Saturday, December 2, 2017

What's worth the splurge in our book

HALLIE EPHRON: Confession: I drink day-old coffee. Warmed up with a ton of milk I cannot tell the difference between it and fresh-brewed.

Confession: Most expensive wines are wasted on me. Foodie that I am, I cannot tell the difference between an $7 bottle of what Rumpole called Chateau Thames Embankment and a $50 bottle of limited production red zin. I do draw the line at Two Buck Chuck.

Vodka. The cheap stuff tastes fine, and besides, I usually drown it in fruit juice and load it with ice. 

There are exceptions to this. Chocolate for instance. Yes, I can tell the difference between Nestles and Hersheys and Ghiradelli, but the real way to my heart is through Burdicks, a chocolatier in Harvard Square. 

And sheets. Luxury matters when it comes to sheets. After all, you spend more than a third of your life in them. (And a third of your monthly income ON them.)

So what, in your book, are luxuries worth paying for? And what are you just as happy going with day-old and bargain brand?

LUCY BURDETTE: Food of course! though I'm talking about ingredients that I cook with rather than expensive dinners out. It sticks in my craw to pay too much for a fancy meal when I prefer something homey. 

Ever since I've had to watch my sodium intake, I've been on the lookout for products that add enough flavor to make up for the missing salt. Here are a few that I gladly splurge on: Kozlik's Amazing Maple mustard, The Backyard Food Company's Wholly Jalapeno (candied jalapenos,) maple syrup, Villa Manodori organic balsamic vinegar (no comparison to supermarket stuff--it's thick and sweet and delicious.) Oh, and I order my pasta from Eataly (again, no comparison.) 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I love that balsamic vinegar, Lucy! We have it, too. Ah, wine, yeah, I can tell, usually. And there's nothing like fabulous red wine. It's an entirely different experience.  I can't drink the truly cheap stuff--I get a headache instantly.  Cheap vodka, too, my body knows right away.  And rebels.

And yes, sheets. No scratchy sheets. 

And: shoes. Bad quality shoes really hurt, and that's a trade-off that's not worth it. So I have good shoes. 

But I have t-shirts from the Gap and JCrew, perfectly fine. I do think you can tell quality in clothing, and beautiful design and construction and fabric, but there's the point where it can't actually be any better and you're paying for just a label.  

Oh, a good hotel. Definitely. A bad hotel is terrifying.  

I have splurged on Jo Malone Grapefruit shower gel. And Wolford tights. Ridiculously expensive, but they truly are indestructible. 

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Hank, we have a legendary family story about my mother booking a super cheap hotel outside of DC when she and one of my aunts were coming to visit the family. You have to picture two well dressed, very respectable ladies of a certain age, with luggage. Their taxi let them out at a ratty motel between a shabby strip mall and a liquor store (this was before you could look online and see dozens of pictures of the place prior to making reservations.) The receptionist looks like a drug seller. There are sketchy people hanging around the lounge. They get to their room - and it's awful. The sheets are dirty and the bed isn't made! There's lipstick on the water glass! They realize the room usually rents by the hour, not the day.

They called my brother and sat on their luggage, with the door locked and chained, until he came to rescue them.

So I agree - good hotels. 

I'm also a wine person. You really don't have to spend a fortune for a good bottle - there's a place I go to in Portland that has a fantastic selection and very well-informed staffers. I've walked out with a box of bottles all under $10 and loved every one. 

Not so much of a splurge as a necessity: I only buy name brand dishwasher detergent (actually pods), dishwashing liquid and trash bags. The cheap stuff simply costs more in the end because you have to use so much of it (or your garbage spills in the kitchen floor when you're taking the bag out!

The luxury I've spent the most on over the past seven years? Good colleges for my kids. Youngest is sending in her applications by the end of this month. Keep your fingers crossed!

LUCY BURDETTE: I forgot what might be the most important thing--buying books in real bookstores! I want them around forever, so it's totally worth a few extra dollars to me.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, I agree about the food and wine. And like Lucy, I don't mean eating out food (although a very occasional splurge on a REALLY good restaurant I consider one of life's big treats.) But I will spend the money on good quality ingredients, and I can tell the difference between cheap and more expensive wine. 

Good quality tea is on my list--I buy loose leaf from an online company. Sheets and towels, yes. I hate cheap towels even more than cheap sheets!

