I usually win £25 every few months on the Premium Bonds, my mum will tell me about them as I work out of the country, and I’ll use the cash to buy us nice wine when I visit. Today I got an email from her; 3 x £25 wins and one for £500! The first time I’ve won more than £25, it’s such a nice surprise. I asked her to give the 3 x £25 to the church she regularly attends (and goes to bell ringing, people’s houses to advise on their kids going to Holy Communion, and does Sunday school), but not sure what to spend the Monkey on.
Although it’s only worth about $6.22 right now it still buys quite a bit in the UK. I have more than enough clothes, laptop, tablet, nice Samsung phone that doesn’t explode, last month moved and bought nice framed pictures and stuff for my new apartment, and savings if I needed anything urgently. I’d like to spend it on something that isn’t a consumable, avoiding the initial ‘high’ of buying something shiny. Any thoughts?
Sunny Daze, that’s closer than hookers and blow. I have no credit card debt, I have savings in the USD and other currencies (more Jason Bourne amounts than Soros). I’m leaning towards something in silver (I like silver) but I tried that a few years ago and the spoons I bought were tiny and dad gave them away because they were not worth keeping - he has a knack for collectibles in stamps and coins, as did his dad.
It’s not a big amount, and I want to buy a little thing that is just for my enjoyment. That sounds awkward, I mean I could buy a silver tea pot and it’ll get used and will last, or a slice of the film from a big movie that I can put on the wall. Or a poster or signed shirt of a sports player? It’s 500 squids which is not a lot for a collectible, but I’d rather spend my free money on something that will remind me of my first (and maybe only) big win on the Premium Bonds.
Framing the cheque would do that, but it wouldn’t hold its value.
My temptation previously would’ve been to buy a more expensive $shiny_gadget than usual (say, put it towards an Apple product) but then you kind of spoil yourself and end up a tech snob, and having to either fork out the same expense in about 5 years or go through the pain of downgrading to something cheaper. I speak (well type) from experience there.
Spend it going somewhere you never thought you’d be, like top of the Eiffel Tower, or any place really, that’s not easy to get to and means something to you, for whatever reason.
Snap a selfie in your chosen spot and put that on the wall!
What about going to a restaurant with a companion that you might never consider otherwise? Something like Nobu or one of Heston Blumenthal’s digs if you’re near London.
Interesting. I’m a huge movie buff, recently started a Facebook page on films and invited all of my friends, by mistake. Join if you wanna.
My top five are Magnolia, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Blade Runner, Pretty Woman, and Fight Club. I’d only buy stuff from Magnolia, or maybe Blade Runner. Although the scene in American Psycho when he’s admitting the murders to his lawyer is the best acting I’ve ever seen, so would also consider that.
Methinks JustinC inserted a superfluous decimal point. I parsed it as a win worth 500 British Pounds, which at today’s exchange rate equals about 622 American Dollars (although my exchange calculator says $609.75).
So, for 622 US Dollars, I think I’d buy a good, used over/under shotgun for the upcoming quail/pheasant/skeet seasons.