married guys; have you ever pushed it, and made a big purchase without "notice"?

[vash]

i am talking "relatively" big...for some, it is coming home with a new motorcycle, new rifle, or a new plasma TV...for others, i guess you get "it" if you buy something small. the limit is all over the place for our wives. what is the biggest, most extravagant purchase you made without consulting your loved one?

i am asking because, i bet i could buy a new over/under shotgun or new compound bow without my wife noticing. i just cant let her see both items at once.. she isnt savvy enough to distinquish my mathew switchback XT, hunting bow, from say a; brand new (to me) bowtech 82nd Airborne bow. they are both camo, and tricked out. i bet she thinks they are one in the same. flirting with cold stares?

come on, fess up with the funny stories. my co-worker told me he bought a BMW motorcycle without telling the little lady, and tried hiding it at the office. till the DMV paperwork showed up. he had me in stitches with the story!!!

[vash]

cue all the single guys; now they chime in with the hate

[HardDrive]

Ummmmm.....does this answer your question?

[Moses]

I usually tell my wife before I make big purchases. (If I can't drive it or live in it, it's not really a big purchase.)

I'd be in SERIOUS trouble if I brought home a Ducati. Serious trouble.

[Noah930]

Motorcycle. I'd always wanted a Duc, and the opportunity to purchase a pristine older one came along, so.... I didn't even have a decent place to store it for the winter, but the dealer let me keep it on the showroom floor until spring. That made explaining it to the wife a bit easier, as I could break the news to her in stages.

More recently, a couple of sets of wheels for the Porsche.

[BeyGon]

My FIRST wife, I wanted to buy a new motorcycle, she said flat no, you are not buying a new motorcycle. When she came home that night there was a BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE IN THE BEDROOM.
I have a better relationship with this wife, I wouldn't think of doing that. I'm not looking for a different wife.

[the]

my wife couldn't care less what I spend. why would she care?

[jyl]

I bought my Westy Vanagon on eBay without telling my wife. $11K for an '88. I mean, we'd talked about maybe buying a Vanagon someday and she knew I was researching them, but there was never any talk about being ready to buy one. But, hey, it was late and she was asleep and I threw in a lowball bid . . .

I also bought a vintage Vespa. Same deal, she knew I liked them and she'd carelessly made some vague comment like "oh, wouldn't that be fun". So I told her I was headed down to the local scooter shop to buy this one, and she said "mmmhmm" which might have been "yes, certainly" or might have simply been "I can't hear you, I'm in the shower" (which she was). The Vespa didn't cost a lot, but she wasn't thrilled about the safety thing.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by the

my wife couldn't care less what I spend. why would she care?

Because in many relationships, money expenditures are a joint decision based on other competing family priorities: kids' well being, mortgage, other hopes and dreams, retirement, etc.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by vash

my co-worker told me he bought a BMW motorcycle without telling the little lady, and tried hiding it at the office.

I must confess I've thought of doing that, as well. I've been particularly inspired by the couple Ducati Monster purchases posted on this board. My partner has a cosmetic surgery practice, so parking a Ducati in the office (which is street level, all-glass window on a major boulevard) could be considered office decoration, and thus be tax deductible as well?

[Tishabet]

Bought my Solex moped without asking first... but it was only $200. Generally the wife and I plan big purchases together so we can budget etc.

[Joe Bob]

I could probably get away with anything, except a motorcycle.....I have a histroy of doing flying "W"s off the front end. Usually due to some dumbschitzle not seeing me....when I gots married I swore not to buy another one....

[LakeCleElum]

Although my m/c collection has dwindled from 22 to 14, I still bring the occasional bike home w/o notice. Story is always the same: "It was a good deal, had to grab it quick, I could double my money on it tomorrow.

2 years ago, I pulled that stunt with a one-owner 1969 911T in need some some "rust-repair"....I parked it in the detached garage and didn't tell her for a few weeks....Although I got it for a "rock-bottom" price, she still refers to is as the: POS I'll be a long time living that one down......

[cantdrv55]

Make big purchases w/o her prior approval? All the time! Then I wake up in a cold sweat.

Seriously, no. Fighting about money is the quickest way to divorce, next to infidelity.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Make big purchases w/o her prior approval? All the time! Then I wake up in a cold sweat.

Seriously, no. Fighting about money is the quickest way to divorce, next to infidelity.

Wait 'til she finds out about the sports car you bought for the girlfriend.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by mikez

I could probably get away with anything, except a motorcycle.....I have a histroy of doing flying "W"s off the front end. Usually due to some dumbschitzle not seeing me....when I gots married I swore not to buy another one....

I have the longest leash of any married man I know, BUT...

I had a bad history of crashing bikes when I was young. When my wife was pregnant with our first, she made it clear that she didn't want me on motorcycles anymore. Can't say I blame her. I guess I'm a terrible rider.

[legion]

Never.

On an unrelated note, don't open my gun safe.

I currently have two rifles on order and have no room for them. My wife will notice a new gun safe...

[rattlsnak]

Like the Porsche project I just bought? Uh, no. When I did tell her her I had already had it a week, and of course told her it cost half what it did. Of course she told me she was OK with it as we were looking at new floor tiling for the bathroom remodel.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Motorcycle. I'd always wanted a Duc, and the opportunity to purchase a pristine older one came along, so.... I didn't even have a decent place to store it for the winter, but the dealer let me keep it on the showroom floor until spring. That made explaining it to the wife a bit easier, as I could break the news to her in stages.

More recently, a couple of sets of wheels for the Porsche.

Your wife doesn't have a issue with you buying those rims . A little birdie told me this...

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Because in many relationships, money expenditures are a joint decision based on other competing family priorities: kids' well being, mortgage, other hopes and dreams, retirement, etc.

Exactly. We discuss every medium to big purchase. And I wouldn't have it any other way because I know I can justify things . . .

Ian