1. No, not more meaningful if it comes as a gift. Just less guilt-inducing.
3. I do not feel undeserving of the coat.
2. Two things I can think of: fear (with not much basis in reality) that our financial situation might take a nosedive, so I need to pad the nest while I can; and fear that the purchase will take me down a slippery slope so I'll be increasingly tempted by high-end items.

I just got $11,000 in new business today from one of my regular clients, so if I'm going to buy this sucker at all, now's the time to do it! I agree with the YOLO sentiments. Why is this so hard for me???

F.

Buy the coat! Buy the coat!! Buy the coat!!! #instigator

It's a really interesting topic to me because how we spend our money has such deep roots in our upbringing.

Shopping can be addictive but I doubt that someone as logical as you are would spiral out of control. When I've made big purchases on clothes I cherish those items! I always remember the feeling of buying it and it feels really good. Even when times are tough and I look at something that I bought in the past I still don't feel any regret.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I suspect you're right. Today was such a crazy day, though. Started out on a high note with the new business, and then I learned we may need to shell out some money for legal fees. I can't decide if this means I need the coat more than ever or need to get it out of my head!

F.

if it's a piece you see yourself wearing forever and since you technically can afford it, I would not even hesitate. Take a look at your closet and if you see yourself wearing it with a bunch of your current clothes, I say go for it!

Dying to know if you're going to get (or already got) the coat.

I'll let you guys know if I do. My life has become a soap opera in the past few days, so I've been preoccupied with that. You couldn't find a better plot for a novel if you tried, but IRL it kinda sucks.

F.

Sorry to hear it, hang in there.

1) Re Gift - It's not just less guilt-inducing, you are doing them a favor. If your family is like mine they will be THRILLED to know what you want, it makes it easy for them & they're happy to know you will USE what they buy. (Even if DH doesn't understand his 'share' is supposed to be larger than the kids' share. LOL). If you have a winter birthday, anniversary, whatever, include that too. Heck, tell them it's the next TWO Christmases.

2) Consider the specialness of it. I don't care much about clothes and am pretty frugal. But when I step back & think about it - we have never regretted springing for the quality item of clothing or furniture!

3) Heck, you live in Canada. That climate alone justifies it!!!

Sorry, wish I'd read ALL the posts before responding. Hope things are okay.

Thanks for the well wishes. Things are still up in the air. All the important things are OK: my marriage and my kids (knock on wood). But you wouldn't believe the mess we're in. As the saying goes, stranger than fiction.

F.

As Suzanne (3FC) says: IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING!

Perfect time to treat yourself because there will always be something to make you rethink

I hope you buy it.

I never felt better than when I could wear small, semi-fitted clothes that make my body scream that I'm thinner. (Granted they don't fit me anymore but that's a whole other story)

I hope all your stresses work out right now. In your original posts, I could "hear" the excitement in your posts for this coat. That means something.

You seem to be the type of person who doesn't want for much (in a nice kind of way). I think you deserve this coat for the sheer excitement that it made you want to post here to ask.

And to answer the original question....$500 would be a pricetag I'd put on my own giddiness.

Honestly? No, I wouldn't spend that much money on a coat.
I was thinking (at first) that maybe it's because I don't wear coats very much due to weather....but I love purses, and I wouldn't even spend that much on a bag. There IS a bag that I have my eye on that costs (nearly) that much....but I found a designer on etsy who makes a similar one for about half the cost. I'm still deciding.

True, you only live once, but for me....I don't want to look back on that item and think "I cannot believe I spent that much money on a coat when I could have used it for xyz."

On the other hand....I did spend about that on a coffee table I found on etsy that I love. I've never once looked at the table and thought "oh man. I wish I had spent that money on something else."

I would wait (if I find an item a bit pricey). If I'm in doubt, I give myself one or two weeks. If I'm still thinking about it at that point, I'll just buy it. Most of the time, I forget about it and end up being really glad I didn't buy it.

I had a mom that wasn't a big spender at all and even though I spend more freely than she, I still have some anxiety when buying for myself.