What’s a purchase Younger You would have sticker shock at?

[fangoriagurkel]

My Valentine’s Day gift to myself was a Drybar Lemon Drop hairbrush and while it’s my new favorite thing (I purchased it about one week ago and it was low key life changing for wet, coarse hair) , the thought of spending $20-ish on a hairbrush is kind of nuts to me!

What is someone simple (or complicated) what Younger You would be shocked and appalled that you spent money on?

[mofongo]

Good wines/champagnes

[fangoriagurkel]

Oh yeah, I also paid roughly $18 for the plainest butter dish that Pottery Barn had in stock (because I had zero patience for online shopping) and Younger Me would reminded myself that butter came in wax paper AKA it’s own dish.

[VillainV]

Younger me would have NEVER paid $90 for jeans. Older me appreciates something that fits me well and will last years and years.

[mrsukyankee]

If it was in my early 20s, then everything. I was struggling with finding a job (early 90s) and was attempting to live in N. Jersey (expensive rent), so I spent very little money on anything. I think I lived on cereal, popcorn and pasta for a few years, and shopped at Goodwill for most of my clothing.

[sent]

Lots of things, but one example is that pre-kid me always diligently bought Ben & Jerry's ice cream only if it was on sale, $2.88 at Shop Rite.

Yesterday I paid $6.29 for a pint because my toddler needed his Chocolate Therapy. And I needed him to stop borderline tantruming about how we ran out because he ate all of it. I suspect my husband or DD may have also ate some it because it seems like the previous pint ran out very quickly. DS only eats a few spoons at a time, but no one is confessing to treating themselves to some Chocolate Therapy.

[4speedy]

Really nice skin care. I didn’t spend a lot of money on it until I hit about 40 but now I don;t bat an eye at $200 eye cream.

[UMaineTeach]

I’m finding the opposite. Older me is surprised at how much ten years ago me spent on bags, shoes, and makeup for it all to collect dust now.

And our $80-90 French press. It’s a tiny ceramic pitcher people.

Going through your Amazon purchases and being like what?


Younger me wouldn’t have bought the $7 box of ten protein waffles. The $4 store brand eggos would be just fine. Making a habit of actual maple syrup, no.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Feb 13, 2023 6:04:20 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I’m finding the opposite.

Me too. In my 20’s I made significantly less, but thought nothing of spending some of it on myself. Now, with a mortgage and two kids, I have a much harder time justifying purchases that I don’t really need.

[ssmjlm]

I spent a lot on clothes and shoes just to have a rotation of things. I re-wear a lot more now than when I was younger.

I'm still pretty cheap about food and wine. It's not my thing.

I shop a lot more secondhand. Not sure younger me would be into that as much, unless you count used textbooks to save $$$. But also, it's a lot easier with online facebook groups for brands and websites for that purpose. I still don't have great luck in person at places like goodwill or clothes mentor.

ETA: Younger me would have flipped about the cost of DH's truck (older me wasn't too happy either). 

[gummybear]

Windows. WTF.

[mpm]

Feb 13, 2023 7:21:32 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Windows. WTF.

Older me had sticker shock at that too recently. 😬 Basically all things homeowner-related.

[jobae1234]

My patio cost about 18k. I knew from life experience that that was standard by the time I was paying it, but it took me years to get to that place. It’s stones. In the ground.

[sju]

iPhone

[abs]

Feb 13, 2023 6:57:57 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

Feb 13, 2023 6:04:20 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I’m finding the opposite.

Me too. In my 20’s I made significantly less, but thought nothing of spending some of it on myself. Now, with a mortgage and two kids, I have a much harder time justifying purchases that I don’t really need.

Same.  In my 20's I thought nothing of buying nice bags, new clothes as a pick me up, whatever I wanted.  Now I have to convince myself it's okay to splurge on something for myself even when I really need it.

I guess I would say I am surprised by how much OTC medications are.  Between allergy meds, Advil, and vitamins we spend a lot on these items that I never thought about when I was younger.

