Personal Indulgences

[Kowboy]

Stuff I Don’t Scrimp On


I don’t spend money extravagantly, that’s my wife’s job, and we can only afford to have one of us do it. However, there are a few items I use everyday on which I go top-of-the-line. Most involve my vision, so I’ll start there.

If there is one thing I cannot tolerate, it’s not being able to see out of the windshield of a vehicle, especially when I’m driving. You’ll find no cache of papers on my dashboard like some contractors have, the reflection drives me crazy. If I wasn’t positive the Michigan roads would kick a stone into what would be the third replacement windshield of my vehicle, I’d have the existing cracked one replaced. The crack is low, so I can live with it for now.

When buying a replacement headlamp several months ago, I added a pair of Anco Contour Premium Wiper Blades to my shopping list: http://www.federal-mogul.com/en/Afte...lades/Contour/ At thirty-five bucks a pair, these blades aren’t cheap, but they are unlike any other windshield wiper I’ve ever experienced. It’s like having one of those squeegee guys at the stoplight cleaning your windshield with every stroke, only you never have to tip. If I made the rules in this country, every car would have to have these, they are that much better than others. If I had a fleet of vehicles, I’d put ‘em on every one and have their replacements as scheduled maintenance. Sell your RainX stock; if these catch on, they’re out of business. I got a mail-in rebate on mine, so they only cost me twenty bucks or so, but I’d pay a hundred for the next pair if need be.

Another item on my no-scrimp list is my Maui Jim sunglasses and not just because I’m a Fashionista. I have a neva, which is like a small freckle, in each eye. They don’t affect my vision, but I have to have yearly eye exams to check on them because they can turn cancerous. My forty-year-old neighbor down the street had this, they saved his eye and it went into remission for a decade, but he died last year when it spread to his spine and liver. So no fooling around, the doctor says sunglasses on outside always and I’m doing as I’m told. These are either on my face or around my neck on the strap if I’m awake: http://www.mauijim.com/webapp/wcs/st...4_17604_N__1__ I paid more for the glass lenses because they are more scratch proof than the polycarbonate. I’ve had them for a year in August and there’s not a scratch on ‘em. When the nosepiece broke as I removed them from a vest pocket, Maui Jim repaired them for ten bucks, no questions asked. I’ve got another year of warranty left. I’m considering getting a pair with my prescription, but that’s really pushing my indulgences and budget.

If you see the world through your feet, you had better have comfortable and safe footwear especially if you’re not a desk jockey. I must have tried on a boatload of shoes, but my feet said “Yes!” the minute they slipped into these Carolina work shoes: http://www.carolinashoe.com/item.asp?ItemID=CA9519 At first, I didn’t need any additional support, but after I broke them in, I had to wear my inserts. A little foot powder and some cushy socks and my feet are happy all day long. I cannot overstate how important happy feet are to the rest of your life.

I got to ride first class in a jet once; they had to upgrade us because we volunteered for a bump. The Chardonnay and the hot fudge Sunday were nice, but not worth what an upgrade would have cost. We paid to ride in first class when we took the Chunnel train from London to Paris when we visited Europe in 2001, just because it was non-smoking. It was worth every penny. We spent a zillion Francs for a hotel room that night ($350.00) but the towels were heated, we were a block from the Louve and the Texans we met on the train bought us a spectacular dinner, which off set the cost a bit. A shop in the Cesar’s Palace mall in Vegas was going out of business and I offered them eight hundred bucks for a $7,500.00 alligator jacket once. They countered at $2,500.00. I passed, but that was a close one. You’ve got to be able to separate the things you can’t live without from the things you can. That is if you want to have any kind of retirement, credit rating and/or money in the bank.

Kowboy

[betterdrywall]

I just spend my extra money on guns and ammo, that only after I have taken care of my kids needs . kids first me last.

