>How would you convince your spouse that you needed a $3,000
>camera when your D300 and D200 are in perfect working
>order?

While I can't profess to be an expert in the subject, I'd like to share my experience. To answer the above question...

You can't. It's a "want," not a "need." Any attempt at explaining the reasons behind a purchase is going to sound half-baked at best, whiny at worst.

I've only been married for 2,5 years, but have been together with the wife for 8 years prior--and I was such a spendthrift you'd wonder why she stayed with me sometimes. I bought things without telling her, tried the "I'll buy A and I'll buy you B, too" technique, used reason, and whatever else.

She always lets go after getting angry, but we're planning to have kids and save up for the future--so I've (somehow) learnt to curb my spending habits enough to avoid being in the red the past 3-6 months, cashflow-wise.

I'm going to buy the AF-S 70-300mm VR lens soon, before an event on the 27th here in Jakarta. So I decided to tell her that I plan to buy it, well ahead of time. After some fairly heated discussion, she said "you can buy it if you want, but just keep in mind what we need to spend for the rest of the year."

What I've realized is that for relatively big purchases, we have to be morally responsible. If we want something, we'll have to say that it's a want, at the very least state the reasons behind it, and ensure that no one in the family will suffer (at least financially) from the purchase.

Just my two cents. Best of luck to you. =3

EDIT: Didn't see the spouse's confirmation. Not a problem, then! =D

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Meh. =3