28 Comments

1. Colleen August 5, 2011 at 7:47 AM

   1. TICKETS! It is usually concerts or plays but it has also been big curling or figure skating events or even air shows. I just love live music and musical theatre and going to events. I now only buy my mother tickets to things because as a senior citizen she has enough stuff but you can never have to many concerts!
   2. The average is probably in the $40 range but it varies widely!
   3. I spent $230 for a U2 ticket plus a $50 bus ticket to get there (for the very last concert of the 360 Tour). I think that is probably the most. The least? There is an incredible variety show here every year that cost $12. Plus local high school musical productions are usually only $12 or $14. I won 2 $85 tickets to the Steve Miller Band show and that was awesome.
   4. There are lots of free shows in the summer. There is one every night down by the water and jazz shows across the city (but that invariably involves sitting at a restaurant table drinking) which I do take part in. But big name free shows are unusual.
   5. Many people do. I don’t care. I never go to movies. Every magazine book, magazine, cd and DVD comes from the library. I use my entertainment money solely on tickets!!!
   BONUS. I can go a long time without going to a show as long as I have tickets to something in the future. Sometimes you need to buy tickets 3 or 4 months in advance and if I go to nothing that whole time I’m fine. I get all the excitement from the anticipation of the future show. But I can’t go more than 4 months or I’d go crazy. I go a lot in the summer because that is when things happen here – the winter can be long and cold and boring!
2. Sense August 5, 2011 at 8:44 AM

   What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
   Traveling. Especially to see people I love. Bonus points if it is to a place I’ve never been, and triple word score if I can get a friend to come with me to a place I’ve never been before. :)

   How much does it usually cost you?
   Anywhere from a few hundos to several thou.

   What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?)
   My annual trip home costs me about $3500 NZD for each trip. And that’s just for the plane tickets…food, lodging, gas, shopping, eating out, emergency US health insurance, etc., always adds a lot more. I think tickets were once down to about $2400 NZD. Luckily because I usually only travel places where I know someone, the lodging part is taken care of.

   Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper?
   Still talking about my US trip home, I recently amassed enough cc points through various sign up bonuses to get a round trip flight for about $1K NZD. Could have been less if I didn’t mind an extra 15 hours in airports and airplanes each way, but I am not a good traveler on these 24+ hour (one-way) trips, so I opted to pay a bit extra. My goal is to sign up for enough of those reward cc’s to get my trip home for $1K or less from now on each year.

   Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?)
   I’m sure they do. I don’t care what they think. It’s my money.

   *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing?
   Not for long. Once a year is not enough for me, I’d prefer to see everyone at least twice a year. It killed me to cut back to only once a year. My family and US friends are my life. Seeing them sustains me for the year ahead in a foreign land that I can’t seem to quite fit into or make feel like ‘home.’ I’d pay any amount of money to be able to do this. Aside from rent and food, my trips home are my priority.
3. WR August 5, 2011 at 8:52 AM

   1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
   Books
   2. How much does it usually cost you? lots. (I buy a lot of books and no, I do not like e-readers. Still do the paper kind)
   3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) $180.00 for an technical treatise on a topic in my field / Free for a whole box of leather-bound classics at an estate sale (although I bought an AWESOME soapstone wood stove there which may have influenced the freebie)
   4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? Library, of course. I am terrible at returning them and end up paying late fees/ lost fees. When Borders shuttered it made me sad. I use addall.com to find the best online price. I love bookstores, especially used bookstores. Wonderbook is an old haunt of mine.
   5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) Yes. No.

   *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? Not very long!

   One of my favorite sayings came from coach John Wooden’s 7 point creed, (given to him by his father when he graduated from grammar school)

   Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.

   The whole creed is here:
   Be true to yourself.
   Make each day your masterpiece.
   Help others.
   Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
   Make friendship a fine art.
   Build a shelter against a rainy day.
   Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day

   My interpretation of this is not to focus solely on religious texts, but to enrich your life with as broad a selection of interests as possible.