On the less glam side, I have to add good toilet paper and good paper towels!

INGRID THOFT: Travel is a big category for me in terms of choosing to pay a premium.  For example, I always pay more for a non-stop flight.  Ultimately, it saves time, aggravation, and even money if you end up stranded in Chicago in the dead of winter and have to spend the night in a hotel (a hotel for which the airline won’t reimburse you—“Act of God” and all that.)  

I’ll pay a lot to avoid taking red eye flights, which I absolutely hate because I never sleep and end up feeling cruddy for at least a day after arrival.  

When I’m not traveling, I spend money on meals in Seattle’s fabulous restaurants.  Given my general disinterest in cooking, I’m more than happy to pay someone else to work magic with their fancy ingredients!

HANK: Oh, you are so right, Ingrid. Non-stop, upgrades, extra leg room, priority boarding. Must have. And red eyes? Not any more! They seem like an efficient thing, but they are actually the opposite.

JENN McKINLAY: Ingrid, I'm with you on the non-stop flights. And I agree with everyone about soft sheets - a must! I'm not an informed wine drinker but I will pay extra for a really good beer. And coffee. I pay dearly for good coffee from Cartel Coffee Lab, because it's also about profit sharing with the farmers, which is pretty cool. 

Julia, I haven't hit the college costs yet, but I have paid a small fortune for the hooligans to try every sport, instrument, art, and robotics class under the sun, which is quite a luxury when you tally the cost. And lastly, theater tickets. I will pay a small fortune for the good seats to a show I really want to see. I've discovered that rows three to seven in the center are the sweet spot for me and I refuse to sit anywhere else. 

RHYS BOWEN:I love to travel. We take a trip to Europe every summer, but we hardly ever stay at luxurious hotels (although we did last year!) In fact I enjoy renting an apartment or cottage and sitting on my balcony with my morning croissant. 

My indispensable luxury these days is flying business or first. I can tolerate coach for two hours, but even then I like to be in economy plus at the front, but cross country or across the Atlantic and I think the ability to stretch out is worth every penny. 

I don't need very fancy hotels (and sometimes the publisher puts us in ridiculously boutique places with antiques or weird paintings on the walls) but I do need clean, safe, comfortable. I love Marriott beds! In fact I loved them so much that I bought one. 

Occasionally I enjoy a good meal out, but more often than not I am disappointed and we leave muttering that we could have cooked it better at home. 

John does the shopping and splurges on crab legs, lobster tails or rack of lamb, all of which are very nice.(but perplexing as he will drive miles to save fifty cents on some vegetable!  

I enjoy a good bottle of wine, but truthfully I can't tell the difference between $14 and $40! 

Luxury clothes? Not so much. I love snagging a favorite brand in a sale. And like Jenn, it is a huge treat for me to go to the theater or opera or ballet. 

HALLIE: So what about everyone else out there? What's splurges are worth taking? Santa might be listening...

76 comments:

  1. Don’t look at me for those ultra-expensive “name” purses, bags, and outfits. For me, they’re definitely not worth the expense.

    I agree with Julia about the dishwashing liquid/dishwasher pods and trash bags. Shampoo, too.

    Must-splurge on . . . books . . . pencils and writing paper . . . good food / cooking ingredients . . . coffee beans . . . dark chocolate . . .
    I’ll also splurge on things for the grandchildren . . . .

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    1. Oh, the grandchildren... I'm with you on that, Joan.

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    2. Oh, and my hairdresser went on a rant this week about cheap shampoo--I'm there with you Joan!

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    3. Pencils! Blackwings are so worth it!

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    4. Blackwings . . . Best Pencils Ever

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    5. What is this mysterious Blackwings?

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    6. Just ordered some. Very excited. I love pencils!

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  2. Like Lucy/Roberta, Hank, Joan mentioned, I love spluring on good food ingredients. Really good whole bean coffee which I grind each morning for my daily brew. I currently use Kicking Horse Coffee (from British Columbia). Good artisan chocolate.

    Since I walk A LOT (when I am mobile, ha ha), good quality running and walking shoes are essential. I generally wear them out in 2-3 months.

    And while I do love to travel, I do not splurge on first class travel on flights or hotels. Just the basic essentials are fine with me there.

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    1. Great name for a coffee Grace! How is your recuperation coming along?

