# I have ~$200. What should I buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949 "2013-01-03T14:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/1 "2013-01-03T14:41:02Z")
Preferably something from Amazon, and preferably something about 50 bucks or less. I don’t wanna blow all the Christmas money on a watch or one pair of headphones knowhatImsayin? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/2 "2013-01-03T14:47:22Z")
Since I was just there looking at it, I think you should get the complete Aeon Flux on DVD. That leaves you $170 for headphones or a watch. ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/3 "2013-01-03T14:49:32Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Since I was just there looking at it, I think you should get the complete Aeon Flux on DVD. > > That leaves you $170 for headphones or a watch. An avant-garde science fiction animated series on _MTV_??? Why would MTV pick that up? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/4 "2013-01-03T14:50:22Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > An avant-garde science fiction animated series on _MTV_??? > > Why would MTV pick that up? WTF? Because MTV used to kick ass. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/5 "2013-01-03T15:01:34Z")
If I had $200, I’d do something crazy like buy text books for my next term- buying them from Amazon or BnN saves money, not the 70% they promise, but still saves enough that I scout the internet for deals. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/6 "2013-01-03T15:02:16Z")
A [remote-controlled mini quad copter](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hubsan-Copter-Radio-Controller-Channel/dp/B009M1PO7W/ref=sr_1_4?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1357225273&sr=1-4), of course. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/7 "2013-01-03T15:03:31Z")
For large inheritances, lotteries and other unexpected large lump sums of income, [Clark Howard](http://www.clarkhoward.com/) recommends spending 10% of your “windfall” and saving the rest. In your case, I’d only spend $20 of it. Probably on beer. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/8 "2013-01-03T15:07:23Z")
How about a new spatula? Everyone needs a new spatula. Throw that old half melted one out already. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/9 "2013-01-03T15:22:59Z")
> [@Engineer\_Dude](#): > > For large inheritances, lotteries and other unexpected large lump sums of income, [Clark Howard](http://www.clarkhoward.com/) recommends spending 10% of your “windfall” and saving the rest. I look at that picture of Clark Howard, and I think “Clark Howard doesn’t look like a guy who knows how to have fun.” Go on, spend $50. I dare you. Amazon sells [bacon jam](http://www.amazon.co.uk/17-Relish-Bacon-110g-Pack/dp/B007AC3WY2/ref=sr_1_5?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1357226538&sr=1-5)… ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/10 "2013-01-03T15:29:47Z")
A [compass](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_7?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=compass&sprefix=compass%2Caps%2C174). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/11 "2013-01-03T15:35:47Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I look at that picture of Clark Howard, and I think “Clark Howard doesn’t look like a guy who knows how to have fun.” 1. The last time Clark picked up the check. ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/12 "2013-01-03T15:38:49Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I look at that picture of Clark Howard, and I think “Clark Howard doesn’t look like a guy who knows how to have fun.” > > Go on, spend $50. I dare you. > Amazon sells [bacon jam](http://www.amazon.co.uk/17-Relish-Bacon-110g-Pack/dp/B007AC3WY2/ref=sr_1_5?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1357226538&sr=1-5)… What are you talking about? This guy is a [party magnet.](http://fmtalk1065.com/images/uploads/Clark%20Howard.jpg) BTW. All this money is being spent. Whether its on a slackline, or a sombrero, or even taking my lady friend out on a date, this Christmas money is getting spent. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/13 "2013-01-03T16:07:10Z")
Did you even \*\*\*consider \*\*\*my spatula suggestion? Hmph. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/14 "2013-01-03T16:13:26Z")
A subscription to my newsletter. Paypal account info to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/15 "2013-01-03T16:22:24Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Did you even \*\*\*consider \*\*\*my spatula suggestion? Hmph. I have two beautiful spatulas that are pretty new. Not burned out hobo spatulas like you apparently use. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/16 "2013-01-03T16:23:21Z")
With $200 you could buy [a dozen jars of Marmite](http://www.amazon.com/Marmite-Yeast-Extract-500g-2-pack/dp/B007VDOZEQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1357230039&sr=8-4&keywords=marmite). That’s over 13 pounds of yeasty goodness right there. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/17 "2013-01-03T16:25:10Z")
2E17 Zimbabwe Dollars ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/18 "2013-01-03T16:27:32Z")
If you don’t know what to buy, perhaps you shouldn’t buy anything? Why not save the money for a time when you actually _need_ to purchase something? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/19 "2013-01-03T16:32:22Z")
Spend half on (very cheap) women and drink. Waste the rest. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949/20 "2013-01-03T16:33:38Z")
These [headphones](http://www.amazon.com/NuForce-NE600X-Black-In-ear-Headphones/dp/B0073XY5LC/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y) and save the rest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-200-what-should-i-buy/645949.md?page=2)