   I just read:
   The Seven Daughters of Eve. — Mitochondrial DNA points to the origin of our species. could not put it down!
   The Referral Engine : great book on giving and getting referrals
   The Back of the Napkin : visual communication at it’s best!
4. No Debt MBA August 5, 2011 at 9:17 AM

   What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Dessert. I have the biggest sweet tooth ever.
   How much does it usually cost you? $4. A container of ice cream, pastries from the shop down the street, mmmm
   What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) maybe $15, $1 if we make it at home from scratch
   Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? ummm, free?
   Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) Maybe, not really. More concerned about my pants fitting ;)
   *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? Maybe a month.

   First runner up would be limes. Limeade, Thai food, Mexican, margaritas….. Maybe I’m hungry this morning.
5. graduate.living August 5, 2011 at 9:22 AM

   1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
   Food – I’m not a very good cook, so our spending vice is eating out.
   2. How much does it usually cost you?
   Not as much as it used to – we’re practicing the cooking and what-not. We budget around $200 between the two of us for going out
   3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it?
   We just recently spent a little over $100 for a super-nice four course dinner out (it would have been more without our Groupon…)
   What’s the LEAST?
   Anytime we’re treating to dinner (thank you, Mom and Dad!)
   4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper?
   Learning to cook – like I said, we’re (read: I’m) working on it… slowly but surely.
   5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?)
   Yes. And to some extent, it is and I acknowledge that. But I enjoy going out around town, and seeing new neighborhoods, trying new foods. More often than not we’re out with friends, so that also gives us a chance to catch up and spend some quality time with people. I know this could also be accomplished by cooking at home and having people over, but, like I said, I’m still practicing…

   *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? Realistically… about two weeks…
6. Lynn August 5, 2011 at 9:24 AM

   1. Always worth it? Travel
   2. Costs? Depends 75 or a100 for a day trip up to several thousand for big trips like this fall to Belgium and France
   3. Most spent ? The most is probably 2700 I spend on our last trip in 09 to Germany and Austria of my money. I spent over $23,000 on my corporate credit card for 60 day business trip to Asia.
   4. Alternatives? Travel closer to home or don’t travel
   5. What people think? My father thinks I should put the money in the bank. He is very thrifty and some of his attitudes have rubbed off on me. I do save money for these trips and pay off the credit cards immediately when I get back.
   6. I could go 5-6 months without going somewhere
7. John August 5, 2011 at 9:38 AM

   First off, love the commercial J Money. It has been a while since I’ve seen it air.

   1. Well I tend to spend money on car related Items. Mainly things to make her go faster, but lately I have been investing better in detailing tools.
   2. Last year was an expensive one I treated myself to a lightly preowned supercharger (4k), headers (1k), tuning software (500) and a wideband sensor (250). I enjoy the installation part as much as the going fast part, so at least I didn’t have to spend a couple more thousand for the install and tuning.
   3. Well I guess the most I spent was on the car itself. Looking back I kind of can’t believe how everything unfolded and how much debt I took on for it. About two years before I graduated college I decided to finance my first and probably last new car (a Toyota Corolla XRS). I negotiated it down to 18.6k from a MSRP of about 23k. I loved the car, but still traded it in 11 months later. A friend told me about a used gto with a complete Holden Monaro conversion at the local Mercedes dealership. It was being sold under private party value at around 19k despite the 4k plus worth of upgrades it had. It was a great deal, but I shouldn’t have financed either of those cars under the pretense that I would get a good engineering job to pay it off. It ended up that I did, and I still love the car just like the first day a bought it. I did learn a couple lessons from the experience though, not to burden your future self with a car payment you don’t have to take and never buy a new car because you can buy a lightly used one that is way faster one for about the same money. =-)

   3.5/4 The least spent was in my new side hustle “amateur used car dealer”. I bought a jetta for 700 dollar that’s headlight would shut off at random because a part was bad in the ignition switch. The dealership told the woman that it was going to be a small fortune to fix, but I bought the part online for 25 dollars and had the job done in about 2 hours. All said and done after a couple other small things, insurance and tags I netted about a 1600 dollar profit. The rush I got from doing this was even greater than racing.

   5) If I had it at the time I bought the car I would say No. The waste of money was in interest paid and unnecessary risk taken.

   *Bonus* No, I couldn’t imagine living in the city and not having a car.
8. Kerry August 5, 2011 at 9:46 AM

   What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Crafts!

