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TravelingGal

TravelingGal

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OK, another money thread! All this talk has me interested.

With the same amount of money, would you rather buy something, or have an experience?

For instance, I would NEVER spend even $500 on a purse, but when my man got his greencard, I went and easily went out and spent $500 at one of Sydney''s best restaurants. For me, I LOVE food and the experience is worth it. Some don''t understand, because at the end of the day, I have nothing to show for it (except what ends up on my behind).

One viewpoint is not better than the other. Just different. I''d be interested in hearing your preferences. By the way, it''s not just gobs of money I am talking about. Maybe with $100, you''d rather buy a pair of shoes instead of the experience of skydiving.
 
I think I lean towards experience, but I enjoy stuff as well. I''ll drive my little truck until I''ve run its engine into the ground because it''s been a good vehicle to me, even though we can afford for me to have a new, much nicer vehicle, and I wear the same clothes for years (as long as they remain in good shape of course) for the ability to have season tickets for our local theatre, travel and go out to nice meals, etc. But I''m willing to spend a good amount of money on items such as home furnishings so that I love them and want to keep them for years. That said, the most I''ve ever spent on a purse was $150 (and that was really difficult for me and was only done at hubby''s encouragement and I''ll carry it for at least 5 years) and I tend to only shop sales.
 

its funny you asked this because we were just having this convo today with my coworkers.


my boss and i are total foodies. aka we both go travel somewhere and come back talking not about sights or shopping but FOOD. what we ate, how great it was, etc. when people travel i always want to share the best places to eat with them. the most expensive meal we have ever had with greg and i was $750 at a restaurant in NYC. it wasn''t very good for me because i don''t like true french food but greg ADORED it and he thought it was definitely worth it. so we are more than willing to spend on food if it''s excellent and also you can create memories with the food experience that are priceless (aka remember when we..).


but i also will spend on certain material things as well. purses and diamonds are probably my two things. i drive an old ratty car that really needs replacing (spring 07 i swear!!) but i love me my diamonds and purses.


the funny thing is that my coworker was like i cannot believe that you could spend $300 or $500 or $700 on a MEAL. it just goes in and out in a few hours. i was like yeah but its not about that, it''s about the tasting experience, the conversation at the dinner table, who you were with etc. we were actually talking about this amazing meal we had in NYC. she was like that food was awesome but i would be just as happy at home eating mac and cheese, IT TASTES JUST AS GOOD. we were like OMG sacrilege!!!! ''just as good'' never!


so yeah some people could never fathom spending that on a meal, and others could never fathom it on a bag. i could never fathom spending $500 or $700 on a car monthly payment, yet i have friends who do just that. i could never fathom other expenditures that are considered more normal or acceptable in certain circles. but hey it''s whatever floats YOUR boat right?!?!

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that''s what it''s all about...living life and doing what makes you happy in my opinion. and if something like a great meal or a great bag or a great car or a great house makes you happy then do it!!

 
Well that's an intresting question!

I would spend a lot on something that I use/wear everyday. Less on something I would only use occasionally.

For example, I paid 500$ for my school bag. It's in it's 7th year as my school bag, so I don't feel bad. Shpes I would spend a lot on, and a coat. But I've also had my coat for 6 years. On a shirt....probably not more then 30$, because you need a lot of shirts to make a wardrobe.

I suppose there are certain experiences that I would spend on, for example a really special trip (I wouldn't think twice about what I spent), or a show I really wanted to see. I'm personally not into food at all, so I wouldn't spend on that, just because I'm not a food person/drinks person. I'm really into sandwhiches and paninis, they are like my idea of a HUGE treat, so it's fortunately really unexpensive to feed me
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In Quebec there is like a million fine french cuisine resturants. When I went to Gaspesie (maritime Quebec) for vacation we ate fine french food for 5 days straight. And I swore I would never step into a fine french resturant again. The first thing I did when I got back to Montreal was buy an order a nice big STEAK. It was the best steak I ever had.
 
