This happened to me last summer. Nashbar was selling the Diamondback Release 3 Full Suspension MTB, (msrp $2500) for $1,800. Over Labor Day weekend, they dropped the price 25% and had free shipping. I had no choice but to buy it. I was expecting it to arrive on a Wednesday and was home waiting for it. I had one of my daughters in on it and told her to be on the lookout for it and not to let her mother know when it arrived. I did a quick errand and the bike arrived in the 15 minute window I was gone. Fed-Ex left the giant box on the front porch. My younger daughter was very proud of herself for wrestling the giant box in the foyer all by herself.
I got the call from my wife shortly after that.
Her: "What the hell is this gigantic box in the hallway?"
Me: "I have no idea."
Her: "It has Bike written all over it in big letters. Did you buy another bike?"
Me: "I have no idea what that is. I'll be home in five minutes."
Her: "It can't stay here in the hallway."
Me: "I'll get it out of there."

I don't remember exactly how I explained it. After 24 years of marriage, I don't question some of her purchases and she doesn't grill me too extensively about mine.

Deny, deny, deny and pretend there is nothing even there. Bike? What bike? I don't see a bike.

Make her think she's crazy.

Regarding the distraction technique: allow me to present the nuclear codes.

Before I do, caution. Do not mess around with this. You only get to use this once in your life and you need to use it at the right time to avoid unwanted consequences.

Here it is: I’ve been thinking...do you want to have another baby?

That looks very similar to the programme I run:

1. Say you're interested in buying x thing, but you're not sure. Your old x is giving you problems, it needs to be replaced, but... it's getting on. Maybe when there's more money in the checking account
2. Say you've found the perfect x. It's only $$$$$ big dollars. But you're still not sure
3. After a short while, say you've found another x, which doesn't look as good, it's a big downgrade on your dream x, but it's OK. It's a lot less $$$ that step 2s x thing (this is the x you really want)
4. confirm you've had a look at a bunch of options, and you're going to pull the trigger
5. Buy x. Unless she goes nuclear. It which case, leave it a couple of months, complain about current x thing, subconsciously building the hassle factor, then run steps 3 to 4 again.

Alternatively, grow a pair and buy what you want with your money, providing you don't bankrupt your family, it's not on credit and all your bills are paid (and there's nothing on your credit card). But don't bitch and whine when she wants to buy something equally frivilous in your eyes, but means a lot to her (so long as it doesn't bankrupt you etc)

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Swim. Overbike. Walk.

You put us husbands in mortal danger with your post. Now our wives are reading this!!!!! Hahaha! Cheers mate.

Getting Sex and a new bike in the same week? I've got no chance of being THAT lucky. I've been married too long and i've got too many kids... I guess that's why i need a new bike ;)

if that is the case n+1=s-1 --> s = n+2 , so he is fine

I'll never get these questions

I buy what I want and she buys what she wants. My wife is not my mother so I don't need permission to make a purchase we can afford

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Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

 

2a) Start talking about a new bike a year before you plan to actually get a new bike so she finally just agrees to it just to get you to shut up. Also effective strategy for bigger TV, new car, etc.



This!

That's what i think too - This is a tiny percentage of my annual income so she can bugger off if she wants to make a fuss about it.

I've just taken the bike out for a little spin - It's worth the aggro for sure!

As far as price goes, my wife and I have an understanding with regards to large purchases. The price quote to your spouse is always, round down and drop the tax. My new bike was $2800 with tax, but I told the missus $2000. She does the same with the closet full of clothes, shoes and purses, new kitchen counters, backyard pool, etc etc.

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https://trigeek1969.blogspot.ca

Tonight, I'm gonna go to my wife and tell her that I'm just gonna make expensive purchases without discussing them with her first. We can afford them, and she's not my mother and I don't need her permission.

I'm sure that'll go well, and there is no chance that she will remember that conversation forever and use it against me whenever she deems appropriate.

Anyone have a couch or shed I can hide out in for a few days?

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

Why not just get her a new bike of her own?
My bonus comes in in a few weeks. New bike for me, and also for her.

This is gold. I’ll never roll the dice and try using it, but it was great for a laugh.

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Instagram | Team Kiwami North America

Yep. You make sure that your wife makes a similiar/larger purchase BEFORE your purchase. You hope that she is using that purchase still when your bike comes up.

Oh we should get that new car, she is driving the car, then you get the bike. If she has been shopping for X, make sure gets X before your Y shows up. Preferably while she is shopping for X your tell her about Y (the bike). My wife doesnt care when I get new toys because she is getting something as well, and vice versa. This is our version of handling things.

Alternatively, I make sure she goes on a girl trip when things are going to be showing up and I will take care of the kids.

This would be me, if I were married. If I were the OPs wife, my response to him would be, “Where is my new bike?”

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Holding it for a friend?

Really aggressive she got when I started sanding the just arrived brand new expensive carbon frameset.

(I said: "hate that paintjob, gonna let it be custom-painted".)


(Edit: when I reread this post, I see I exaggerated a bit, and in the end she also liked the custom-paintjob)

Did only one bike arrive...
Im cancelling the other order and never buying form them again...

My wife uses that one all the time. Thing is, I suspect most often that she didn't, but if I challenge her on it, the conversation will turn to how I never listen.

Only time I have done this I got in pretty big trouble. Probably because it was a .22 LR and she isn't a fan of guns.

My wife is overall not a spender, she doesn't wear jewelry, doesn't like expensive vacations, or anything else. Oh her income is also a lot more than mine (like double). So I'm fighting an uphill battle.

Generally what I do is 1) start going on a craigslist selling spree, old bikes, tools and other things I don't use. 2) save up credit card reward points 3) earn a some extra cash volunteering for medical research studies (blood samples and stuff).

So when I make a purchase I argue that it is more or less a wash as I sold stuff, used reward points and extra cash. Seemed to work for the 735XT garmin I just purchased.

I must be so much of a cheapskate that IF I did something like a big undiscussed $10k bike purchase, my wife would literally go "good for you!! Glad to you see you enjoying spending your money!"

Of course, this likely means she will soon be spending similar amounts on her end...

 Man up buttercup

Cut your left one off before she does.