AnalogMan

Bought a timeshare on our honeymoon to Hawaii as an investment in our marriage, i.e. to force me to take vacation and overcome my workaholic tendencies.

With flights to Hawaii easily costly 1k per person during the holidays, that's one big purchase that keeps costing money.

We regularly buy jewelry for the wife on trips but I did get myself an Omega Speedmaster on a cruise once

mikeef

Tried to get pregnant and ended up with twins.

Mike

chgoeditor

Just goes to show you've never been to Northern Michigan. It's a hidden gem, and few outside the midwest seem to be aware of it.

A few links here:
Harbor Springs, MI
Bay Harbor, MI
Petoskey, MI
Mackinac Island, MI
Charlevoix, MI

tentseller

Travelling in China: rural antique furnishings (during the last millennium).

Bought a 2 yrs old H3 for a lot less than wholesale $13000 in 2008. Clear title/carfax. Owner's co went bankrupt, he was out of work and needed $$$ to keep his AMEX current.

These were all stumbled upon deals.

mlh1

Ha ha, I did see some nicer knock offs on the street, but I don't think those would have qualified for this thread

shawbridge

Many times. It is hard to remember them all.

My wife brought bag an exquisite rugs from India.
I bought Borneo pearls in KL.
Leather jackets from Italy.
My wife bought lots of clothes at a boutique in Bali (great prices as the rupiah was way down).
4 pearl necklaces from Hyderabad.
Little Dia de los Muertes constructions from Mexico.
Some kind of sculpture carved into a very heavy log in Bali.
Shirts on Savile Row or Jermyn Street.

Geek007

We have hunting property in northern Michigan near Ironwood, Michigan can be stunning.

The above hunting property, we were up north on vacation. Husband found said hunting property in a flyer posted in a bar. 2 days later we bought it. We have about 60 acres and have 200 yards of river frontage. And it was about $25,000 less then places we had looked at in other areas.

RobbieRunner

I bought my Hawaiian pad because I got tired of paying large hotel charges on my frequent visits to Hawaii on business and pleasure.
But I tend to stay a month or two at a time when there, so it works out I suppose.

I tend to forget SOMETHING on every trip. Once, I forgot my wrist watch. I can't live without one. I went shopping for an economical watch just to get me through the trip and ended up spending over $1,200 on a Tag. Like I needed another high-end watch? A $25 drug store model would have been fine for the 1 week trip. I still curse myself for that impulse buy.

Redhead

I bought a 1920s original art deco ad for a taxi company in Prague. I walked by the gallery, fell in love with it. Didn't buy it and then found myself purposely walking past the gallery twice more and just had to get it. Carrying that home in its frame on the plane was interesting.

I bought two small rugs in Turkey

I bought a gold bracelet in Dubai

RobbieRunner

Yes, the current economy and "Redistribution of Wealth" if you wish to call it that has hit many very hard, and such deals are there if you look for them.
It is sad to profit from someone's demise, but I suppose that is life. Still, very sad to see so many suffering and selling prized possessions for fire-sale prices.

Athena53

One of my favorite impulse purchase stories is similar but with a happy ending. I lost my cheap watch in Paris on my first trip to Europe, after getting very drunk with 3 men (one of whom I'd met in the hostel where I was staying). I can't live without a watch either so I stopped in a jewelry store the next day and picked a used one out that cost the equivalent of about $250. It was 1977 and I was staying in a hostel that cost $3/night, but I'd been working for a few years and knew good jewelry even then. It's 18k gold with a mesh band that's also 18k gold, all of which was later confirmed in an appraisal. I don't wear it often because it's so delicate (and the face is a bit difficult for my ageing eyes to read easily) but I've never regretted losing the cheap watch!

CMK10

I bought a new bag in London a few years ago, at Heathrow actually. I felt terrible retiring my old bag that had served me so well and unceremoniously dumping it in a rubbing bin but it was time. I still have the new one

Athena53

At the cruise ship art auctions? They don't have a very good reputation for anything other than watered-down "champagne" served in copious amounts.

iflyfish

I bought a museum reproduction 18k gold & sapphire necklace and matching earrings on a business trip to Athens - years later I still shake my head at my expensive (for me) impulse purchase, but I love wearing them.

spideysense

A bloody expensive watch in Zurich.