Of course I have. But then I justify it by telling myself that the mod I'm purchasing is far cheaper than therapy / marriage counseling.

 

This has got to be one of the five best threads ever started on this board. These posts are cracking me up. I guess I am not so different anymore. Good therapy, plus everyone is giving me some good ideas.

 

She's pretty understanding...but all is fair in love, war, and nuclear weapons, right? She spends her fair share in clothes and shoes of what I upgrade on the car. It's only money I guess. It could be worse...I could have no mini and still be upgrading the money pit of a Toyota Tacoma I had before.

 

Excellent. This is the ammo I pull out when wonders what I got done on my little road trips to Philly (Helix) If she comments, I just ask things like "How much did you spend at Bloomies? How much was that (name designer) handbag?"

Although it did take her several months to notice the white Pro-Drive's last summer.

 

Ummm... I plead the 5th... Sweetie

 

I have THE PERFECT WIFE For big purchases, I put away half of my weekly pocket money and eventually make the purchase in cash (or equivalent) because she'd rather not know What a SWEETHEART



_________________

 

I haven't EXACTLY lied but I have told her things such as we have to get a manual transmission so our kids can learn to drive one (not mentioning that I like it better). I have a similar justification for every single option on the car.

 

I've never really fessed up to the actual cost of the car. It's always been the basic pre-sales tax cost rounded off to the nearest thousand "plus the engine upgrade". I explained to her that I'd rather have the JCW than the DVD navigation, and I thus saved $1,700 by not ordering that option. She has never asked what the JCW kit + install really cost, however. I think I might have also forgotten about the driving lamps and white tail lights in tha basic cost analysis, as those were after thought add-ons after I signed the order from. Oh well, its just how you package and spin it

 

I don't yet have a MINI but I have done this same thing countless times for parts for my Jetta. I only got busted once when I bought new tires adn she could still see the stripes in the crevices. It is just easier not to have to explain why this new part is so important. She see them as "just cars, I don't know why you get so excited about them."

 

This is a great thread. I don't think I have actually lied...I just present it in better terms. "The springs will smooth out the ride" and stuff like that. Or, I might not tell the whole story, I forgot to mention the pulley install when I drove to Helix. Funny how my wife noticed the difference first time she drove the car!
I tend to justify it in my own mind...She spends just about as much money on her hair and nails as I do on the car!

 

The odd twisting of the truth has slipped out. I figure if I put a CooperFlags Union Jack on my car within a month of delivery then it's "part of the original purchase"...

The real danger here is what I call "revenge shopping". A lot of us not only are familar with the term, and quake in our boots when we hear it, but if we're honest, we've also done it.....

Recommendations (in priority order):

1. Find an alternate location for delivery (office is always good - that way if she does find out, you can ligitimately claim that you weren't trying to hide your purchase, you were merely going for a more convenient option - for her - because your office reception is always open to take delivery).

2. Use a hidden source of funds. I invested a little bit in an e*Trade account a few years back and now have a fund for "private" expenses (nothing sinister here, I've only used it once, and that was to buy an eternity ring for my wife, but it will be for things like bits for my wonderful MCS).

3. Practice the line: "it's always been like that, I thought you were really observant, I'm surprised you hadn't noticed. By the way you look fantastic tonite."

4. Develop a strong prayer routing and work on your relationship with your deity of choice. In the event that something goes wrong and one of your mods has violated your warranty and you need a new motor, everything you've done in the 1,2, and 3 above will be rendered null and void and you'll be f**ked, not to put too fine a point on it.

Good luck to all, and happy modding. I'll be starting next week with the install of my Union Jack. Hopefull that won't void the warranty...:smile:

 

That's hilarious

 

Why are all these replies from husbands regarding stories told to their wives? Where are all the ladies? When my husband asks how much anything costs - I just tell him it was on sale. If he persists, I tell him how much money I have saved him by waiting for the free shipping!

 

you guys are so busted

Here's a thought...set aside some of your own paycheck to pay for mods. Hey, it's your money, right? Maintaining separate checking accounts( and bathrooms) are the keys to success. Sounds radical, I know, but having to lie to your wife kinda sucks when ya really think about it, right?

Are your spouses really so bad that you feel it necessary for all the subterfuge?? Just curious, as I've never had to fib to a spouse about purchases....

 

 

Any man who won't let me, or doesn't understand why, I spend money on my Lucy will never be Mr. Right. She's my baby!

MINIangelD

Lucy - EB/B 2003 MCS, sports pkg, premium pkg, Wet Okole seat covers, HK speakers, lotsa interior chrome, and bonnet stripes!

 

It's useless in my house. My wife grew up in a family of gear heads (father drags and builds Harleys, brothers are into cars, lots of them) so any time I "need" something, I just come clean. I've tried the "Dang, I think I have a hole in my exhaust!" Only to have her reply, "Go start the car, let me hear it!" She's way too quick and knowledgeable about cars for me to try to slide one past her.

Craig

 

My wife and I have worked out a superb situation.

THREE bank accounts.

Hers, Mine and Ours.

Here's how it works:

My paycheck goes into my account.
Her paycheck goes into her account.
We each pay the same percentage of our NET salary into the joint account
If there's not enough money in the joint, we increase our percentage.

It took a couple of years, but we are now at 70% transfer-to-joint.

So we each get 30% of our takehome for our own accounts.
I make more money, so I transfer more into the joint, but I also
get to keep more in my account. For her birthday presents of course.

When we want a new couch or whatever, it comes from the joint.

Deductions to retirement accounts happen before calculating the
net income, so they get maxed out of course.