For me -- stuff! For the happy hubby -- an experience!

On the HH''s 40th birthday I took him to dinner at this swanky restaurant in Chicago (to the tune of $608
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) because that''s want he wanted. Now me; for $608 I can find SOMETHING to buy that will last longer than that meal...
 
Me stuff - Hubby experience AND stuff
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In general, stuff vs. experience is a toss-up for me -- it totally depends on the choices:

1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Los Angeles = jewelry!
1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa with the kids = jewelry!
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1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa without kids = Napa!
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1K handbag vs. 4 backstage tour passes to Sea World for my family = Sea World!
1K handbag vs. dinner for 2 at French Laundry = French Laundry!
1K handbag vs. weekend away camping and biking = handbag! (I''m not an outdoorsy person)

And kinda like what Ally said......if it''s for something that I''ll use a lot or every day (e-ring, handbags, my watch) I will spend quite a lot. You get what you pay for! But for things like clothing and shoes -- I am definitely on the cheap. I''m the queen of Old Navy and Tarjay.
 
I guess for me it''s a little of both ... some things, lasting ones, I''m more comfortable spending more for: a watch, e-ring/wedding band, sofa. Other things I''d rather spend "in the middle" of the affordability range: home, car, appliances, clothes, shoes. And some things I''m VERY CHEAP about ... I can''t believe people BUY so many DVD''s & CDs & techie gadgets that are obsolete in no time!

As to experiences ... I love to travel & would def count that high on my priority list. Fine dining ... can take or leave it ... I don''t buy into a lot of hype about "the place to go" etc .. especially if it''s crazily expensive. I try to find out-of-the-way, locals-frequented places & have those kind of experiences. Good eatin'' to be found for less $ a little further off the beaten path & not reviewed by Conde Nast Traveler. Or when I do check out the "hot" spots -- try to time it with Prix Fixe offers etc. Does everyone know about standing room only tickets to Broadway shows for example? Day of, some box offices will sell "standing room" only tix for, like $15. If the show isn''t sold out - they let you find WHATEVER seat you want a 1/2 hour into the show.

Experiences don''t HAVE to be pricey to be valuable.
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Date: 11/15/2006 3:29:24 PM
Author: Mara

its funny you asked this because we were just having this convo today with my coworkers.



my boss and i are total foodies. aka we both go travel somewhere and come back talking not about sights or shopping but FOOD. what we ate, how great it was, etc. when people travel i always want to share the best places to eat with them. the most expensive meal we have ever had with greg and i was $750 at a restaurant in NYC. it wasn''t very good for me because i don''t like true french food but greg ADORED it and he thought it was definitely worth it. so we are more than willing to spend on food if it''s excellent and also you can create memories with the food experience that are priceless (aka remember when we..).



but i also will spend on certain material things as well. purses and diamonds are probably my two things. i drive an old ratty car that really needs replacing (spring 07 i swear!!) but i love me my diamonds and purses.



the funny thing is that my coworker was like i cannot believe that you could spend $300 or $500 or $700 on a MEAL. it just goes in and out in a few hours. i was like yeah but its not about that, it''s about the tasting experience, the conversation at the dinner table, who you were with etc. we were actually talking about this amazing meal we had in NYC. she was like that food was awesome but i would be just as happy at home eating mac and cheese, IT TASTES JUST AS GOOD. we were like OMG sacrilege!!!! ''just as good'' never!



so yeah some people could never fathom spending that on a meal, and others could never fathom it on a bag. i could never fathom spending $500 or $700 on a car monthly payment, yet i have friends who do just that. i could never fathom other expenditures that are considered more normal or acceptable in certain circles. but hey it''s whatever floats YOUR boat right?!?!

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that''s what it''s all about...living life and doing what makes you happy in my opinion. and if something like a great meal or a great bag or a great car or a great house makes you happy then do it!!

Click to expand...
Absolutely..that is what is so interesting about PS. People different from me and I like hearing about what floats their boat.

