Pointless Expenses

[ckay87]

What idiotic thing do you hate to spend money on?

Other than gas, that is. I think we can all agree on that one.

I don't think I'm overly frugal, but there are certain things that we need to pay for that I simply find pointless:

Dog license (why????)
Parking

What about you?

 

[Angelhalo]

I love it, but I'm sure most would find it idiotic....my spa pedicures. I get them once a month. With tip its $35. But, for me it's just about the ONLY thing I splurge on so I don't feel bad!

 

[alldiz]

The 75 bucks I need to spend to renew my passport is pissing me off
Kerri

 

[DawnCt1]

Dog licenses are a means to ensure that dogs are vaccinated against rabies. One must present a rabies certificate to renew the license. Also, the reduced fee for neutered dogs is an incentive to spay and neuter.

 

[paintnolish]

Coffee...gas station, Starbuck's, McD...it just tastes better when somebody else makes it!

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

Greeting cards!

Dropped $20 on Father's day cards and walked out of the store with nothing but a small pile of paper that is probably going to get thrown in the garbage. I should make them myself but I am not that crafty and I always wait to the last minute.

 

[MushyMushy]

Fees!

Bank fees, phone fees, hotel room fees, and just about any other fee that companies can hit us with!

 

[missypie]

Drill team practice clothes. DD has drill team practice 5 days a week. For each day they have a different expensive set of practice dance clothes...probably a total of $90 per outfit. They could go to Academy and get soffe shorts and a t-shirt for about $9 an outfit. But no, year after year parents fork over $$$$ without question so all the girls can wear identical practice clothes.

 

[golfgal]

I love it, but I'm sure most would find it idiotic....my spa pedicures. I get them once a month. With tip its $35. But, for me it's just about the ONLY thing I splurge on so I don't feel bad!

I was thinking the same thing--pedicures. My feet get so dried out in the summer my heals crack. The pedicures help that so there is my justification .

I buy books vs going to the library too--I usually re-read books so I like to buy them vs get them from the library.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Greeting cards!

Dropped $20 on Father's day cards and walked out of the store with nothing but a small pile of paper that is probably going to get thrown in the garbage. I should make them myself but I am not that crafty and I always wait to the last minute.

I completely agree about greeting cards being a waste of money. I do make some myself, but my parents have told me that they'd much rather get a phone call ont heir birthdays/anniversaries/etc. than a Hallmark card.

Another one of mine - cut flowers/bouquets. I'd much rather be given a nice houseplant that will alst at least a few years if not indefinitely than a bunch of cut flowers that will wilt and looks crappy within a week. My husband used to occasionally get me flowers for special occasions, but now he has learned that plants are much more appreciated.



OP, I don't think gas is an "idiotic" thing to spend money on b/c for most of us it is a necessity. I would consider an "idiotic" expenditure something that is not a necesity but purely a luxury.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Fees like PP, a variety of taxes, greeting cards, wrapping paper

 

[freckles and boo]

Drill team practice clothes. DD has drill team practice 5 days a week. For each day they have a different expensive set of practice dance clothes...probably a total of $90 per outfit. They could go to Academy and get soffe shorts and a t-shirt for about $9 an outfit. But no, year after year parents fork over $$$$ without question so all the girls can wear identical practice clothes.

Oh my goodness!!! We wore sweats or shorts. If my parents had been confronted with an expense like this drill team would have been out of the question for me. My mom balked at the $40 sweater and $40 dance shoes.

 

[Momvic5]

I hate paying $60 for cable TV when the majority of our TV time is spent on flipping through useless channels or watching the same show over and over on the Disney channel.

 

[ckay87]

I completely agree about greeting cards being a waste of money. I do make some myself, but my parents have told me that they'd much rather get a phone call ont heir birthdays/anniversaries/etc. than a Hallmark card.

Another one of mine - cut flowers/bouquets. I'd much rather be given a nice houseplant that will alst at least a few years if not indefinitely than a bunch of cut flowers that will wilt and looks crappy within a week. My husband used to occasionally get me flowers for special occasions, but now he has learned that plants are much more appreciated.



OP, I don't think gas is an "idiotic" thing to spend money on b/c for most of us it is a necessity. I would consider an "idiotic" expenditure something that is not a necesity but purely a luxury.

Good ones....I completely agree about cards and flowers! It's depressing when the flowers die (to me) and I always hate to throw away those thoughtful cards, but what the heck else do you do with them?

About the gas...yea I know, I'm just pissy right now about it. I'll get over it

 

[Boo'sMom]

I hate paying $60 for cable TV when the majority of our TV time is spent on flipping through useless channels or watching the same show over and over on the Disney channel.

 

[ckay87]

Dog licenses are a means to ensure that dogs are vaccinated against rabies. One must present a rabies certificate to renew the license. Also, the reduced fee for neutered dogs is an incentive to spay and neuter.

That would be nice and I'd be all for that. But not here in PA. I have in my hand a form that asks me about the dog (color, sex). It asks if he's neutered and I get a $2 discount if I say that he is (and he is, btw). Nothing about vaccinations. Actually, I don't think I even need a dog to get a dog license. That's what makes it feel pointless to me.

 

[Todd&Copper]

That would be nice and I'd be all for that. But not here in PA. I have in my hand a form that asks me about the dog (color, sex). It asks if he's neutered and I get a $2 if I say that he is (and he is, btw). Nothing about vaccinations. Actually, I don't think I even need a dog to get a dog license. That's what makes it feel pointless to me.

Oooh, you know how people test how well CC Companies do background checks by submitting their dogs' names for CC? Myabe you can submit your own name for the dog license and then bring the story to your local news! That would be awesome!

 

[ckay87]

Oooh, you know how people test how well CC Companies do background checks by submitting their dogs' names for CC? Myabe you can submit your own name for the dog license and then bring the story to your local news! That would be awesome!

I should get dog licenses for my kids, just for fun.

 

[Nette]

I love it, but I'm sure most would find it idiotic....my spa pedicures. I get them once a month. With tip its $35. But, for me it's just about the ONLY thing I splurge on so I don't feel bad!

Hee Hee, that's nothing... we had a group that would go for $125 pedicures (pure bliss for 2 hours) once a quarter... One moved away though, so I don't know if we will continue w/ just the two of us... I sure love a good foot rub.

I hate ATM fees. I NEVER get cash if I'm going to have to pay a fee... but I can't get DH to find the free ATMs or buy gum to get cash... let's see, $1 for gum or $2.75 for bank fees?

AUGH!

 

[kangareaux]

I hate paying $60 for cable TV when the majority of our TV time is spent on flipping through useless channels or watching the same show over and over on the Disney channel.

And usually wind up watching network television anyway.

We've cut back our cable to *basic*. If we lived close to a city, we'd stop it all together and have an antenna. We aren't supposed to get Disney, but it still comes through clear, so the kids are OK with it. (No Cartoon network though! YAY! ) DH doesn't get Sci-fi....that's about the only channel he truly *misses*. I wouldn't mind some HGTV every now and then. But seriously, we found ourselves watching mostly Network stations, and never really watching many of the higher channels, so we couldn't justify th $60 a month. I think we pay about $25 now. (Which is still WAY TOO MUCH IMO!)