What to buy with Christmas money???

[TN94z]

Well, I've got 500 from Christmas and I'm trying to figure out what to buy. I have thought about ditching the skycaddie and picking up a leupold. I've thought about saving it for new irons once my swing settles back down. I was thinking of maybe picking up a camera. Shoes, balls, clothes, etc.....there are just too many choices. Any suggestions??

[Camo]

Doesn't sound like you "need" anything, stash it away until you can get out and play. Then treat yourself to a few rounds at that nice course you have always wanted to play.

[iacas]

A year-long evolvr membership and a Casio camera? :-)

[TN94z]

Originally Posted by iacas

A year-long evolvr membership and a Casio camera? :-)

It's funny you say that. I was going to talk with you and get your opinion on a camera that is more picture related but will suffice for my swing as well....if there is one!

[1par2win]

Someone once said if you want to double your money fold it in half and put it back in your pocket. That's always an option! But a camera would be handy to have.

[TN94z]

Originally Posted by 1par2win

Someone once said if you want to double your money fold it in half and put it back in your pocket. That's always an option! But a camera would be handy to have.

I have pretty much narrowed it down to two options.  1) Buy a camera to help with my swing or 2) Save it for a new set of irons which I have been thinking about for a year. I am currently playing MP32s that I have had for quite a few years now.

[sean_miller]

Do you have a mortgage? A lump sum applied directly to the principle never goes out of style.

Originally Posted by TN94z

Well, I've got 500 from Christmas and I'm trying to figure out what to buy. I have thought about ditching the skycaddie and picking up a leupold. I've thought about saving it for new irons once my swing settles back down. I was thinking of maybe picking up a camera. Shoes, balls, clothes, etc.....there are just too many choices.

Any suggestions??

[jmanbooyaa]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Do you have a mortgage? A lump sum applied directly to the principle never goes out of style.

Bad idea. Your mortgage interest is a tax deduction, oh wait not anymore its not. Hmmm what about blowing thru that $500 and than some more on your credit cards? Cash out refi? Wait that won't work because if you pay off your credit card in your refi than they require you to cancel it once it is paid off. Less we forget that depending on where you live you may not be able to refi because your home value is worth less than your current mortgage. Who cares live in debt and make those payments and buy buy buy. The economy needs your cash.

[sean_miller]

Not sure what 1/2 of your post is even talking about. Wasn't the OP whining about his mortgage payments earlier this fall? Personally, for the past 10 years, whenever my wife and I found ourselves with an "extra" few hundred bucks (that wasn't already destined for something like food, golf, hockey, or the little ones), we put it in one of two places. 1.) on the mortgage principle or 2.) into our "new car" savings fund. We were able to pay cash for my car in 2007 and put a large percentage down (75%) on the wife's car last month. And the mortgage? When we make my final house payment next October, we'll be 11 years into our 25 year mortgage. Boring but effective - just sayin'.

Originally Posted by jmanbooyaa

Bad idea. Your mortgage interest is a tax deduction, oh wait not anymore its not. Hmmm what about blowing thru that $500 and than some more on your credit cards? Cash out refi? Wait that won't work because if you pay off your credit card in your refi than they require you to cancel it once it is paid off. Less we forget that depending on where you live you may not be able to refi because your home value is worth less than your current mortgage. Who cares live in debt and make those payments and buy buy buy. The economy needs your cash.

[TN94z]

Originally Posted by jmanbooyaa

Bad idea. Your mortgage interest is a tax deduction, oh wait not anymore its not. Hmmm what about blowing thru that $500 and than some more on your credit cards? Cash out refi? Wait that won't work because if you pay off your credit card in your refi than they require you to cancel it once it is paid off. Less we forget that depending on where you live you may not be able to refi because your home value is worth less than your current mortgage. Who cares live in debt and make those payments and buy buy buy. The economy needs your cash.

I have no clue what this is all about????

