Can you afford it? Updates welcome!

[konapoppy]

As promised, this is the thread to share what you want to buy, and we all say if you can afford it!

Thinking about buying Thai iced tea, more Thai iced tea, and even MORE THAI ICED TEA? Let us be the judges who approve, put you on hold, or deny you. There is no robo-man, there are no shirts to give away. The only thing you get is the approval or scorn of your fellow GBCNers.

So what do you want to buy?

ALSO, if you posted previously and made a decision, updates are welcome! cosmos posted her spiffy new car a while back
itsme is begging us to enable her to buy a S'mores frapp. Please encourage her to do so!
patbutcher is getting the floors but not the countertop!
@ruralrabbit1 dropped her clothing membership and bought a few things from other stores. 
Everyone should try Thai iced tea tonight. 
Stan is coming home to CA! She better bring her own water
kadams767 is asking about renovations and car purchases!
my3bears is asking about landscaping!
@buckybells is asking about a couch!
@mrsspunky is asking about a Disney time share!

[konapoppy]

Update: After getting SO EXCITED about Italy, we ended up buying $$$ bedroom furniture from Room and Board a Tempurpedic king bed. They arrive tomorrow. No regrets! If this pregnancy isn't viable, we will probably do Italy later this year and find a way to make it work.

[itsme]

I am contemplating getting a S'mores Frappuccino after work but am already spending money (and calories) at Sizzler and a gift for a friend. Do I really need to spend more? But now I just remembered that they are half off so the money issue isn't a big deal but the calories are.

[konapoppy]

itsme, yes, you need to try this and report back ASAP. You don't have to drink it all

[itsme]

konapoppy my friend keeps telling me how great it is. I am usually disappointed whenever I go to Starbucks but she keeps talking this one up so I'm curious. I guess I can get a Tall.  I plan on hitting the salad bar at Sizzler....a few times.... 

[msmerymac]

Uh, was that a secret reveal or did I miss it before? Congrats!

[konapoppy]

Thanks msmerymac! I have been posting here and there about it. My ultrasound this week wasn't great, so I have another one on Monday. We are cautiously optimistic that one will be good.

If it isn't, I am totally going to Italy AND my BFF's wedding in India.

[patbutcher]

Update: We are getting the floors refinished but no quartz countertops this year. I'm also doing the staircase myseld which is saving $3-5K. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[Deleted]

I canceled Gwinnie Bee, but I've placed a $10 order at ON, $75 at Land's End, and $85 at Torrid. The Torrid one probably would have happened anyway. I needed some new shirts, how I manged stain and tear so many last summer is beyond me. I should be set for the summer now. So I'm a partial success?

[raangoli]

konapoppy - Fingers crossed your US on Monday goes well.

itsme - Yes, and do report back. I want to try one, too!

patbutcher - The staircase savings can maybe go towards the counter tops next year?

@ruralrabbit1 - A definite win!

[v]

Wait -- are we actually doing "Can I Afford It?"s about drinks that cost like $2.50?

[konapoppy]

v I view it as enabling, not a serious question on a financial level. At this point, I will take any post on MM.

[raangoli]

May 1, 2015 14:05:51 GMT -5 v said:

Wait -- are we actually doing "Can I Afford It?"s about drinks that cost like $2.50?

I thought we were being tongue in cheek?

[msmerymac]

Good luck on Monday, Kona!

[kadams767]

I'll play for real.

This spring/summer is shaping up to be sort of expensive. Can I afford all of this?

1. New fence. With some DIY, we are estimating the cost of this will be about $4-5,000. If we decide not to do it this year, we could replace some of the existing posts ourselves and buy some more time, but it needs to get done within the next year. I doubt it will survive another winter.

2. Inside renovation and furnishings. We have a few smaller indoor projects we want to tackle, such as renovating a hallway entrance, some new lighting, and furnishing an empty living room. Rough estimate here is $6k.

3. I am contemplating being non-MM and trading in my car. This is a want, not a need, but I am getting antsy and frustrated with my current car. It is at the point where it has needed all of the regular maintenance updates/repairs in the past year, plus an unexpected pricey repair, and I am sick of paying for this stuff. It is a 2008 Outback with approximately 50k miles on it. Trade in would probably be around $10k, I'm not sure. I'd love a brand new Outback instead.

Tell me what else you need to know to approve me. :-)

[sicilygirl]

May 1, 2015 14:23:27 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

I'll play for real.

This spring/summer is shaping up to be sort of expensive. Can I afford all of this?

1. New fence. With some DIY, we are estimating the cost of this will be about $4-5,000. If we decide not to do it this year, we could replace some of the existing posts ourselves and buy some more time, but it needs to get done within the next year. I doubt it will survive another winter.

2. Inside renovation and furnishings. We have a few smaller indoor projects we want to tackle, such as renovating a hallway entrance, some new lighting, and furnishing an empty living room. Rough estimate here is $6k.

