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 a diptyque candle, all of the tickets to a prime showing of Pitch Perfect 2 so you can watch it in peace without someone kicking your chair, or a new car now that you have a two income household? 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!
Update: raangoli loves s'mores frappucinos. So does everyone else. Thanks itsme! itsme is asking about beaches in SoCal milsaroo might take a cruise kadams767 updated us - she got her car fixed instead of getting a new one! steppenwolf is asking about a keratin treatment crashgizmo is asking about her backyard remodel @gingerbb wants to know what she should consider when deciding on renovations delawarejen has an update on her appraisal
Update: Since the last thread (I think?) I have purchased and enjoyed two s'mores frappucinos. Thank you GBCN for those empty calories and 5 minutes of happiness.
Here is my update: As mentioned in the last thread, I decided a new car was way too $$$ for me right now, so I just paid $850 to get new brakes on my car. Hopefully this will be it for the year other than gas and oil changes.
I don't have a "can I afford this" question because I have money already set aside but my issue is what beach in SoCal to stay near. I live in SoCal so it would only be a long weekend thing. I am one of those people that sticks to what they know and haven't explored many beaches. I know all the big ones but I know there's those diamonds out there.
We're thinking about saving for a 3-night cruise (end of December) once I start my new job and if DH gets a promotion. Even though we should be putting more money in savings/towards a DP and baby fund.
*shrugs*
How much would the cruise be and would it put a serious setback in your DP and/or baby fund?
(I am just curious - lately I've leaned towards "life is worth living" as long as everything else is under control. So I'd probably be OK with the cruise.)
Post by steppenwolf on May 15, 2015 9:50:48 GMT -5
I am considering getting a keratin treatment for the first time ($250) along with a haircut ($50-60). I have an extra $750 this month from overtime and working on another project, but I could be responsible and save the money for a summer vacation I want to take in June/July. Or throw it towards SL/EF/retirement, as always (currently 50+% of my income goes towards debt/saving.)
Aside from the money, I'm nervous about whether the treatment will work, since I got my hair some sort of chemically de-frizzed when I was 18, which lasted for about a day and was a total waste. But maybe hair treatments technology has improved since then? My hair takes SO LONG to do and it drives me crazy!
I don't have a "can I afford this" question because I have money already set aside but my issue is what beach in SoCal to stay near. I live in SoCal so it would only be a long weekend thing. I am one of those people that sticks to what they know and haven't explored many beaches. I know all the big ones but I know there's those diamonds out there.
Local SoCal here also- to me, it depends on what you're looking for. I like Pacific and Ocean Beach in San Diego if you're looking for fun and bars and lots of people watching. I like Sunset Beach for a little mellower/older crowd than Huntington and Long Beach. If you want more quiet, I would go further up north towards Santa Barbara/Ventura. Also, I think Oceanside and Seal Beach are sort of forgotten areas that are cool.
I don't have a "can I afford this" question because I have money already set aside but my issue is what beach in SoCal to stay near. I live in SoCal so it would only be a long weekend thing. I am one of those people that sticks to what they know and haven't explored many beaches. I know all the big ones but I know there's those diamonds out there.
Local SoCal here also- to me, it depends on what you're looking for. I like Pacific and Ocean Beach in San Diego if you're looking for fun and bars and lots of people watching. I like Sunset Beach for a little mellower/older crowd than Huntington and Long Beach. If you want more quiet, I would go further up north towards Santa Barbara/Ventura. Also, I think Oceanside and Seal Beach are sort of forgotten areas that are cool.
My go to is usually Oceanside. I was checking out Sunset Beach as an option. I was thinking of staying in SD because that's my favorite place to be but DH was more on the side of Huntington and Newport. Weird since he prefers SD as well. I forgot about PB. I'll look for something around there as well. I like La Jolla but want somewhere new to explore. PB would be fun. Is Ocean Beach connected to it? They both have piers right?
Post by crashgizmo on May 15, 2015 10:06:53 GMT -5
Okay I've got one!
