Also skimming from the wifes checking acct. Stealing from Mother in Laws purse, candy from babies etc.
Havent resorted to bank robbery, or selling crack, yet, but the year is young and the Lionel catalog just came out…Tim
I sell stuff from one hobby to pay for another.
Jim
I use the bonus from my company each year.
The slush fund. This is what I call the loose change and odd bills that accumulate and which I ‘hide’ (usually in my toolbox where its just inconvenient enough to get to) and then when the time comes I’ll put in a plug for some spending money and the slush fund makes up the difference.
Flying around the country fro Pro Mariner. Spending too much time up NAWTH. Should be building my layout and fishing. [:(]
SAVE, SAVE, SAVE I limit myself to one train a year, and attend local train meets, (we have two a month) Usually find some pretty good deals in the auction or items that are not real pretty. Also try not to end up with two of the same type of engine or multiple cars of the same type. Sometime acquaintances have trains they want to sell or just get rid of. I stay away from ebay and definitely only use cc if I am paying it off with the statement. I agree the anticipation and search for a desirable piece makes that more valuable when I find it. Next major item. 6-28029 could be awhile.
I can go to my train guy at BARRY’s Trains get one and pay as I go.
Put so much down take the train and pay him in istallments.
Great deal when you are a frequent customer.
laz57
LAZ - Obviously he gives you preferrential treatment when you go in with the 700 lb BEAR!
The problem with credit cards is that they are so much easier to use whem buying mail order. None of the dealers I use take electronic checks or debit cards. So Instead of mailing a check off and waiting days for it to clear I use a credit card. I pay the bill as soon as it comes in. The problem is that some credit cards charge a minimum interest fee even if you pay the balance off at the end of the month.
Discover Card. 1% cash back. Pay it all off when the bill comes.
I put virtually everthing I buy, car ins., gas, internet fee, food, clothing, home improvements, phone bill, trains, on Discover. I once made a substantial down payment on a car with Discover. Later I did the same thing on a fishing boat. I did that knowing I had the ca***o pay it off when the bill came. When you think about how much a peson even with modest to average resources purchases in a year, saving 1% is pretty good.
Hmmmmm… well depending on things I use cash or credit cards… and I haven’t not had a credit card bill for years! Sorry, but while I know the issues I just haven’t been able to clear the cc decks for awhile. Maybe having two children in college helped but we’re over that. I’ve beaten that gorilla down big time but he still is in the house… but I do have enough life insurance to do away with him if I bite the big one…
Jim
Started of using part of my X-mas bonus. Now I’m brown-baggin’ lunch and buying a few things here and there.
Not trying to put anyone down regarding credit cards, they can be a very valuable tool, but do not want to misuse them. Regarding the “free” benefits, they aren’t free, the card and/or bank passes that charge onto the merchant (with an additional fee), the merchant of course burys that cost in the product. Still can’t find that free lunch !!
ROY get it right its a 800 lb. bear.
laz57
I guess I’ve done things a bit differently over the years - most of it related to my ‘season of life’ causing my hobby interests to have to be sort of zero-sum - what goes out and in must kind of equal. I got back into model railroading by selling most of my other hobby interests, then sold my N scale items to get a Lionel train set - then sold or traded that set to get where I am now. That said, sometimes I’ve just charged some track or a holiday or birthday gift to myself. But always paid it off… My wishes are sure more expensive than my wallet - someday for example I’ll get an 027 GG1 - not that it is expensive in general but it is to me.
Laz, I’d sure like to borrow that bear…
[#ditto]
(It still bugs me that “ditto” is misspelled on the little guy’s sign.)
I find “treasures” and sell them on E-Bay.
Actually, that isn’t that much after taxes and necessities.
Step One- Get down on knees. In front of She.
Step Two- Let shoulders droop and hang head. Mirror her sigh with one of your own.
Step Three- State, “I promise, this is the last one that I need to complete my roster.”
Step Four- Skip over to phone with credit card handy and…
[yeah][:D][:P]
i am a professional football player so i have a little extra money to play with for now. but being that my career is so short lived im still on a spending budget cause i have to make that money last me for the rest of my life. but if i see something that i like i get it and thats it.