Purchasing My Future

Daily writing prompt

Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).

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If I’m restricted to an actual physical item that was the most expensive I’ve ever purchased, it’s actually hard to answer. I’ve bought things that are several hundred dollars for either myself or my husband. None of them are really memorable though. I can’t even tell what the most expensive was. Maybe the PlayStation 4 I bought him one year for Christmas? I can also say that some of my larger tattoos were rather expensive. But honestly, I think the most expensive “item” that I have purchased lately is my master’s degree. I opted to not accept the financial aid I was offered for the two years of classes that were required. The loans from my bachelor’s degree that I earned 20 years ago are still not paid off. I didn’t want to add even more on top of that. So since monthly tuition payment plans were an option, and because my car is paid off and we live in a house that is paid off, I decided to pay out of pocket for my degree (not that paying off my original student loans isn’t also coming out of my pocket). I don’t say that to brag, but really, this prompt is almost requiring us to brag about buying something expensive, so maybe I am bragging a little. Of course, I have to add that while I can pride myself on earning my degree with no loans to burden me afterwards, I am actually not using my degree for its intended purpose. It’s a master’s in school administration. Future principals go to school for this degree. After my one year as principal, I decided that it wasn’t for me. That’s putting it mildly. I don’t feel any regret about wasting my time or money on that education. In fact, I’m pretty sure the fact that I have a master’s degree helped me land the job I’m in now. I’m still proud to say that I have a master’s and I love being able to use the plural form of ‘degree’ when I refer to what I have earned. So, bottom line, not a total waste. I suppose I could revise my answer to this question and say the most expensive thing I ever purchased was bragging rights because that’s about all my master’s degree is good for now. And that’s good enough for me.