Again; inspired by the elitism thread.

We all have different priorities that can sometime be reflected by our spending behaviour. For some of us, I daresay most, having certain nice things means having to settle for less in other areas.

For me, it breaks down like this;

Extravagances;

Cigars- My average smoke is $5 ea.

Fishing Equipment - I have costly, top notch gear; some of which is custom made to my specs.

Firearms - I have several; some custom made.

Tools - I buy the best I can afford.

Land - I put myself in debt at a very early age by purchasing 40 acres of rural greenery.

Sacrifices;

Car - Of my past four cars, three have been hand-me-downs of no trade-in value (must have tools -see above). The nicest I have ever had is my current 98 Cherokee with 90K.

House - My house sucks. I am SLOWLY remodeling (must have tools...)

Beer - I used to have at least two high-end micros on tap in my parlor.......now I am lucky to have Yuengling.....and currently have Old Milwaukee.

Parenting - I cut my little girl back to only one meal a day.................JUST KIDDING.

Amemnities - No pool, no fancy yard, no hot tub.

Clothes - Nothing fancy....most are stained and ripped.

how bout ya'll?

Holy Moses!!

Aside from the house, yard, and child abuse- you've got me beat! LOL!!

You is living high style!

Just bought a house 2 years ago after renting for 20 plus years.

I drive a 2002 Silverado....Sometimes. (See below)

I usually smoke $2-3 smokes. I still buy the occasional bundle.

My job allows me to set my own schedule, but I still have huge committments. I drive a company van (see above) and do the company maintenance of my garage and an office in the basement. (Total huge tax deduction)

I wear jeans and t-shirts whenever possible. I have a pair of dress sneakers.

My power and hand tools are 90% Craftsman. My dad worked for Sears for 34 years. I kinda grew up in a Kenmore/Craftsman house.

I do own a John Deere lawn tractor I bought used for $200 and rebuilt, cost me $300 in parts and paint. It runs like new. Saved myself $1000.

I watch way more TV than the any guy should and I pay way too much for the dish package.

I don't owe anyone anything and...

I've never told a lie.

You can contact me at

Shydes Arizona Ocean Front Properties LLC. We're in the phone book.

LOL... Gotta go.

Extravagant-

1. Beer-dark only

2. Steaks for grilling- porterhouse or tenderloin

(got a good butcher that takes care of me!)

3. Too many pocket knives-mostly from Bradford PA, Andy

4. Stuff for my kids-diet, supplements, videos etc

5. Cigars- I smoke some nice ones (5 to 7$) at night

but usually the 1-3$ range for me.

6. sat. radio- not expensive but paying for radio

seems a bit much

7. Tools. I use them at work but I have at least 20

different power saws! LOL

Not extravagant

1. cars-never had a new one

2. houses-old fixer upper

3. wives-found this one at work ( a lucky find in

deed!)

4. TVs-no big screens here

5. No toys- In MN every man has toys. 4 wheelers,

sleds, boats, jet skis etc

6. clothes-wal mart, garage sale, dumpster diving at

sally. I don't care. Except for hats and cold

weather gear(carhartt for me Columbia for them)

I typed this up and really couldn't catagorize them as sacrifices and extravagances. I guess I live in moderation for the most part.

Cigars- The 90% of my smokes are the $2-$4 range from Cbid.

Firearms - I have a few, but nothing fancy. Never spent more than $400 on a gun.

Tools - I have a couple of screw drivers, a tape measure, duct tape, WD40 and a big friggen hammer.

Land - Small three bedroom house built in 1973.

Car - I drive a 2003 Honda Element. It can be cleaned with either hose or a leaf blower and has no carpeting in it. Both my vehicles and wife are low maintenance.

Beer - Bud Light and Labbats Blue Light.

Parenting - I just do the best I can today and try to do better tomorrow.

Amemnities - None

Clothes - Nothing fancy. Most clothes purchased from Target. A dozen pair of non name brand Docker knock off khaki pants, 25 polo shirts, probably 100 tee shirts, and most importantly, 5 or 6 high end flannel shirts. No cheap flannel. I will not sacrifice there.

big friggin hammer...............Estwing??

I live within my means.

If I can afford the nice things I want, I buy them. If not, I learn to like what I can afford.

I have one child, who is spoiled, yet disciplined at the same time. We chose to stop at one because, at the time, we couldn't afford another.

It's a big assed generic hammer I got from Big Lots a dozen years ago. No name on it, but when you want to smash something, it works.

I've heard rumors it can also be used to drive nails. I'll have to try that.

Andy knows his hammers!

Russ,

Get an Estwing hammer.

After years of using crap hammers I bought one, and have had it for about 8 years.............one piece steel hammer.........nice.

ruggy,

A dark beer fan eh?

are you into Lagers (i.e. dunkels) or ales?

I am an "ex" beer snob and ex-homebrewer.

Penn Dark is a mighty good dunkel and it is made 'round here (of course you midwesterners have Lieny's).

ruggy,

A dark beer fan eh?

are you into Lagers (i.e. dunkels) or ales?

I am an "ex" beer snob and ex-homebrewer.

Penn Dark is a mighty good dunkel and it is made 'round here (of course you midwesterners have Lieny's).

Try the Young's ale line .It's friggin Fabuloso!!!!

Smokes: varies. Usually in the $5 and up range. The humi is well stocked with opus,pams 64 and 26,Isoms(bolivar,punch,rass,juan lopez, montes, and hoyo ep2. Can't stand bundled crap or any cheap cigar. Lifes too short for that.

Priorities: My families needs and two ply TP (rolled from the top and wadded).

Extravagances: Cigars and the occassional good bottle of booze purchased at Costco. Seeing a Broadway play and a nice dinner once or twice a year (hate going to movies but enjoy live performances).

Sacrifice: Anything that interferes with the priorities.

For me the number one priority is spending the short time I have on this planet wisely. I hate wasting time and need to be constantly productive.

Living a non-boring life goes along with the above. I won't elaborate here because that wouldn't serve any purpose. Let it suffice to say that there is adventure to be found if you just have the courage and ambition to look for it.

Material things are not that important as long as you are comfortable. That doesn't necessarily mean expensive things, but a few quality things (like good cigars) are fine. I like living beneath my means.

Although I teach some, I continue taking courses because there is always something new to learn. That is another important priority and goes hand-in-hand with what I stated above.

Family, friends another important priority, equal in fact, with number one.

Wagner

Extravagances:

I love perfume. I have about 20 bottles of various fragrances. Rugrunner can't smell a thing, so I stink to please myself.

Coffee. I have to drink decaf, and so I get locally roasted whole bean flavored coffees.

Balsamic vinegar. I love the stuff, and luckily I am the only one in the house who does.

My my wedding ring, my mother's ring and my anniversary ring.

I stay up later than I should to hear the golden sounds of silence ring through my house.

Sacrifices:

I don't feel like I have to sacrifice much of anything. I am pretty content right where I am at.

Heather

I spend too much at the perfume counter and the jewelry store! LOL

Heather,

Both my wife and I covet those precious few hours after the kids have gone to bed. However staying up till midnight and getting up with the kids at six can be straining at times.

Tey, you are so right! I used to be able to blame the dark circles under my eyes on my ethnic heritage (slavs generally have very pale skin and dark circles under the eyes) but of late it has been more child care induced, I'm afraid.

Add to my list of extravagances undereye concealer from Bare Minerals!

Heather