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Not sure what 1/2 of your post is even talking about. Wasn't the OP whining about his mortgage payments earlier this fall? Personally, for the past 10 years, whenever my wife and I found ourselves with an "extra" few hundred bucks (that wasn't already destined for something like food, golf, hockey, or the little ones), we put it in one of two places. 1.) on the mortgage principle or 2.) into our "new car" savings fund. We were able to pay cash for my car in 2007 and put a large percentage down (75%) on the wife's car last month. And the mortgage? When we make my final house payment next October, we'll be 11 years into our 25 year mortgage. Boring but effective - just sayin'.

When have I been whining about my mortgage payment?  I pay my mortgage with no problems what so ever and I am in a much better position on my house than most.  Earlier this year I was asking questions about 2nd mortgages and what not because my wife wanted to start back to school and I was just throwing around some ideas to consolidate a few things.  Since then, I have paid off everything except for my primary credit card.  It had nothing to do with me whining about my mortgage.

Your suggestion would be a good one if I didn't have my house on the market.  I am trying to sell my house to build another one, so dumping that into the mortgage is not that beneficial to me.   Selling the house stands to make me 120K profit, so I am not upside down either and once I sell this house and build the other, it will be paid off either immediately or a couple years later depending on how big we decide to build.  As far as a new car fund, that is a good idea as well, but not something that is in our immediate future.

Paying your house off in 11 years of a 25 year mortgage is great!!  Congrats!

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by TN94z

When have I been whining about my mortgage payment?  I pay my mortgage with no problems what so ever and I am in a much better position on my house than most.  Earlier this year I was asking questions about 2nd mortgages and what not because my wife wanted to start back to school and I was just throwing around some ideas to consolidate a few things.  Since then, I have paid off everything except for my primary credit card.  It had nothing to do with me whining about my mortgage.

Your suggestion would be a good one if I didn't have my house on the market.  I am trying to sell my house to build another one, so dumping that into the mortgage is not that beneficial to me.   Selling the house stands to make me 120K profit, so I am not upside down either and once I sell this house and build the other, it will be paid off either immediately or a couple years later depending on how big we decide to build.  As far as a new car fund, that is a good idea as well, but not something that is in our immediate future.

Paying your house off in 11 years of a 25 year mortgage is great!!  Congrats!

I'm obviously confusing your 2nd mortgage query with other people's comments (including mine) in general about making seemingly endless payments. I got my scenarios crossed - my bad.

[TN94z]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I'm obviously confusing your 2nd mortgage query with other people's comments (including mine) in general about making seemingly endless payments. I got my scenarios crossed - my bad.

That was just me throwing around some ideas.  I don't want endless payments by any means. I have been working pretty hard the last half of this year to get out of some "stupid" debt.  I am good now.  Just need to pay off one more thing and I am good to go!  You gave good advice, don't get me wrong.  We have the same philosophy as far as that goes.

[jmanbooyaa]

I was just commenting as a general statement had nothing to do with anyone just Sean's mortgage comment that I figured I would go completely off topic and parody the state of the housing and mortgage market. Sorry guys

[iacas]

In light of the above, I have a new idea.

Send me the $500 (or whatever it comes to after PayPal's fees), and I'll apply it to my mortgage. Everyone wins. You'll have an answer and won't have to "waste" it on your house that's for sale, s_m will be happy that someone's mortgage was paid, and I'll be a month closer to paying off my little shack.

[TN94z]

Originally Posted by iacas

In light of the above, I have a new idea.

Send me the $500 (or whatever it comes to after PayPal's fees), and I'll apply it to my mortgage. Everyone wins. You'll have an answer and won't have to "waste" it on your house that's for sale, s_m will be happy that someone's mortgage was paid, and I'll be a month closer to paying off my little shack.

Or better yet.  I could buy me a 100.00 flip camera, put a new set of irons on my credit card (for jmanbooyaa ), send you 200.00, and then send S_M 200.00....that way we all win!!

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by iacas

In light of the above, I have a new idea.

Send me the $500 (or whatever it comes to after PayPal's fees), and I'll apply it to my mortgage. Everyone wins. You'll have an answer and won't have to "waste" it on your house that's for sale, s_m will be happy that someone's mortgage was paid, and I'll be a month closer to paying off my little shack.

That's exactly the kind of selfless generosity that makes me very happy at Christmas. I just hope TN94z is equally inspired.