# I've got $50. What should I buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219 "2006-01-16T14:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/1 "2006-01-16T14:53:45Z")
My (36th) birthday was last week, and my Mother-In-Law very generously gave me fifty bucks. I’ve been trying to decide what to buy with it, but I’m running short on ideas - I’ve always had trouble self-gifting. I’m not going to tell you my interests, etc. because I don’t want to bias anyone’s suggestions. I pledge to you, **fellow Dopers** , that I will something suggested in this thread. What should I get? ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/2 "2006-01-16T14:58:49Z")
A simple dinner with friends not recently seen. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/3 "2006-01-16T14:59:55Z")
Use it on a down payment on another of the infamous [blimps](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/7397/). Or buy a pair of these: [http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/7485/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/7485/) Or just spend it on Amazon on books, movies, and/or games. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/4 "2006-01-16T15:11:37Z")
New jeans. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/5 "2006-01-16T15:14:29Z")
My lunch. Or, something that you would never buy for yourself, but want. I have no idea what that may be. Go a little crazy–you only go round once. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/6 "2006-01-16T15:16:46Z")
A carton of cigarettes and $14 worth of gas. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/7 "2006-01-16T15:18:08Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > A simple dinner with friends not recently seen. That’s a very sweet suggestion, but it’s actually something I’ve recently done, and plans are in the works to do so again - it’s something I’ve got in my personal budget already. > [@DeadlyAccurate](#): > > Use it on a down payment on another of the infamous [blimps](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/7397/). Or buy a pair of these: [thinkgeek | Search Results | GameStop](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/7485/) > > Or just spend it on Amazon on books, movies, and/or games. [The Horror Of Blimps](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=160851), a SDMB _classic_ by **Scylla**. Ok, now we’re getting somewhere. I’ll keep this under advisement. It’s still early, though. I’ve got access to several world-class libraries, so I’m not really thinking books. Music, maybe. Games? Did someone say games? ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/8 "2006-01-16T15:19:18Z")
Head to the local strip club and get a pitcher of beer and 2 lappers. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/9 "2006-01-16T15:20:44Z")
I’d buy a crap load of books. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/10 "2006-01-16T15:21:42Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > New jeans. Not _fun enough_. > [@eleanorigby](#): > > My lunch. > Or, something that you would never buy for yourself, but want. > I have no idea what that may be. Go a little crazy–you only go round once. And what would you be having for lunch, Ms. e? > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > A carton of cigarettes and $14 worth of gas. Bah. 1. $50 ain’t enough for a carton of smokes here (Taxachusetts). 2. Plus, I’ve just recently quit somking (see 1.) ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/11 "2006-01-16T15:24:23Z")
> [@August West](#): > > Head to the local strip club and get a pitcher of beer and 2 lappers. Best. Idea. Yet. > [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > I’d buy a crap load of books. Yeah, I’ve got several thousand in storage (no room at home), of which I’ve got a couple hundred I haven’t gotten around to reading yet. Plus, as I mentioned above, I’ve got access to really good libraries, which I’ve frequented lately, as the last several years my book money dried up (mortgage, two kids, one income). ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/12 "2006-01-16T15:25:47Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > Games? Did someone say games? $50 will get you all 3 of the Splinter Cell games on PC. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/13 "2006-01-16T15:26:08Z")
easy: 3 year subscription on the “Dope”… ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/14 "2006-01-16T15:32:01Z")
More memory for your PC. If it’s full up, get more memory for your video card. If that’s full, too, you suck. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/15 "2006-01-16T15:37:34Z")
I third the titty bar idea. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/16 "2006-01-16T15:38:27Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > Not _fun enough_. Maybe you’re buying the wrong jeans! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/17 "2006-01-16T15:44:48Z")
> [@DeadlyAccurate](#): > > $50 will get you all 3 of the Splinter Cell games on PC. I don’t really play PC/Video Games. Starting to see why this is so hard? 😃 > [@phungi](#): > > easy: 3 year subscription on the “Dope”… Bah. I think it’ll be free again before that. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > More memory for your PC. If it’s full up, get more memory for your video card. If that’s full, too, you suck. ☹ I’m in IT, so all my computing needs are fulfilled. > [@Revtim](#): > > I third the titty bar idea. Yeah, still the best idea yet. 😃 > [@Kalhoun](#): > > Maybe you’re buying the wrong jeans! 😉 Maybe I _am_… ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/18 "2006-01-16T15:51:34Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > I don’t really play PC/Video Games. Starting to see why this is so hard? 😃 > Bah. I think it’ll be free again before that. > I’m in IT, so all my computing needs are fulfilled. > Yeah, still the best idea yet. 😃 > Maybe I _am_… ok. If the jeans aren’t working…new shoes. If not shoes…take yourself to a concert. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/19 "2006-01-16T16:06:24Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > ok. If the jeans aren’t working…new shoes. If not shoes…take yourself to a concert. Good idea: I was _thinking_ about new shoes. Right now, shoes are tied for first place. (Bad pun intended. Ahem.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219/20 "2006-01-16T16:07:31Z")
New chenille throw pillows for your couch. Earth tones, preferably. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-50-what-should-i-buy/340219.md?page=2)