$300 sunglasses

**treeluva** · 07-12-2008, 04:52 AM

This past May, I had to travel from Oklahoma to Alabama to be in one of my best friends wedding....(I suppose I didn't "have" to... but I wouldn't have missed this wedding for the world as he means so much to me and, well, he asked me to be his best man - he did marry a woman, I just say that because when people hear I was the best man they always ask if he married a man)

Anyway... my mom told me to bring the kids to her in New Orleans on the way so I could attend the wedding without worrying about the children. Then, since I was only going to be 2 hours from the town in Florida we used to vacation in when I was a child, she decided that she would rent a condo for a week, bring the kids there while I was at the wedding and I would meet up with them the next day and we would have a family vacation.... she paid for everything and refused to take a dime from me for any of this...

But onto the $300 sunglasses...

While we were at the pool, a woman told one of her nephews something about her "$300 sunglasses"... he was roughhousing around her and she didn't want them to get broken.

Without missing a beat, the boy, who couldn't have been over 10 says, "Who pays $300 for a pair of sunglasses?"

My mother cracked up laughing as it was quite amusing.

No, I have never paid more than $20 for a pair of sunglasses, but it just got me thinking, as silly as it sounds to me to pay $300 on a pair of sunglasses, how many other things have I spent money on that is pretty much ridiculous?

Maybe before I buy anything I should stop and think, "Who pays $300 for a pair of sunglasses?" to keep myself in check.

Anyway, sorry that this post was kinda long with a backstory... for some reason I can't sleep tonight and I was thinking about the vacation and thought some of you may get a kick out of it.

**caledoniaquine** · 07-12-2008, 05:25 AM

I wouldnt pay that for sunglasses even if I won the lottery lol.

**foxxyroxie** · 07-12-2008, 06:08 AM

WOW!!! $300 sunglasses? Those must be some really 'special' shades. NOT!!!

I don't pay even $20 for sunglasses. I buy them at the Dollar store. That way if I break them or lose them, I'm only out a dollar. I do usually buy 2 or 3 pairs a year though, just to have variety!!

**prftstrngr** · 07-12-2008, 06:15 AM

My perscription sunglasses didnt cost that much!! Thats a really good way of reminding yourself not to over spend on things. I suspect everyone goes thru that occassionally....where you want something and dont want to think about how much your spending!

**Darlene** · 07-12-2008, 06:56 AM

I liked your story, how was the wedding and the trip? Sweet Mom you have there btw.
Smart young man to think $300 sunglasses are nuts & you for using it as a tool to keep you in check.

**Greebo** · 07-12-2008, 07:01 AM

Designer Sunglasses...$300
Designer Bathing Suit ... $150
Perfectly manicured Nails ... $75
Maxed out Credit Card ... Years of Interest
Sacrificing one's financial future for temporary things...priceless

But a very different meaning of "priceless" in this case.

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-12-2008, 08:46 AM

Uhmmmm... I do.

You get what you pay for.
http://www.arpansa.gov.au/RadiationP...Sunglasses.cfm

Or should I say.. you'll get what you don't pay for.
Eye protection is important. Cheap China made $20 pair (that was made for $1 isn't going to protect your eyes).

One thing I won't EVAH* budge on is my personal health.
*that's my Boston accent coming out - I get like that when I'm passionate about something.

My eyes (my asset), my teeth (too nice to ruin), my HEART! (too big), my body (chemical, pesticide and disease free).

That means I deserve the BEST quality item there is.
The best food
The best vitamins and minerals
The best preventive products - be it sunglasses, helmets, cars.

Why?
In the long haul - giving my body the very best fuel, the very best care, the very best protection NOW prevents preventable illness/disease/injury later. Not to mention I have the energy and stamina now to earn the money that will bring me comfortably into my elder years.

I want to enjoy my years ahead.

Sometimes some things aren't worth being skimpy on.
How about you?

**Michelle** · 07-12-2008, 09:12 AM

That boy was very smart

And you're right...all it takes is one incident like that to get you thinking every time you buy something. How was the wedding? I hope you had a good time.

Frugal Nurse:
You can still get very good eye protection for less than $300...MUCH less. I don't buy for a minute that you'd need to spend that much to get good protection. I agree that maybe the super cheaper sunglasses may not protect as well.

And sorry, but you are saying that you care so much about your body---how is alcohol good for that? You had your mood listed as "hung over" the other day. I'm not seeing your argument for doing the very best for your body if you're drinking to excess.

