Satisfying Splurges by Ken Cutler

Note: I’m still cleaning out my old ‘never submitted’ article file. Here’s #4. And yes, my OCD compels me to keep track of the numbers.  

FRUGALITY IS WORN like a badge of honor among many of us in the HumbleDollar tribe. I am happy to include myself in that club. Even if we no longer have a pressing need to be so frugal, we get a kick out of it. I’ve written several articles on the theme.

What about the other side of the coin? How about those times where, instead of going for the low-cost option, I’ve stepped out and splurged a bit? Here are examples of what I consider some of my most satisfying indulgences:

All-wheel drive vehicles. I wrecked my first car, a Honda Accord that I had bought right out of college, while driving to work in the snow early in my career. In retrospect, the problem was caused my inexperience and cheapness. I had let the tires wear down to unsafe levels. After that experience, I developed a phobia about driving in the snow.

Even with good tires—I had learned my lesson—those unavoidable drives in bad weather caused me considerable stress. Near the end of my career, I bought my first AWD vehicle, an older Subaru Outback. I found driving an AWD to be a cure for my decades-long snow phobia. I got rid of the Outback, which was always a money pit, and both our vehicles are relatively new (at least for us) AWDs now.

Landscaping services For many years, a spring ritual at our house would be mulching. A large pile of mulch would be deposited on our driveway and I would chip away at it, wheelbarrow load by wheelbarrow load. I never liked doing it. Lisa used to help a bit, but her back issues made it hard for her to continue.

A few years ago, we hired a landscaping service to do our mulching and edging for about a grand. Needless to say, the yard looks much better after being worked on by professionals.

Pets At one time, we had three cats and a Shetland Sheepdog. Living with so many animals was like having a four-ring circus at times. It also cost a good bit of money, especially as our precious furballs aged. Still, it was money well spent.

We have fond memories of all those pets. The enjoyment we received over their lifetimes was priceless. We’re down to my daughter’s cat, Blossom. She’s responsible for all of Blossom’s costs, so last year we had no pet expenses. I’m itching to get another pup, but a bit hesitant to make such a large commitment this early in retirement.

Restaurants No doubt about it, it’s much cheaper to cook and eat at home these days. My wife Lisa is a great cook and I can manage some dishes that aren’t bad. Chicken pot pie is my specialty. I don’t have an office to go to any more, so I am more proactive about getting together with my friends.

Often, we meet for a meal. Lisa also eats out often with her friends. I expect our restaurant budget to rise during retirement, and that’s okay. The experience is well worth the expense. I rarely pick up food for a solitary meal any more. I’d rather just eat at home unless a social aspect is involved.

Electric Yard Tools In the spring, I would often have a miserable time trying to get my gas-powered yard trimmer to run. I purchased a low-cost electric trimmer hoping to get some relief. Unfortunately, that trimmer had little power and the internal battery did not last long.

A few years ago, I bought an EGO brand trimmer, which was expensive but has lots of power. The batteries are easily replaced, but in any case, they are still working well. We also bought a hedge trimmer of the same brand. When my gas-powered Toro mower finally conks out, I expect to replace it with an electric model.

There aren’t many material things left that I need or want. Like many HumbleDollar readers at my stage of life, experiences give me the most bang for the buck. How about you, fellow member of the frugal fraternity (or sorority)? What are some of your most satisfying splurges?