So, this year I was (finally!) promoted to a more permanent position. It came with a bit of a raise but, more excitingly, two bonuses a year! I get paid my first at the end of this month.
I’m kind of a penny-pincher and never buy anything for myself, but for this occasion I feel like I deserve something nice. It’s essentially an extra month’s worth of salary, but I don’t want to spend it all, because I love having extra cash in the bank (see previous sentence).
I have a few thoughts for things I’d like to buy, but I’d like to hear how the SDMB would spend it, so here’s the question:
(tl;dr folk start here)
Let’s say you had an extra 200,000 yen (about 2,000 USD), how would you spend it? Don’t say you’d save/invest it, because I’m doing that already with the remainder.
No need to spend all 200,000 (this ain’t Brewster’s Millions), but nothing which would cost more than that.
Hey madmonk28. The little lady and I took a morning Fly Fishing class and then bought a Echo Solo Fly Reel with pole. We plan to go play next week. Are you familiar with this brand? We’re newbies.
Hey, I’m a newbie myself. I’ve been fly fishing less than a year. I don’t know the brand, but there is a ton of good stuff online. Orvis has fly fishng classes online and also has a great podcast. They offer a bunch of free classes which always come with lots of coupons.
Back to the OP, I like to spend money on experiences rather than things, especially ‘fun’ money. So for me, I’d get the most out of the money if I used it to do something I liked, like a concert, or fishing, or whatever.
To get back to the OP - when I got my first *real *bonus, I put it toward setting up my pottery studio. Do you have a hobby that you really like or that you’d like to try? Or a ridiculously extravagant day of spoiling at a spa? Or a trip to a place you’d really like to see? Or a piece of art that you’ve always wanted but never would buy otherwise? To my mind, that’s what a bonus is for.
On the other hand, a friend of mine, got herself a puppy. Named it Bonus.
That is a brilliant idea and a fantastic story! I’d never heard about Ashley Revell until now. The Summer Jumbo Lotto is coming up, I may buy a ticket or two for it just for fun. Not as exciting as roulette, though.
I’m definitely spending some of it on treating a few friends out to dinner and drinks! Love a proper night out.
Puppy story is cute! If I had the time and space for a puppy I’d consider one, but sadly it’s not something that can happen anytime soon.
As for hobbies, one thing I’m considering is investing in an entry level SLR. I really like photography and would like to get more technical with it than camera phones and point’n’shoots.
New bicycle would be nice too, though! Or some new camping/trekking gear…
It’ll be time for my December bonus by the time I decide, haha. In the meantime, though, I love hearing what others would buy.
As for hobbies, one thing I’m considering is investing in an entry level SLR. I really like photography and would like to get more technical with it than camera phones and point’n’shoots.
/QUOTE]
That’s what I did with one of mine a several years ago. Canon 50D, 3 L lenses (the pro series) including one of the big guns, and lots of accessories. The only thing left to get is external flash, but I mostly do wildlife so I don’t have to have it just yet. We’ll worth the investment, but I already want to upgrade the camera
2,000 is just about what I get each year for coaching. We keep a list during the year of what to buy if it can wait until then.
Last year it was a stove, washer, dryer and fill the freezer with meat.
If I’m really determined to spend and not save it, it’ll probably go into my koi pond. Nothing like digging a giant hole in the backyard to take care of all your extra money.
The other close contender would be an upgrade to my TV system. I’m using a flat screen and a digital project, so I have a nice size (probably 80"). But the digital projector is only 640x480 resolution and VGA colors, so it’s not the sharpest picture out there. Better units with HD and all that jazz ran about $800-1200 the last time I priced them out.
New speakers. The audiophiles in my life swear that I can get well and truly upgraded for less than a thousand dollars. That’s my plan for August, which is a three paycheck month for me.
My first bonus was spent (rather, half of it) on a new sewing machine. Spending it on a hobby would be my first choice. I’m not hugely into travelling or concerts, so YMMV.
If I had a windfall that wasn’t going into savings, I’d use it for home repair/updating. I had a deck built this spring. I’d like to roof the deck, but that’s going to take money I don’t have right now. Hopefully by fall… However, if you own a home, sensible $$ outlays on keeping it fixed up or improved is never money wasted.
I get paid my first at the end of this month.
Spending it on a hobby would be my first choice. I’m not hugely into travelling or concerts, so YMMV.