[aspentosh]

Quality clothes. I am currently looking at a rain jacket that retails for $225 and considering it. Same with workout gear. I basically only wear Athleta and Lululemon because they last me years!

I'm the opposite in other ways- hair, nails, eating out regularly.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

Feb 13, 2023 7:45:49 GMT -5 abs said:

Feb 13, 2023 6:57:57 GMT -5 W.T.Faulkner said:

Me too. In my 20’s I made significantly less, but thought nothing of spending some of it on myself. Now, with a mortgage and two kids, I have a much harder time justifying purchases that I don’t really need.

I guess I would say I am surprised by how much OTC medications are.  Between allergy meds, Advil, and vitamins we spend a lot on these items that I never thought about when I was younger.

OMG i'm so expensive to keep alive and functioning and somewhat happy!

[rubytue]

Feb 13, 2023 7:33:44 GMT -5 jobae1234 said:

My patio cost about 18k. I knew from life experience that that was standard by the time I was paying it, but it took me years to get to that place. It’s stones. In the ground.

Ugh. I need to do this. (Un)luckily I’m married to younger me who will not pay for something he can do. (Un)fortunately, that is mostly everything my gas pipe work. So, it goes on his schedule.

I managed to get one bid for tile work, and he flipped at the cost ($4k for two projects). So he did it. And a good job at it.  But sometimes, I just want to hire someone. 

I think I’m stuck on the cost of cars. I’ve gone through 6 (maybe 7) cars in my driving career. I was under $20k until the last two, which were $26k and $28k, new. But, I really want an EV next, and they start at $50k. 

[rubytue]

Oh, the other thing is shoes. Younger me thought nothing of Payless or Target shoes. Now, I’m not sure I have a pair that cost less that $80. And my arches love me for it.

[brooklyn]

Younger me never would have guessed we’d buy a $$$ house in the suburbs. And totally would have died at landscaping costs.

[starburst604]

Definitely my car payment.

[fivechickens]

A salad spinner. WTF are salad spinners so damn expensive??? It spins lettuce.

I mean, this is really a sticker shock now but my 20 year old self would have laughed at my 50 year old self wanting a salad spinner.

[shauni27]

Feb 13, 2023 4:08:26 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Younger me would have NEVER paid $90 for jeans. Older me appreciates something that fits me well and will last years and years.

Like others, I am the opposite. In college and my early twenties I just would regularly buy jeans that were $200. My closet was worth thousands of dollars just for the denim, lol. And fancy shoes. 

Now I am so cheap because I rarely find myself worth splurging on. I spend it on my kid and the house.

[eddy]

Feb 13, 2023 7:21:32 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Windows. WTF.

Currently quoting out windows so, same lol.

[katiecj6]

Good quality furniture.

Then I buy cheaper stuff that is crap and get annoyed when it doesn't last.

My nightstands are practically falling apart, but I don't want to spend money on new ones.

[stemmie]

I have become less acquisitive and less influenced by trends with age.

I am appalled by the amount of property taxes I pay and the cost of certain prescription medications.

[abs]

Feb 13, 2023 8:42:57 GMT -5 katiecj6 said:

Good quality furniture.

Then I buy cheaper stuff that is crap and get annoyed when it doesn't last.

My nightstands are practically falling apart, but I don't want to spend money on new ones.

Oh yeah.  Furniture, too.  Our couch is 14 years old and way past needing replacement.  It is still comfortable to sit on but the top is sloping.  One side is higher than the other by a good 3 inches.  A good quality couch is the same price as a nice beach vacation though and I prioritize travel every single time.

[sonrisa]

Housing.

[livinitup]

Hotels. My younger self compared prices of hostels and stocked up on free breakfast bread before touring a new city on foot. (I do still appreciate and love a free breakfast.)

[flygirl]

Lots of things-clothes, furniture, shoes but the biggest one is houses. I remember I was going to buy a townhouse and qualified for $85K and the one I wanted was $93k so I didn’t buy. Our addition and deck alone was $50k 2 years ago.