I''m a foodie too. In fact,when I was in Europe where I went was dictated by what I was in the mood to eat (Italian, go to Italy!) But since food is all about the EXPERIENCE (who you are with, conversation, where you are etc), I will say that while I have had great meals, the one I remember as most amazing is a simple picnic of bread, cheese, tomatoes and salami as a backpacker sitting with TGuy at the edge of Lake Bled, Slovenia.

Now eating Mac and Cheese at HOME...er, well, I''d have to be drinking heaps of amazing wine to say that. But I do like Mac and Cheese. :)
 
Date: 11/15/2006 3:42:48 PM
Author: KristyDarling
In general, stuff vs. experience is a toss-up for me -- it totally depends on the choices:

1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Los Angeles = jewelry!
1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa with the kids = jewelry!
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1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa without kids = Napa!
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1K handbag vs. 4 backstage tour passes to Sea World for my family = Sea World!
1K handbag vs. dinner for 2 at French Laundry = French Laundry!
1K handbag vs. weekend away camping and biking = handbag! (I''m not an outdoorsy person)

And kinda like what Ally said......if it''s for something that I''ll use a lot or every day (e-ring, handbags, my watch) I will spend quite a lot. You get what you pay for! But for things like clothing and shoes -- I am definitely on the cheap. I''m the queen of Old Navy and Tarjay.
Click to expand...
LOL KD.

I''m very close to getting dinner paid for by the company at French Laundry...I''ve always wondered if that place was REALLY worth the hype.
 
Date: 11/15/2006 3:51:43 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 11/15/2006 3:42:48 PM
Author: KristyDarling
In general, stuff vs. experience is a toss-up for me -- it totally depends on the choices:

1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Los Angeles = jewelry!
1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa with the kids = jewelry!
11.gif

1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa without kids = Napa!
11.gif


1K handbag vs. 4 backstage tour passes to Sea World for my family = Sea World!
1K handbag vs. dinner for 2 at French Laundry = French Laundry!
1K handbag vs. weekend away camping and biking = handbag! (I''m not an outdoorsy person)

And kinda like what Ally said......if it''s for something that I''ll use a lot or every day (e-ring, handbags, my watch) I will spend quite a lot. You get what you pay for! But for things like clothing and shoes -- I am definitely on the cheap. I''m the queen of Old Navy and Tarjay.
Click to expand...
LOL KD.

I''m very close to getting dinner paid for by the company at French Laundry...I''ve always wondered if that place was REALLY worth the hype.
Click to expand...
you''re taking me right? RIGHT?!?!?!
 
oh and KD brings up a good point. i am in love with AE right now. $40 jeans and $30 sweaters? totally cute and trendy and up my alley. plus then it leaves more $$ for b-bags if i am not spending $150 on citizens jeans.
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TG - YES, it''s worth it! This is one rare case where the food truly justifies the hype. But be sure to fast beforehand, for at least 8 hours. Seriously, there is SO MUCH FOOD on that tasting menu it''s ridiculous.

LUCKY YOU to have that meal paid for by your company!!! Can I come work there too?
 
Date: 11/15/2006 3:58:10 PM
Author: KristyDarling
TG - YES, it''s worth it! This is one rare case where the food truly justifies the hype. But be sure to fast beforehand, for at least 8 hours. Seriously, there is SO MUCH FOOD on that tasting menu it''s ridiculous.

LUCKY YOU to have that meal paid for by your company!!! Can I come work there too?
Click to expand...
Thanks KD...I just keep reading the reviews and think, seriously, how good can it be? But it''s consistently rated tops.

Well, I had to do some amazing things to get it. Basically double sales for two of our major accounts. It''s not a sure bet yet, but I will be really close.

