Seriously, would it really be that bad? I know it sounds crazy, but I really REALLY feel the need to drive a sex mobile right now (or anytime for that matter). Perhaps someone out there would like a fancy budget blog? Say, for around $100k? Anybody? Bueller? ;)

A friend introduced me to this car club forum here in the DC area, and one of its members is about to give up his heavily mod'd Porsche! Apparently he needs the money for a down payment on a house or something...pshhh. If that doesn't show how expensive this thing is, he's also put in a good $10-$20k at LEAST in newer parts and upgrades! Wha wha wooooooooey!

Now, I'm no expert in cars (nor am I really IN the market for a new car) but I thought I'd write up a list of the pros and cons just to make me feel better...

Reasons to splurge and buy the Porsche:

• It's a Porsche!
• I could drive fast(er).
• I'd feel about 100x sexier.
• I could become a member of this DC car club.
• I could pretend I'm a rock star!

Reasons so just say NO:

• I would get more speeding tickets.
• People would try to race me and I'd look like an old fogie turning them down.
• I'm pretty sure it would cost way more to maintain than my '93 Caddy.
• I don't *need* a new car.
• I don't need a new car payment!
• It would cost as much as a down payment on a house.

If you haven't guessed it already, it looks like I'll have to pass and keep the good ol' dream alive. As much as I WANT this freakin' thing, my excitement level just doesn't override the financial implications at this point....probably because I'm getting too practical in my old age :( So as long as I don't go on any test drives in the near future, my wallet (and my marriage) is likely to be safe. BOOOOOO...

Labels: car stuff, splurging

Hello my Budgety friends! Today is the start of boy's weekend in New Orleans and I can already feel the dollars burning a whole in my pockets ;) I'd like to tell you I'll be saving them all and keeping a frugally low profile this weekend, but I already know it's just not happening.

You see, some days I just let myself go and do whatever I wish w/out worrying about money for the time being. Kinda like that whole "convenience tax" idea where you pay a little extra for something cuz it's quick and *there*, but you just let it slide and go about your way enjoying life as normal. And for some reason, it makes me feel all VIP like too! I'd never go crazy and pickup $200 jeans or $500 bottles of rum or anything like that, but I do let myself spend more freely during these weekends.

Here are 5 things I'll be blowing money on:

1. Checking in baggage - I know I'm a guy and should therefore be able to just throw things into a backpack or something, but I'm too "Metro" for that. I like to take way more than necessary so I have options. Plus, I hate lugging bags all around so I'll happily pay that $15/each way.
2. Airport food & coffee - My favorite part of traveling! Starbucks, donuts, pizza, all while waiting for our flight? Freakin' love it. Don't love the $50 price tag of course, but what happens on vacations stay on vacations ;)
3. Taxis - If there's one thing i hate dropping money on, it's taxis. I will walk miles to get somewhere if it saves me a buck or two (and the weather is nice), but when you're on vacay you have a limited amount of time. So if $12 means an extra hour of extended debauchery - I'm on it.
4. Group Dinners - The key here being, "wherever the group wants to go". When I plan them we go somewhere on the cheaper side, but we def. have some refined gentlemen amongst us at times. So if they want to chow down on $40 plates, then I shall follow suite and not say a peep.
5. Souvenirs - I'm such a hag when it comes to magnets or even maps! I dream about having a room wallpapered in maps of all the places i've visited over the years. Love it.
   

And because there are things I WILL be saving on, I should probably list out those here as well. After all, this is a frugalicious blog :) Here are 3 quickies we will save money on:

1. Alcohol - Probably the one consistent thing we all like to save money on! Pounding Miller Lights before we hit the bar scene. Not only does this sharpen our card playing skills, but it also allows for proper "bonding" and saves us a butt load by the time we hit the bars!
   
2. Hotel Room - We would cram 10 guys into a room if we could get away with it. Enough said.
3. Daytime Adventures - This usually consists of exploring around town and chatting about the good ol' college days. We rarely go see something specific like a play or an exhibit of some sort, so we save a lot of money by just walking around and goofing off.

Needless to say, we're gonna have a helluva good time :) And hopefully we'll have some juicy stories to come back with too! I heard something about giving away bead necklaces? Wonder what that's about... (Don't worry Mrs. Budgetsaresexy, I shall keep my promise on that non-nudity clause I signed.) Look for me on TwitPic!

Labels: blown money, life, splurging, travel

Nickel posed a great question the other day asking "What is your biggest financial vice?" His was eating out 3-4 times a week for lunch, and it seemed the same for many of the other commenters as well. Although my favorite so far is the gambler who lost $20k last year (ouch) - that's definitely a vice alright! But who doesn't love Texas Hold'Em?

So here i am trying to figure out my own biggest vice, and for once in my life i can't place it! I seriously don't spend my money as crazily as i used to. If you were to ask me 6 months ago, I would have no problem coming up with them - TJ Maxx addiction, Eating lunch out 5x week, and lottery tickets to name a few.

The biggest, however, would have been my sporadic splurging! I can't remember all of them, but I'd say i had at LEAST 4 big ones last year. As i mentioned in my ode to splurging article the other week, this included a little bling action & a little electronic action. I'd never take them back (i love those presents to myself!), but i sure as hell haven't splurged this year.

But what about now? Where do my naughty George Washingtons go? Well, if i had to choose one, and you know i do, i'm gonna have to go with Expensive Bananas. That's right buster, you heard me. If I have a strong hankering for one of those delicious beauties, there is no stopping me on how far i'll go to get one.

