I’m a nut for buying crappy, used guns. All I see is an opportunity to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. I’m like that with many used goods. “What can I do with this thing?!”

Dialed it in a bit. Now I stop and think total cost of ownership. And that can be applied to many purchases. I’ll talk guns, but keep other sorts of items in mind.

How much will the initial spend really cost? Taxes, fees, shipping, etc.? Was looking at a $105 shotgun just now. Total delivered cost? $150 or so. Yeah, not such a deal with that in mind.

What do I need to go with it? Ammo I don’t have? Scope/sights? Sandpaper and stain? Sling? Butt stock pad? What will I spend to get this gun where I want it?

Bought a new, single-shot, 12-gauge Hatfield shotgun off guns.com. $129.99! I can do that! Taxes and shipping, another $20. FFL fee, another $20. Red dot sight with mount, another $130 (stupid cheap, but believe it or not, it’s quality). Strap and shotshell holder I made from spare parts I already had, still, another $25 bought new. American flag patch nailed upside down? $2. None of this includes cleaning and oiling supplies. A $130 shotgun cost me $327. Not adding anything for stain and sandpaper and such. Also, added a butt pad I already owned. Call it $350 and several nights of work. TCO was 2.7x the initial price.

So that’s my thoughts. Total Cost of Ownership. Keep it in mind.

I have actually found valid reasons to own a motorcycle:

• any trip on the bike is 60 % less gas than by car

• my occasional commute from rural to city: car needs to be put in a garage for 25 € / 8 hrs. Bike rides up the elevator to the office, free.

• riding saves up the car for the winter, when it’s most needed.

• bike maintenance is cheap and diy-able.

• the pleasure of riding: priceless.

That’s what Xmas is for. Being asked what I want by family is frustrating because I don’t really want things, and few things I do, I just buy.

So anything I might like but can’t justify buying goes into the Xmas list for other’s to buy.

You work your whole life to be able to afford a little frivolity. If you’re just going to stand in your own way to deny yourself all but the essentials, that’s no way to live.

I ask myself: can I afford it? Do I already have something similar? Do I see myself using it often? That last question is where you need to be honest with yourself, because it’s easy to find yourself neglecting a new purchase after the initial excitement wears off.

Depending on what the item is, you can sample or borrow/rent it to see if it sticks. You can also set a “waiting period” for yourself, and buy it if you still want it after that period ends. Sometimes the craving passes by then.

You have to find pleasures in life too, so if you can fit it into your budget and think you will get good use out of it, why not get it?

You have a nice day/night too!

I usually go with “Third time’s a charm”

If I think about wanting it once, I tell myself not to do anything rash.

The next time I think about wanting it (at least a day after the first time) I research, look at prices, get an idea of what I’m looking for and what models would work best for me.

The third time, I dig out the research I did before, check to see if prices have changed, and if I have the money available, I’ll probably do it.

Self enforced waiting periods have talked me out of a lot of impulse buys that I probably would have regretted.

There is no need to justify anything. It is your money.

If you can afford it and it’s something you think you’ll enjoy, go for it. In the case of a motorcycle or similar item, make sure you can also afford insurance, maintenance, etc.

A friend of mine retired and later told me he has too much money saved and he wished he had spent it more when he was younger.

Budgets (formal or informal)!

• Have I covered all of my expenses? Yes.
• Have I properly funded my savings (retirement, emergency fund, other savings goals)? Yes.
• Do I have money left over? Yes!

Permission to spend granted!

Further before I buy something I’ll write it down on a list and essentially not buy it for a period of time (7 days? 30 days, a year?). I’ll come back to that list and gauge my interest again. Many, MANY times (most?) I don’t care about the thing anymore so I don’t spend the money.

Then I’ll usually try to get the cheaper version (possibly used) of the thing first to make sure it still holds my interest in using it before I would justify buying the more expensive one. So many times the cheaper version does everything I need and I never need to buy the expensive version. When I do exceed the capabilities of the cheap version, and it is still holding my interest, I can then justify spending on the expensive (new?) version. Example: I wanted a bicycle to ride around the neighborhood for fitness and enjoyment. I looked at higher end brands and models, but first I bought a $200 Big Box Store Schwinn. I’m still using that same bicycle 6 years later with no need to replace it. One note, about two years into ownership I took it to an actual bicycle store for a tune up. The cost was about $80, I think. I wish I had done that on day 1! The bike’s brakes worked much better and the gear shifting were MUCH improved! Prior to the service, I would regularly have the chain come off from bad shifts. The last time that happened was 3 years ago prior to the service.

Do I have the money ?

yes

Do I need to pay for something else with that money ?

no

Will I enjoy that new thing ?

yes

Let’s buy it

I don’t usually do it, so when I do it it means that I really like that thing.

I make a simple calculation:

I divide X money over Y time.

I enjoy photography, and bough a fancy camera with a bonus at my last job.

In total I have probably spent 30k SEK on the camera and lenses, I bought it in early 2023, so let’s say that I have had a year and a half to enjoy it, that is 18 months

30k/18months is about 1.7k/month so far, and in return I got thousands of photos, some of which can be found here:

https://metapixl.com/Stoy

Don’t overthink it. Life is too short.

I give myself an allowance, just like when I was a kid. Whatever I spend it on is guilt free.