Ah - this talk about coffee helped me figure out my “most outrageous purchase.” I have an espresso machine that was close to $2,000 (I’d say I have a “high end” machine, but really there are many that cost thousands, so I’d be lying). I LOVE my machine, and I use it to make 2 hazelnut lattes (sometimes other flavors, but I only use a little syrup) every singe day when I’m home. I have had multiple machines since about 1997 and they’ve gotten more expensive over time.
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On general principle, a purchase should not be deemed outrageous if it amortizes to a pennies/small dollars per day cost of use. Then it just seems to be practical, eco-friendly, and old-timey value for money.
But I don’t want to stop the thread in any way. I love hearing about the satisfaction others get from their finds. And I consider a “wildly expensive dress for a big event” to amortize equally well, if the memory brings pleasure years later. One thing lockdowns have driven home is that past experiences have tremendous emotional value when we’re isolated from one another.
So, who has the prized wildly expensive bottle of scotch in their vault?
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Pappy Van Winkle anyone? Don’t get me started on DH’s private reserves…
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What’s your address again…? 
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Next week we are driving to Palo Alto for our sons commencement ceremony. We are also schlepping several boxes to his apartment as he will start working a week later. Unbeknownst to our S I’ve hidden my only unopened bottle of Pappy in one of his packed boxes. I like surprises!
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And I thought the $135 bottle of champagne was a lot!
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Ha! I had the same thought, this year to help my S stay motivated we bought him a 16K flute. It has been worth every penny. He has upped his level and is going to two music festivals this summer, a wonderful instrument is worth every penny
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Wow, now that is a dedicated repair person!
I’m sure the new flute has helped your son with the joy of playing and the hours of practice he is doing. I imagine he needed less motivation than you think because he enjoys what he’s doing. If he’s working at the level needed to get into any music festival.
My daughter was able to play great music, have great experiences and met great people in her journey. I’m very happy we were able to help in any way we could.
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Parent of a former flautist here. 
The $4k Miyazawa flute (recommend by the flute teacher) sounded so much better than the $500 bottom of the barrel Yamaha one! Kid still has it. Of course, the one that the teacher had was even more fabulous!
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I think I must be missing the outrageous gene. Sometimes I think I am too frugal for my own good, but I have often wondered how much money I would have to have before I could feel comfortable spending more extravagantly than I do now. I mean, I could spend $5,000 on a handbag, but I don’t think that I ever would. Or, I guess I am saying that I don’t know how much money I would have to have before I would do that. Likely an irrational fear, but I don’t want to wind up eating cat food in my old age.
I think our ds thinks we should enjoy our resources more.
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yup that is how it works, first the 500 beginning one with the curved headjoint that sounds like killing ducks, then the 1200 trevor james that was a huge outlay for an 8 year old, 6000 for an 11 year old but wow what a sound and the 16K for the high schooler and you cant believe that this is your life! and you feel bad for the string players where this is just change. The good news is those Japanese hand made flutes maintain their value and can be resold for almost full price!
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We are so privileged that we can help him in any way we can, and it is a worthy outrageous purchase!
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In our younger days we thought it too extravagant to hire a car service to and from the airport. Now that we are traveling in retirement, using public transportation can be grueling and take forever, especially when tired after vacation and a flight.
There is no better feeling than landing after a transatlantic flight, finding your driver, and being home within the hour! The last time we used the bus, we had to wait an hour after getting our luggage, and sat on the bus for two hours (we live an hour from the airport).
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Why not an outrageous purchase, this was an unnecessary purchase. We were taking our first international trip with the kids when they were in high school. I have always planned and booked our own trips, including hotels and activities; I research for days and days, while driving my family crazy! Trying to find the best deal is a game for me, and I like to win!
My SIL convinced me that I needed to use her travel agent as she was fabulous and would be able to plan everything for me. I met with the agent who would tell me everything I had plan was not doable. While we could afford this trip, I still was being frugal; we had no problems sharing a room with the kids. We were not going to be in the room other than for sleeping, showering and getting ready, so that was a place we could save money. The agent informed me that there was no place we could stay that would allow 4 in a room, and we could only stay at 4-5 star hotels as the others were unacceptable. All these hotels included breakfast, which we didn’t needed; we were happy with coffee and a bakery item on the street.
The tours we had planned, according to her all had to be booked in advance; we found that not to be true for many, but not all. The day of our boat tour to see the Murano glass, it was pouring; it also was a day you could not see a demonstration. We would not have gone that day had we know, plus they were selling the same tour on the dock, so would could have purchased for the next day when the weather was better. The best was our hotel was offering a free tour the next day 
All and all, this trip ended up costing us about 5K more than if I would have planned it myself like I wanted. While travel agents are great for some, I will continue to plan my own trips from now on, at least until I win the lottery. 
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My last big trip, Italy in 2019, we hired a travel agent for the first time ever. It was more expensive, but she arranged things we couldn’t have (a car to take us from Rome to Florence with stops in Tuscany, a private tour of a historic library in Florence, dinner reservations for every night, etc.) I think that trip was the most expensive we ever went on, cost a ton (even with regular air tickets). It is also our biggest splurge in recent years. We tend to be frugal people.
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I’d rather spend $5k on a sewing machine than a handbag, generally speaking. Although I really would love an Alexander McQueen four-ring jeweled skull clutch in my lifetime. My kid can inherit it so does a two-generation fashion amortization equation come into play here?
I want to hear more about the $500 pocket knife, @GKUnion.
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I am at a loss to answer this. I guess I consider the college education and grad school for the kids while outrageous in price, worth it.
For us, I guess a camper van which is a recent purchase. I inherited money from my parents even though we could have afforded it. I think about my dad every time we travel and that he would have loved it and loved that we got it.
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Another splurge. I love good espresso/flat whites and for years have bought less expensive espresso makers. A few years ago, I purchased a Saeco superautomatic machine that filters the water, grinds the coffee, makes espresso, puts the puck of used grounds in a bin and steams milk. It makes me happy every day (several times a day).
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My outrageous purchase isn’t exactly a purchase, but an experience. My H (who loves good food, good wine, and cooking) decided we should try to dine at every Michelin Guide three star restaurant in the US. The list changes some from year to year, and most of the 3-star restaurants are in NYC and San Francisco. H’s company has had projects in both cities and a company apartment, which saved us hotel costs. So far, we have been to 8 out of 13 places on the US list. My favorites— The Inn at Little Washington, Per Se, and the French Laundry (VA, NYC, and Napa Valley).
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