I'd take the cash.

Hey, did I just delete my own post?

This is my answer: If THE Fashion Fairy comes, I have to take the fashion and go all the way - #1.

But there's a caveat: If the choice is specifically $5000 or a Birkin, then it's the $5000. I don't do Hermes and a Birkin is not a good choice for the aspiring gold digger. It screams gold digger!!! And I totally aspire to be a gold digger.

This has GOT to be a joke, right?! I'm taking the cash and spending the week in NYC!

Ca$h -- and buy DH (the family cook) a Capital Culinarian range that cranks up to something like 23K BTUs. Then, I would have to chant the mantra of eating slowly and minimally, lest I pop out of my clothes.

I'd take the cash and see if Suz and Shannon would let me join them in Paris. I went last summer and want to go again so desperately!

I would take the $5000, use my knowledge of fashion to invest in fashion stocks, and try and see if I can make it $50,000. Have been wanting to do this for a while.

Cash for me, if said fairy also provides a week of childcare DH and I are going on a fab trip sans kiddos. If not, probably put the money in the bank (for now at least.....)

I'll take the cash and take Hubby to New York for a few days and see some shows!

I'd take the cash, and use it to visit my parents. Or maybe the luxury items if one of them could be a custom-made business suit that actually looks good on me. Or maybe each piece of a suit could be one luxury item?

I like the shape of the Birkin but in real life the design would not be comfortable for me to carry.

Oh that's easy. I'd take the cash, and revisit Botswana with my husband.

I'd take the cash. No way would I ever buy a $5,000 bag!

I would probably take the cash. I'd love to be able to able to give something to my parents-- 5k would pay for a tempurpedic and a bedroom set, or hardwood floors, or part of a kitchen-- they could save it or use part of it on a trip (my dad hates to travel, so it would have to be a short or camping-centered one) . I'd also like to buy my mother a ring to beef up her wedding set after 25 years.

If I had to save it or spend it on myself, 5k in the bank saved towards going back to school would be great. Part spent on some new camera equipment would be amazing-- my family suggested that they purchase it for me since we "skipped" celebrating or giving gifts for Christmas and birthdays for years and all 3 of my graduations, but it's expensive and I always feel like I owe them too much already. I'd also consider picking up a small SUV like my first car as a daily driver (mine got close to 30 mpg, believe it or not!) and to take on all the local "adventures". I might use some of it to buy a plane ticket to visit a friend who lives in Hawaii and has offered to take me around (she's a dive instructor) but I never have the money to justify a ticket. I might travel to some of the places I'd like to visit elsewhere in the US, too-- and maybe visit two more of my closest friends that I haven't seen in a couple of years. Maybe I'd have the money to take some more art classes or buy some studio time. Obviously those are just ideas-- but doing just one or two of those things would be pretty great.

Alternatively, I think I'd go with the 2-day makeover. It would be hard though, since boots and coats can be hard to keep under 200 dollars- but I wouldn't worry too much about the 2 days since I'd have help. 5k would definitely be enough to try out premium denim, buy some jackets and have them tailored, pick up a couple of bags, replenish my tops/sweaters, spend on a real trench/nice rain jacket, and nice winter jacket, and support my $100 shoe habit-- I probably could even afford to invest a bit in a nicer watch and replenish my gear-- especially my hiking and travel clothes.

Honestly, I can't imagine owning something that cost more than $1000 dollars, probably not even a wedding ring (which is funny since I'd eagerly shell the money out on a vehicle, camera, trip, or kiln). I do love nice things and would like to be able to afford the little luxuries and quality-- that said, a 150-300 dollar pair of leather boots that I'll wear for the next 10 years and real shearling slippers and smartwool socks qualify in my mind. I'd rather have money to spend on people and food, and on going for rides and adventures and weekend trips, getting to travel once in a while, on education, and having a nice place to live and explore hobbies, ect.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/f.....-happiness

Another vote for blowing most of it on experiences. And on taking my mother out to do something nice in repayment for taking care of my ailing dog. I would buy a couple of fabulous dresses and pairs of shoes and then spend the rest on yoga, tennis lessons, and dinners

It seems that we are all breaking the rules, but my grad student brain (read: poor yet weirdly entitled-feeling) can't even wrap itself around the idea of a $5000 bag or stuff.

Door #4 for a really special international trip (in real life, right now B. and I are saving for a July 2013 trip to Ireland with his family) would be my first choice. Second choice would be #3. I'm really not into luxury/status items, to be honest; they just don't do it for me. I have two Kate Spade bags that, to me, were very pricey bags; but I got them from a reputed seller on eBay for much less than the cost at retail price (or even at the outlet mall price) and that's enough for me. They just happened to be exactly what I had been looking for and wasn't able to find beforehand, and were made very, very well.

It is a bit practical, but I would take the cash and use it for vacations. I think I could squeeze two out of it and I love my vacations.