PDQ details:
We just bought a new house and the backyard is basically a blank slate. DH has designed two options for us. Option 1 is a 10x12 deck, plants and rock throughout, and a new patio set. Total would be $2.5K. Option 2 is everything in option 1, but also pouring a concrete pad on a lower level than the deck to create a different living area. This spot would include an outdoor couch set, fire pit, and waterfall/feature of some kind. This option would be $5.5K.
The outdoor space is really important to us, we live in Southern CA and can use it nearly year round. The living space inside our house is on the smaller side and this is what we see as our entertainment area.
DH is 43, I'm 34. We have HHI, are currently maxing 2 401K's and an HSA. However the higher income is newish for us, so we only have 1.5x in retirement right now. Our e-fund has 3 months bare bones. Jobs are stable and either one could cover basic expenses. We have $7K in a "house" savings account, which is what we would consider using for the backyard. We have a bunch of houseguests coming over the summer and would love to have it finished before then. Also, we have an excess of $1500 or so each month, which I have been earmarking to replenish the e-fund to a slightly higher amount.
So my questions are: 1) can we afford to do either of these? 2) which one?
Local SoCal here also- to me, it depends on what you're looking for. I like Pacific and Ocean Beach in San Diego if you're looking for fun and bars and lots of people watching. I like Sunset Beach for a little mellower/older crowd than Huntington and Long Beach. If you want more quiet, I would go further up north towards Santa Barbara/Ventura. Also, I think Oceanside and Seal Beach are sort of forgotten areas that are cool.
My go to is usually Oceanside. I was checking out Sunset Beach as an option. I was thinking of staying in SD because that's my favorite place to be but DH was more on the side of Huntington and Newport. Weird since he prefers SD as well. I forgot about PB. I'll look for something around there as well. I like La Jolla but want somewhere new to explore. PB would be fun. Is Ocean Beach connected to it? They both have piers right?
I'm pretty sure they both have piers. They are next to each other, it's hard to tell where one begins and the other ends. The thing with PB is it is hard to drive around, so walking or bikes is optimal. I would definitely recommend Seal/Sunset Beach if you are more familiar with SD and want a change. I lived in Seal for a while in my early 20's and it's a laid back, cool vibe. Sunset has a ton of cool bars and restaurants if you're into that. Plus you're close to Huntington if you want to pop over there.
milsaroo - I say go got it. You have time to save up for baby during the pregnancy and it seems like everything else is in order. A little time together before a baby seems like a nice idea to me.
crashgizmo - I say if you're going to do it, it should be done right the first time. So it seems like option 2 is the way to go. You seem to have enough money left over each month to replenish the house fund/e-fund within a few months. Enjoy your new outdoor living space. (And remember to continue adding to retirement!)
milsaroo - SQUEEE!!! Fingers crossed for you. If it does happen this summer, then yes to the trip for some time together before life changes
ETA: Again, this is coming from my "Life is to be lived" state of mind lately. I don't endorse going into debt, but it doesn't sound like that is the case. So enjoy!
I am considering getting a keratin treatment for the first time ($250) along with a haircut ($50-60). I have an extra $750 this month from overtime and working on another project, but I could be responsible and save the money for a summer vacation I want to take in June/July. Or throw it towards SL/EF/retirement, as always (currently 50+% of my income goes towards debt/saving.)
Aside from the money, I'm nervous about whether the treatment will work, since I got my hair some sort of chemically de-frizzed when I was 18, which lasted for about a day and was a total waste. But maybe hair treatments technology has improved since then? My hair takes SO LONG to do and it drives me crazy!
Keratin treatments are my jam. Seriously life changing. And I baby mine (only use correct shampoo wash only every 3-4 days ) and they last 6 months. Go for it!
I really want to Reno my house ($40k). We've spent almost nothing on the house since we moved in 8 years ago. Maybe $2000 over that entire period. What do I need to make this decision?
I don't have a "can I afford this" question because I have money already set aside but my issue is what beach in SoCal to stay near. I live in SoCal so it would only be a long weekend thing. I am one of those people that sticks to what they know and haven't explored many beaches. I know all the big ones but I know there's those diamonds out there.
Dana Point! It's my favorite beach ever and from where you are it's a pretty drive on Ortega Highway too!
