Money in the bank, right?

[Gleem]

I just got about a thousand dollars back from the tax authorities. It's not a huge amount of money like winning the lottery but still, to a poor student like me, it's 'extra money', right?

 

For the past couple of weeks I have been 'sitting' on the money not sure as to what to do with it. I finally decided that letting it roll is probably the best thing, much better then spending it on college or saving for a big safari or something. I am off to see James Brown next weekend.

 

(I hope he don't die on me the coming week!! )

 

......but, anyways, tell me this:

 

If you were poor student like me and had 1000 dollars free to spend what would YOU do with it?

[the_mask]

A thousand squid ?

That would go a long way towards my new car. Actually that and another 1k would get me there

But as a fellow student I know how that feels. I'd put it on the bank, since you'd have a hard time finding

anything, that's really safe to invest it in and being able to get to your money, as soon as you need it.

So I'd put it on the bank, this might not be the most elegant thing, but at least you'll know the money is safe

and always accessible

[Trejiuvanat]

1000 Dollar.... Hmmm... I wouldn't know, as a fellow student, I definetely wouldn't

I know I wouldn't buy a car, 1000 all that gets me is a Hyundai '84, and with the high oil prices there's no way I could use it at all. No video games, wouldn't have time to play them, ditto for consoles, etc.

I'd probably see if there's anything I urgently need (shoes, clothing, new 128Mb Videocard, new discman/mp3 player, etc) and if they are really that urgent. In the end I might compromise and place at least half the amount in the bank (two thirds, would be most likely) and the rest I would spend freely.

 

Man.. Why don't I get $1000 free...

[Krytos]

I'd put it on the bank, since you'd have a hard time finding

anything, that's really safe to invest it in and being able to get to your money, as soon as you need it.

 

Mask has the right idea, put it in the bank and save up for something. $1000 can do a bit by itself, but $1000+ can do more

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

A thousand dollars... well I would first tithe 10%, then pay off anyone I owed. I would then proceed to purchase things that are most urgent like clothes and such. Then move onto things I would like if I have any left over/nothing I wanted I would put it into the bank and make me a few more pennies.

[the_mask]

Trej, I meant they would get me farther towards the car, not actually enable me to buy it

I already saved a multiple of that sum to be able to buy my second car, the former model of the Opel Astra (the one before the newly released version). Since my first one is beyond repair and I want to drive my own vehicle again, that's something I have to save my bucks for

[Trejiuvanat]

Beyond repair? Did you crash it?

 

Have you tried to sell parts of it, at least here some people buy parts of old useless cars.

 

Opel Astra... For how much? 4000? 3000?

Again, here you'll only get a newer Hyundai (crappy cars, I hate 'em!!!) for 2000 a relatively decent cars costs you at least $4000 (Used one of course, new it's about $9000 at least... )...

[Jahled]

Someone enlightened in the mysterious ways of humanity said:

 

'If I had all the money I spent on drink, i'd spend it on drink!'

 

...hic...

[Guest Admiral_Antilles]

Someone enlightened in the mysterious ways of humanity said:

 

'If I had all the money I spent on drink, i'd spend it on drink!'

 

...hic...

 

Haha!! Jahled always thinking with his stomach too.

[Trejiuvanat]

His liver probably won't be up to it... But I have some Veggie Vong replacements he might thank for...

[the_mask]

Beyond repair? Did you crash it?

Nope, some vicious Vong bacteria caused great parts of it to turn into rust and since my uncle can't cut them out and weld replacements into their location after his spine-operation, I'll have to dump it (used to call the car 'rusty eagle' )

 

Have you tried to sell parts of it, at least here some people buy parts of old useless cars.

The car I'm driving at the moment, my grannie's, is the same type. So I already took all of the usefull parts of mine and replaced the crappy parts in hers with them. Seen in this light, half of her car belongs to me already

 

Opel Astra... For how much? 4000? 3000?

Again, here you'll only get a newer Hyundai (crappy cars, I hate 'em!!!) for 2000 a relatively decent cars costs you at least $4000 (Used one of course, new it's about $9000 at least... )...

My uncle's estimation was ~5000 squid, but I'd also settle for less, since I'll have to buy gas and be able to affor the insurance

[Brass_Bra_Leia]

Again, here you'll only get a newer Hyundai (crappy cars, I hate 'em!!!) for 2000 a relatively decent cars costs you at least $4000 (Used one of course, new it's about $9000 at least... )...

 

Ah how the amoutn of the dollar fluctuates. I think here, for a shepa car you are looking at ~$10,000. We are talking about getting a Nissan or Toyota 4 door small size truck that will probably run $26,000. Dont' know when the money will ever be there for that, but...

 

As for the money question... This is one I love. TF and I have had this question many times as we have always been on a really tight budget (happens when you get married in college then have kids right away) and then from somewhere comes some extra money. The responsible thing to do was always try to put it in the bank or pay off bills. The reality of it was that after being so broke for so long we had all these needs everything from buying new sheets to new sock and undies. I mean just things we kept waiting on. Normally we would go down to the local Wal-mart or Target and spend it all ont hose things that we had been waiting for. Then we would do something a little more irresponsible with a small protion of it, go opt for a big expensive dinner, buy a new game, etc. Somethign like that.

 

Now if today someone came in and handed me $1000 well let's see. I would have to be responsible we are looking at a serious pay decrease the first few months TF is in the Air Force, so I would probably buy the stuff to finish our home improvements to put the house on the market, buy anything else we would need before we move, put most of it in savings, take my ani8mals to the vet, and have one fun date night out of it

[Texas_Fett]

I would just like to point out that it's not 'free' money you just got, Gleem. That was an 'interest-free loan' you gave your government and they just got around to paying back. It's money you WOULD have had over the course of the last year, had you not been taxed half to death to begin with.

 

The same euphoria grips Americans every April when they have to file their Federal taxes for the last year. Everyone is ecstatic when they see that they're going to get a 'refund', not bothering to think that that money is THEIRS and they merely loaned it to the government involuntarily. That's why I've tried to adjust my tax deductions to the point where I don't get much of a refund...less money in their hands and more in my pocket throughout the year.

[Brass_Bra_Leia]

That was an 'interest-free loan' you gave your government and they just got around to paying back. It's money you WOULD have had over the course of the last year, had you not been taxed half to death to begin with.

 

While I agree with you, I still think for those of us who hav e problems saving money (ahem ) it is a goo dway to have money you don't figure infor things liek vacations and such .

[Mad78]

I guess a 1000 bucks would really advance me on buying the buggy that I am dreaming of. Or otherwise I shall buy a Motorbike (after having saved up of course)

[blazer81]

wow you kept it a few weeks!? i've been known to blow through that in a few days, well not anymore since i dont have that job anymore but i sure used to