While they won't ever kill my budget, you'd be surprised at how much they go for in places. Here in DC they range from 75¢ to $1.00, depending on where you get them - a fast food joint, a street vendor, the train station, etc. Unfortunately my craving usually takes place at an airport, where i've been known to drop an entire $1.19 (gasp!).

What about you guys ? Does your financial vice beat mine?

Labels: shopping, splurging

What are the odds? Seriously, i totally made that day up when i posted about it yesterday - how freakin' insane! I literally had no idea whatsoever - it was actually my boy Jonathan over at MyMoneyBlog.com (my all-time FAV pf blogger) who notified me of it. I tip my hat to you good sir.

I followed his advice and googled it, and sure enough it's a *holiday* (or *holidate* as some call it). Here's some interesting info from KOOPERSMITHin' -

NATIONAL SPLURGE DAY [copyright] 1994 slated annually for June 18
Celebrating its 15TH Year in 2008

Celebrated 63 Days after Income Tax Day (April 15TH), this HOLIDATE is designed to jumpstart the Economy (as Recessions have been plaguing Societies since Biblical Times). One will instantly recall the terms of "7 Years of Feast followed by 7 Years of Famine, Hardships and Troubled Times." Abundance vs. Depletion can be classically traced back to Egyptian Days where Shortages were offset by Periods of great Wealth. Some Things don't change, but merely remain in a Cyclical Balance throughout Time. This is the leading Force to be reckoned with.

They even have e-cards made for it! haha... Man ... this is either one silly a$$ coincidence, or i'm the coolest person ever ;) (I'm not looking for an answer on this one).

So Happy National Splurge Day everyone!!!

Labels: randomness 3000, shopping, splurging

I'm tired of my poor friend, the word "splurge", getting so many negative reviews all the time - it's really not fair. What's so bad about giving in every now and then? We can't be rock star savers all the time, it's just not natural (plus it's REALLY boring).

So, in honor of this magical word - I hereby proclaim today the - "It's Okay to Splurge" day!

It's not smart to go overboard with it, of course, but you know what? You sure as hell can do it responsibly, and that's really the key here. Splurging can be VERY refreshing, and bring many a joys into your life ;) I mean, the definition itself is freakin' sexy!

Thefreedictionary.com has it right:

Splurge(splûrj) - (v) To indulge in an extravagant expense or luxury.

Ooh la la, sounds fun! "To indulge" in an "extravagant expense". Man, just thinking about it gets me all riled up. haha ... That doesn't mean that you *have to* go blow money on something crazy, it just means that we take a few seconds to reflect on all of the positive effects of splurging:

• You get to feel alive!
• You get to do/buy/go somewhere new!
• You get to do something you're "not supposed to do" - always fun ;)

If there's been something you've REALLY wanted, and think it'll make you feel sexy, I say go get it! It doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow, but you deserve to pick up something you've really been dying for. Just try and not go crazy overboard, ok? And if you need a limit, go with $200.

While I, for once, don't have anything currently on my list to get, here are a handful of items i picked up last year - aka my personal "splurge year". (i'll count the wedding as the only item in '08)

All of these items I wear/use literally every single day:

• Diamond earings - It was about time to replace my cubic zirconias with REAL bling. While i picked them up on a Kohls 60% + 15% + $10 off extra special savings day, i am that much closer to being a baller for real ;) Holler!
  My watch - I wanted a pretty nice one for once, and one that also blings. This time i used a store on eBay and got the hook up with 1/2 off the listed price.
• 62" Tv - What better way to watch reality tv, eh? No need for a flat screen, totally high level for my use, so i got an old school looking "projection screen" type. You know, those bulkier ones that can fit in the corner? Thus, cutting off at LEAST $2k. Oh, and i also applied some giftcards towards it to really knock down the price.

Saving, investing, and budgeting is important for sure, BUT every now and then you have to treat yourself to something you're really excited about - that's what gets you through life baby!

Labels: randomness 3000, shopping, splurging

Gooooooooood morning everybody, I hope your weekend treated you well! I *barely* made it through a football game AND a soccer game this weekend....i think i'm getting old :( But that's neither here nor there. What i'm supposed to be writing about is how easily i can burn through $$$, when i'm not on a challenge or no spend day ;)

I did this by visiting my very good friends, Target, TJ Maxx & Beers & Cheers. The key is to shop when you're in an extremely good mood and the weather is gorgeous out:

1) Target: Bought 3 CD's for $35.00. I've been wanting all three for a while, and they were all on sale! I originally only went in for one, but you know how it goes. I picked up the new Lupe Fiasco joint (my current fav. artist), the Juno soundtrack (these songs are hilarious!), and a um....don't laugh now.. a Toby Keith "best of" vol. 2. hahah...what can i say, i'm trying to cross all musical genres ;)

2) Target: Lunch for $12.00. They have pizza hut mini-pizzas there. Can't go wrong w/ that.

3) TJ Maxx: Picked up a pair of blingin' sunglasses for $7.99 (while in the check out line mind you) & a present for my brother, $12.99...even though his birthday is a good 4 months away! didn't see either of these coming.

4) Beers & Cheers: 6 pack of Bud, 6 pack of Sam Adams i think?, and box of wine. don't judge, box wine is AWESOME. Total came out to about $34 i think.

So what's that, $100ish i spent in about an hour? Danggggggggg. Oh well, i don't do it all that much, and i got some really good things. (That's it J...keep convincing yourself). On top of it all, it made for a super-great saturday. I'm a huge fan of being out and about when the weather is killer.

It's now time to buckle back down and get ready to save those pennies for the wedding next month! Countdown ticker soon to come, as promised.

Labels: splurging