   How much does it usually cost you? Anywhere from free to pretty expensive, depending, but the expensive things are usually one time purchases. **Important to note that I typically buy my craft items for gifts so I’m really using my Christmas/Birthday budget for it. It’s a cool way for me to create and to give at the same time.

   What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) This week I spent about $110 because my stash was getting low. I think the most I’ve ever spent was on a machine for $175. The least I spend is obviously free!

   Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? Well, I honestly don’t ever buy anything that I can’t get a discount on. Like this week, a $36.99 thing I bought I used a 40% off coupon (it’ll last FOREVER). The machine for $175 is originally $299, so I got a killer steal on that. I also shop A TON of garage sales. I repurpose a lot of things.

   Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) I don’t tell people how much I spend, but I bet a lot of people would say I don’t spend nearly as much as I could – especially with scrapbooking (which I don’t do).

   *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? Yikes! Not a week!
9. Richard Anthony August 5, 2011 at 9:58 AM

   Your idea for prioritizing how we spend our money strikes a resonant chord. In fact, it’s the core principle behind PEACEBUCKS, which I introduced at the height of the Viet Nam war. (I like to think that they helped to end that sad chapter in U.S. history.)

   Re: Your “5 for Friday” questions:

   1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
   Money! I never fail to get satisfaction from buying a good U.S. bank note with graffiti on it. Have been doing it since the late ’70’s.

   2. How much does it usually cost you?
   The face value of the bill.

   3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?)
   I don’t keep track per transaction, but when I go to the bank and the tellers say, “do you want this one?” and it’s a $20., it had better be a great one before I say yes. The least I spend is when there are no good graffiti bills to snag. (That’s quite often these days.)

   4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper?
   Yes, to accept the generosity of friends who say “never mind” when they give me a neat graffiti dollar that they’ve found in their travels and I hand them a buck in exchange. But my policy has always been to pay for every bill in my collection.

   5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?)
   Some people do think it’s a waste of money and an absurd collection, and yes, I do care what people think. Your positive tweet when I first joined Twitter was greatly appreciated and encouraging.

   *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing?
   Nowadays it’s pretty slim pickings because I see very little cash myself. And merchants and bank clerks in the press of their daily transactions can’t bother to set “mutilated” bills aside. I cringe at the thought of all those great graffiti bills in circulation that will eventually be returned to the U.S. treasury to be destroyed, unseen and unsung by the world’s cash connoisseurs and aficionados. If others “out there” share this passion/fascination I’d love to hear from them and to compare notes — (er, banknotes;) I’d especially welcome their comments if they visit http://www.moneygraffiti.com.
10. CityFlips August 5, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Traveling
    2. How much does it usually cost you? Like the others say…about $100 to several thousand.
    3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) I really don’t know. I know I’ve spent around $2 for a few of my bigger trips.
    4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? I try to hunt for deals, etc. I’m not the hostel type anymore, but if I were that would make it cheaper!
    5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) I don’t think people think it’s a waste of money, but I think some people are surprised that I’m willing to spend that kind of money on travel and I’m so cheap about other stuff.
    6. *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? The longest I’ve gone in the past few years without getting on an airplane is about 8 weeks. More recently, the longest I’ve gone with no airplanes in my life is 4 weeks.
11. Mysti August 5, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Holiday decorations!

    2. How much does it usually cost you? I usually budget about $50-$75 per year for halloween/fall and Christmas

    3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) Depends on how you look at it. The year I lost my twin daughters, I spent $200 on just ornaments for them (Waterford Crystal). That aside, Probably about $350 in one year when I bought a TON of stuff. Least….dunno.

    4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? Sure…clearance for the next year. But by then you aren’t thinking about it! I would say making it…but even that can get pricey to buy materials.

    5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) Some do. Don’t care.

    6. *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? HMMM….I probably could go a year without buying, but I would be really sad.
12. HP August 5, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? My tailor.
    How much does it usually cost you? Anywhere from $15-150. Probably around a thousand dollars annually…I know, I know.
    What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) $160(suit)/$20 (jeans)
    Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? The only alternative is not doing it at all.
    Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) Yes (probably everyone following this blog). No.
    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? A few months…or until I purchased something that needed tailoring.