**fernykins** · 07-12-2008, 09:29 AM

I have a paur of sunglasses that fit over mt glasses. I didn't pay a lot for them.......... under 20 but they do protect my eyes. I brought them at the eye Drs. I would never pay that much for a pair of sunglasses. To each their owen as the saying goes
Fern

**DJ1972** · 07-12-2008, 10:12 AM

I was thinking the other day about how odd my spending habits are at times. I found a comforter set on clearance for $25 that I wanted, but reminded myself that even though the one I own is faded, it still does the job and noone sees it but me and DH, so I didn't buy it. Then about 30 minutes I spent $17 on food from Sonic for me and the kids. As I was waiting on the food, it hit me, I won't pay $25 for something that will last several years, but will easily pay $17 for something that lasts several minutes....crazy.

**McD** · 07-12-2008, 10:23 AM

Zac spends roughly 100$ on his sunglasses, but they last him a year, survive going out into the field with the military, and he only buys them after Sunglasses Hut mails him his 20$ birthday coupon.

**PrairieRose** · 07-12-2008, 10:42 AM

I buy UV protective sunglasses and pay around $10-15 IF I can't find ones I like at the dollar store or on a clearance rack. My eyes are important to me too, just as every.thing. else about my body. I take care of my health but I'd never spend $300 on a pair of sunglasses. I have friends who do though....not b/c of the protective value, which is usually the case IMO.

I see your point Treeluva about the point of reference and yes I have goofy things that I do and have spent money on that could be relate-able. I think that we all do (well most of us, except the most uber frugal of us). Thanks for the reminder about being judgemental....even about $300 sunglasses.

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 07-12-2008, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Frugal Nurse

Uhmmmm... I do.

You get what you pay for.
http://www.arpansa.gov.au/RadiationP...Sunglasses.cfm

Or should I say.. you'll get what you don't pay for.
Eye protection is important. Cheap China made $20 pair (that was made for $1 isn't going to protect your eyes).

One thing I won't EVAH* budge on is my personal health.
*that's my Boston accent coming out - I get like that when I'm passionate about something.

My eyes (my asset), my teeth (too nice to ruin), my HEART! (too big), my body (chemical, pesticide and disease free).

That means I deserve the BEST quality item there is.
The best food
The best vitamins and minerals
The best preventive products - be it sunglasses, helmets, cars.

Why?
In the long haul - giving my body the very best fuel, the very best care, the very best protection NOW prevents preventable illness/disease/injury later. Not to mention I have the energy and stamina now to earn the money that will bring me comfortably into my elder years.

I want to enjoy my years ahead.

Sometimes some things aren't worth being skimpy on.
How about you?

LOL..........Frugal Nurse, I love this post! I feel the very same way. I will not sacrifice anything when it comes to my health. I am going to live my life to the fullest and be healthy in doing so!

I lost my best friend almost four months ago to coronary artery disease. She won 32 million dollars in the CA state lottery back in 1998. She could afford the best of everything........but she never invested any of that in her health! She was a doctor going machine and all they ever did was to run tests and pump her full of pills ranging from A to Z! It was very painful watching her do this and I alway's tried to set examples for her by investing my money in my total wellbeing. She just could not grasp it!

But anyhow, after her passing her dh gave me her Mercedes sunglasses that are valued at $1700.00! It is the diamonds in them that make them worth so much. I am thinking now that perhaps she should have thought more about the lenses? Perhaps she should have invested in her health and she would still be here today to enjoy living life to it's fullest. I miss her so much and I just wish that she would have taken care of herself.

**Neeley** · 07-12-2008, 10:57 AM

I have a pair of sunglasses I paid right at $350 for(after my mom's discount). They have prescription lenses and the frames are Coach. I love them. They are way too cute. I have been wearing them everyday for two years.

Our glasses (both regular and sunglasses)are one of those things I am willing to spend a little more on. DD's regular glasses are Coach as well. They were around $250(after the discount). DS has Nike prescription sunglasses for when he plays baseball. We paid around $350 for those(after the discount). His would have been a little cheaper, but we had special shatter proof lenses made for athletes put in them that cost an extra $100.

We did not "sacrifice our financial future" to pay for them. We do not even own a credit card so they were not charged either.

Designer glasses are one my splurge items. As long as I am not going into debt or hurting our family financially I see nothing wrong with spending more on something we really like.

**PennyWise** · 07-12-2008, 02:42 PM

I don't care about whatever reasons there are for paying an outrageous price like that for sunglasses...I wouldn't.....it's not logical IMO. In no way could I justify spending that kind of money on something to shade my eyes. My $5 sunglasses work just fine.