It really works well. I highly suggest it.

 

There are only two types as far as I'm concerned- those who don't disclose every deatail to their spouses or partners and those who won't admit that they do not disclose all.

I have my money, accounts, and obligations and my wife has hers. She doesn't pry to deep on my car and recreational expenses (I think she'd freak if she knew the full cost of some of my toys) and I don't press her on her horse or footwear expenses as long as the kids are taken care of and the bills are paid. Sometimes ignorance is bliss; or, as my brother likes to point out, "simple people are happy people, and we are neither."

 

>>It's useless in my house. My wife grew up in a family of gear heads (father drags and builds Harleys, brothers are into cars, lots of them) so any time I "need" something, I just come clean. I've tried the "Dang, I think I have a hole in my exhaust!" Only to have her reply, "Go start the car, let me hear it!" She's way too quick and knowledgeable about cars for me to try to slide one past her.
>>
>>Craig

I'm in the same situation...I made the mistake of teaching my wife more about cars after we were married. Granted her dad is big into hotrods, but she knows a lot more about cars than most guys. When I got the chip upgrade for my MCS I explained that the increased airflow from the intake and push of more air out of my magnaflow exhaust made it necessary for me to upgrade the chip to adjust for these changes. You wouldn't want me to go to the trouble of taking all of these upgrades off...would you honey? Her response..."You are so full of @#$&, just tell me how much it cost" . She is good to me and understands I'm crazy about my MINI and this "stuff" I install make's it even more fun. She's to smart for me to lie to her...it's easier to come clean because she gets over it a lot faster.

 

Helix is nice enough to keep my receipts "on file" so instead of "don't ask, don't tell", I just do the latter.

X2

 

I'm enjoy'n this thread :smile:

My wife refers to my MCS as my..."change o life" or "midlife crisis" car :smile:
I'm a bit obsessed w/ it... as if you didn't realize that....by now :smile:
She has no issues w/ the money I spend .... as far as I know :smile: but
if she did I would most certainly hear about it....I assure you :smile:
I'm sure her approach it that it keeps me busy and out of serious trouble.

Peace,
D

 

>>The odd twisting of the truth has slipped out. I figure if I put a CooperFlags Union Jack on my car within a month of delivery then it's "part of the original purchase"...
>>
>>The real danger here is what I call "revenge shopping". A lot of us not only are familar with the term, and quake in our boots when we hear it, but if we're honest, we've also done it.....
>>
>>Recommendations (in priority order):
>>
>>1. Find an alternate location for delivery (office is always good - that way if she does find out, you can ligitimately claim that you weren't trying to hide your purchase, you were merely going for a more convenient option - for her - because your office reception is always open to take delivery).
>>
>>2. Use a hidden source of funds. I invested a little bit in an e*Trade account a few years back and now have a fund for "private" expenses (nothing sinister here, I've only used it once, and that was to buy an eternity ring for my wife, but it will be for things like bits for my wonderful MCS).
>>
>>3. Practice the line: "it's always been like that, I thought you were really observant, I'm surprised you hadn't noticed. By the way you look fantastic tonite."
>>
>>4. Develop a strong prayer routing and work on your relationship with your deity of choice. In the event that something goes wrong and one of your mods has violated your warranty and you need a new motor, everything you've done in the 1,2, and 3 above will be rendered null and void and you'll be f**ked, not to put too fine a point on it.
>>
>>Good luck to all, and happy modding. I'll be starting next week with the install of my Union Jack. Hopefull that won't void the warranty...:smile:


Yep, used #3 alot. when I got my UUC, took her about a week, puled in the Garage, she had a puzzled look? did you do something to your car? she asked.. why no! i need to take it to BMW and see if they can see why its so loud? I guess these Mini's have issues. the AfterMarket wheels and tires... Hmmmm she still thinks they are stock. the Gost flames. Im testing them for a friend. I have lots of them. but she know... she's just letting me be a guy! and love my Mini like everyone should...

 

I would not say I lie about my MCS. I just happen to say that I like holding her purse and the 20 different outfits while she tries on countless articles of clothing. Giving her good evaluations on everything she puts on and making sure that if there is a smile on her face when she comes out of the dressing room that's the heads up for "that looks fantastic." This along with occasional flowers and my overall good looks and charm is enough to get whatever I want for my MCS. Not that I use these tactics solely for my MCS it just helps justify my purchases. The saying: Good things (MINI stuff) come to those who wait (by the dressing rooms holding a purse) holds very true.

B

 

I am still reCOOPERating from getting over the first huge hurdle! We bought the Mini! It hasn't arrived yet as it is being shipped from Mini of the Hamptons (Jet Black MCS). She isn't into cars at all and it took almost three months to convince her that a new Mini was the way to go. What helped most was getting her to go on a test. I even pretended to be objective and consider other cars. She loves her Pug dog and I was able to convince her that a mini not only looked like her beloved dog but that a Mini is about the only car you can buy new that acually becomes part of the family! Women have a nurtchering personality so refering to garage as "the babys room" also helped. Knowing its birthday (Nov. 19, 03) and picking a name (Zippy) didn't hurt either in getting her excited about what she perceived was a very expensive sub compact car.

The car is not even here yet and I am already trying to fugure out how to get new wheels, exhaust, and a pully. Don't lighter wheels make the ride smoother? Doesn't a better free flowing exhaust improve mileage? And doesn't the pulley increase the eficiency of the engine? Help me out here. I am just getting prepared. She is a wonderful wife that prefers buying house stuff and couldn't care less about cars.