    Let me caveat this by saying I don’t buy expensive clothes…I’ll buy a moderately priced suit and get it tailored to look like a $1,000 suit.
13. Erin August 5, 2011 at 11:13 AM

    1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Vacation.
    2. How much does it usually cost you? Sometimes it’s free (thanks mama), sometimes it’s hundreds, sometimes it’s thousands.
    3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? $About $1,500 for a 10 day trip to Germany.
    4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? No. I always price shop so I get it as cheaply as possible as is.
    5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? I’m pretty sure no. I think vacations are at the top of any wage earners list of things they want to do – isn’t that what we are working for, other than paying the necessities? (Do you care?) Nope – personal goal for 2011 is to stop giving a shit what anyone thinks about anything I do. The fact that they’re thinking of me is all that matters :)
    6. *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? I/we take mini vacations at least once a month. Last month we just went downtown to Detroit, stayed at Greektown Casino and watched Paul McCartney’s concert. This month we’ll go stay at a B&B in Newaygo and go trout fishing. It just varies as to what it is. In a few months I’m going to FL to get married and a few weeks later to NYC for my b-day. I’m just always going somewhere.
14. Kathy August 5, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? craft supplies for (mainly) rubber stamping (cards/gifts/scrapbooking)

    How much does it usually cost you? there is no ‘usual’ in this case. But, I can drop $150 in an instant ($150 is minimum if I want hostess benefits (read; FREE) merchandise)

    What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? I’ve placed a $500 order many moons ago. I used the money I would have spent going to stamp convention on my order
    (What’s the LEAST?) I’ve had people give me supplies that they don’t want anymore

    Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? some….but, when you love a certain company’s product, you don’t really want to buy from anywhere else. I do tend to buy ‘generic white’ ribbon and dye it with exclusive colors I get from Stampin’ Up!

    Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? yup
    (Do you care?) nope

    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? not very long. It tends to keep me grounded. It’s a stress reliever….just like getting into a good book does. And don’t get me started on books! I love, love, LOVE reading books. I get most of mine from the library bookstore or online at Paperbackswap.com (best site ever!) or Bookmooch.com. The online sites are FREE!

    Paperbackswap.com:
    http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=chocorose999@yahoo.com

    Bookmooch.com: http://bookmooch.com/chocorose99
15. Andrea @SoOverDebt August 5, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Stuff for my house.
    How much does it usually cost you? Maybe $50 a month on average.
    What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? I dropped $1400 in Pier 1 one time buying furniture. They pretty much love me there.
    Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? I shop at lots of stores – some are cheaper than others. It just depends on what I’m buying.
    Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? If they do, no one has ever had the guts to say it. Most people ooh and ahh when they come to my house and see all the work I’ve put into it.
    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? At some point the house will be finished and I’ll stop, but for now I do well to go a few weeks without finding something I must own. I only have one room left though!
16. Jeffrey Trull August 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Good craft beer
    How much does it usually cost you? around $11 for a six-pack, or $5-6 a pint at the bar
    What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) I think I’ve spent up to $8 a pint before, and cumulatively I probably spend a lot on this on a monthly basis.
    Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? I could buy crappy beer, but that’s just not worth it to me.
    Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) Definitely not. To me, it’s one of the affordable pleasures in life.
    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? Probably around a month. I could get buy in crappy beer for a bit
17. Ashley @ Money Talks August 5, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    1.What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Eating out
    2.How much does it usually cost you? About $20- $25 a pop for our family of 4
    3.What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?) Most for one meal $120. Least for one meal $10 or $15 for the family
    4.Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? I could make it at home.
    5.Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?) “Normal” people dont’ think it’s a waste… pf bloggers do though! I don’t care… It’s my money, and my life.
    6.*BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? I COULD go forever… but a week is probably the longest we actually go.
18. Paula @ AffordAnything.org August 5, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    1. What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
    Food!! In any and all forms — groceries, restaurants, casual dining, even fast-food.

    2. How much does it usually cost you?
    No idea, because **I confess** I don’t budget!!!!! Sorry, J. Money! I “budget” my savings (I decide how much I want to save, then I save it, and I spend whatever is left over. Tweak as necessary.)

