This was SO not frugal!

**mommy4ever** · 10-13-2009, 10:37 PM

I got a free sitting with a photographer. So we decided to do family pictures.

So perfect. I knew it would be pricey. Dh and I figured $400-500.

Tonight I went to see the pictures. They were BEAUTIFUL! And we spend double that. That said, we did one family portrait 5 years ago and HATED them. Those cost $200. These are gorgeous. I chose a wall portrait of the whole family. 30x24 it is being custom framed

We are getting 2 8x10's as Christmas gifts for the grandparents, and One of dh and I(I won't even put up our wedding pictures, the hairdresser ruined my hair that day), and one of the 4 kids, framed together.

Dh just said it's more than we wanted. Fine. The 2 for the grandparents is their Christmas gift. So that comes from the Christmas budget. And it will be our Christmas gift for dh and I. So again, partly from the Christmas budget, and then the money we'd budgeted for the pictures.

I'm still shocked at the price, but it isn't like we do pictures every year. It's been 5 years, and you get what you pay for. These pictures are beautiful. So maybe in another 5 years..lol

**beks37** · 10-13-2009, 11:07 PM

If you don't buy them very often, I think that it's okay to spend money once in awhile on things that you will be able to keep as cherished memories. (especially when they turn out so good!) I hope you'll share them with us.

**frugalfranny** · 10-13-2009, 11:17 PM

And I would bet that the pics for the Xmas gifts will be truly cherished!

Hey....a splurge every five years isn't bad!! As long as some bill doesn't have to go unpaid......well......enjoy!!

**mommy4ever** · 10-13-2009, 11:32 PM

No we have money in savings that will pay for it. It's on the Visa but I pay it off every month. So it's not a credit purchase, and nothing is going unpaid.

I think it's ok. Dh is still in sticker shock. But when you think about it. A truly professional photo - is a couple hundred minimum. A custom frame for that size is $400-500, so what they charged for that photo framed is pretty decent. He was in shock to hear that I have 4 kids and no pictures on my walls..lol. The kids find it odd when they go elsewhere and there are pictures. I have a few on shelves, but nothing on the walls. They find it cluttered. We have one scenic framed picture on a wall, that is it. I have some challenges in this house with how to do placements. I have framed pictures..lol. Just didn't know where to put them. We'll have this one on the wall until it is time to stage the house, then we'll pack it away for the new house.

They gave me a warranty..lol. I told them I just wasn't sure what size I needed, because we are listing and moving in the spring/summer. So I won't know what kind of space I'll have. I was gauging by a fireplace mantle space. They told me once we move, if it doesn't fit the space, we can downsize it, and they will refund the difference. BUT they won't upsize the portrait for the difference. They said they have their reasons. Or if I bring it home and hate the frame in their environment they will exchange it no problem.

So I think we're safe. 30x24 should be a big as we ever want it where it'll never be too small. But it could be too big.

Am I weird in feeling vain about displaying pics of myself?

**melanies** · 10-13-2009, 11:57 PM

I think its money well spent. Maybe you can cut back somewhere else for awhile if you feel that you need to....

My mama was the queen of frugality and even she splurged on professional photos of all of her children.

**mommy4ever** · 10-14-2009, 12:03 AM

Would I be bad to order one more as gift for dh? I would like a portrait size of the 2 of us. The more I think of it, the more I want to have it.

**MaryCarney** · 10-14-2009, 01:36 AM

I am bad about not taking pictures, I just never think about it. I once told my kids that if they are ever planning to go missing, they need to change into their baseball uniforms first, because that's the only pix I had of them!

Since then, DD#2 arranged a family portrait over a Christmas visit to her home in North Carolina. We had never had one in 33 years of marriage.

**NewLeaf** · 10-14-2009, 06:36 AM

The last family portrait we had taken was 6 1/2 years ago. I love those so much. I don't have much wall space either, so we don't have many pictures hung up. I have thought about buying a really nice album and putting the kids pictures in it and placing the album in our living room.

**pop goes the weasel** · 10-14-2009, 06:41 AM

I feel you have to splurge once in a while if for no other reason than to make you feel good. We are fortunate that we have a neighbor boy that is an excellent photographer. If I could have he would have taken school pictures but they won't put them in the year book if they aren't done at the school. Even Senior pictures have to be done at the school if you want them in the book. This is fine if they would keep the price down. They more than doubled from last year. so enjoy your pictures.

**nancycg56** · 10-14-2009, 08:01 AM

Personally, I treasure photos and don't consider them a splurge at all. As the years go by, you'll be so happy that you have them

**dcompton** · 10-14-2009, 01:54 PM

I agree with Pop Goes the Weasel. An occasional splurge on something that you will treasure or that you really want is not a bad thing, if you don't go into debt to get it.

I can certainly throw no stones since I just bought a Kindle book reader. Yes, I could live without it - have all my life - but this is something I am really going to enjoy.

So get your beautiful photos with a clear conscience. Except when times are desperate, frugal doesn't mean always going without. One reason to be frugal is so that we can have some of the things that give us real pleasure. Life is more than savings accounts.