted nothing but the best for my little boy parakeet. He is sooo happy now.

Cool. You know I had no idea that parakeets could talk.

One day while I was taking care of my neighbor's parakeet, one of his tail feathers fell out. I looked at him and said, "Holy crap Tino!" He said, "What's the matter, did I scare you?" I nearly fell on the floor.

 

[NW-Bound]

Recently, I only spend money on college tuitions and necessities.

But, I used to spend mucho on a 2nd home and overseas trips.

I am done with real estate for now, but would like to resume some travels.

 

[Poundkey]

Cool. You know I had no idea that parakeets could talk.

One day while I was taking care of my neighbor's parakeet, one of his tail feathers fell out. I looked at him and said, "Holy crap Tino!" He said, "What's the matter, did I scare you?" I nearly fell on the floor.

Lol...that's funny. Actually Ernie (the male) talks a little. We taught him to say "Ernie's a pretty bird".
He also has an interesting history. He showed up at our backyard feeders last summer. Someone's pet I'm guessing (although he was as wild as any "wild" bird. A month later another one shows up.....a female. As winter got close I searched around and found out they probably couldn't survive the cold so made plans to trap them. A small hawk wounded the female before we could catch them and we weren't able to save her. We trapped Ernie in late fall.
It was love at first sight when the new female "Pattie" was introduced. So cute to watch. I keep having the old song "Muskrat Love" run through my head when they cuddle and preen.

 

[bbbamI]

Ahhhhh....that is soooooo sweet.

DH keeps "asking" our cats if they want a pet bird.

 

[unclemick]

Remodeling, travel, cars, eating out - roughly it that order but remodeling varies greatly by year as does the itch to buy a new adult toy - I mean car/truck.

Travel and dining are more constant - but I'm into learning KC style BBQ this year.

heh heh heh -

Renewed my Passport but no great itch yet. Maybe come winter.

 

[CCdaCE]

House payment, daycare, food, truck payment, gasoline, etc.

For fun, restaurant food, ammo, alcohol, shiny electronic gadgets, etc. Like any good redneck.

If I wanted to get real wild it'd be lottery tickets, cigarettes, and porno.

-CC

 

[mews]

No saki?

Well, I prefer to eat my calories, not drink them

Sometimes saki, but not often

ta,
mew

 

[virginia]

It's funny that several of you have mentioned Whole Foods as a splurge item.
When I was deployed one day I was sitting around with another guy just BS'g. I mentioned how I like Whole Foods in Colorado Springs, and he called it "Whole Paycheck." But man - that's the nicest Whole Foods around. I've never been to another that nice. When I was living there, that was definitely a place that I went to splurge - I'd rather go there and get some things and take them home than eat out!

 

[IndependentlyPoor]

It's funny that several of you have mentioned Whole Foods as a splurge item.
When I was deployed one day I was sitting around with another guy just BS'g. I mentioned how I like Whole Foods in Colorado Springs, and he called it "Whole Paycheck." But man - that's the nicest Whole Foods around. I've never been to another that nice. When I was living there, that was definitely a place that I went to splurge - I'd rather go there and get some things and take them home than eat out!

If you are ever in Austin, visit their flagship store at 6th and Lamar. More than a grocery store, it is a cultural event. I love going there, and often go twice a day.

There was a time when Austinites referred to Whole Foods as Whole Floods. They got more than four feet of water in their original store during a spring flood in the early 80s and had the waterline prominently (and whimsically) painted at the entrance.

At the time, there was a Volkswagon dealership and a music store near them. When the waters receded, there were grand pianos and Volkswagons piled again bridge abutments downstream.

 

[REWahoo]

If you are ever in Austin, visit their flagship store at 6th and Lamar. More than a grocery store, it is a cultural event. I love going there, and often go twice a day.

I'm beginning to understand the source of your user name...

 

[haha]

I would say travel is our big expenditure. We take several trips a year. We are off tomorrow for two weeks in NM to escape the heat in TX. We spent a week in New Orleans in June, didn't manage to escape the heat there....In September we are off to Europe for three weeks. We have four cruises planned to the caribean in Jan. and Feb. to escape the cold.

We live very cheaply when at home. We don't eat out a bunch or buy a lot of consumer goods. My husband is in to photography so he buys camera equipment. I don't spend much on clothing, but I do buy good clothing when I make a purchase.

I think your life might be much cheaper if you lived somewhere that didn't require so many esapes.

Ha

 

[REWahoo]

You tell 'em, Ha!

 

[WhoDaresWins]

Judging from my normal credit card statement, I spend my money in the following order: sizeable grocery bills(for one person, I must be a glutton), gas, gym membership, bookstore, clothes, liquor store. I carry cash for restaurant meals and hairdresser.