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    2. Lucy, yes the Kicking Horse Coffee is Canada's largest organic free-trade roastery and processing company. The coffee beans I buy are KICK ASS or 454 HORSE POWER...again, fun names. It's so popular that it just got bought out by Italy's Lavazza coffee. Hope that does not affect its brand at all.

      And thanks for asking, but nothing new to report. It is 2 weeks since surgery and I will be immobile in this cast and crutches until the New Year. Not sleeping well, so I am back to my pre-dawn schedule, and thus able to post my comments on JRW right after Joan, as before.

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    3. Joan, I'm convinced you're a vampire. How do you manage your bright and early posts? :-)

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    4. Generally, I don’t seem to need a great deal of sleep and since I’ve never managed to figure out how that “roll over and go back to sleep” thing works, once I wake up, that’s it . . . .

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  3. Well, I don't travel so I don't have to worry about hotels, airplanes and the like.

    I fall asleep at the drop of a hat these days so sheets aren't my thing.

    I'm not impressed by clothes so I buy just plain old regular clothes and even hit the factory outlet store in my area. Shoes aren't a worry for me really, I have a pair of dress shoes should I be unable to get out of a formal event. Otherwise I wear sneakers. While I do buy Nike usually, it is just the usual kinds you find in JC Penny or other department stores, I don't buy those 200 dollar pairs.

    I usually splurge when I go to a comic convention, buying autographs and photos sometimes with the actors or actresses I like. But I didn't even go to a convention this year so no splurging there.

    I did splurge on buying an Iron Maiden concert ticket so that I could have a better than usual but still not front row seat for the show I went to back in July.

    I bought my first ever VIP meet and greet concert package to see Udo Dirkschneider in April 2018. This is something I've never done before and I don't know if it really counts as a splurge since I did buy it for 50% off over Thanksgiving weekend.

    I guess the only thing I really splurge on these days is books. Not fancy first editions, just an accumulation of books that I hope that I am purchasing the time to read them at some point as well.

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  4. Hallie - I'm microwaving coffee as I type and happily drink $10 bottles of wine, but probably go overboard on Chanel face creams and long-flight upgrades anytime I can. And hardbacks!

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    1. Yes—so interesting how we get convinced by certain face stuff! Must use what we love!

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  5. Shampoo from the hair cutter. I know it's over-priced but my hair looks thicker and shines.

    Julia, we lived in Atlanta when the older two were in college. Yes, they could have attended UGA or Tech tuition-free, but used partial merit scholarships at private universities instead. A long haul getting the three educated, but worth it.

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    1. I got the shampoo at the haircutter, too... and it's terrific, though it never looks as good as when he's finished with it.

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    2. Oh, Hallie, ain't it the truth! Nothing I can do looks a good as the simple wash/cut/dry by a pro.

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  6. I am absolutely a coffee snob - Hallie, I'm cringing! ;-) I do also generally prefer cooking to restaurants for spending and being left over dinners for lunch at work. And I am a tech junky, so I spend $$$ on things like the faster laptop (and yes, did just get an iphone X)....however, I am originally from NJ and my grandmother taught me to shop-so although I often like things with a higher price tag I almost ALWAYS find them on a good sale!!

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    1. iPhone X!!! I use an iPhone OLD ... What's great in the new one?

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    2. Well, I have to admit the facial i.d. is pretty cool even though I didn't think I cared. The camera is much better and adds portrait modes, and plays video in HD or higher. The chip is fast! (One reason I got a new phone was that my 3 year old iphone 6 was freezing, not holding a charge and doing weird things with apps. It also has no home button, so the screen is as large as the screen on the big iphone plus, but the actual phone is not so you can function with one hand. The screen goes edge to edge. When will I see you? I'll let you play with it :-)

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  7. Hallie, I laughed out loud , when about sheets, you wrote: and a third of our monthly income on them. I work in accounting and never thought of that.
    I splurge on good breads from artisanal bakery and it is not a luxury, they are good for health and they are so yummy.
    About travels, economy class will do and I don't need the best hotel but I like to be in the heart of things. Hate wasting time going to or from places. That's why I splurged on the Sheraton at Bouchercon this year and on an hotel a half-street from Times Square last year : to be near the action.

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    1. I agree on being near the action, Danielle. It's worth it not having to trek across town between events and your bed!

