Tuesday, February 4, 2014

What Would You Do With $100?

yes, this is really what our Canadian money looks like, hologram and all
So I went to my part-time job yesterday and learned that I won a Company contest and was handed $100 smackeroos.  Most people don't have a hard time spending money, but frankly, I do!  For anyone who reads this blog from another country - $100 Canadian = $90.26 USD = $66.79 EURO = 55.25 GBP (sorry, there is no pound key on my keyboard).  If I missed your currency - sorry!

My dilemma, I actually have difficulty spending money on non-essentials.  Food and bills are a requirement, but travel is just about my only vice.  I have been packing around $100 cash gift from my Mother-in-law since Christmas and now this has been added to it.  In all likelihood I will just convert them to EURO to buy something cool on our trip to Portugal and Holland in April but was wondering if anyone else has this issue.

I am one of those very fortunate people who is perfectly content with little and we currently have "enough".  My biggest splurge ever was buying a DSLR camera two years ago which has already had thousands of photos taken on it.  I have an iphone but only because hubby insisted I have one for the Company we run, and the Company purchased it (that and my old dumb phone was so old it took 1/2 an hour to text someone).  Those items plus the Company laptop are my favorite things.

So, if $100 dropped into your lap today, what would you spend it on?

57 comments:

  1. "I actually have difficulty spending money on non-essentials" were we separated at birth? I got a twenty dollar holiday bonus as a super market gift card. I bought bacon with it!

    I do think I'd go out to dinner with my husband -- it would be a treat for him and a splurge (i.e. a "real" restaurant) that we don't usually make.

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    1. Date night seems to be one of the most common answers - maybe I should plan a nice evening out.

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  2. Paint - hands down. Getting a house ready for sale = lots of paint. Normally though - if I couldn't pay down debt, I would struggle!

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    1. Paint costs so bloody much too, I hear you. We fortunately didn't have to do too much to get our last house ready for sale but it is such a pain to do work to something that you are not going to be enjoying anyway.

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  3. Replies
    1. Definitely! Birds of a feather...

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    2. Yup, start a Merida, Mex fund and you can stay in our casita...for free....we should be there full time later this year and we'd love to have you!

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    3. What a kind offer, your home is so lovely! It may take several years for us to get back to Mexico though as we are on a mission to take in new countries (I love Mexico and have been many places but not Merida)

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  4. I'd use part of it as a splurge. Date night out to dinner with hubby or a pedicure. The rest would probably be saved.

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    1. Great idea for date night - I am going to have to start doing some research.

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  5. Right now, I want a Food Saver, a very specific one. $100 would just about get it.

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    1. I have never had nor tried a food saver, are they that good?

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    2. I want one to seal jars of food I dehydrate. I hear they suck out air bell peppers, bananas and such...other things too. I hope they are good but I believe the many people who say they are wonderful.

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  6. I'd put it in my emergency fund. I'm late to the party, but in the last few years, I LOVE saving money. Wish I did it sooner, but I'm doing it now, and really enjoying it. It's fun watching my emergency fund grow, little by little. Yup, definitely the emergency fund. :)

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    1. I love that even if it wasn't always that way you love saving money now, I think the EF is a great idea.

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  7. Date night, or a massage! My back is so tight from too much work - I would love a massage.

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    1. Date night sounds good, Sluggy is with you on the massage

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  8. I was given a £100 cheque on Friday, out of the blue and for no reason. It was a lovely surprise and it's going straight into savings.

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    1. Good for you! How nice - that is really a nice chunk of change to drop into your lap.

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  9. Unlike you, if I won $100 I would immediately go out and spend $500 .. on a new TV for the bedroom or something similar.

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  10. Whenever I get extra money, I just put it into my checking to pay bills for something I probably already bought. :-/

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    1. Time to share what you have been buying now :)

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  11. I need a good winter coat and it would probably go there, or on makeup splurges in Massena because stuff is much cheaper there!

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    1. If it was a little more I would make a trans-border run too but our ferry costs so much to go back and forth you really have to save it up for a big trip.

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  12. I'd use it to help pay the $900 propane bill!
    Jane x

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    1. Oh My - you poor thing, not only do you get massive amounts of crappy weather but then have to pay through the nose to stay warm.

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  13. Fabric. But I am addicted to sewing

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  14. $100 I would put on bills. Its not enough of a reward to do something special with. $1000, I would put half on bills and spend the other $500 on random things that I need.

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    Replies
    1. For now it stays tucked in the purse on the off chance I come across "that random thing I need" :)

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  15. No debt and the bills are paid? I'd get a massage or put it toward a big travel plan, of see if one of my almost grown kids needed it for something important.

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    1. What a good Mom you are, they are lucky to have you.

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  16. I'd buy something nice for our garden.

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    Replies
    1. Great idea, I am honestly contemplating purchasing a pretty bird bath.

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  17. I would save it for Vegas, baby! We are both on the same page-vacationing!!!!!!

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    1. Vegas can be so bloody expensive, I can see why you don't want to waste money on checking luggage!

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  18. I'm like you, I spend so little, especially on myself. What do I need? Nothing that I can think of. I'd probably sock it away to use for gas on my drive to PEI. I don't like wasting money by just going out for dinner or something.

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    1. I would do the same in your position - ah PEI, your little patch of paradise!

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  19. Ooh how lovely, and what a dilemma to have!

    If I was given $100 I would take it on my trip to Melbourne next week (to see my darling daughter) and then replace the $100 I'd already taken out of general revenue :)

    No dilemma for me!

    xx

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    1. Have a lovely trip and enjoy your visit with your family.

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  20. I take extra $ and usually pay extra on bills....notably the house :)

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    1. Very sensible! We paid off the house last year and now are 100% debt free or I would have done the same.

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  21. I'd put it in my travel fund, for my annual Fall trip to Europe. Who knows that it'll be worth in Euros by then... :(

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    1. I know, our Canadian buck is dropping, so I am going to place my order for Euros in the next week or so. An annual trip to Europe - I am jealous! I hope to go every few years or so to a different country.

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  22. I would either put it in our travel account for the next trip but make a note so it goes towards something fun to buy on the trip OR I tuck it away for a rainy day trip to the Antique store!

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    1. I like your answers - I love antique stores as well but never seem to buy anything there, a problem from someone who likes thrift store prices versus antique store prices

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  23. I would put it towards my dream mixer...sigh....

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    1. I have a dream mixer in mind as well,but at $300 I am not sure I want to spend that much money and also have a place to store it. Maybe down the road...

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  24. Buy some shrubs and perennial flowers, give some $ to a charity, have a restaurant meal with hubby, oh it is fun to plan.

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  25. I would have to find someone who really NEEDED it and secretly give it to them. If I had the good fortune to just happen on it then someone else needs the same good fortune. What is the saying It's enough blessing to be a blessing" But I might keep 5 bucks to buy some flower seeds!

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  26. I'm all about a 'SPESHUL' treat / date night!! What good is saving for a rainy day, if those rainy days aren't with the one you love?

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  27. A day adventuring around town for sure! (I need to work on saving). :)

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