My retail broker and I were saying back in August that we are kicking booty with one account and my boss joked that if we hit X, he''d take us out to a nice dinner. My broker said, how about French Laundry, and I went "Ooh, yeah!" I don''t think he knew exactly what that entailed, but he said, OK, BOTH of your big accounts double (that is 100% growth in an industry that tends to be stagnant), I''ll treat to that restaurant. My broker and I met last week and realized how close we were and I told her that he is usually good for his word but that SHE would have to remind him of his promise.
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I initially told her that there was no way we''d get a reservation anyway, as I was not about to fight for it. But she lives up in wine country and is "in the know." If my boss doesn''t come, we''ll bring our husbands and would be happy to pay for their half. French Laundry at a 50% discount sounds fine to me. Mara, think you''d pass as my husband?
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Interesting thread!

Honestly, the only stuff vs experience choice I had to make that I chose stuff was Bigger/better e-ring vs Bigger wedding... And I didn''t want a big wedding, so I picked the ring!

Otherwise, I usually pick experience. I''m not a big spender, but I can spend more when I know it''ll be worth it in the long run (ie. things that I use everyday like my school bag). I splurge on food, definitely.
 
Toss up for me! Sometimes the stuff IS part of the experience, as so many others wrote. The stuff can commemorate a special event...icing on the cake after a trip or etc. Some of my favorite jewelry was bought on trips to kind of take a small piece of that special place with me. And it doesn't have to be expensive. The white gold plumeria earrings from Na Hoku in Hawaii only cost about $250. But putting them on makes me feel like I'm there! Ahhhhhh...

It all depends on the experience. DH and I went skydiving and it was the greatest! We still have a video of it! I think men are more about the experience and women are more sentimental and want both! I didn't get any jewelry after skydiving, though. There wasn't a jewelry store nearby... only empty fields!
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It depends. When DH and I were first together, it was experience. We were dating/first married, had a small townhome and knew we wouldn''t be there long so no point in buying furniture or house stuff.

We traveled and ate out a lot. Now, with two little kids, that is hard to do. So it tends to be more stuff. But I think at some point, it will swing back the other way again. We have a two year old house and still need furniture but we can''t really do anything until the spring when DH gets his bonus. So we are waiting.

We love food too and I can''t imagine being married to someone who didn''t. I had dated people who were the Just As Happy With a Peanut Butter Sandwich type and hated it because I love cooking and cooking for other people. So it is no fun if the other person doesn''t care. We love trying new restaurants.

Someday, my goal is to go into one of those zero gravity chambers. It costs about $3,000 per person. I wanted to try one of those $200 steaks. Did that but won''t do it again. Was worth trying once or twice but not again.

It think this is an interesting topic because I had seen a man recently on Today and assorted shows who wrote a book about happiness. It really opened my eyes a lot. He says stuff doesn''t make you happy because the way the brain is wired, you have to keep getting NEW stuff to be happy all the time and obviously, we all have finite resources. He said a new car will only make you happy until the newness wears off. The thing that keeps your brain happy is newness. So that kind of made sense to me and explained a lot...like why people have affairs and why Hollywood marriages don''t last. And lastly, he said experiences (mostly new ones) are what make you happy.
 
Date: 11/15/2006 4:36:19 PM
Author: Allisonfaye
It think this is an interesting topic because I had seen a man recently on Today and assorted shows who wrote a book about happiness. It really opened my eyes a lot. He says stuff doesn''t make you happy because the way the brain is wired, you have to keep getting NEW stuff to be happy all the time and obviously, we all have finite resources. He said a new car will only make you happy until the newness wears off. The thing that keeps your brain happy is newness. So that kind of made sense to me and explained a lot...like why people have affairs and why Hollywood marriages don''t last. And lastly, he said experiences (mostly new ones) are what make you happy.
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Ain''t that the truth!! I can totally see the sense in that. Case in point: how many of us PSers are constantly scheming and racking their brains for their next jewelry project! I can''t even describe the rush, the jittery excited feeling of butterflies in my stomach whenever I think about my Leon (still "new" to me) and my upcoming eternity band.
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But eventually, we all have to come to a point where we stop and say enough is enough. (hopefully long before the well runs dry!) Thanks, Allison for offering up the great reminder about how important it is to acquire new life experiences -- whether they be learning a new sport, raising a child, or volunteering with a charity -- it''s all happy-making.
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I would rather have an experience rather than soend money on something that wont last forever. You will always have those memories or those pictures. Material things can get damaged and lost over time.
 
