Ask Lemmy

Well, I understand the struggle. I'll look at that shiny new thing (let's say a video card for instance) and I'll think "well, the old works well enough, and I'll just be throwing the old one out, or it will sit in my drawer for a decade and then I'll throw it out".

Or, when something breaks, I'll think, well I could replace it, but I can probably just fix it. Surely it's not a waste of time to spend 5 hours and $30 at the hardware store to fix a 20 year old toaster. Surely.

And I'm really quite good at fixing stuff, so the temptation is always there. And part of it is the environmental side, it just feels wrong to throw something that mostly works into a landfill. Like if that toaster won't turn on at all, it's probably just the power button that broke, or a thermal fuse that blew. In those cases, that's a device that is 99% fine and the fix isn't all that hard. I can't bring myself to just buy a new one and unnecessarily add to my carbon footprint.

On the other hand, sometimes you just need to eat your pride. For instance, we ended up with some very difficult kids, so life has gotten challenging. And given the everyday challenges, sometimes I just need an immediate solution for things. Sure, I could fix this, sure I could probably get this media server working, sure we're perfectly capable of cleaning up after ourselves... But right now that feels too hard so screw it, let's just buy a new one, and to hell with the media server, we'll just pay for Netflix and Disney+, and you know what, let's get someone to help clean our house once a month. Sometimes it's just about doing the things that you need to do to take care of yourself.

And yes, I needed that video card for my personal sanity.

Don't overthink it. Life is too short.

If you can afford it and it's something you think you'll enjoy, go for it. In the case of a motorcycle or similar item, make sure you can also afford insurance, maintenance, etc.

I research, then set it aside for a while (dependent on cost, cheaper = less time, expensive = more). If I'm still seriously thinking about it after that time, and I have enough of a budget that it won't cause issues, let's say if I have to put it on a credit card and can't pay it off without interest, then I generally will buy it.

"Damn that looks like fun!"

Make purchase.

We have a rule of three. If there's something you see that you want and end up coming back to it 3 or more times, you buy it.

I've gotten a number of items this way, like my Deadpool jersey. I couldn't justify spending like $40 on it to myself, but I really liked the design and material. I kept finding my way back to the stand, so I bought it at the direction of my wife before we left. I love that thing in the winter because it keeps me cozy without making me sweat.

I find cultivating some creative outlet and hobbies provides a resilience against my desire to ride the hype on the latest thing/tech/game/book/etc. Also using lists, waiting for sales, and spending more money where I spend most of my time.

I think it really comes to running a comprehensive analysis of what you spend money on throughout the year. Calculate everything you spend money on annually. Factor in costs. See what money you're left over with. Add in some investing goals. Then factor that in and see where you end up with. At the end, if you have money left over and you don't feel it needs to be added to savings, and you're satisfied with your current investing (retirement/extra, etc.) THEN by all means, blow the money on cool shit. Because at that point you've done your due diligence and have a clear understanding of whether a certain purchase makes financial sense and is worth the tradeoff you get for having that thing.

Of course there is always opportunity cost. I.e. "how much could I have made by investing that money in something", however this needs to be balanced with your long term goals and how much satisfaction you'll get out of buying the thing you want.

Memory loss!

I'm a nut for buying crappy, used guns. All I see is an opportunity to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. I'm like that with many used goods. "What can I do with this thing?!"

Dialed it in a bit. Now I stop and think total cost of ownership. And that can be applied to many purchases. I'll talk guns, but keep other sorts of items in mind.

How much will the initial spend really cost? Taxes, fees, shipping, etc.? Was looking at a $105 shotgun just now. Total delivered cost? $150 or so. Yeah, not such a deal with that in mind.

What do I need to go with it? Ammo I don't have? Scope/sights? Sandpaper and stain? Sling? Butt stock pad? What will I spend to get this gun where I want it?

Bought a new, single-shot, 12-gauge Hatfield shotgun off guns.com. $129.99! I can do that! Taxes and shipping, another $20. FFL fee, another $20. Red dot sight with mount, another $130 (stupid cheap, but believe it or not, it's quality). Strap and shotshell holder I made from spare parts I already had, still, another $25 bought new. American flag patch nailed upside down? $2. None of this includes cleaning and oiling supplies. A $130 shotgun cost me $327. Not adding anything for stain and sandpaper and such. Also, added a butt pad I already owned. Call it $350 and several nights of work. TCO was 2.7x the initial price.

So that's my thoughts. Total Cost of Ownership. Keep it in mind.

That's what Xmas is for. Being asked what I want by family is frustrating because I don't really want things, and few things I do, I just buy.

So anything I might like but can't justify buying goes into the Xmas list for other's to buy.

I give myself an allowance, just like when I was a kid. Whatever I spend it on is guilt free.