Blow That Dough 2026

[RobLJ]

"FYI, look carefully at your itinerary. We choose 7days/8nights for the 96 miles West Highland Way thinking roughly 14 miles per day was doable."
Yea, we did the Great Glen Way two summers ago; the first day we thought was 13 but had to hike almost another 4 into Spaen Bridge since the normal B&Bs earlier were booked up. The nice surprise was that they had booked us into the same B&B we had on the first trip about 10 years ago (the West Highland Way), under new ownership but just as nice as the earlier stay.
You're right; look close because a couple surprises can sneak up on you. We've enjoyed all of their tours, however, including the Kerry Way before COVID and MountBlanc tour 3 summers ago. I'm not very demanding, though.

 

[euro]

You'll love the Highlands!

Agree - best place on earth!

 

[audreyh1]

FYI, look carefully at your itinerary. We choose 7days/8nights for the 96 miles West Highland Way thinking roughly 14 miles per day was doable. Didn't realize until we had already started that one day was only 8 miles and one was 20. The 20 mile day was spent in large part scrambling along the rocky shore of Loch Lomond and we barely made the last ferry across to our accommodations in Ardlui. Have to admit it was more challenging than expected and we chose a more relaxed pace through the Cotswolds.

We saw that the Bridge of Orchy hotel is on the West Highland Way. I don’t think we’ll have time to walk much of it, but it sure looks like a neat spot!

Oops and that was 5 days, 4 nights.

 

[audreyh1]

We use points and miles for our long-haul flights. Since they cover most of the cost of the flights we can reallocate the savings for more and better travel. Three across-ocean trips this year will take us to Italy, Romania, China and Taiwan. We'll combine time on our own in hotels and AirBnB's with small group tours.

Total for the five tours with Intrepid and G Adventures in 2026 - $48k. Add in an $11k cruise in the NCL Epic Haven out of San Juan next month and about the same for an UnCruise out of Kona in April and the total is more than my base pay teaching my last year in 2016.

Definitely BTD!

 

[audreyh1]

You'll love the Highlands!

I’m not used to treeless landscapes, so that will be interesting.

 

[RobLJ]

No sure who you are responding to but we saw that the Bridge of Orchy hotel is on the West Highland Way. I don’t think we’ll have time to walk much of it, but it sure looks like a neat spot!

I think it was Old Conch.
But the Bridge of Orchy was great; my son and I had great fun at the bar that night--4 or 5 different Scotch..
The landscape/lake is striking, particularly at night/morning. It was the most isolated area on the West Highland Way, as you could tell by the large numbers of tent campers behind the hotel and pretty much no options otherwise.

 

[audreyh1]

I think it was Old Conch.
But the Bridge of Orchy was great; my son and I had great fun at the bar that night--4 or 5 different Scotch..
The landscape/lake is striking, particularly at night/morning. It was the most isolated area on the West Highland Way, as you could tell by the large numbers of tent campers behind the hotel and pretty much no options otherwise.

Yes, thanks I figured that out and edited my reply.

 

[RobLJ]

I’m not used to treeless landscapes, so that will be interesting.

At least on the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way there are long stretches of pines, in the higher elevations. Lower elevations, not so much. But each day's hike often switches between the two. That was our experience; I'm not sure about off the trail in those areas.
However, the same was true when we hiked along the Spey for 3 days after the Great Glen Way. I'm sure the paths tend to follow the treed areas; we did go through areas where harvesting trees was on-going.

 

[Texas Proud]

Just bought a new iPhone 17. Gave up my 13mini as it was getting old and the battery was at 80%. Definitely could have kept it a few more years, but I kept it longer than other phones and what can I say, I got the itch and blew some dough.

Tried to get DW to let me replace her phone, a 15 pro, which is actually damaged, but she wasn’t budging. She’ll need a good deal before she spends the money. I admire her patience but I wouldn’t go a day with a broken phone. Her rear facing camera has a broken lens so she can no longer use the zoom.

One of my sisters has an IPhone 6... and does not want to upgrade...

Her big problem is so many apps do not work on a 6..

 

[jazz4cash]

I gave up my iphone 6 abt 2 yrs ago. Replaced it wit a 14. I liked the old one better.

 

[More Cowbell]

DH “the kitchen king” got a new Thermador refrigerator plus bonus microwave drawer bundle to replace the 14 y/o Miele refrigerator and Sharp microwave drawer. Thermador and Miele refrigerators are made by the same manufacturer in Turkey. In this case, the T & M models share the same chassis but differ in materials and features. Likewise Sharp makes all microwave drawers, and different appliance companies skin them to match the rest of their appliances. Thermador has an app for communicating with these appliances. DH likes that the refrigerator texts him if he leaves the door open. Funny, he never appreciated me when I told him he left the door open with the old refrigerator!