3. I am contemplating being non-MM and trading in my car. This is a want, not a need, but I am getting antsy and frustrated with my current car. It is at the point where it has needed all of the regular maintenance updates/repairs in the past year, plus an unexpected pricey repair, and I am sick of paying for this stuff. It is a 2008 Outback with approximately 50k miles on it. Trade in would probably be around $10k, I'm not sure. I'd love a brand new Outback instead.

Tell me what else you need to know to approve me. :-)

We need to know your current financial situation!  Are you broke (I know you're not) or do you have $6,000 leftover each month?  We need more info! 

[v]

May 1, 2015 14:11:45 GMT -5 raangoli said:

May 1, 2015 14:05:51 GMT -5 v said:

Wait -- are we actually doing "Can I Afford It?"s about drinks that cost like $2.50?

I thought we were being tongue in cheek?

I did not pick up on that, but (idea)

 

[sicilygirl]

May 1, 2015 13:27:46 GMT -5 @ruralrabbit1 said:

I canceled Gwinnie Bee, but I've placed a $10 order at ON, $75 at Land's End, and $85 at Torrid. The Torrid one probably would have happened anyway. I needed some new shirts, how I manged stain and tear so many last summer is beyond me. I should be set for the summer now. So I'm a partial success?

I cancelled GB too.  Stuff was taking way too long to get to me, and I just didn't feel like it was worth it anymore.  I do miss it, though.

[kadams767]

May 1, 2015 14:26:03 GMT -5 sicilygirl said:

May 1, 2015 14:23:27 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

I'll play for real.

This spring/summer is shaping up to be sort of expensive. Can I afford all of this?

1. New fence. With some DIY, we are estimating the cost of this will be about $4-5,000. If we decide not to do it this year, we could replace some of the existing posts ourselves and buy some more time, but it needs to get done within the next year. I doubt it will survive another winter.

2. Inside renovation and furnishings. We have a few smaller indoor projects we want to tackle, such as renovating a hallway entrance, some new lighting, and furnishing an empty living room. Rough estimate here is $6k.

3. I am contemplating being non-MM and trading in my car. This is a want, not a need, but I am getting antsy and frustrated with my current car. It is at the point where it has needed all of the regular maintenance updates/repairs in the past year, plus an unexpected pricey repair, and I am sick of paying for this stuff. It is a 2008 Outback with approximately 50k miles on it. Trade in would probably be around $10k, I'm not sure. I'd love a brand new Outback instead.

Tell me what else you need to know to approve me. :-)

We need to know your current financial situation!  Are you broke (I know you're not) or do you have $6,000 leftover each month?  We need more info! 

I am not broke, but also do not have $6,000 leftover each month.  The fence and renovations would be a combination of pulling from savings and cash flow.  The car, well, I would use the trade-in for the down payment and take on a monthly car payment. 

I currently have $22k in a savings account that I could pull from to cover the fence and additional home improvement stuff, but I worry about depleting that account so low and only leaving $10k or so in there.  On the other hand, I would expect a bonus in the next few months that could replenish it.  I just hate counting on that in case it doesn't happen.   

[konapoppy]

May 1, 2015 14:27:57 GMT -5 v said:

May 1, 2015 14:11:45 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I thought we were being tongue in cheek?

I did not pick up on that, but (idea)

 

LOL did you mean my OP? Totally tongue in cheek  

[v]

May 1, 2015 14:37:34 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

May 1, 2015 14:27:57 GMT -5 v said:

I did not pick up on that, but (idea)

 

LOL did you mean my OP? Totally tongue in cheek  

Oh, I knew you were TIC ... but I was a bit concerned about itsme!!!

[itsme]

May 1, 2015 14:41:34 GMT -5 v said:

May 1, 2015 14:37:34 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

LOL did you mean my OP? Totally tongue in cheek  

Oh, I knew you were TIC ... but I was a bit concerned about itsme!!!

  No I wasn't really serious.  Well on the is it worth the calories part a little because those things are like a meal in itself calorie-wise.  Definitely more of an enabling thing.  Also, it's Starbucks and Starbucks usually lacks flavor and I need someone to tell me it's worth it aside from my friend who goes there daily.  I need input from people who don't care about Starbucks much but have tasted this drink.  Is that frapp really as tasty as she says?  I am not so sure.  I am spending waaaay too much time on a drink that I already am pretty sure I'm going to try.

[raangoli]

May 1, 2015 14:46:47 GMT -5 itsme said:

May 1, 2015 14:41:34 GMT -5 v said:

Oh, I knew you were TIC ... but I was a bit concerned about itsme!!!

  No I wasn't really serious.  Well on the is it worth the calories part a little because those things are like a meal in itself calorie-wise.  Definitely more of an enabling thing.  Also, it's Starbucks and Starbucks usually lacks flavor and I need someone to tell me it's worth it aside from my friend who goes there daily.  Is that frapp really as tasty as she says?  I am not so sure. 

Two weeks ago I had a tiramisu frapp and it was good; definitely worth the calories. And I say that as a an occasional Starbucks customer.

[itsme]

May 1, 2015 14:26:19 GMT -5 Stan said:

I should have posted about my trip to California next month, but you would've said no. Lol. We can afford it as in I won't go into debt for it, but I'm not contributing to any Roths this month. We'll still max out for the year, but it might take until January 31 instead of December 31.