    3. What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?)
    Oy … a lot and a little?

    4. Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper?
    I could stick to buying 100 percent groceries (never eating out), but then I’d be so sad …

    5. Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?)
    Some people think you should buy “cheap” food (lots of simple carbs like pasta), but I think those people are crazy. Buy food that’s good for you, or delicious, or both. Don’t put it in your body just cuz its cheap!

    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing?
    About 2 hours. :-) Maybe 3.
19. Kevin @ Thousandaire.com August 5, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I bought NCAA 12 Football for Playstation today. I’ll really enjoy it for about a week and then probably sell it on half.com

    But hey, it’ll make he happy for a week!
20. Jen @ Master the Art of Saving August 5, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    ALWAYS worth spending money on- Self-improvement! Whether it’s books, hobbies, education, foods, travel or whatever.
    Usually cost- between nothing and thousands.
    MOST spent on it- Most spend would be $3,500 and the least zero dollars.
    Cheaper alternatives- use the internet for free information, cheaper substitutes, borrow, receive as gifts and just getting creative.
    People think it’s a huge waste of money- probably, but I don’t care enough to pay attention ;-)
    How long could you go WITHOUT it- a nanosecond?
21. WinrWinrChknDinr August 5, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    1.) What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
    Well, I used to collect football cards of a favorite player. It seemed like it was worth it at the time. Now, not so much. Was it fun? Heck yes. I called it a “non-traditional savings account”. It worked out OK, because selling some of them paid for (3) tickets to the Super Bowl this year. (GO PACKERS!)

    2.) How much does it usually cost you?
    Typically between $75 and $250. Depends on the card, grade, year, population, etc.

    3.) What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? (What’s the LEAST?)
    Most was bought for $1800. Sold for $3500. CHA-CHING!
    Least was bought for $0.01 and probably given away at a loss. BOOO!

    4.) Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper?
    You can buy them ungraded and have them graded. Or, you can go without having them graded at all and keep them in “raw” condition. Or, you can get a lower graded card (scale of 1-10). Obviously 10s cost the most.

    5.) Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?)
    I am sure they do. My family, especially my parents, thought I was crazy when I spent $1800 on a piece of cardboard with a grown man on it. When they found out another card sold a few months later for $6600, they became a little more OK with it. At the end of the day, it was my money and my decision. It made me happy at the time.

