first off let me just say that this post is in no way meant to digg anyone or aimed at anybody.

As some of you know i am a new enthusiast to the watch world. I got my first watch a bit over a year ago and have collected a couple more since then. in the process of collecting watches my desire and urge to add another piece is ever growing. However as of late I have been thinking about the cost of these watches and although they dont break the bank i cant help but to feel guilty buying them. i look around and see all the messed up things that happen in the world and i wonder if i should use my money to help other people instead of indulging in my own self gluttony. I am just curious if any of you ever feel like this...and if so does it come and go?

I've said this before, but......

When I first started buying watches I did feel guilty about the money that was being spent on something that I didn't 'need'. However, having spent a long time navel gazing my philosophy is simple.

I pay all of my obligations - I have paid off my mortgage, my cars are paid off, my credit card is paid in full every month. I don't compromise any other spend for watches - we needed a new furnace in the house this year, so that got done before any money on any luxury. I also work for every cent that I have, I had an extremely working class upbringing and have not and will not received any inheritance - I am only spending my hard earned money, not anybody elses.

Above all though, watches make me feel good, and I am not prepared to put a price on my happiness when that happiness is not causing anyone else to suffer. The people that I care about have what they need, my future / retirement is paid before everything else and I have no desire to be the richest guy in the graveyard.

I fully recognise that I am luckier than some (although to use a cliche I have found that the harder I work, the luckier I get), but I think that the principles hold true regardless of the numbers involved.

there are people who want to lecture me about buying property instead, but I think that has a lot to do with people in Sydney being obsessed to an unhealthy degree with real estate and property prices (still the number one obsession in this city, way above the more recent things like celebrity chefs). Call me short-sighted, but I'm happy renting at the moment - I'm not from here originally and I don't share the dream of paying a huge sum of money for a crappy apartment.

Boogie, a good question.

And as usual Roff hits the nail on the head (oh and Happy Birthday Roff, 39 again!), one of the benefits of having disposable income is being able to choose what and where you spend your money, my grown up children have had far more help financially than I ever had, but that's a result of the work I do and because of that hard work I am in a position to help them. After that comes cars, motor bikes, holidays, watches, cameras, and all the additional clutter that makes up our life style.

In amongst all that comes charity, and from the tone of your post it would seem that you perhaps have not yet found the benefit and the feeling of well being that giving to others less fortunate than yourself can bring, or spending time to assist them, to me it is on a par with the feeling you get when you buy a new watch. Its not a smugness or a showing off, like you do or have with a new watch on your wrist, but its a private feeling that feels good inside. I am not talking big sums of money but choose something you care about and set up a regular payment from your bank and see how it feels.

I also belong to a social group that has charity as one of its core beliefs and the combined power of a large number of people giving a small amount can make a difference in the world. (And as I write this its interesting to me, as I am usually very private about my charitable donations, and have not previously discussed this in public) strange what you will discuss with a bunch of watch nuts spread across the globe.

Ian