teens and budget problems

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teens and budget problems

  • i happen to fall under this category my parents help me buy most of the things but when they cant/wont what do you do?

    well i came up with a solution if your parents have an ebay account ask them if you can get set up to sell some stuff, I did it and made a lot of money by just selling some of the old junk i had laying around my room/house (one group of auctions made me 120 dollars!)and even some leftovers from the layout

    last winter i was building up a custom Nitro R/C car and i was short on money so i did what it says above and also sold some old parts to the car that i wouldent be using it all worked out good for me (it helped me build what i wanted) maybe it will work for someone else 

    thanks

    Jason 

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  • As a father of teenaged children, allow me to offer you a little advice.

    I have provided my son with O-gauge items every year for Christmas, and sometimes birthdays.  He's proud of his collection, just not as interested in it due to computers, GUITAR HERO, football cards, etc.  He still likes to do the carpentry work on the layout, but rarely runs trains anymore...so the purchases have curtailed a bit (for now).

    What I'm trying to say is if you have a layout in your home, and it's collecting dust, your folks aren't going to feel compelled to contribute their monies to your effort.  If, on the other hand, they see you spending time on it, they will naturally want to nurture your creativity.

    ...and when they want to know what you want for your birthday...Wink [;)]

  • I devote lots of time to what I already  have.

    even with no layout and just a test track, stuff still gets broken/fixed/rebuilt/salvaged.Confused [%-)]

     

    -Michael It's baaaacccckkkk!!!!!! www.youtube.com/user/wyomingrailfan
  •  fifedog wrote:

    As a father of teenaged children, allow me to offer you a little advice.

    I have provided my son with O-gauge items every year for Christmas, and sometimes birthdays.  He's proud of his collection, just not as interested in it due to computers, GUITAR HERO, football cards, etc.  He still likes to do the carpentry work on the layout, but rarely runs trains anymore...so the purchases have curtailed a bit (for now).

    What I'm trying to say is if you have a layout in your home, and it's collecting dust, your folks aren't going to feel compelled to contribute their monies to your effort.  If, on the other hand, they see you spending time on it, they will naturally want to nurture your creativity.

    ...and when they want to know what you want for your birthday...Wink [;)]

    I tried all that, but they won't help.

    They made me give them $100 to pay for the Zepher system and the 4 decoders. I told them the Zepher would cost around $170, and a around $23 a decoder. So for a about 10 dollar miscalculation, I end up paying $100 bucks. (In addition, they made me pay $140 more for a 360 they bought for me and my brother).

    I've been letting them know 4 years ago that I wanted lumber to make new benchwork, but I never got it.

    Vincent

    Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

    2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Packer - Not sure I follow you.  When you say "made me pay", is that teen-age code for "they took it out of my allowance"...?
  •  fifedog wrote:
    Packer - Not sure I follow you.  When you say "made me pay", is that teen-age code for "they took it out of my allowance"...?

    Hadn't had an allowence since I was 10.

    I had to pay them 100 bucks so they could get me a Zephyr for Christmas. Because my mom works at the bank, she took it out of my saving account. (I spent more for my gifts than they did)

    Vincent

    Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

    2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Packer - times may be tight for your folks, sounds like.  (Especially if they are dipping into your savings...)  Bigger issues than trains here, son.
  • i also am short on cash What should i do 

     

  • do you or youre parents have an ebay account?

    if not just try to get money any way you can ex: sell stuff, you would be surprised at what you will find in youre closet that you dont really need, maybe have some sort of a yard sale? im not sure maybe you or someone else on here can help you

    i have $174 CA$H but i put the railroad on hold because its going for a rebuild kit for my GMC V-8 350 and a valve job and a better cam shaft for it that i want to do then put it in my "85 GMC short bedBig Smile [:D]

    i also have a GMC hood and tranny on ebay hoping it sells Sigh [sigh] $130 for the tranny and $75 for the hood

  • You could get a job. I mowed lawns for a while, and usually got paid pretty good. 50 bucks an hour is pretty good.

    I too have put buying equipment on hold until I can get some parts for my car. I still have 1000 bucks of stuff to sell that I haven't sold. (1600 for the car, plus 1600 in frebies, minus 500 for repairs and parts, = my car)

    Vincent

    Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

    2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • I got my dad to buy me 2 Ho cars today. 1st ones in a couple of years.
    -Michael It's baaaacccckkkk!!!!!! www.youtube.com/user/wyomingrailfan
  • Wow, I have the same problem. My parents will only pay for lumber for benchwork and the basic stuff I need. I have a lot of stuff from both of my grandfathers but it's old, dirty, plus it isn't to scale.  I'm into 3-rail O gauge and that stuff is EXPENSIVE!!! So far in about 8 months I've bought 6 or 7 freight cars, a good deal of track, and I'm about $100 short on buying a new locomotive. I am going to start selling some stuff on ebay but I haven't got around to it yet. That will probably help me a good deal.

    D & H - Gone but not forgotten
  • Triple-t - A word of wisdom; don't part with your grandfathers' collection because you covet something newer. (YOU WILL REGRET IT IN THE FUTURE!)  Build your layout, run what you have on hand, and be patient with your new engine purchase.
  • yes, ttt, new stuff is almost bound to run. Old stuff might not run. Since I model in HO and N, I am a rivet counter. I am superdetailing a UP SD70M, so when it done- LOOK OUT !!! LOOK OUT!!!(say it like Little RIchard)
    -Michael It's baaaacccckkkk!!!!!! www.youtube.com/user/wyomingrailfan
  • Been in this situation for years myself! My dad was never really to thrilled about buying me train stuff! My mom on the other hand helped me out when Christmas and birthdays came around, shes the reason i was really able to get back in the hobby after being burnt out for a while! Once i graduated high school though i got a job that pays well enough to where i can buy myself trains thank god! It was really just hunkering down and being patient now i have almost 30 locomotives that either my mom or myself payed for but this was over a seven year period! The earlier 6 years she bought the trains and they are good quality expensive locomotives like Genesis SD70MACs and P2K SD45's! Heres a tip when you graduate get ready to get some money from family and friends! Thats how i bought my first sound equipped loco and more!
    Long Live The Burlington Northern!