How do you finance your train purchases?

[marxalot]

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

[darianj]

Started of using part of my X-mas bonus. Now I'm brown-baggin' lunch and buying a few things here and there.

[dbaker48]

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 !!

[laz 57]

ROY get it right its a 800 lb. bear.
laz57

[cnw1995]

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...

[prewardude]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Frank53

I work

[#ditto]

(It still bugs me that "ditto" is misspelled on the little guy's sign.)

[traindaddy1]

I find "treasures" and sell them on E-Bay.

[okiechoochoo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PennFan

A nice fat salery of just over $50,000 a year.

Actually, that isn't that much after taxes and necessities.

[selector]

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]

[thatboy37]

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.

[underworld]

I pay my rent late!!!!! [:p] Juggle a bill here and there.....and a little mastery of illusion! [:p]

underworld

aka The Violet

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[jonadel]

A totally seperate savings account that accumulates from a couple of part time jobs, it's amazing how quickly that account grows. It's paid for three cruises, lots of skiing, ATV, and many nice trains and accessories. The only rule is that it cannot be used for anything essential[:)]

Jon

[Dave Farquhar]

I saved a couple thousand bucks by paying my car off in 2 1/2 years on a 5-year loan. I'd have saved even more if I'd paid cash, but I didn't have the cash for it when I did it. Every time I pay something off, I roll what I would have been paying on that into whatever's next. At our current rate, my wife and I will have the house paid off in less than five years.

I give myself a small allowance for buying trains and accessories. When I get a little overtime, I use part of that. I also brown-bag my lunch whenever possible. I insulate my windows with the plastic film in the winter time, and use CF bulbs instead of regular halogens, both to save energy. By doing lots of little things, it's not real difficult to pile up a hundred or so a month.

Any time I feel bad about buying trains with that money instead of paying debt down faster, I remind myself that I don't drink, and a lot of people spend as much going out on a single Friday as I spend on trains in a typical month.

[pbjwilson]

Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Home Equity.................

[BNSFNUT]

I only eat every other day [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pbjwilson

Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Home Equity.................

Add to that , purse snatching, pawn shop haggling, kids college and trust fund, and have been known to sell a few pairs of the wifes shoes on ebay....Tim

[pbjwilson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pigseyes

have been known to sell a few pairs of the wifes shoes on ebay....Tim

[Dave Farquhar]

Careful. I know if I listed my wife's shoes, within a few weeks, some of my trains would be up there. And I'm sure I'd see some of them and go, "Hey, that one's close to me, I'll bid...."

[Anonymous]

Well, a career in the medical field allows for a lttle here and there also selling items from a previous hobby on ebay.

The problem with the work thing is it doesn't leave enough time for layout construction, design implementation etc.!

Pete

[danrunner]

I'm primarily a cash and carry man. I told my wife it's trains and tools for gifts...and that goes for her family, too. I get gift cards from home depot and sears for tools, and I let people know what I want or order my present for them. I also treat myself to an item after a big success. Crown moulding, wainscoating and painting my daughter's room and planting 100 pine seedlings on our property has warranted me treating myself to a Dept 56 Lionel Train Hobby Shop building I found on ebay. The item is NIB/pristine, and under $60.00. I treated myself to five weaver put 'em together yourself cars from the 80's I saw on ebay for $10 a piece. I had to order the trucks and couplers myself, but I think it still was a bargain. I refer to them as my "beater cars" --cars I can have out all the time and won't get upset if the cat eats them or the earth swallows them up.

Buying on plastic is ok if you have a handle on your finances. I'm young and see my collecting/operating as a marathon--slow and steady will ge me where I want to go. Too big of a shock to our family's finances and I"LL BE TURNED OFF TO TRAINS.

Spend within your means. This ain't no contest. And it sure ain't no race. I enjoy every car I have.

Dan