So I'm typically a very frugal person.
My monthly budget for food AND entertainment is $300. Aside from travel, I very rarely spend money on things that I can't justify in some way. My problem is I think i've developed aversion to spending. Lately I've come into a $2000 travel gift voucher which I'm going to use on a trip in Sept. I'm giving half to my girlfriend so really I'll save $1000 off that trip. My work bonus paid this month was also more than expected. My expectation was to pay back what I spent on a trip to Mexico ($1700) but I ended up getting ~$3000. Also have an extra bonus being paid in May for $860.
All told, that's over $3000 in money I didn't plan for. My usual response to windfalls is to save/invest almost all of it. But this time around I'm having a huge urge to spend much of it on clothes. I need at least one new suit for work and am finally feeling the need to invest in quality leather shoes (AE probably). In addition, I've long been happy buying on sales at GAP, Jcrew Factory, etc. and never investing much money in my clothes, even though I enjoy dressing well.
I'm now close to pulling the trigger on a $150 USD spring/fall jacket ($250 CAD after shipping and conversion), a $160 USD leather boat shoe ($260 after shipping and conversion), a $300 leather casual boot (Wolverines), etc. Also tempted to invest in a quality pair of raw selvedge jean and some chambray shirts. All told my wishlist is pushing $2000 minimum.
LONG winded post - sorry - but I wanted to get my thoughts down. I'm actually feeling guilty at the prospect of spending so much money on something like clothes. For the past 1.5 years I've saved almost everything I could. I'm not going to be hurt long-term spending the money, but it doesn't change the fact that being so ingrained in a frugal lifestyle has made it feel incredibly unnatural to spoil myself by spending on 'frivolous' items (even though these should all last years and years).
Anyone else go through something similar? A rare spending spree in an otherwise frugal lifestyle?
Sorry for ramble.
My monthly budget for food AND entertainment is $300. Aside from travel, I very rarely spend money on things that I can't justify in some way. My problem is I think i've developed aversion to spending. Lately I've come into a $2000 travel gift voucher which I'm going to use on a trip in Sept. I'm giving half to my girlfriend so really I'll save $1000 off that trip. My work bonus paid this month was also more than expected. My expectation was to pay back what I spent on a trip to Mexico ($1700) but I ended up getting ~$3000. Also have an extra bonus being paid in May for $860.
All told, that's over $3000 in money I didn't plan for. My usual response to windfalls is to save/invest almost all of it. But this time around I'm having a huge urge to spend much of it on clothes. I need at least one new suit for work and am finally feeling the need to invest in quality leather shoes (AE probably). In addition, I've long been happy buying on sales at GAP, Jcrew Factory, etc. and never investing much money in my clothes, even though I enjoy dressing well.
I'm now close to pulling the trigger on a $150 USD spring/fall jacket ($250 CAD after shipping and conversion), a $160 USD leather boat shoe ($260 after shipping and conversion), a $300 leather casual boot (Wolverines), etc. Also tempted to invest in a quality pair of raw selvedge jean and some chambray shirts. All told my wishlist is pushing $2000 minimum.
LONG winded post - sorry - but I wanted to get my thoughts down. I'm actually feeling guilty at the prospect of spending so much money on something like clothes. For the past 1.5 years I've saved almost everything I could. I'm not going to be hurt long-term spending the money, but it doesn't change the fact that being so ingrained in a frugal lifestyle has made it feel incredibly unnatural to spoil myself by spending on 'frivolous' items (even though these should all last years and years).
Anyone else go through something similar? A rare spending spree in an otherwise frugal lifestyle?
Sorry for ramble.