Okay, I’m going to parse the original question here. If you “don’t regret” a “crazy splurge” was it really ever crazy? Of course not! So I vote for more self love, sometimes in the form of retail therapy, and less Puritan guilt. Within reason, of course.

My new motorcycle! Buying my first one was a life long dream, and I recently treated myself to a (pre-owned) sport bike and am now learning how to race. It’s definitely a boys club and it scared the crap out of me when I first started, but now I love it!

The Birkenstock splurge will work out in cost per wear – my Birk clogs from 1995 are still going strong as an art studio pair!
As far as money splurges? Repairs $$$ for a Yamaha Vino motorcycle – and may buy a brand new helmet to match too.

6 tickets x 2 for the 2 Rolling Stones for my family. I could have bought an expensive designer bag for the $$$$, but it just might be their last tour.

2008 Chanel black 4 pocket jacket. Insane amount of $$$$. Crazy-level. But I adore it. And I’m worth it!

I splurged on a vintage 18K gold ruby bracelet when I got a new job this year. I love it so so much and it makes me happy every single time I look at it!

I bought a pair of Gucci Loafers to celebrate a major raise I got. They are comfortable and beautiful and I wear them almost every day.

Not a recent splurge, but one that plenty of people thought was nuts: I followed my anthropologist husband to a tiny Pacific island and spent a ridiculous amount on shipping our cat (the kind of cat you get for free when your favourite niece’s best friend’s cat has kittens and they need a good home…) across, including quarantine in Hawaii. Pets are family; you don’t just ditch them.

I bought a Yamaha digital piano … had lessons as a kid … trying to pick it back up again with the assistance of an app. It’s become a great outlet when my heads awhirl with all the stressors in my life. I wanna play the music from twilight (lol) …love that soundtrack so that’s my goal.

I just bought an All Things Mochi rainbow maxi shirtdress. The colors are vibrant and the dress itself is so smile-inducing. Such a happy dress.

I had my engagement ring re-set after many years of marriage. I’d never liked the original setting but didn’t want to hurt feelings or be impractical, as it was an expensive custom setting. But one day I realized that I wore this ring every single day and every single time I saw it on my finger (without fail) I thought “I really don’t love that setting. It’s ugly and lumpy. But it’ll do. It’s fine.” So many little daily negatives I talked myself out of. And I just decided, even though I couldn’t afford it at the time, to go to my favorite jewelry designer and have the diamond reset in a thin, delicate band. When I picked it up, the joy I felt at a design I truly LOVED was amazing! The ring is gorgeous. I have never regretted the $$$$ spent. Never. I look at it every day and think “I love this ring! I love my husband!” Now, my husband never once noticed the ring was not on my finger for several weeks while it was being re-set. Hilarious! But my mother in law did, immediately. And she pulled me aside and whispered, “I don’t want to say anything in front of anyone, but did you lose your engagement ring?” She was shocked when I told her where it was (wasteful!) but I didn’t care. I knew I was right. And I was.

Those are awesome! I bought my first ever pair of Birks last year (I’m 60) and I had no idea what I was missing! My splurge – last month I bought a Dyson cordless vac. Life changing.

I paid to travel business class from Asia to Europe for my vacation two months ago. It was a heavily discounted fare (30-40% off) but it was still a lot. But I don’t regret it one bit. Lie-flat seats AND you get to skip the horrendous immigration line at Charles de Gaulle.

They are fabulous and thank god not in my size or they would be on their way to me right now! Cost per wear…maybe a dollar, lol! My no-regrets splurge…the rag and bone snakeskin Chelsea bootie. #NOREGRETS

A trip to the UK last month, and a three-week sublet in the NYC area in July. I shouldn’t be spending the money, but I need the break (and culture!).

Botox for my forehead & filler under my eyes. Totally out of character for me, and I’m not sure I’ll re-up the Botox. But I had been curious about it, and now I’ve tried it. I also hired a professional photographer to take the pictures I’m going to put on dating websites. I don’t photograph well, and my sense of my own attractiveness is quite battered after my divorce, so I decided to maximize my chances of getting a photo I really like. I haven’t seen the pictures yet, but the experience was a lot of fun. Both of these are part of a larger effort to do what I want, or what I think I want, and see what happens, after years (decades? a lifetime?) of putting very tight and censorious boundaries on “wanting.” I’m learning that I can make expensive mistakes and be okay. I’ve already made the most expensive mistake possible: half my life spent with the wrong man. So these splurges are low cost in comparison.