 

[Buckeye]

I’m not used to treeless landscapes, so that will be interesting.

It was beautiful and serene. We talk about going back but haven't done it yet. We did a Globus Islands and Highlands Tour 25 years ago. The Highlands, the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides.

 

[Mr_Pink]

Besides replacing my iPhone 8s next week -- did not want to replace while working last year because of the 20+ authenticators (customers of my former co.) that I wasn't wanting to replace.

Also just had a Class A general contractor come by to look at my long list of to dos (build me a shed, run 220V to kitchen so that I can install a new non-gas stove, fix fence correctly, and fix a bunch of other things). Then we'll paint.

 

[street]

Bought a new vehicle with texting a Ford Dealership on Thursday in a small town where we live. Will go Monday and write them the check and do paper work.

 

[old medic]

Didn't see a thread so I guess I'll start....
Upgraded from our 70's era du-hicky 5X8 Uhaul trailer we have had since 1985 to a new 5.5X 10 wood bed with a ramp and side load gates. Easier to load and can haul 2 ATVs.

[MOD NOTE: Post moved to correct thread.]

 

[Teacher Terry]

Once again, I’m going to be blowing the dough on my little Maltese Max. He needed a dental after not having one for two years and the estimate was 2K if they needed to pull three teeth. So I take him in for his blood work, which was 350 and having an ECG was optional for $59 and I decided to do it since heart disease runs in his line and his half sister Amy died a year ago from it. Some of his other relatives that another person owns has it also. I am pretty heartbroken over this new development as he is one of my favorite dogs that I’ve ever had.

I actually wasn’t very worried because he’s only eight years old, but the vet called two days later saying that the results were not good and he needs to go see a doggy cardiologist. So I have that appointment soon in the electrocardiogram is 1K. Hopefully he’s healthy enough to have his dental as if he does have a heart problem that’s the last one that I will let him get.

For the past 22 years, I’ve mainly had Maltese because of my allergies and asthma, and I only have about three breeds that don’t bother me. Most of my Maltese have not lived past age 11 and have had a lot of health problems.

Poodles are one of the few breeds that don’t bother me and from my research, they tend to be a lot healthier. So I think my next dog is going to be a little poodle. Ever since I got my first dog 22 years ago, they have been one of my major expenses.

 

[Jerry1]

Bought a new vehicle with texting a Ford Dealership on Thursday in a small town where we live. Will go Monday and write them the check and do paper work.

Congratulations! What did you get?

 

[street]

Congratulations! What did you get?

A ford bronco sport, big bend, with black diamond package. Spending some more money!!! Lol I really dislike buying vehicles but needed to make a quick decision and to buy new was clearly the best choice.

 

[Act2]

Oh, and we just dropped $3600 for two reclining chairs that supposedly turn into a bed. The last straw for our old, worn-out recliners was when I recently had to spend two nights sleeping in one due to displaced ear crystals causing vertigo.

Ooohhh - have had the ear crystal vertigo experience. Thank heavens for the maneuvers to resolve that awful problem!

 

[old medic]

[MOD NOTE: Post moved to correct thread.]

THANKS,,, Even searched and missed

 

[Surewhitey]

A very ungratifying $7k on property tax... But done with it.

 

[Taco]

A very ungratifying $7k on property tax... But done with it.

More of the un-gratifying BTD variety: a little over $2K to have a large tree taken down.

 

[Mark1]

Getting ready to buy a new 2026 Wilderness Outback this year to replace our existing Outback. I noted on-line a comment about Goodwill Loyalty Purchase Assistance coupons, so I inquired on-line with Subaru Corporate. After a couple of quick correspondences they e-mailed me a $500 coupon towards the purchase. I'll probably order a new vehicle from the Factory in the next month or two, to get it just like I want it.

I thought I would share my experience with the coupon, as I didn't realize it was possible and so easy. I'm too lazy to go find the "anti"-BTD thread.

 

[pb4uski]

Our 2016 Outback Limited with 100k miles is still in good shape and running great. It is currently hibernating in the garage up north. Will replace it sometime along, but probably not new. As much as I'm getting used to BTD, I still can't convince myself to but a new car that gets used for 6 months a year.

 

[Errollyn]

Today I had Can-Am's brand new Outlander Electric ATV delivered. The thing is a friggin beast! All-in (including all the attachments/accessories) it was $16K. Very expensive, but I had budgeted $25K to replace my old tractor, so this is a relative deal in comparison. I still need to get a pull-behind brush hog, which will be another $4-$5K, but I'll still be significantly under my planned spend. Now I just need to sell my old Ford 8N.

Gonna put the plow to use this weekend with the big snow storm bearing down on us.