I was on a budget after closing on a place last year. Yes, even after getting the lowest mortgage rate available at the time and budgeting for other expenses, I forgot to factor in how expensive landscaping was. I needed an appliance to keep water cold. Drinking spoiled milk probably wasn't worth the risk. I decided on a brand new KitchenAid 36" width counter depth French Door refrigerator that was 3000 too much. How could I get it on the cheap? A used fridge that smelled like the previous owner's meals wasn't particularly appealing. Luckily, a lot of stores have floor samples that are like new and have never actually been used. They've just been constantly opened and closed by discerning shoppers. These demonstration units that you see lined up at Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, etc. need to be sold eventually as well. They might have dents and scratches, but they are a lot cheaper. Plus, you can think of them as hipster and fashionable like the cut worn-out jeans that are so popular these days. You get your own customized uniquely designed fridge on the cheap. I was immediately sold on the idea and went hunting for my particular model. If you're brave, one could buy a floor sample online (with a description about the condition) from Sear's outlet. Being my picky self, I wanted to make sure that my fridge wasn't too custom and unique (aka with a punctured door or tattooed with an imprint of a fist). Driving up to the Sear's outlet that had my particular model took about 2 hours. It had minor dents that only a meticulous midget would notice. Since it was 1500 and had the original warranty if anything went wrong, I agreed. Sear's outlet quickly delivered and set it up in a week and it hasn't had any problems since. Cheers to floor samples. The way to get unique custom decorated furniture/appliances on the cheap! Notice the dent on the bottom right.
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Circa 2009. Somewhere near Staten Island. I had an uncle that loved sail boats and racing them out on the seas. He invited me out and I went once. I had a blast with his crew.
Later, I realized that the upkeep and maintenance of the boat was enormous. The boat needed to be stored elsewhere during the winter months. It needed its own individual docking area in the marina. When it was docked in the marina, it needed to be cleaned regularly due to the harsh sea water and barnacle growth. I always wondered why he didn't rent or share ownership with others. It was one of his babies and his whole family loved being out in the sea. Taking care of the boat wasn't really work for him. He didn't mind letting the boat own his spare time. I have to admit it the crisp ocean breeze in your face and harnessing the wind for a competitive time was an amazing feeling. If it's a expensive hobby that you love, it can be worth it. Just make sure that you don't mind being owned by the possession. Depending on your situation, it might be better to rent. Otherwise thanks to technology, you could just invest in a pair of VR goggles and pretend to be there. If you can't afford VR goggles or they make you dizzy, you could also pick up a cheap hobby like walking! Making irrational purchases is pretty common in our consumer driven society. Why? Advertising. These advertisements stir up emotions that drive our decision making. Short-term thinking happens as a result. Most inexperienced people only think about the positive feelings when buying that shiny new European convertible. The 30 second advertisement on TV only creates positive feelings, such as the sense of speed, independence, and relaxation while driving on that windy road in the mountains. What about all the emotions that you'll experience after buying the car? What about the negative feelings that you will get when you have to bring it into the repair shop a couple of years from now? Very typical of European over-engineered cars. Or that feeling of inadequacy when the latest model comes out with all the new gadgets? Sales and marketing teams are great at making you feel bad. Because of their advertisements, you feel as if you were missing out if you didn't have that new thing. But you don't have to feel bad. As the consumer, you have all the power. You get to vote with your wallet and don't have to fall for their slick advertising. You could wait a day or week to think about it. Do you really need it? Or is it something nice to have? You can also think about what the long term cost is going to be. Are you going to have to take on an additional loan and debt? Sometimes buying the latest shiny car isn't worth it. You could lease it instead and not deal with the maintenance headaches. Or stick to a Japanese car. |
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