Moussy Vintage jeans for me. A definite splurge but jeans are my life!

Brand new Surly Straggler commuter bike with all the best upgrades. I’ve made do with a lower end bike for 9 years. I was shopping around for a new one (lower end brands yet again) and decided it was time for an upgrade. It’s worth every penny. I love it, it makes me very happy!

Never regret a pair of metallic sandals! I have a metallic silver pair of Birk Madrids that I wear nonstop in the summer. I also have a pair of gold metallic M Gemi sandals… and another silver pair of Alexander Wang heeled sandals. I may have a metallic sandal problem…

Latest crazy splurge was buying a Porsche. But it’s so enjoyable to drive and my old car’s engine light keeps coming on and requires a $4k fix I knew I had to buy a new car at some point.

My Burberry trench coat!

A Zero Maria Cornejo shrug (which you turned me on to) and Khaite jeans that I love more every time I put them on.

Cartier Tank Watch. I wear it every day and I love it every day.

I had to think about this because I was, at first, limiting myself to fashion choices, but after reading others postings (so inspirational!) I realized my biggest “splurge” was the house I’m sitting in right now. Ned (my partner) and I wanted a house on the East Coast and wanted to be near the water so we made the plunge. I love the house. And it has now become Ned’s main (and only) residence. Most everyone thought we were crazy to take on a second house in an expensive area (our house is VERY modest!). However, I love being here five months of the year. We’re a mile from the beach, our collective kids visit and every morning I’m here I wake up in my happy place. Not one single regret.

My Gucci Soho black bag I wear it everyday!

John Fluevog silver, strappy shoes with lucite platform heels. They cost me more than my share of the rent at that time but I HAD to have them. I rarely ever wear them but I see them regularly in my closet, being fabulous. I love them and love seeing them sitting there like a sculpture.

Travel pillows, not the ones for the plane, but pillows for the actual hotel. No matter how swanky the hotel is, their pillows offer the same head support that the pillows at cheap-o motels do, which is NONE AT ALL. Tempur-pedic has a mini version of their regular pillow with contour for the head and neck, just big enough for your head (think it’s called something like travel sized neck pillow, but it’s not one of those horse shoe shaped ones for the plane). You can fold the pillow at the contour and then fit it into a cylindrical nylon case that zips up and easily fits into carry-on luggage. I am so excited that I can get a decent night’s sleep at a hotel. Also, this spring after my husband’s convalescence from artificial disc replacement surgery, I splurged on a Femme De Poppy lipstick in La Lip En Rose. (I’m married to a disabled vet so it takes a lot to perturb me in terms of caregiving, but his herniated disc prior to the surgery cast a special misery on the household…) The interesting thing is, the $48 lipstick has turned out to be a total workhorse and I will totally use it to the last bit. I kind of think now that the pricier expenditures are often the sensible-in-the-long-run purchases for me. I think, for me, where I stumble are those smaller purchases that I don’t think are a big deal that add up cumulatively. Meanwhile, I think metallic sandals are genius because the metallic color means you could wear them pretty much in any situation, including summer weddings.

Poppy red Chanel French style wallet. So very cheerful to retrieve from my bag and fits in various jacket pockets if need be. Had my faithful black Prada zip around for almost 20 years and finally upgraded to celebrate turning the BIG 50 😍

Nili Lotan Paris pants 🙂 I’m wearing them with ‘regular’ silver Birkenstocks that were on sale, so if you split the cost of the tow combined, the whole outfit is somewhat reasonable, right!

I’ve been into Scandi designers like Ganni, and they tend to be a bit pricier than US ones. But I feel like I don’t see myself coming and going, and their prints are so lovely!

A diamond necklace. But it was on clearance, plus a generic 40% off all clearance, plus a department store 20% club card discount, plus a 5% Ebates discount – it all added up to an 82% discount and I couldn’t resist even though it was still more than I should spent on a total frivolity. It is a simple style and small enough that I can wear it every day but still looks dressy with small diamond stud earrings.

A Brunello Cucinelli coat on sale (still a fortune) right after Christmas. It’s got itty bitty sequins all over it and for the first two months, I kept it hanging on the closet door so the sun would hit it and make me smile. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

A Proenza Schouler Frame shoulder bag. 65% off, but still a crazy splurge. I didn’t need it, but I NEEDED it. I love it so much, and plan to carry it forever.