You're going home!

[itsme]

May 1, 2015 14:51:02 GMT -5 raangoli said:

May 1, 2015 14:46:47 GMT -5 itsme said:

  No I wasn't really serious.  Well on the is it worth the calories part a little because those things are like a meal in itself calorie-wise.  Definitely more of an enabling thing.  Also, it's Starbucks and Starbucks usually lacks flavor and I need someone to tell me it's worth it aside from my friend who goes there daily.  Is that frapp really as tasty as she says?  I am not so sure. 

Two weeks ago I had a tiramisu frapp and it was good; definitely worth the calories. And I say that as a an occasional Starbucks customer.

I was excited to try that one as the hot drink.  You know what it tasted like?  Like a lukewarm tasteless coffee.  I was pissed.  I've had a little more luck with their frapps but sometimes there's not much flavor and it tastes like ice.

[my3bears]

Landscaping quote came back 7k. About 2k is "need" to regrade and keep basement from flooding. 5k is "want" with pretty plants and a side yard for the dogs to use in the rain and not track in mud.

Income/Expenses: Based on last year's income we had $300-500 left over every month. DH has gotten a raise since then so it's been higher this year. I'm self-employed so it's tough to gauge month-to-month. So far this year we have had excess every month.

Retirement: 3x expenses. Ages 30/34. We have about 80k equity in our house. I am saving 15%, DH is saving 20% (including match)

Savings: 2months checking, 2months savings, 2 months bonds. 12k in a health emergency fund, 6k in house/vacation fund.

How am I going to pay for this? $2300 1st deposit from house/vacation fund. 2nd and 3rd deposits from house/vacation fund and cash flow. Project should start end of July/August. Any left I will "borrow" from health emergency fund. We are almost halfway through the year and haven't had to touch it, plus June 1 DH gets a new policy at work with only $100 deductibles.

Can I afford it?

[Deleted]

I really want a new couch. Like horribly. I really don't care what ours looks like, since we rarely have company, but it's soooo uncomfortable. I bought it originally for the 2nd room in my old house that I shared with XH, and it's a sectional that is more of a curve than an L shape. So there is no corner to sit in. My back hurts when I sit most places and it's really hard to cuddle with BF unless we're in "bobsled" position (LOL, I don't know how else to describe it).

What I want to do is find a couch for around 1k and do a 2-3 year no interest payment thing. I don't have 1k sitting around to buy a couch (and if I did, I should use it to pay off my CC) but I could easily fit $50 a month into my budget.

BF thinks we don't need it because he's never bought new furniture in his life and hates spending money (I'm actually not even asking him to spend his money lol. He just thinks I don't need to spend money on it either, which he's probably right about).

We spend probably 20-40 hours a week sitting on this couch. I just want to be comfortable!

Relevant details:

I have about $4500 in CC debt. It's currently at 0% interest until next February. I also owe about 6k on my car and have student loans (which I consider irrelevant to this question since I'm just paying the minimum for the forseeable future).

After bills and fixed expenses, I have $2050 leftover each month. This needs to cover things like groceries (for 2 people and 2 dogs), gas, entertainment, household stuff, clothing, everything else. I plan to use $500 of that to pay down my CC since that will get it paid off by the time the no interest period is up. I hope to use some of the rest to either pay it down quicker, pay off my car, or put toward savings.

Can I afford a new couch? I know I should pay off my CC and maybe my car first, but dammit. I want to be comfortable.

[raangoli]

May 1, 2015 14:52:48 GMT -5 itsme said:

May 1, 2015 14:51:02 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Two weeks ago I had a tiramisu frapp and it was good; definitely worth the calories. And I say that as a an occasional Starbucks customer.

I was excited to try that one as the hot drink.  You know what it tasted like?  Like a lukewarm tasteless coffee.  I was pissed.  I've had a little more luck with their frapps but sometimes there's not much flavor and it tastes like ice.

Oh that is disappointing. I will admit that I drank it fast and didn't really let it melt, so there was little dilution of flavor. Maybe that's why?

[my3bears]

@buckybells I have a bad back so I hear you on the comfortable couch need. I think wait until February when the 0% card should be paid off and then revisit. So I guess "on hold" ?

Maybe make a special couch savings account and put as much in when you can?

Any easy ways to make side money for a couch fund? Sell things on ebay/craigslist?

[Deleted]

May 1, 2015 15:06:23 GMT -5 my3bears said:

@buckybells I have a bad back so I hear you on the comfortable couch need. I think wait until February when the 0% card should be paid off and then revisit. So I guess "on hold" ?

Maybe make a special couch savings account and put as much in when you can?

Any easy ways to make side money for a couch fund? Sell things on ebay/craigslist?

I probably could get at least $200 for this couch on Craigslist, actually. I think the last time I sold couches there I got something like $300. So that's a discount!

The thing is, I could totally save for this couch in a couple of months. So maybe I should do that. I just kind of feel like if I'm setting money aside, I should be throwing it at my other debt.