Definately stuff for us. We are pretty much home bodies and don't have the travel bug. Would never spend $500 on a meal. Diamonds and big screen tv's absolutely. I don't think either way is wrong, just different people like different things. I love the few exotic trips I've been on , but can't honestly remember much about them after a year or so.
 
I would definitely spend the money on the experience of a trip, but also take home things as material souveniers of the experience. I don''t eat much, so I would never spend all that money on food because I would eat about a third of the meal and be stuffed... although DH would definitely love to spend money on a meal, haha.

*M*
 
I refuse flowers on V-Day cos I cannot stomach the exhoribitant prices but we have run up thousands in long distance phone calls - (pre-skype days!). I will spurlge on clothing, accessories or a fabulous meal but not on fancy cars, latest cell phones/gadgets. We stay at nice hotels only if we intend to use the facilities, otherwise as long as it''s clean and safe - the lower th eprice the better. Guess it''s a matter of what makes you happy and the biggest bang for your buck.
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The way I see it - you can''t take it with you when you''re dead. I would rather have lived a life full of wonderful experiences than accumulate a life''s worth of goods. That being said though, I still don''t deny myself life''s little luxuries every now and then!
 
HI:

Sometimes the stuff (or getting the stuff) is the experience. The last time my DH was in Paris he scoured the streets looking for gifts for me and brought some some chunky Gaultier boots and a Baccarat ring...and oh the stories finding the boots.....same when he brought home earrings from Abu Dubai...the experiences from the man who hates to shop....

We love our meals out but we tend to recall different details about the scenarios--he remembers where they were eaten (hence values the place and how we got there) while I recall what we ate (hence I value the food and its taste/preparation).

cheers--Sharon
 
Depends on how much we're talking...

If I had $500, I'd rather buy a new coach bag (which I actually do NEED people!!! haha) or some cute new clothes rather than take someone out to dinner...I'm not a 'foodee' so I'd rather have the thing.

If it were $5000, I'd rather have the experience and take someone with me (maybe another trip to vegas this time with FI or my best friend or something like that)

If it were more than $500 and less than $5000, it'd go into my bank account towards my open bar!!

That was easier than I thought haha.
 
My vote is for the experience, and I too love eating out. (I have recently been in a total no cooking funk . . . lucky for me DH doesn''t complain).

I''ve discussed this before, but I somehow turned out to be weirdly frugal with regards to stuff. I hung out on here for years before I ever dared ask for my own sparklies in addition to my e-ring, which has an heirloom diamond. I never buy new clothes unless something old becomes unwearable. But I can easily be convinced to go out to eat.
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We have done a lot of expensive (for people our age with our income) things this year . . . went to France for 10 days, went on a murder mystery weekend two weeks ago, joined a wine and dinner club for $500, went to St. Louis, went to Idaho, DH went to Seattle, went to the beach. At the same time I can easily list all of the things I''ve bought myself or convinced DH to buy me as a present in the last year . . . one bathing suit, a few shirts, a skirt, one pair shoes, one dress, one work jacket, one pair sandals, one diamond wedding band, and one pair diamond studs. Oh, and one Sharper Image ultrasonic jewelry cleaner (I felt a little guilty about that one, but my second crappy Haier cleaner fell apart and the jar just wasn''t doing it for me).

I do worry that I have some sort of weird money hang-up . . . I can barely bring myself to buy things that I actually need, but I''ll happily spend thousands of dollars on a vacation or hundreds of dollars on a meal.
 