[TSJHD1]

K-
Good idea for a thread. I too hate windshields I can't see clearly out of, esp when it's raining, but I can't justify spending that much money on wipers since in my experience they don't last very long.
2 questions: What, exactly, makes them so great, and, how long do they last?
For me to spend extra money on wipers, I would need to see the value. Meaning, if they cost twice as much, they need to last twice as long. I don't factor in my time, since I can change them in 5 minutes or less, and I buy them while I'm already at WalMart. For me its one of those items I buy strictly on price alone.

Now then, things I don't scrimp on...

Underwear comes to mind. Used to go for FOTL cause they were cheap, but after trying Jockey, man what a difference in comfort. I CAN'T STAND my boys sticking to my inner thighs, and for some reason I don't have this problem any more after switching to Jockey boxer-briefs medium length. I know I know...TMI. Hah.

Guitar amp: Mesa has the best tone I've ever heard, but they are expensive.

Nails: I'll spend extra for genuine Hitachi gun nails, since in my experience, the generics' plastic collation sticks too far past the end of each rack, causing the 2nd rack in the magazine to not line up properly with the first one, which of course causes it to hang up. I believe the extra money spent offsets the time wasted dealing with jams.

Clear trim, not finger-jointed, even if it's gonna be painted, as long as it's an upscale job. And it's gotta be a selling point you address, because if you're competing against someone who is speccing FJ, they'll have a good chance of beating you on price, so you need to educate the customer that if they are concerned about the look of their trim over time, that finger-joints may end up telegraphing at some point in the future. If they don't care about that, then fine, use FJ.

Tires. I have never regretted spending extra money on Michelins, for ride quality and longevity. And several other top brands are great choices too.

An employee who is always on time, follows (and remembers!) directions, has a great work ethic--wants to learn and enjoys his job, and never complains: "That's not my job!"--buys good tools, etc. As long as I think he's a long-term kind of guy, I'll pay more than what his current skills are presently worth.

Tom

[TWhite]

Now I'll take my Fender tube amp (Twin, Deluxe, Prosonic, Supersonic) any day! Just messing with you.

[dgbldr]

He he he, it drives my wife nuts when it starts raining and I keep driving without turning on the wipers. It just doesn't bother me and I can see just fine, unless it's a downpour. She can't look through the windshield. I turn the wipers on for her mostly.

So tell us about the glasses. What is it that makes those glasses worth $360?

[ThingOfBeauty]

Tools.
Just tools.
Well, used to buy Red Wings but went to the goofy sneaker-hiker shoes when everythign changed over there and Irish Setters started coming from overseas.
I'm buying clothes at the thrift store, every time I go in it's like someone put $50 in my pocket--nice pants for $5, just got some Tevas for $7.

[Kowboy]

He he he, it drives my wife nuts when it starts raining and I keep driving without turning on the wipers. It just doesn't bother me and I can see just fine, unless it's a downpour. She can't look through the windshield. I turn the wipers on for her mostly.

So tell us about the glasses. What is it that makes those glasses worth $360?

dgbldr:

First the wipers, then the glasses.

Once I've become used to the higher quality of a cleaner windshield (or better sunscreening) I just can't tolerate the lesser-quality item any longer. Your windshield is spotless and more importantly, streakless with the Anco Premiums. I wouldn't care if they didn't last as long, but I believe they will, I would still buy the best. I can't help myself.

The Maui Jim's are incredibly high quality. The frames are titanium and will probably widthstand my wife's crushing attempts when we are camping again this year. She killed my $100.00 glasses last year. They are very dark glass which is probably even more important in the Michigan winter with the snow reflection than the sun in the summer.

People think nothing of spending four hundred bucks for prescription glasses and take very good care of them. I have to wear sunglasses whenever I'm outside, so I wear them a lot. I'll probably have these glasses, in perfect condition, for five or ten years. Divide that by $360.00 and you get great value.

Kowboy

[rocket]

dgbldr:

First the wipers, then the glasses.

Once I've become used to the higher quality of a cleaner windshield (or better sunscreening) I just can't tolerate the lesser-quality item any longer. Your windshield is spotless and more importantly, streakless with the Anco Premiums. I wouldn't care if they didn't last as long, but I believe they will, I would still buy the best. I can't help myself.