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  8. Travel - I will pay extra for non-stop and economy plus seats, but I recently discovered my love of sitting in First Class. I'm willing to pay extra for the comfort, the priority boarding, and dining on real plates and glasses. This is the one of the only times that I'm pampered.

    I'll splurge on electronics and I prefer reputable hotels - yes, it's that pampered thing. Since I don't cook, I love splurging on restaurants. I want an iPhone X.

    -Dru

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    1. I flew first class once. Recently. And it was amazing. But seriously? EXPENSIVE! I'd rather save it for one of Jenn's fourth row center theatre seats.

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    2. I am with Hallie. I have flown first class to Asia and it was nice but way too pricey for my budget. If they (airline or hotel) offered me a free upgrade at check-in, I would not turn it down, but can live without it. Never stay at convention hotel. The money saved each night would be spent on more BOOKS!

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  9. I'm with you on beer, Jenn! I buy good stuff, not that carbonated water being passed off as beer. As for wine, we belonged to a wine club when we lived in Minnesota. It was great fun. We tasted a wide variety with a wide range of prices. Expensive does not mean good. I can easily find good-tasting wine under $10, so why splurge on the spendy stuff? We're not splurging on much these days. Our house repairs have killed that. I did order a new iphone8 as my 5c (probably stands for cheaper) is getting wonky. But my phone service lets me pay over time without charging interest so I guess that is a splurge only because I bought it before absolutely necessary.

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    1. Can I just say, on a hot day, sweaty from the garden, an ice-cold Bud IS a luxury.

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  10. You've hit the big ones for me: quality ingredients, tea (I especially started noticing a difference when I cut sweetener out, cheap tea is so bitter!), sheets, towels, dishwasher tabs, garbage bags and direct airline flights. I will add a ridiculous item: ketchup. It must be Heinz. Don't bother me with no-name ketchup!

    Our biggest splurge in recent memory is education. Both kids have gone to private schools since kindergarten (because of the low performance standards of our local public schools and other things). We are spending the money on high school and it shows. The Girl is expecting her decision from Barnard College in a couple weeks, so the spending isn't going to stop for another few years.

    Mary/Liz

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    1. Ketchup! It's the only down side of eating in France. They do not know from ketchup.

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    2. Yes, Mary, I don't sweeten my tea and you can tell a big difference. I order English Tea Store brand Earl Grey, which is wonderful, but I think my very favorite is Earl Grey from Whittard's in London. Unfortunately, they don't ship:-(

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    3. Good luck to your daughter Mary!

      Re Ketchup, Stonewall Kitchens has a country ketchup that stands head and shoulders above heinz, with much less salt. Splurge!

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    4. Lucy, I've never heard of Stonewall Kitchens. I'll have to look it up.

      Debs, I bought (splurged, kinda) on English Breakfast from Teavana, my "go-to" in the mornings. Earl Grey is an afternoon treat for me. Surprisingly, the 4oz of Teavana lasted almost a month and a half (I limit myself to 2 cups a day) and that's if I used new leaves with each steep. It does a very good second steep, too. I'm going to compare it with my usual and see if I can justify the expense. =)

      Mary/Liz

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  11. Danielle-momo, I'm so sorry to have missed meeting you at Bouchercon! I wish we'd had a JRW meetup there. I ended up staying at the hotel, too, for a couple of nights (my local host was called to Buffalo to help her mother after a bad fall), and I'll be doing that again.

    We don't eat a lot of bread here, but when we do it's very good bread, either from a local bakery or homemade by me. After my first visit to Europe I could no longer tolerate bread made with so much sugar or corn syrup.

    Good cheese--never again the sliced cheese food in individual plastic wraps. There are so many amazing and delicious cheeses, why settle for mushed chemicals?

    Good olive oil. Friends in California have a grove, and for the last few years we've gotten several bottles of their excellent virgin oil. If we run out there is a local vendor whose family bottles oil in their home area in Greece. There is nothing like that peppery taste of really great oil.

    Sheets! Yes. Several years ago I found a set at Target, of all places, of 1000-count all-cotton sheets, for $100. Queen-sized. They were on the end cap, clearly on sale because the product was unlike most of the merchandise you expect at Target. OMG, heaven. I wish I'd bought more, but when I went back, they were all gone. Naturally, they spoiled me for lesser bed linens. Every now and again you can find good bargains at Macy's, just saying.