    6.) How long could you go WITHOUT this thing?
    At the time, hours. It was my crack. I have gone a year without really buying a new card. It’s a neat hobby and one that I will stay passively involved in.
22. 20 and Engaged August 5, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    1. Something that’s always worth spending my money on is books. I absolutely love to read!
    2. It costs me between Free 99 to about $15, depending on the book. Things are usually between $5-$10 since I’ve been reading on my Kindle lately.
    3. The most I’ve ever spent on a book that was for leisure reading was probably about $20 since it was a hard cover. The least is free :)
    4. Cheaper alternatives are renting books (like through Lendle) or borrowing/swapping books.
    5. I haven’t met anyone who thinks reading is a waste of money and even if they did, I certainly wouldn’t care.
    6. I went a while without reading leisurely. A couple years. I’ve just recently started getting back into it, and I’m glad I’m back :)
23. Melissa August 6, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    1. I really like spending money on entertainment stuff, but especially music. I don’t go to as many concerts as I used to, but I LOVE spending money on new records. Like, I can’t even go into a record store without buying something. But the little thing makes me really happy.
    2. A vinyl record might cost anywhere from $8 – $25, depending.
    3. I think I once spent $30 on a 180 gram (better quality) Modest Mouse record that was about to go out of print. That’s not really that extravagant. Though if you’re talking totals of record store shopping sprees… For the least, I think I once got a copy of U2’s The Joshua Tree for a dollar. That was awesome.
    4. Buying online is pretty economical, even with shipping, and ESPECIALLY since the Canadian dollar is so high right now. ;)
    5. The first record I bought was a copy of Elliott Smith’s either/or. I bought it while on vacation with a relative, who literally yelled at me for wasting my money, being so foolish, etc. “You know they have that on CD, you know?? You can just buy it at the store. It would be CHEAPER on CD. Why the hell would you buy that? It’s so out of date!” And no, I don’t care. :)
    *Bonus: I can force myself to not buy records for long periods of time if I have to, but if the question is how long can I go without listening to music? Probably not even 24 hours.
24. rainbowfish August 6, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    1. This was tough as I have three things I feel are worthy of spending money on. Books, art supplies, and travel. But I think travel wins out.
    2. A wide range here, depending on the destination. I live 2 hours from Orlando, so like to take weekend jaunts there. Then there is family a few hours away, and of course real vacations. lol
    3. To date: the most would be last years trip to the Bahamas, but next years trip to CA will probably beat it. The least would be when I traveled with my child for sports and we would put 2 or 3 adults and that many kids in a room to save money.
    4. Staying home, no more weekend trips, fewer trips to Orlando would all make it more economical.
    5. Someone must, but I DON’T CARE! I love to go places, and get restless if I don’t go somewhere every few months.
    *BONUS* Not long. I get restless. I love planning the trips, finding things to do, figuring the budget, then the trip.
25. Diva August 6, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on? Personal Care: Hair cut & color, manicures/pedicures, facials
    How much does it usually cost you? My hair is $138 with tip; mani/pedi $50; facials $100
    What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it? Hair $225 with tip; mani/pedi $75; facials $250 (What’s the LEAST?) $100 with tip; mani/pedi $35; facials $61
    Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper? Doing it myself is cheaper, but not necessarily effective.
    Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? Some people do, but I don’t care! I love having my hair done, mani/pedis and facials are incredibly relaxing.
    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing? When out of work I can usually go about three months between hair coloring and cuts. And when out of work I can go a year with out a mani/pedi or facial.
26. Sarah August 8, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Ferrying. *snort* :)

    Actually, I don’t spend a lot of money on any one thing. We spent maybe $2k to fly our fam to CA for 11 days this summer (and incidentals may have added a couple hundred to that) – but mostly we stayed with family and we NEVER vacation. I *would* spend money on travel. I should MORE often because I get twitchy sitting still (work from home blues? That may change with the office job). I also spend money on camera stuff – but even that? I can’t remember the last time I bought anything, though I’m eyeing a lens I want a lot.

    I am making a point to travel more – last year, i went on several trips – mostly with friends – because I LOVE to travel. This year, a few more (and one lined up for fall…with my mom. Should be interesting).

    But I’m not really great at spending money on the things I love – I spend a lot of time wishing I would travel more, of that I had that awesome lens or whatever… but not doing much to turn it to reality. Working on that :)
27. crashdamage1957 August 8, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    What’s something that’s ALWAYS worth spending your money on?
    — Sushi. Very expensive for what you get, but worth every penny.
    How much does it usually cost you?
    —- ~$10 for a small platter that is enuf for a really decent appetizer ;)
    What’s the MOST you’ve ever spent on it?
    —I once spent about $75 for a sushi platter that i brought to share at a party. Way out of character, since usually i’ll make something to bring for such occasions that will cost me less than $5. But, altho those home made items are equally appreciated as the sushi was, again it was worth every penny, and was actually a lot of sushi for the money. ( i guess the platter was the sushi version of buying in quantity. )

    (What’s the LEAST?)
    $6 for California rolls.

    Are there any alternatives to getting it cheaper?

    DYI Sushi? i dont think so…

    Do people think it’s a huge waste of money? (Do you care?)
    —of course its a huge “waste” of money, since comparative nutrition can be had for much less. But, thats not the point. Its a luxury.

    *BONUS* How long could you go WITHOUT this thing?
    —Many months, to forever, really.. its a rare treat, one i only indulge in a few times a year, which for me just adds to its appeal.
28. J. Money August 14, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Hey guys! Sorry for the delay here, but glad to see so many responses on this one :) Getting to know y’all more and more every week!