They keep finding dead bodies there! Or there's bad crashes. Are you wishing me dead? I've actually never take the Ortega.
We just bought a new house and the backyard is basically a blank slate. DH has designed two options for us. Option 1 is a 10x12 deck, plants and rock throughout, and a new patio set. Total would be $2.5K. Option 2 is everything in option 1, but also pouring a concrete pad on a lower level than the deck to create a different living area. This spot would include an outdoor couch set, fire pit, and waterfall/feature of some kind. This option would be $5.5K.
The outdoor space is really important to us, we live in Southern CA and can use it nearly year round. The living space inside our house is on the smaller side and this is what we see as our entertainment area.
[
We have option 2 and love it. Definitely option 2.
Keratin treatments are my jam. Seriously life changing. And I baby mine (only use correct shampoo wash only every 3-4 days ) and they last 6 months. Go for it!
What kind of shampoo do you use to wash it? No sulfates?
Post by delawarejen on May 15, 2015 11:58:43 GMT -5
Update: The appraisal came back in on the house. It appraised, but not by much of a margin. I probably should have negotiated a little, but I felt that it was priced to sell so I didn't necessarily want to quibble over 2 or 3 thousand when I offered. Now on to the inspection! (If something does come up there, I will be negotiating on that. Given the age of the house I'm expecting mostly original systems, so I won't be shocked if they say something's near the end of its life.) I did find it funny that all of the 30ish properties that made up the overall recent market required seller's assistance. That's because I'm a second-time buyer in an area that's mostly first-time buyers.
crashgizmo option 2! I am of the opinion of doing something right the first time so you don't kick yourself when you inevitably have to spend more time and money finishing it how you like. BUT that will mostly deplete your "house savings" so I only approve of this plan if you have no other projects you will want to do on the rest of the house until you can build it back up again.
milsaroo, I would find a way to do it. Especially if the other stuff happens! steppenwolf, I know nothing about Keratin. Would you have to keep doing it? Or could you do it once, then decide not to do anymore? It sounds like a fun splurge.
crashgizmo, you can definitely afford it and I would do #2. Sounds amazing.
@gingerbb, I haven’t done a major reno before, but I would look at how long you plan to stay in the house, how much it will REALLY cost (since they notoriously go over budget) and if you will need to move out of your house while it is done and what that will cost. I would then save toward that number. Paging @shoegal for better advice
What kind of shampoo do you use to wash it? No sulfates?
I do Coppola treatments so I use their specially formulated shampoo and conditioners. To make it more MM I discovered bed bath and beyond sells it in liters. I have long hair and two years later I am still using the same liters.
crashgizmo, with that kind of excess to up your e-fund, I'd do #2! Though I'd split between upping your efund to 6 months and upping retirement.
That's what I was thinking too. But I don't think we have another true retirement option, other than a traditional IRA? We are maxing HSA and 401K/403B and can't do a roth. So my thought was just to finish up the e-fund and then do some traditional investments. That's the route we were going before we decided to be crazy and buy a house in LA.
crashgizmo option 2! I am of the opinion of doing something right the first time so you don't kick yourself when you inevitably have to spend more time and money finishing it how you like. BUT that will mostly deplete your "house savings" so I only approve of this plan if you have no other projects you will want to do on the rest of the house until you can build it back up again.
We don't have any major projects after the backyard- the pantry that we finished last month was the other big one. Anything else can be cash flowed.
I don't have a "can I afford this" question because I have money already set aside but my issue is what beach in SoCal to stay near. I live in SoCal so it would only be a long weekend thing. I am one of those people that sticks to what they know and haven't explored many beaches. I know all the big ones but I know there's those diamonds out there.
Dana Point! It's my favorite beach ever and from where you are it's a pretty drive on Ortega Highway too!
Oooh can I change my vote to this? I don't know exactly where you're coming from, but if you can do the ortega highway drive and do San Clemente/Dana Point I vote for that.
Post by kittenponypony on May 15, 2015 13:01:29 GMT -5
konapoppy (this is my second account since I forgot the password for my other one) I think it gradually fades over the span of 2-6 months. So it's not like I would get locked into it if I didn't like the results, I think