    Be wary, though: linen counts are tricky. If it says "800-count sateen", it's actually a 400-count sheet. The counts are made of the fabric threads that make up one square-inch. (Side note: when I studied Fingerprinting in college, we used linen counter magnifiers to count arches, loops and whorls.) The higher the count, the smoother and thicker the fabric. Cotton makes the difference, too: a high thread count with cotton and polyester is not nearly as comfortable, although it will wrinkle less. But the higher the count, the fewer the wrinkles, too.

    The only hair product I use is Dove Moisturizing Shampoo (except when I travel), but I insist on high-quality lotions, for body and face. A holistic healer taught me to avoid any product with petroleum products like petrolatum and mineral oil, and I've been healthier for it.

    Lucy and Rhys, I'm with you on restaurant food! It's so disappointing to spend gobs of money on a meal that you could have made so much better, and with healthier ingredients. We went to a place over Thanksgiving with the whole family, and was shocked at the cost, for some mighty pretentious food and drinks. Three scallops in a tablespoon of mushed black beans, with three halved, deep-fried Brussels sprouts: $24. Uh, no. It was good, but geez, Marie.

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    1. OMG, a JRW meetup! GREAT IDEA. I'm not going to Malice but y'all should do it then.

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    2. I'm with you on the cheese and the olive oil, Karen! And that's fascinating about the sheets. I only buy all cotton but have never found 1000 count sheets!

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    3. I would have liked to meet you too Karen and a JRW meetup would be a great idea for the next one.
      I'm with you for cheeses, better to eat less but good ones.

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  12. I don't travel often, but when I do I want to make the whole experience a joy. I can handle economy seats on the plane, but I prefer non-stop, and I'll upgrade if I can. And I'll rent a nice car when I get there--not a boat, but not a tiny little tuna can, either. I'll drive my nice car to a nice hotel. If it's only a short stay, I'll splurge for a luxury hotel--the sort of place where I'd like to spend time as part of the experience, not just a place to sleep.

    And I will splurge for concert tickets. I've been known to travel a thousand miles or more, just to spend a few days in a new place and catch an artist I want to hear live. A few days in Portland, Oregon, to stay at the Heathman Hotel and hear Mark Knopfler? One of my favorite vacations. The fact that it also included a day at Powell's, and a drive up the Oregon coast in a cute little sports car didn't hurt at all.

    Lately I've begun to splurge on art. I like original creations, and I don't mind paying to commission pieces I want. I just got a fabulous hand-painted table for my breakfast nook, and am currently trying to figure out how to install a stained glass piece I commissioned for my entryway sidelight.

    When it comes to everyday stuff, I'll apparently splurge on flooring, since my house came with old carpet and now has lots of serious hardwood. And books. I'll splurge on the hardcover rather than waiting for the paperback or opting for the kindle. It's worth it, at least to me.

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    1. art is my weakness, too. Especially art by friends who are artists. It's a splurge that repays daily.

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    2. Both of my recent pieces are by friends. The stained glass is from a friend I have known since high school, who credits my mom for putting him on his lifetime path. And you're right. I enjoy the pieces and cherish the memories every time I walk by.

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  13. This post got me thinking, Hallie: Where do I put my money? Definitely on writing implements - those Blackwing pencils are fabulous; I'm with Hank on that, for sure. Also, coffee beans for grinding at home. Eggs - organic ones taste better to me. Art supplies - I'm not sure I can ever have enough good-quality coloured pencils. Can I? High thread count sheets - I buy odd lots at Winners - quality at an affordable price, even if the bed doesn't look 100% cohesive when made; it's the comfort that counts, I figure.

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    1. I don't know about Blackwing pencils. Looking up now. I do spend on fountain pens and notebooks and journals--but at least I can deduct as office supplies, lol.

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    2. Funny that I didn't think of journals as something I splurge on. I need all those Ionas, don't I?

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  14. My mom used to say that cheap is too expensive. Paying more for good quality sheets that last longer is good sense.
    I'm definitely with Dru and Rhys - travel is my splurge. And soap - I discovered a woolfat soap in Ireland that sounds weird and is very expensive, but is wonderful. Blackwing pencils? Off to order some!

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    1. Oh, Shari, you will love Blackwings. Medium.
      Let me know!

