I'm drooling over a Lenox vase. I really want to buy it. I have the money in my Paypal account which makes it feel like I'm not spending any money at all (the money is deposited from mystery shops, surveys, etc). Wanna talk me out of it?

Back story:

When I was a teenager I was out shopping with my mom (this was YEARS ago!) I saw a large Lenox woodland vase and instantly fell in love with it. Even back then it was a spendy item. I begged my mom to buy it for me. She refused. As was her usual answer, "When you become an adult, then I'll buy it." Trust me, I didn't ask my parents for much. The fact that I begged for this item sticks in my mind because it was such an unusual thing for me to do.

My mom's attitude was typical of her. I used to fall in love with Easter lillies every year, too, and she would say, "When you have your own house, I'll buy you all the Easter lillies you want." Of course, she never did, even though, for some sad reason I expected she'd surprise me - at least once - when I became an adult.

My mom is now dead; both my parents are. I've done a lot of work to get over some of my old childhood memories. I've decided - with hubby's encouragement - that if my parents wouldn't buy me the vase, I'm empowered to buy it for myself. I'm a big girl now, after all.

Well, the mold for the large Lenox woodland vase broke at the factory and they stopped making that vase. The two smaller versions are very easy to find but there is something special about the larger one - and part of it is tied up with some of the painful memories I have from my childhood. The large vase is impossible to find. Even places like "Replacements" laugh at me when I ask them to search. Hubby and I both look on e-bay but can't find it. Hubby looks at antique stores, etc when he is travelling, too.

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So, today I was on e-bay looking for the vase when I happened across on new design that I really like. And I mean really, REALLY like. It isn't a substitute for the vase I want to buy but it is still gorgeous. If and when we ever find the woodland vase we'll definately buy it. In the meantime, I'm getting a nagging feeling that if I don't buy this other vase I'm going to end up feeling the same disappointment.

I think part of the appeal of this vase is my birthday is coming up soon. Maybe I feel like I need to give myself a gift. I don't know. It is just a 'thing'. I am rarely tied to material possessions. Usually I'm trying to do away with them! And there is the expense. It is about $70 to purchase (which includes shipping). Why do I feel guilty getting it?

Do I buy? Do I not? Please vote.

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I say yes!
Why not? As long as you can justify the spending, which you can 'cause it's a present for you, the it's all game. Don't get addicted to them though. I've known people that shop for those QVC lamps and have tons of them. One is a good number

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Can you provide a link to the vase?

I say if you love it buy it! I also think of mystery /survey money in my paypal account to spend on whatever. Being that it is so easily made and all That is JMO though.

It totally depends on your financial situation. If you've got credit card debt to pay off, I'd say wait.

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Here is a link to the vase:

Lenox Filigree Forest Large Vase from Lenox

I found it cheaper on e-bay.

As for cc debt. We have tons. The $70 isn't going to make a difference - sadly.

There is a little more back story as to why I think I love this particular vase, if anyone cares. I admit, it is all an emotional decision.

Decades ago my grandmother brought over from her home country a hand crafted silver filigree vase. She promised it to me when she died. She even gave it to me and I stored it for her for a while. One day she asked for it back. Of course, it was hers so I gave it back. After grandma died, the vase magically appeared on my sister's fireplace mantel. Sis said grandma gave it to her! Apparently grandma thought that because I still had young children at home that the vase would become damaged so she gave it to my sister instead.

My family was like this. My mother was mentally ill and my chilhood was pretty rough. I think I survived better than most. Again, the emotional part of me is saying that I want to heal the wounds of the old broken promises. I've done a lot to focus on the good memories instead of the bad, but there are times like now - around my birthday - when the old hurts come flooding back.

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Sorry, I think a vase is definitely something you can do without. I would put the $ towards your debt. $70 + interest will make a difference.

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Have you looked at the Lenox site? They recently had a sale and had a beautiful crystal vase for much less than that.

I bought an enormous heavy Lenox bowl on their site a few years ago and I absolutely LOVE the thing. It is so much nicer than cheaper crystal bowls. But I got a GREAT deal on it and it wasn't that much. I'd probably have a hard time paying $70 for a vase.

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Okay....I hadn't read all the responses when I posted before. I change my vote to no. If you have credit card debt (having a LOT isn't a very good excuse...sorry) and you're buying this vase to fill an emotional hole, then you shouldn't buy it. You can't fill emotional holes with "things". And if you're in that much credit card debt you could use that $70 much better to help pay it off. Tell yourself when your CC debt is paid off you can buy yourself any vase you want as a reward. JMO

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I voted no also. I have bought things thinking they would make me feel better and I ended up feeling worse because I felt guilty for spending the extra money.

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I voted to buy the vase!

Life is too short, not to indulge in things from time to time.

If you want it so much, that you are actually debating with yourself, if you don't get it, you are going to be so disappointed and mad at yourself.

When dd was 4 she wanted to buy her brother a bear, well he was on all kinds of machines and couldn't even hold his head up, or hold a bear. I told her that it was foolish to spend the money on something, like that. After all they had all kinds of stuff animals at the house.

It wasn't long after than, that he passed away. When I was getting his outfit together to take to the funeral home, she asked her dad to take her to k-bee toys to get the bear. Thinking that she wanted the bear for herself, he did.

She put the bear in the casket with her brother so that he could be burried with it. To this day it has bother me that I didn't buy the bear for her from the get-go.

Sorry that I got off of the subject.

But buy the vase, you missed one a long time ago, that you still think about.