Comments | verasteine: On luxury choices

verasteine

On luxury choices

Aug 27, 2012 12:58

My parents were very restrictive. They had rules and regulations to guide everything, including how many slices of meat or cheese we could put on our bread (one! unless it was a big slice in which case, a half) and how much candy we could have and not being allowed snacks past five o' clock. Sucks to be you when it's 17.05, trust me ( Read more... )

vera is looking for learning, curiosity killed the cat (nine lives), pink fluffy squee!!!, rl, i have no answers, zeh flist, the family, because vera is insane, my brain hurts from thinking, me, plotting world domination

Comments 40

idamus August 27 2012, 11:27:06 UTC

Good luck, indoctrination of any kind are hard to break -even knowing you have it, my Mom still have nightmares from watching The Day After Tomorrow because this is how her guardians taught her the World would end, she knows this is not true but the nightmares still come, she'e 62 now

I don't have any advise, if I want two diffrent body shampoos, I just buy two and use them, I've never thought about it

verasteine August 27 2012, 13:16:52 UTC

Yeah, I really thought I had it beat and then it was like, "...No."

What, pray tell, is a body shampoo?

idamus August 27 2012, 13:59:12 UTC

Um, a liquid soap used to wash the body with

verasteine August 27 2012, 14:00:35 UTC

Ah, so a synonym for shower gel, basically? I'd never heard the phrase, I like it!

Thread 6

shehasathree August 27 2012, 13:12:59 UTC

Ugh, yes, this.

verasteine August 27 2012, 13:17:15 UTC

*fistbump of solidarity*

gehirnstuerm August 27 2012, 13:26:45 UTC

Mmmmh, hard to say. I guess for me, it's a money thing.

I've never had much money, but I rarely think twice about indulging in little pleasures. Buy a shower gel that I don't really need, because I have already 3 open bottles cluttering my shower... get a ridiculous item to decorate my apartment with... This sort of thing.

Usually this also includes going out for coffee or a few drinks or impulsively buy a book or a cute top on sale, but of course, this is different in months where money is tight for some reason. In those months, I still don't think twice about buying a new shampoo that I don't really need, but usually I refrain from buying clothes or DVDs just because I feel like it.

Bottom line: I guess I'm okay to spend money on little luxuries, as long as they're affordable in the monthly scheme of things. *scratches head*

verasteine August 27 2012, 13:33:11 UTC

Do you think about it before you buy it? I mean, are you aware of how tight things are and do you act accordingly? I'm curious about this process, if you don't mind me asking.

gehirnstuerm August 27 2012, 14:09:56 UTC

No problem, ask away :D

Yes, when money is tight I'm constantly aware of it. But buying a nice shower gel for, like, 2 Euros wouldn't make me feel bad for spending them. With buying "unnecessary stuff" for 10 or 20 Euros, it's a different matter. I usually put it back... unless I'm really grumpy and I know buying a book would REALLY cheer me up. If I think the YAY-feeling of buying the book would outweigh my guilty conscience, I might buy it anyway :D Which means, I'm sometimes unreasonable on purpose, because sometimes I just want to feel good.

Oh, and in months when things AREN'T tight, I'm very aware of it, too. In these months I gleefully spend money on fun things.

verasteine August 27 2012, 14:33:12 UTC

Like, enjoying things because you can? I know the feeling ;).

Thanks for explaining, that's very useful. Will ponder.

nouveau_monday August 27 2012, 13:29:46 UTC

It's the funniest things that we get used to, and then realize we don't have to do so. Mine, as ridiculous as it sounds, is toilet paper. I want toilet paper that isn't ouchy or wimpy. And it took me YEARS of not living with my family before I realized that hey, i could purchase a better quality.

Do it up on the coffee, I say, do it up!

verasteine August 27 2012, 13:38:10 UTC

I have been there, with the toilet paper! I will spend a buck more so that there's 3 ply and it's soft. Um.

I'm drinking Blue Mountain atm. \o/

perspi August 27 2012, 14:14:32 UTC

Interesting questions! And I'm afraid I've got a big book for thinky thoughts! :D ( ... )

verasteine August 27 2012, 14:41:52 UTC

I love thinky thoughts!

I hear you on, if it's all the same, get the cheaper option. I buy my bread that way, and my fruit juices, and my salmon. If I can tell the difference, I'll make a choice on it; if I can't, I do like you and the Mr.

I have an automatic payment to my savings account installed on my checking account, but that's also because I have to pay my medical bills in December/January, and they add up over the year. (Or at least, that portion that insurance doesn't cover.) And I try to save any tax rebates/vacation money/etc. that comes in. So I can splurge on the big things if I want to.

Yeah, I bought a 150 buck mp4 player a few months back. I had a moment of feeling really guilty when coming short at the end of that month (I had savings that covered it more than easily, but still) because it felt too extravagant, even though I'd weighed the pros and the cons and got the benefit out of it straightaway, so being guilt-free about it is a work in progress.