 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-03-20 17:41
Yes, I really want that new Buffet. I work hard. I deserve it. I will enjoy it. But money is not an unlimited resource. The kids need....my wife wants...the vacation will cost....the house needs to have.....how do others deal with these issues?
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-03-20 17:49
Leave the wife, sell the children.
In all seriousness, look at your personal cash flow. Either set a savings goal and wait 'til you hit it, or look for attractive financing with terms that fit your resources. I've noticed Sam Ash, Woodwind and others run same-as-cash (18 months at Sam Ash!) promos. Money has never been cheaper to borrow, nor will it be ever again. If prices are rising 6-8% year, and you can borrow money for less, you are ahead of the game.
Now, justifying it to the family, well, that's another story...
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Author: tetiana
Date: 2003-03-20 17:57
WJK:
1) do you have a used (second hand) Buffet? If not consider one;
2) bide your time, do your research and buy at a discount;
3) sell something (your current instrument?)
4) inspire your kids with your committment to and creation of beautiful music
5) devote plenty of time, attention and love to the wife;
6) vacation via road trip at a national park or campground; bring your clarinet and play in the wilderness
7) the house won't fall down for a year or two and in the meantime you can fill it with beautiful music;
tetiana
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-03-20 21:18
Credit card is the most expensive and least sensible way to make this kind of purchase. You will pay many times the cost of the instrument in interest. Save up the money. Pack a lunch instead of eat out and put the difference in savings. Make it clear to other family members that this particular money is allocated for that purpose.
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-03-20 22:06
Save up. Pack a lunch. Make sure the family knows how committed you are to making music as well as doing right by them. Set financial goals as a family, or couple if the children are small.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-03-21 05:45
Take a look at your daily expenses. You'd be surprised how much you end up spending over a month's time with your little "splurges" throughout the day. Think about it. A coffee in the morning, lunch, a soda or two during the day can add up to . . . let's say 7 dollars (for me it was almost ten dollars!). Figure four weeks a month, five business days a week, that's 20 x 7 which is 140. That's 140 a month that you could have put aside for something else ALONG with whatever money you already save. Over the course of one year (a bit of a wait, but oh well) you can afford MANY of the pro models brand new. Skip the new CD, skip the new movie, and save and save.
Credit card is bad idea. Better idea would also be to sell off things you don't really use. For instance, that guitar that you have in the attic that you always PLANNED to learn but never did? Well, suck it up, face the facts that you're never going to learn it, and get rid of it.
Also, and this one is VERY important . . . stay away from Ebay. Nothing against the company or buying stuff there, but if you're trying to save, visiting Ebay will definitely NOT help that cause. That's how I got in the financial troubles that I'm in right now. Please learn from my mistake.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-03-21 08:07
There are some good loans out there if you shop around. Ask people who know people, etc.
Being a student, I have plenty of options (Which is where my pair of clarinets [of undecided make and model] will be coming from soon), but it may not be so easy for you. Especially when you have a family to think about.
I would have to agree with the others - save the money you would normally spend on 'stuff', cause at the end of the day, how good does your 'stuff' sound???
It will be worth it once you've saved and got that Buffet clarinet - a very worthy horn, by many opinions!
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-03-21 09:47
Hi:
All the aqdvice, save the credit card (very bad idea) has been very good. Here are a couple more.
If you have credit card debt, pay it off first! Credit cards are charging in many cases 18%-24% APR which to me is almost loan shark rates. I had a friend who was paying nearly $300/mo in interest alone. I helped him get a secured loan at 5.5% to pay off the credit cards saving him nearly $2700/year in interest payments. That's two R-13's....g
Second, where possible always use an interest bearing checking account. Even though most are only paying .75% interest below $10k balance, a nickle is a nickle! Shop your local banks for the best rate based on your situation.
Set up a special savings account for your clarinet. As people have said, if you give up a cup of coffee per day, put the money into the savings account.
The final point is to shop wisely both in your daily activities and also for your clarinet. Most people impulse buy items and by getting serious about buying clothes and cutting out the "I want" but don't need stuff, you can save a bundle. For example, my brand new Leblanc Opus A clarinet was purchased for $1900.
You have a responsibility to your family, but that doesn't mean if you are willing to sacrifice a little on your own, that you cannot save enough to buy the clarinet of yor dreams.
Good Luck
RW
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-03-21 11:38
You get what you negotiate, not what you deserve.
The last few threads have pointed to some shaky underpinnings...the local equivalent being shiny new Suburban Attack Vehicles and weekend trips to the cabin with your 'niece'.
This sounds more like a control issue than music.
Perhaps you feel better discussing this sort of thing with sympathetic, anonymous listeners but ignore the warning bells at your peril.
Think money is tight now? Try buying goodies and supporting TWO houses.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2003-03-21 12:00
Negotiate. Everytime I get a new clarinet, my wife gets a new set of China. That way neither of us have any money!!! Just a sec and let me get a bucket to put under the roof leak..it just started raining.
Seriously, if it is your passion and you have an open relationship with your wife sit down and discuss it with her. I'm sure you can find a way to start putting some money towards a new clarinet if the two of you put your heads together.
jbutler
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Author: Jim
Date: 2003-03-21 13:08
When I needed the money to buy my clarinet, I got a couple more yards to mow. (and the OK from wife)
Still have those yards..... Hmmmmmm... what to buy this year?
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Author: William
Date: 2003-03-21 14:10
To buy my new low C bass clarinet, I cashed in some stock certificates and was able to pay cash. And I think I came out ahead--that same stock is now worth less than it was and my new bass has maintained its value. And, my marriage surviced!!!!!
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