The Maui Jim's are incredibly high quality. The frames are titanium and will probably widthstand my wife's crushing attempts when we are camping again this year. She killed my $100.00 glasses last year. They are very dark glass which is probably even more important in the Michigan winter with the snow reflection than the sun in the summer.

People think nothing of spending four hundred bucks for prescription glasses and take very good care of them. I have to wear sunglasses whenever I'm outside, so I wear them a lot. I'll probably have these glasses, in perfect condition, for five or ten years. Divide that by $360.00 and you get great value.

Kowboy

I agree. Buy the best sun glasses you can afford. The lens quality/uv protection makes it easy on the eyes (no pun). It is your eyes after all.

I have gone with Oakleys forever but I didn't know Maui Jim had so many cool choices (I do now after checking out the site). I especially like the Hawaiian names since I lived out there for a while.

How scratch resistant are the glass over the poly?

[bkerley]

I go for the poly in my "scrips". I always get two pair of full framed glasses and have one pair tinted dark bronze with the bifocals set just a little bit lower for driving. That is so I can see the gauges and the road.

Shoes are Merrell Chameleons (sp?) They are approach shoes and very flexible for all day comfort on the roof or the ground.

I recently discovered Columbia GPS pants and like them fairly well. I'm slowly moving away from my old carpenter style jeans now.

[IndyDog]

Now I'll take my Fender tube amp (Twin, Deluxe, Prosonic, Supersonic) any day! Just messing with you.

Me too...got a '65 Fender Princeton that absolutely rules.

[Kowboy]

How scratch resistant are the glass over the poly?

rocket:

I've had the glass lenses for nearly a year and even wearing them everyday, there are no scratches. The glass lenses are a bit heavier, but for me that is a small trade-off for clairity. Maui Jim advertises them as the most scratch resistant.

I just got my prescription glasses with the replacement poly lenses. I had the others for a couple years and they were too scratched to wear.

Kowboy

[James Eggert]

Just a quick note on eyeglasses.

If you buy them with the add-on scratch resistant coating(film), you can remove the coating and the scratches are gone. Where you bought the glasses will not do it because they are in business to sell more glasses!

It involves a glass etching solution from a crafts store, and after I removed the "film" following the directions I received, it worked like a champ. I've been wearing the glasses I thought I needed to replace for an extra 18 months so far!

[rocket]

rocket:

I've had the glass lenses for nearly a year and even wearing them everyday, there are no scratches. The glass lenses are a bit heavier, but for me that is a small trade-off for clairity. Maui Jim advertises them as the most scratch resistant.

I just got my prescription glasses with the replacement poly lenses. I had the others for a couple years and they were too scratched to wear.

Kowboy

Kowboy,
Thanks. I'm a sunglass manufacturers dream... I either scratch them, or step on them, or lose them. And sometimes it is all of the above.

Scratching is a big one for me bc the glasses are pretty much dead to me once they get one or two scratches.

I'm checking out some Maui Jims next go around. Thanks!

Oh and my personal indulgences: Festool, Redwings, and my Black(crack)berry.

[m beezo]

Biggest indulgence that I can think of is Coca Cola to drink, Red Wing boots, thick socks year round, give myself a day off from brown bag lunches by eating out for lunch once a week, go deer hunting even tho I have not shot a deer in 10 years, go fishing at least 3 or 4 times a year just to get away, have a favorite Mexican resturant that I would go to weekly if I could.

Wear my clothes till they are falling apart,no particular brand, my boots for 10 or 12 hours a day, have about 2 or 3 Cokes a day, seldom catch enough fish to make a mess but like it anyway.

Other than that I can take a lot of stuff and just be a happy camper.

[betterdrywall]

I do use Rain X wax and cleaner, nothing fancy as far as wipers , no probelms at all . and I must add I always buy button fly 501 jeans regardless of cost. along with wolverine work boots .