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  15. Coffee. I drink 1 cup a day, in the morning. So I'm not going to ruin that pleasure with dreck. Even so, I don't buy hugely expensive designer stuff. Just exactly the right blend of beans at Bulk Barn (West Coast Fair Trade Dark mixed with a handful of mocha java). Or, as Grace said, Kicking Horse, when I can get my hands on it.

    I've noticed lately, to my disgust, almost all grocery stores seem to carry only big containers of those tired old brands that were around when I was a kid, or... Coffee Shop brands. Huh? I mean, Tim Horton's is fine when I'm on the highway and need a caffeine fix, but I'm not going to bring it into my home. Nor those single-cup planet-destroyers.

    Sorry, I'm getting rantish.

    YES to just the right writing implements.

    And of course Quilt Fabric.

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    1. Quilt fabric, yes. The cheap stuff is useless for something you put so much time and effort into.

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    2. Just for the record, Susan, Nespresso recyles their pods. You have to send them (it's free) or take them to a store, but I do it. I know I went over to the dark side when I gave in and bought a Nespresso machine, but I LOVE it and don't regret it one bit. I have one cup of espresso in the morning with foamed milk. Heaven. Unless, of course, I'm drinking tea.

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  16. Good quality sheets and towels. And good quality chocolate. I have friends who buy Hershey’s chocolate and can’t understand why I’m spending $7 for a Keep Your Hands Off My Chocolate bar. But I’d rather have a small piece of really good chocolate than a whole bar of bad.

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    1. Good chocolate is worth it, if it's 70% cacao or higher, in particular.

      I've eaten a square a day (okay, sometimes a little more) for over 30 years, and my cholesterol is incredible. The bad numbers are super low, and my doctor said she's never seen such a high good cholesterol number. I credit the dark chocolate.

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  17. I like good soap. Last 20 times longer than the cheap kind that melts away in the soap dish. I also like high-end hand lotion, esp by my kitchen sink. We live in Colorado, so it's dry and lotion is a must. Love traveling biz class or first class when upgraded for free, but we don't have the $$ to do that. We could take several more trips for what it would cost to go first class on a single trip, so that's what we do. We splurge on tix to the symphony and Broadway national tours.

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  18. Well, books of course. And good tea, my one true addiction. I too order it online- too chancy to fine my favorite at a local store. Quality ingredients when cooking- makes a huge difference. Theater always feels like an indulgence at staggering NY prices, even in the cheap seats. And I do sometimes indulge without regrets. The biggest luxury might be convenience and time. A cab to the airport. Some housecleaning help.Recently, some gardening help too, as my joints get less co-operative.When traveling, a modest hotel but in the center of where I want to be. Intangible but so valued.

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    1. Triss, for me it's location over luxury every time when I travel. Oh, and a QUIET room for when I'm there, please.

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  19. I've been lurking on this site for years and this is my first post because this is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've worked hard (and am still working hard) for the money I earn so why not enjoy it while I can? Especially since, in terms of age, I feel as if I'm playing the back nine. I try not to be ridiculous with my money but if there is something I want, I've decided I'm going to get it. When I travel, I like to travel first or business class and stay in luxury hotels. I never skimp on heat or food (although the not skimping on food plan can be a detriment). I buy myself jewelry (not much, but some) because if I wait for someone else to buy it for me, I will be jewelry-less. I am (slightly) embarrassed by my purse habit. That being said, I'm still using my iPhone 5 and can't bring myself to spend the money for an upgrade because my phone works just fine. I was also inordinately proud of recently scoring a dress I wanted for $15 at Macy's. I also wait for books, especially e-books, to go on sale before I buy them. So splurgy on some things and not on others. Although after rereading this, I realize I may have to work until I'm 100.

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    1. Sheila, we're all going to have to work until we're a hundred, especially us writers. And welcome!

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    2. Sheila, you feel like a soul mate. I wonder if I'd ever be rich enough to NOT think before I spend. And you're right about enjoying what you've earned.

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    4. Welcome Sheila! We're so glad to have you here!

      I can't help adding this about books– If you have an author you really love and want to keep writing, buy their book when it comes out from time to time. Those numbers right around publication matter very much to publishers!

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    5. Sheila! SO wonderful to see you here! And yes, nothing like a bargain!

