I’ll never understand that attitude. If you love a pet, who cares whether it came from a dumpster or a top breeder? I’m sure these are the same type of people who would never think a child adopted from a third-world country was of lesser worth than a child from rich parents from the US, so why think it of a pet? Your dog sounds like he’s worth every penny you spend on him!
He really is 
Big, dumb, so ugly he’s adorable, lazy, and so so lovable. Great dog!
I love the piano story. That is seriously awesome.
Oh, if I had it, I’d also spend thousands of dollars on building and outfitting my own photography studio, home office/computer equipment (including high-end photo printers), my own aerial circus gym (so I can practice more than once a week at class), any and all art supplies I needed, and as many classes and workshops on my arts as I could find.
I don’t consider these things frivolous, though, as they are life’s work/vocation stuff. I’d be a much more prolific artist if I could afford to be.
I’d also travel more, but I don’t really consider travel to be frivolous, either. There are life experiences you just can’t have while staying inside your own culture.
Medical care for my cats? Of course. Also not frivolous. I’m currently $3 grand in debt for cat medical bills. (Of course my own medical debt exceeds that easily, so at this point I just kind of throw my hands up about the whole thing.)
I’ve spent quite a bit of $$ on certain rare or collectible books. The most I’ve ever spent on a book was $4,000 and many I’ve gotten for between $500 and $1,000.
But I LOVE perusing the various auction galleries, antiquarian bookshops, eBay, etc. and eyeing books in my area of interest that sell for *much *higher than what I could ever hope to afford. Unless Megamillions hits for me or something.
One other thing: I once spent $3,000 on a Tiffany diamond ring for my wife as a birthday present.
When I was doing the bike racing thing people were amazed that I would spend $125 on a seat or $200 on pedals. They were shocked that these things were even available at those prices.
Close your eyes and a hole is a hole.
If you have Literature/Fiction books, I would love to hear about some of your high spots - we’ve had threads where folks could share what’s in their collections. I had a great collection that I have been selling off - I had to step back from collecting when we had kids, and then used some to fund both work on the house and some vintage/collectible guitar acquisitions…
Tacky, tasteless comment incoming:
Yeah, maybe, but even with your eyes closed I’d imagine the $1000 hole probably smells a lot nicer than the $25 hole. 
(Sorry, sorry…channeling my inner 12 year old today, I guess.)
Just downloaded samples of both to my Kindle. Thanks for the tip!
Total cheapskate here. My hobbies cost almost nothing and I hate spending lots of money on just ONE item/thing.
But I’ll go with cheese, olives, pesto, dips and other delicacies here. I’ll dish out 10x more cash for a high quality cheese instead of buying medium quality. But not to the extent that anyone would really think I’m “crazy”.
Well, I carry a $385 pocket knife.
Cool - let me know what you think.
We have an undeveloped plot of land next to our house that the original owners paid $35k for in anticipation of cashing in on the housing boom of 2002-2007, but the market turned before they could flip it. Now this couple has moved from San Antonio so their chances of doing anything with it have diminished.
I’m thinking of buying it, not for development purposes, but merely so my little girl has a field/meadow that she can play in (I, too, like it because we can use it to practice our golf game (though I have to use hollow golf balls - they won’t fly as far)). I can probably get it for $20-25k.
Dude, that’s less than the car I might be buying tomorrow costs. Go for it. 
Vet care for the dumplings. I don’t even look at the damn bill. Don’t care.
Food. Japan has seriously great food, and imports just about everything and charges up the wazoo for it. Lescure butter goes for nearly $30 a slab (when I can find it) and whenever I find it I buy at least 2.
Taxis. I’m lazy, live 15min from the nearest train station, and refuse to walk there in nice heels…and I’m usually running late for work. So taxis it is, every day. I’ve even forgotten to feel guilty about it. But over time, that’s some serious coin.
I’ve participated in some of those threads over the years. My 2 targeted collections are Stephen King S/L first editions and books published by Arkham House. I have many of the King S/Ls but by no means all. Some of the earlier ones (Firestarter, Cujo, Christine, Skeleton Crew, Six Stories), while not particularly hard to find, don’t come cheap. The Dark Tower books are a particular interest of mine.
My Arkham House collection has a few gems – The Outsider and Others (the book I paid $4K for), Beyond the Wall of Sleep, Out of Space and Time, a Hornbook for Witches, The Dark Chateau.
Given my interest in horror, weird, and old Sci-fi, I sometimes come across first editions of, say, Fahrenheit 451, or Heinlein, etc. and just about drool. And my love for old/rare books perks my interest for ANY first edtion, regardless of genre. Like I said, I need to start buying lottery tickets!
Oh sure - I recall now. I still have my signed first of Snow Crash, Ender’s Game, I, Robot and my favorite sci-fi, Dune. And I have the Shining, but never pulled the trigger on The Stand, even when you could find one with an unbowed spine and fine dj for $100 :smack:
I’m a cheapskate about a lot of things, but animals, their care and accoutrements are probably my #1 expenditure.
I have 7 horses and that’s a chunk o’ change right there (upkeep, not purchase price), especially since most of the are elderly & non-working retirees who eat a ton of expensive feed. Then there’s the 2 custom saddles for the one I ride and show, plus I just ordered a brand new trailer (2h gooseneck Hawk w/ dressing room, A/C, awning… I get it in 3 wks or so! Eeeeeee I can’t wait!
) I had the choice between new trailer or new car - the trailer won, of course!
Pet care - with 9 cats & 2 aging large dogs, food and vet bills aren’t small. I don’t care, I never add it all up, they are my best friends and are more than worth it.
There is a purebred dog in my future, when my current sweet ol’ Labby girl goes to her reward.
I am happy to spend for a really good meal cooked by someone else. I love good food but hate to cook, and I don’t begrudge the occasional $100 meal.
Wife and I bought the property next door so no one can build on it. $45k. We like our privacy.