# What are you still making up for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995 "2000-01-21T19:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jazzmine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/1 "2000-01-21T19:17:00Z")
Growing up, we didn’t have much money. Okay, we didn’t have any money. Today, my husband and I make what would probably be considered good money. Especially in Idaho. (Well, at least our tax bracket makes it seem like SOMEONE thinks we make extremely good money). I finally figured out that some of the things I buy is because for forever I had no money. I collect shampoo. Lots of it. Expensive shampoo. I love the smell, the way it makes my hair feel, etc. Yes, I know that a lot of the cheaper shampoo does just as good, if not better, a job. Something about being able to buy any shampoo I wish and not having to buy it in gallon jugs makes me feel better. I buy books three and four at a time. All the time. I have shelves and shelves of books I haven’t read yet, and I’m a voracious reader. I love books. I love the way they look on my shelves. I love reading them. I know I can go to the library and get them for free. I want to own them. My pantry in the kitchen could feed an army for several months. Every month I buy way more groceries that we would eat. I have it stacked neatly in rows. A veritable bunker. No, I don’t think the world’s gonna end. I didn’t even worry about Y2K. I’ve had empty cupboards before. No more. It makes me feel better. Any of you do anything similar? trisha ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/2 "2000-01-21T19:32:00Z")
I do the same thing with the books. I rarely go to the library anymore. I made my formal living room into a library, and now I order all my books from Amazon. I also take great glee in purchasing high-end tissue and toilet paper. Nothing but Puffs Plus and Charmin Ultra for me! Never used to be able to do that. ---
**Author:** ![special](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/3 "2000-01-21T21:11:00Z")
good jewelry, books, music for me. still watch for sales, tho. but i also enjoy ‘doing’ for other people, volunteer work, habitat for humanity notably, for the help i got when times were really crappy. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/4 "2000-01-21T21:25:00Z")
I grew up pretty poor (father left etc etc). I’m definetly making up for that now. I spend a ton of cash on myself and others. I go to a fancy spa, I buy expensive clothes, I buy very expensive (mostly Italian) shoes. I go out to eat pretty much every night and go to a bar about 4 times a week. Last year was a really good one for the family and friends - everyone is happy and healthy. Why not celebrate the good times with a little decadence? * * * Formerly unknown as “Melanie” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/5 "2000-01-22T00:16:00Z")
Agreed, more books than I can read, though I do read them, and I wasn’t deprived of them growing up, though these days, the choices are mine. Which reminds me, where is that copy of Straight Dope Tells All that I ordered? There always seemed to be a shortage of beef growing up (“it’s too expensive!”), and home cooking was rarely spicy enough. So steak, bbq, chili, and Mexican meals are on the regular rotation. ## My stereo stays LOUD. (I’m in a house.) You’re only as old as you look. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/6 "2000-01-22T00:35:00Z")
Tools. I’ve spent about $3k on major woodworking tools since I started this job. As soon as I get payment for the car I’m selling I’ll get a TIG welding machine. It kills me to spend a lot of money on computer stuff that will be obsolete in a year but good tools have a useful life measured in decades. My father made a good portion of his living with his tools but typically bought the least expensive he could get away with. I buy good tools in part because of that. ---
**Author:** ![kylen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@kylen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kylen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/7 "2000-01-22T00:49:00Z")
Well, having grown up (I use the term loosely) in the 70’s and 80’s I was innundated (sp?) with crap-tacular music. It wasn’t all bad, but it often seemed that way. In order to compensate I have tried to get a sampling of the best of modern music while exploring the best of yesteryear, from The Beatles to Bach and beyond. I dunno what they were thinking but IMHO spandex and high pitched voices belong the the ladies… kylen ---
**Author:** ![kylen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@kylen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kylen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/8 "2000-01-22T00:52:00Z")
Oops… the last bit should read “to the ladies” Damn nyQuil, warnings about heavy machinery but nothing about the SDMB… kylen ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/9 "2000-01-22T02:54:00Z")
I delayed gratification (i.e. was dirt poor) for years working my way through the education phase. It meant eating red beans and rice because I was too broke for anything else. Hint: a huge splurge was buying a “half meal ticket” for the university cafeteria. So now I splurge on food sometimes, and buy good toilet paper. Hey, small things do matter. But mostly I revel in the freedom to _do_ things. After caring for aging (and demanding) parents and an alcholic husband, for the first time I’m free. I can travel, follow my own interests, make my own friends and do silly, stupid wonderful everyday things. Not whining here; they were my obligations and sometimes shit happens. But, oh my, it does feel so damned _glorious_ when those cage doors swing open. I enjoy the “things” but could do without them. But it would be damned tough to cram myself into a smothering little gray box again. Veb ---
**Author:** ![inertia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@inertia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inertia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/10 "2000-01-22T03:28:00Z")
Money seems to be a common theme here. I too spent a signifigant amount of time below the poverty line. If I were going to have any issues/baggage it would be money management. No, I don’t blow it. I’m like one of the old timers who lived throught the depression afraid it’s going to happen all over again so it’s difficult for me to spend money. * * * Inertia’s entire philosophy in two words - Be nice. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzy-wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b38774/32.png) [@fuzzy-wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzy-wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-still-making-up-for/12995/11 "2000-01-22T21:56:00Z")
I’m not so bad off now but I have seen the time. Single parent with no help on the financial end. Finally, I can splurge a little. But I don’t usually cause I don’t want to be where I was before. But I do make sure that my cabinets are always full of food. I have enough to live on for a year. My cupboards are full of canned goods. My mom always taught me…if you can buy 3/$1.00 then get the three and have some extra in stead of buying just one.