A chocolate leather Mulberry Bayswater bag. It cost a hideous amount of money but I carry it EVERYWHERE, have had it for years, and you can loosen the straps to expand it to a decent sized carry on.
Also, I have a pair of silver metallic Birks that I wear nonstop, and that go on every vacation with me. You won’t regret this purchase!

Last summer I bought a gorgeous reversible slip dress at my cousin’s boutique. I fell in love with it before checking the price. Thankfully I received the 50% family discount, and I wore it all last summer. Just brought it out again and am so ready to wear it! It is cool, fits great, and looks amazing. My cost per wear, per side, is going to be minuscule by the end of the summer.

Tickets to see the NKOTB reunion tour/Mixtape Tour. In Las Vegas. Zero regrets.

Johnny Was tops. They are very striking and make me happy because I’m wearing something special. They can be dressed up or down which makes their cost per wear very reasonable. I am intrigued when people splurge on items that can easily be stolen or lost such as handbags and bikes. Is this something that is always on your mind when out and about with your item?

The last year (going thru a divorce) Dyson Animal vacuum, Gucci loafers, Botox/filler, Louis Vuitton Neo Noe bag. Some of the funds came from selling my wedding ring. Now I’m reigning myself in!!

Trip to Maui and got “Birked” for the first time while I was there.

Those are cute! And I’d immediately jump to the “cost per wear” justification.
Hmm…I don’t often splurge unless it’s skincare or makeup. I’d spend a lot on a lipstick, no problem. (It’s going to turn me magically beautiful, right?) A splurge for me: I bought a blue and white striped linen shirt by Grayson and I love it.

A pair of Bryr clogs. The Miranda peep toe. The most I’ve ever spent on a shoe but dang, they are perfect. Actually comfortable to walk around in. No regrets.

https://www.bryrstudio.com/products/miranda-peep-toe-high-heel-1

Real Madagascar vanilla! Maldon salt! Saffron!
Um, and 2 Ilia lipsticks that were 20% off.

I flew from Denver to Paris and back last month and I can tell you what I will absolutely splurge on from here on out, no regrets: business class or better. As god is my witness I will never contort my body into coach for a transatlantic flight ever again. Since I can’t think of any other real splurges in my world lately, I feel very good about this resolution.

PS. I am considering throwing down 7k on cool sculpting to deal with the menopausal belly roll wreaking havoc on my self-esteem and wardrobe. That would be the mother of all splurges. But I fear there could be *major* regrets???

I love every one you ladies. I’m telling you we need to schedule a GOACA conference or something. I’d fly from CA to NY in a heartbeat (business class, naturally), carrying my YSL LouLou, which was SPLURGTASTIC but worth every dollar.

A pair of zebra stripe, high waist Rachel Comey jeans. I quit drinking at the beginning of the year and lost the weight that had been hanging around, so I’ve just begun to buy some new clothes and these are particularly satisfying to have.

A shopping trip to Harrod’s shoe salon for a pair of Prada neutral sling backs with a neon orange toe cap. They are the absolute bomb and I’ve decided orange shoes ARE the new black.

I am spending krazy $ on a 2 week airbnb for my family in SF, in the Mission where everyone wants to be. I decided not to stay at my brother in law’s place in SF , huge though it is because he’s a freaking Republican & climate change denier . So the airbnb $is a bargain compared to the heart attack i would have at his place.
O & last week i spent $290 on no. 6 sandals – more than i have ever spent on high heeled sandals which I haven’t worn in decades because- to my shock- they’re comfortable.
Love this blog & all these GOCA’s.

No 6 clogs. My first pair and I absolutely love them! Can’t believe how comfortable they are. OH and a Zero Maria Cornejo dress (my first too). Between those two recent purchases and my Nili Lotan Paris pants, I have been on a real GOCA shopping spree! But I have been coveting these items forever, finally said what the hell. Love this blog.

My husband shelled out to a lot for tickets to see Prince some years back in a tiny venue for my birthday. I would only have regretted not buying.

Oh, and yes, I bought a The Row moto jacket on Ebay and it was still pricey but I love it. It fits very nicely and is so understated, i.e. no zippers and belts everywhere.

My Siberian cat Romeo. My son is allergic to cats, I wanted a cat, and Siberians have a low allergic reaction rate. He is the most delightful cat I’ve ever had. Talks, sings, fetches, cuddles, purrs nonstop. He lights up our lives.❤️❤️