Date: 11/15/2006 5:25:24 PM
Author: elle
I refuse flowers on V-Day cos I cannot stomach the exhoribitant prices but we have run up thousands in long distance phone calls - (pre-skype days!). I will spurlge on clothing, accessories or a fabulous meal but not on fancy cars, latest cell phones/gadgets. We stay at nice hotels only if we intend to use the facilities, otherwise as long as it''s clean and safe - the lower th eprice the better. Guess it''s a matter of what makes you happy and the biggest bang for your buck.
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Click to expand...
ditto : )
 
Date: 11/15/2006 3:51:43 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 11/15/2006 3:42:48 PM
Author: KristyDarling
In general, stuff vs. experience is a toss-up for me -- it totally depends on the choices:

1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Los Angeles = jewelry!
1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa with the kids = jewelry!
11.gif

1K jewelry piece vs. weekend trip to Napa without kids = Napa!
11.gif


1K handbag vs. 4 backstage tour passes to Sea World for my family = Sea World!
1K handbag vs. dinner for 2 at French Laundry = French Laundry!
1K handbag vs. weekend away camping and biking = handbag! (I''m not an outdoorsy person)

And kinda like what Ally said......if it''s for something that I''ll use a lot or every day (e-ring, handbags, my watch) I will spend quite a lot. You get what you pay for! But for things like clothing and shoes -- I am definitely on the cheap. I''m the queen of Old Navy and Tarjay.
Click to expand...
LOL KD.

I''m very close to getting dinner paid for by the company at French Laundry...I''ve always wondered if that place was REALLY worth the hype.
Click to expand...
IT''S WORTH IT, IT''S WORTH IT, IT''S WORTH IT! (Sorry that I''m yelling!)

I''ve had the pleasure of having eaten at many dining establishments (notice that I didn''t include "fine"). And FL blows the rest right out of the water. Thomas Keller is a genius when it comes to food. Just be sure that you reserve well in advance. I think the place has something like 30 tables? I work at the Food Network, and that didn''t have much pull when it came to securing a reservation. That''s how "hot" the place is.

So, I guess that answers the original question for me: definitely experience! And GOOD food is an experience unlike any other. I''m so happy that DH feels the same way. Whenever we travel, we always look for the best places to eat. We scour zagat, wine spectator, and ask concierges & locals. We were in Honolulu last week, and had an amazing dinner at this place that was rated most popular. We did the 5-course tasting menu with wine pairings and it was divine.

Oh, I could go on and on about food!
 
Date: 11/15/2006 6:05:30 PM
Author: phoenixgirl

I do worry that I have some sort of weird money hang-up . . . I can barely bring myself to buy things that I actually need, but I''ll happily spend thousands of dollars on a vacation or hundreds of dollars on a meal.
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Don''t worry, I have the same hang up as you.

Charger, another one who has been there eh? Maybe for a one year anniversary I''ll take TGuy if this work paying for it thing doesn''t work out. I think it''d be worth it for us.

Honestly, I wish clothes were my weakness...it would keep me in better shape!
 
what do i spend my money on?

birkenstock shoes. plantar fasciatis in both feet so birks are a must. i take good care of them and get them resoled.

i have my first expensive bag. boy, i could easily get this bug! i bought it at TJ Maxx because i loved the way it smelled and felt.

most of my clothes come from TJ Maxx, walmart, macy''s woman, and lane bryant.

i spend for a housekeeper. best divorce insurance on the planet.

most of my jewelery is "used", from estate sales, pawn shops, and ebay.

i have a lot of housewares, china, crystal and silver. cooking stuff, expensive pots and pans. i love to entertain and cook. I am a foodie, but at home.

i love furniture, but lucked out there. our style is colonial williamsburg. hubby made all of the furniture all but the chippendale upholstered sofa and the pencil post bed. I bought those.

experience? i have learn ed to sit back and let halliburton send hubby on trips, then i go along.

a few years ago spent terrific sums on mental health issues for the both of us. this was the best money spent ever. Meadows anyone? therapy?
 
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