Am I crazy?!

[AngieDoogles]

In the past 24 hours, I bought a new camera with an awesome lens, a GPS navigation system, and a bluetooth headset. That's a lot of money!

In my defense, Brendon and I have been planning to purchase these things all summer and specifically budgeted for them, but it still feels weird to actually have made the purchases.

We bought the camera so that Mom could have my old one and learn to use the manual settings. We found it on sale at Ritzcamera.com with no tax or shipping and a $50 coupon for accessories which we will be using to buy memory cards. The no tax part really saved us a ton of money!

The GPS I will need when I start with the Department of Children Services in January. I will be driving to lots and lots of unfamiliar places on a regular basis and I am terrified of getting lost so I really feel this was money well spent. I got the Garmin Nuvi 350 which I believe is the same one that Judy and Tink have. We originally bought the Nuvi 260 and really loved it, but then I found a better price on the higher end model so we took it back for a refund and bought the Nuvi 350 for $50 less. It has MP3 capability and a longer battery life and the user interface appears to work very similarly so I'm sure I'll just love it. After using one for a day, I can't imagine ever not having it again! I'm pathetic, lol.

The bluetooth headset we found on eBay for only $20 and hubby has been wanting one ever since one of the puppies thought his old one was a toy and chewed the earpiece off... He will be so happy when it gets here!

I'm feeling a little guilty for spending so much money. I know these are purchases we'll get a lot of use out of and that we found the best possible brands and prices because we really did our research, but I can't get rid of that guilty feeling. I guess that comes from being so frugal and money conscious... Why do I have to stress over these things so much?!

[Taurus Babe]

well sounds like you've been saving so you could buy these things so let it go! the GPS system is the best! I couldn't live w/o mine! They are such a big time saver, and stress reliever!

[Marilyn]

Angie, If you had the money budgeted and the purchases will not put you in a financial bind, and you still have an emergency fund in place, don't be too hard on yourself. You get a lot of enjoyment from your camera and the GPS sounds like a very important item for your safety, and the Bluetooth did not cost much. It will be okay!!! You deserve a few rewards, and sounds like you were responsible in your purchases. You shopped for the best price.

What camera did you get?? Tell us all about it.

[Gina]

Angie I agree with the others, as long as its not interfering with your other household expenses thats ok to indulge. As far as the GPS I love mine and you also will be needing and using it a lot. I ended up returning the Garmin and brought Tom Tom 700 I love it!! I wouldn't leave home without it..lol I have a bluetooth but I can't get use to it so the darn thing sits on my dresser.. lol

Angie you have spent your money wisley and as my favorite financial advisor on tv Susie Orman would say on her can I afford it segement!! You have been approved!! so enjoy ....

[Janet]

Congratulations on your purchases and with being able to purchase them at great savings. I know how you feel Angie, I always feel guilty when I spend money even when I've saved up for it. I'm so use to saving that when I spend, I feel so guilty.

We both need to learn 'we can't take it with us' and enjoy our purchases.

[DianaB]

I think that you deserve a pat on the back for working and saving for what you want instead of putting it on a credit card. That's a very good financial move. Don't feel guilty about getting what you've saved for because that's what you WERE saving for. Enjoy it! Congratulations on all of your great buys!!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by Janet

Congratulations on your purchases and with being able to purchase them at great savings. I know how you feel Angie, I always feel guilty when I spend money even when I've saved up for it. I'm so use to saving that when I spend, I feel so guilty.

We both need to learn 'we can't take it with us' and enjoy our purchases.

I think that's my problem Janet. I'm a saver and a planner so it feels strange to just spend so much money.

Now that this stuff is out of the way, we will be saving much more aggressively for a down payment on a home. I can't imagine how happy (and worried) I'll be when we sign the paperwork for a house if buying a camera makes me feel this guilty! lol

Marilyn, here's my new camera:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08...noneos450d.asp
I'm so excited about having an IS lens. It makes a huge difference in quality. I'll eventually get an even better lens if I keep doing weddings, but for now, this one will do just fine. There are lots of improvements between my current camera and this one, but it's all technical stuff that probably wouldn't mean much to those who aren't really into photography.