I happen to mention in passing conversation that I saw the next stand mixer I'm considering buying - it's made by Cuisinart and it has a 7 Qt. bowl and a 1000 watt motor. I currently have a 16 year old KA with a 5 Qt. bowl and 325 watts. Now mind you mine is perfectly fine and I had no intention of buying another until my current one breaks (I'm basically a frugal person and don't spend money needlessly). He asks the price of the Cuisinart - $500.00 I say.

Well......that's where the conversation starts going downhill. He asks what's wrong with this one (my KA)? I said "nothing is wrong with it, but it won't last forever and I think the new one would enable me to make two batches of buttercream at a time with no problem. He says "We don't need to make any icing - we're fat enough"!!!!! I try to keep my composure and remind him of the fact that I don't make cakes for us and in fact the last cake I made last week was at HIS request so he could bring it to the hunting camp. Well, he wouldn't let it go - he starts asking why we need to spend that kind of money and why we need a "commercial" mixer. Well, at that point I had fire coming out of my "fat" a$$!!!!!

So, I ask him....Are you the person that spends $1,000.00 a year on hunting club dues and $400.00 each year for an out of state hunting license? Are you the person that drives 4 hours one way once a month (at $3.00 a gallon for gas) to go cut grass at the hunting club? Are you the person that likes to cook for the other members and pays for all of the food? Are you the person that needed a new 4-wheeler year before last at the cost of $8,000.00?????????????????????

And now are you the same person that is questioning why I would spend $500.00 on a new mixer when my old one dies???????????

At this point he starts trying to do damage control, but he's drug his ducks to a dry pond this time. I may go ahead and order that baby and sit it right next to my old one so I'll have one to use when I need one batch of buttercream and one to use when I need to two batches of buttercream.
He must have had a momentary lapse of sanity!!!!

I think he's learned the error of his ways

Men can be so dense about that stuff.

We're getting ready to visit my parents and I was deciding what shoes to pack, we take a camper so space isn't exactly an issue, and he starts going on about how I only need one pair since we're just down for the weekend. I pointed out to him that he's the one who brings 4 or more guns everytime we go down and he can only shoot one at a time.
He also gets all huffy when I get a few cookie cutters or a new pan yet he goes and buys at least two guns a year, I keep telling him that one of these days I'm going to demand matching money to spend on what I want. I'm waiting though until he gets the gun he REALLY wants because it's pretty expensive.

Now when I needed a new mixer he didn't say anything, he's a mechanic and understands the principle that you have to pay for quality. If you buy a mixer that costs $100 and have to replace it every year you're out more money in the long run than if you buy one that costs $500 and lasts 16.

Men!
My husband does the same thing to me. When its not for him its too much money. You buy something that doesn't even cost that much and he complains, Yet you buy something that cost more for him and he is perfectly happy with it.

OHHH Ladies can I join in? My DH spends a mere 3000.00 a year on his hunting crap!!!!!!! And ALWAYS looks at new 4 wheelers!!!! I did put my foot down there...Why in God's green earth do you need 2 freakin 4 wheelers??? Is your other thinking part of your body gonna drive it GEEEESHH!!! He quit grumping about my spending when I saved all the receipts of everything we spent on his "HOBBY" and threw them on the table!!! Boy he shut his mouth fast! At least my "hobby" brings in some green every once in a while...... I definately feel for you !!!
Buy that darn mixer and tell him that you are matching his spending to the dime...then look at something else you truly want

Hubby and I had this kind of argument about a year into our marriage, he was always buying cool stuff online and I asked him to buy a book for me that I couldn't find in the stores. His face was all serious and he said we needed to start saving money and shouldn't spend, blah blah. Well, I reminded him of his toys that he had bought and he felt pretty bad after that. Haven't heard anything since and we're going on 9 years

Yeah, that all stopped in our household when we sat down and came up with a budget. I also made DH put money into two savings accounts. One for general savings and one just for fun items we would like to eventually buy. Now, he actually sits down with me once a week and we discuss how to use those fun funds. Now that he sees how long it takes to save mad money he is not too quick to spend it. Gee, a little math sure does go a long way-lol!!!! See men can be logical if they are made to

I'm just trying to hold my husband at bay from buying the car he really wants. Now that his car is paid off and he got a raise, he's been looking at cars. It's fine that he got a raise. I love it. Maybe now we can save a little more money for a bigger down payment on that house that we'll finally be able to afford in a couple months. I'm afraid he's gong to want to go out and buy a car before we get a house and there goes the house

Seriously, the last time we bought a car (before the one he has now), he got a PT Cruiser and the payments were horrendous! Granted, it could be a LOT worse but we were already struggling financially. That one ended up going on our bankruptcy two years ago.

Anyway, yesterday I was online (CC) and he comes in and wants to show me something. He clicks on a used car page and pulls up a used mustang...maybe 2005? Oh look honey, it's only $17,000 I was like That's more than I want to pay on a used car. He says, "do you know how much a new one costs?" I say, "do I care? I only care how much it costs. period. Not how much it could cost. It costs too much. How about a Hyunday Elantra? It goes new for about $13,000" him: "grumble grumble"

He's always talking about how he wants a car with better gas mileage because he drives 1/2 hr to work each day and with the high cost of gas, it's expensive. Well, a mustang certainly isn't going to help that any. Gah!

I can understand him not wanting an Elantra but does he have to go to the extreme of getting a toy rather than a car??

LaSombra -Oh Geez, I totally feel your pain on that one. I am getting ready for my DH to go out and buy himself a huge truck. We just paid off both of our vehicles. He has been wanting a big extended cab truck forever but now it just not a good time. I want to take the money that we are saving on not having car payments (just under a thousand a month) and sock it away in savings for as long as possible. The goal was to save to buy a piece of property and custome build a new house (which will take years to save for) but every time we drive past a car dealership now, his eyes glaze over, he starts to drool, and he has to pull in. What am I going to do with him?!?!?

LaSombra,
Ok, you said that you need air conditioning to get cakes to customers. Then you need it for your business!!
If you are an acutal company ( you know, not just doing it for fun, to be nice, or under the counter -not that you would ever do that!!!) you can write off part of the van for the company. I would call an accountant but I think mine said that on my Federal taxes I can write off mileage and a certain amount of business losses per year. The van can be that loss (investment -same thing). Please don't quote me here because I just drop off my stuff to the accountant and let him do his magic. But, seriously look into it.

As for your husband's glazed over eyes every time he sees a truck with an extended cab, a corvet, motorcycle, or anything else that goes fast....I don't have an answer for you. I have tried the argument about fuel economy and helping the Earth stay green for our children's future (not to mention saving the money spent on gas to put the kids through college) but it is not working. I fear I am lossing the battle!!!! Stay strong sister

Ladies, I have the solution, and it totally works. Every time dh pisses you off, buy yourself some shoes. Try it, it works.

That is funny!!!
About getting the new car, it actually makes more sense for you to have it since you have the kids to consider, almost have the van paid off, and need it for the business.

About your DH feeling he deserves a reward for all of his accomplishments, well could you negotiate a less expensive reward for him. Like a weekend trip somewhere , new golf clubs (or whatever he is into), or a new power tool ? Maybe if he gets a little something he will let you get the new van?!

Good luck with the van and your new business!!!

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission. Just buy it. His only objection is that it may cut into his fun expenses. Oh, well!
Reach a deal with him: whatever he spends for fun, so can YOU!!!!!