How do you finance your train purchases?

[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

[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

[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...."

[pbjwilson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pigseyes

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

[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

[BNSFNUT]

I only eat every other day [:)]

[pbjwilson]

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

[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.

[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

[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]

[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.

[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]

[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.

[traindaddy1]

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

[prewardude]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Frank53

I work

[#ditto]

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

[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...

[laz 57]

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

[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 !!

[darianj]

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

[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

[mickey4479]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[wrmcclellan]

LAZ - Obviously he gives you preferrential treatment when you go in with the 700 lb BEAR!

[laz 57]

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

[dbaker48]

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.

[ChiefEagles]

Flying around the country fro Pro Mariner. Spending too much time up NAWTH. Should be building my layout and fishing. [:(]

[thor]

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.

[FJ and G]

I use the bonus from my company each year.

[Jumijo]

I sell stuff from one hobby to pay for another.

Jim