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    6. I should clarify about waiting for books to go on sale. For years I spent full price on books because, books, right? And pre-ordered or bought them when they were released. Until I recently added up the money I spent in one year on books and was shocked. I decided that I could wait a bit and save some money. I'll see how long that lasts.

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  20. Some items on which I don't mind paying a little extra money: tea, coffee, dish detergent, paper towels, plastic wrap, trash bags, extra dark chocolate. The minor increase in my monthly landline phone bill so that I can have caller ID saves me from having to talk to scammers or telemarketers.

    I've compared store brand plain nonfat Greek yogurt to name brand. There is no difference in the taste, and a huge difference in the price, so I stick to store brand. I also usually prefer store brand cold cereal. The ones I like generally tend to have less sugar than their name brand counterparts.

    I'm on the fence about buying organic foods. Most of the ones I've tried had no flavor.

    DebRo

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  21. I realized I have lots of confessions. My last trips, to London and Toronto, I upgraded to Business class. It was so worth it, especially on the long haul flights. But I don't think I could budget to buy the tickets outright.

    We may not splurge much on theater here, although for years I had season tickets to the opera and symphony, but we do splurge on movies. We have an iPic Theater about ten minutes from our house, and it is fabulous. Luxury seating, drinks, and really good food. Such a treat, although we don't do it too often.

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  22. I know I'm probably shouting into the wilderness with iPhone users, but I have a new Samsung Galaxy 8 and it is amazing. Anyone contemplating buying a new phone should at least check them out.

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  23. Wine for sure - and as Julia pointed out, good and expensive are not the same thing - I find the best for my tastes in the $10-$20 range on recommendations from my wine seller. Freshest of veggies, always, and towels - they tend to mean more to me than even sheets. Big, fluffy, thirsty, towels. Sigh...

    Debs, I have and use my iPhone but at the newest prices, I've already decided me when mine finally goes to the big Apple graveyard I'm stretching my wings, glad of the Samsung recommendation.

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    1. Kait, a lot of things they are touting as new for the iPhone were actually first developed by Samsung for the Galaxy. The screen is absolutely amazing. Ditto processing, battery life, AND you can add memory, so lots more storage. The only thing I mind about not having an iPhone is Facetime, but I can do Skype instead.

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  24. Grrrr. I lost my post that I was almost finished with. I hate when that happens. I'll try to recreate some of it.

    Coffee is an essential enjoyment of my life, no generic brands for me. I am reasonable about it and use Dunkin, although I also buy a gourmet coffee, Jamacian Me Crazy, as a special treat. Last trip to Hawaii, I visited the Waialua Old Sugar Mill on the North Shore of Oahu. It is not a working mill, of course. It's a tourist attraction, and I bought some of their coffee, Waialua Coffee, after a tour of coffee trees and explanation of different coffees. In New Orleans last year, I had to buy some New Orleans French Market coffee (recommended by my favorite coffee spot in Nola, Daisy Duke's) and some Cafe du Monde coffee.

    Going out to eat is something I enjoy doing with my friends, and it's very much about atmosphere as well as food. I want a restaurant where I'm not a number. I want a lovely, relaxing time when I eat. I'm not really a good judge of wine, but I have some nice ones I stick with. I do admit that I want the good vodka, please.

    I'm rather stuck on nice hotels, too. I am quite willing to spend more on that. I think my husband could sleep almost anywhere, but I can't. I need a certain amount of pamper in a hotel.

    When I go to a concert, I am rather picky about seats. I will spend more to get what I want there. I do not like floor seating.

    Flying. I am more than willing to pay for extra leg room and/or the comfort plus seating.

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  25. I got some ideas for gifts for my daughters (how expensive are those tights?). I spend $$ on CD audio books --- I have never figured out how to use a digital gadget. I have been buying milk and eggs at the farmers' market ---
    And travel -- mostly to get together with my sister and a few close friends.

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  26. Definitely tea! Deborah, you need to visit Good and Proper Tea on Leather Lane on your next trip to London. They do ship as well! The top layer of my suitcase on my return flight was all tea from G&P. Lovely little shop, with crumpets, too. (A 10 minute walk from Holborn Police Station, where I had to take a photo for my friends, who all agree with Duncan that it's depressingly ugly.)

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    1. Isn't it??? And I have been meaning to get to Good and Proper Tea, so definitely next trip!

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