    @Colleen – I like that :) Falls under the “experiences” category which is A-Okay to me!
    @Sense – I totally get that :) Friends & Family are high priority!
    @WR – Nice! An intelligent one up in here, I like it. Can never go wrong with books :) And I agree – Borders shutting down absolutely SUCKS.
    @No Debt MBA – Haha, dessert? Did NOT see that one coming :)
    @graduate.living – Mom & Dad food is the best! And not just because it’s free. It always feels so comfortable eating there :)
    @Lynn – 60 Days in Asia – that’s hot!!! I used to live there, did you know that? Korea. Freakin’ loved it.
    @John – You’ve seen it before? It was my first :) And I was wondering if anyone was gonna put down car stuff. I know a LOT of people who invest a crap ton of time and money into theirs, esp. tricking it out. As long as y’all get a lot out of it though, I’m all for it!
    @Kerry – Haha, not even a week? That is hardcore :) Glad it’s so productive though – great way to use your creativity.
    @Richard Anthony – Yo! I know I already talked with you before leaving this, but again – HUGE fan of your stuff :) Def. gonna add you into my blogroll here shortly – been seeing your stuff for a while now. Though I don’t know about these PEACEBUCKS? I’ll have to poke around a bit and read up on them. Thanks so much for stopping by my man!
    @CityFlips – Wowwwww you DO travel! Haha… I haven’t gone 3 weeks w/out planes this year, but only cuz of Love Drop :) Without it, I could go months before hopping onto one. Though I’d def. go on lots of road trips in between the flights.
    @Mysti – You are my new favorite person :) I LOVE holiday decorations! Not really spending money on them, or finding them though, but more like keeping them up an absurd amount of time after the seasons are over. I didn’t take down my Christmas tree until April ;)
    @HP – Interesting. Didn’t see that one coming either – but this is def. awesome seeing how different we all are :)e
    @Erin – Wow, $1500 for 10 days abroad is great! I’d take that up myself anytime :)
    @Kathy – Very cool!! I bet others are into it as much too – we’ve got a lot of crafty bloggers/readers here, thanks for sharing all the tips!
    @Andrea @SoOverDebt – haha, I always forget about Pier 1. I don’t think there’s one in my area cuz I’d totally be in there a lot more if that was the case :) Mainly for looking and ideas though – a bit too expensive for my taste.
    @Jeffrey Trull – I was at DogFish Head brewery this week – love that place! Although moreso their tours than their beers, not my preference.
    @Ashley @ Money Talks – I like eating out too :) But more so at NEW places as I get bored pretty easily.
    @Paula @ AffordAnything.org – Haha, no worries – you’re rockin’ it out so obviously you’re good w/out a strict budget ;)
    @Kevin @ Thousandaire.com – Indeed, good sir, indeed. I’d buy and play it too if I had friends to play it with :( None of them live close enough by, so I just don’t ever get on my gaming system… though NES doesn’t have the most recent games anymore, haha…
    @Jen @ Master the Art of Saving – That’s a great one! Or two/three/eight, haha… self-improvement is def. good!!
    @WinrWinrChknDinr – Nice! I used to looooooove collecting cards! Particularly basketball ones. They didn’t have “graded vs. non-graded” back then, but I could totally get re-addicted again if a store opened up next door ;) Toward the end all I collected was Michael Jordan (instead of just trading all cards, all the time) so now when I look back I have a ton of good ones still! It’s been a year or so since looking through them, so I should totally do it again this week… I miss it.
    @20 and Engaged – You’re better than me. If it doesn’t have pictures, odds are I won’t be reading it anytime soon :)
    @Melissa – Music is great!! That’s an awesome one, forgot about music :) Though I usually just stream it for free online or on radio, but I can see how you can get hardcore about it. Thanks for sharing :)
    @rainbowfish – You can plan my trip next – I HATE the planning part. My ideal trips are just following others on whatever they are excited about ;) I just go w/ the flow.
    @Diva – Wowwww, haha… I’m glad I’m not a girl cuz I’d probably be the same too in that case :) Luckily my wife can cut my hair since all it involves is shaving the sides since I cut the ‘hawk part myself!
    @Sarah – I’ll help you, just wait :) We’ll go on another vacay together AND you’ll buy some photography goodies! Let’s do it!
    @crashdamage1957 – I can see that. I don’t like fish (only shrimp), but I have a ton of friends who swear by it. Anything that excites you that much is def. good in my books though!