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What to spend $500 on?

post #1 of 28
7/24/08 at 10:36am
Thread Starter 
I've come into a small inheritance, of $500, and the terms are that it be spent on something fun and unnecessary. I'm not allowed to abide by my nature, and save it, invest it, or pay bills with it.

So my wife and I are discussing how to blow our windfall.

What would you do with such a sum?
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post #2 of 28
7/24/08 at 10:42am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Terms for real? Is there some way it can be taken away from you if you put it in savings?

If I left money to people I would want them to do whatever they want with it.
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post #3 of 28
7/24/08 at 10:42am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Two backpacks for back country hikes, if you're into that kind of thing. If not, I still vote for the backpacks (the tent and other gear is another issue).

Balloon trip.

Parachute drop.

Helicoptor scenic tour.

All of it on black! (if you gamble)
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post #4 of 28
7/24/08 at 10:48am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

..or Ipod, new shoes (shoes that are too expensive otherwise), some crazy bottle of wine that is more than $20, but less than $500 (maybe $300?), new 24" computer monitor, a nice piece of art for the home, a new light fixture for the home, multiple annual magazine subscriptions, personal trainers at a gym...too-many-ideas
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post #5 of 28
7/24/08 at 11:05am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

A weekend break - you should be able to get a couple of nights in a fairly good hotel and a nice dinner, and pay for the gas to get there, if it's not too far!
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post #6 of 28
7/24/08 at 12:07pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood
Terms for real? Is there some way it can be taken away from you if you put it in savings?
It's from my dad, of the modest inheritance from his mom's passing. The "terms" are what he asked of us, to remember and honor the gifts grandma gave us as kids: fun, generous, and impractical

Quote:
Two backpacks for back country hikes, if you're into that kind of thing. If not, I still vote for the backpacks (the tent and other gear is another issue).

Balloon trip.

Parachute drop.

Helicoptor scenic tour.

All of it on black! (if you gamble)
We've done the balloon trips (3 times now) and the helicopter tour of Toronto. I'll see if my wife wants another balloon ride. We're not hikers, but good idea!

Quote:
A weekend break - you should be able to get a couple of nights in a fairly good hotel and a nice dinner, and pay for the gas to get there, if it's not too far!
Interesting idea. It's not enough to fly anywhere, but a driving trip would be fun. Will ask the wife.

Quote:
..or Ipod, new shoes (shoes that are too expensive otherwise), some crazy bottle of wine that is more than $20, but less than $500 (maybe $300?), new 24" computer monitor, a nice piece of art for the home, a new light fixture for the home, multiple annual magazine subscriptions, personal trainers at a gym...too-many-ideas
iPod Touch is tempting Maybe a game system; my wife wants to play the new Lego Indiana Jones game and I need a new game system for that. We've got a zillion magazines already.

A personal trainer is very intriguing.

Artwork for the house... Hmm....

My wife wants a dog. We could pay for half a purebred with this (the gift that keeps on taking. )
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post #7 of 28
7/24/08 at 12:39pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Two words: Rock Band.
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post #8 of 28
7/24/08 at 1:14pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Anything outdoors is good.

Indoors, Playstation 3.
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post #9 of 28
7/24/08 at 1:39pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Get yourself a pair of bass shakers for your home theater, with a dedicated amp. It's in the price range, totally fits the category of unnecessary but fun, plus you can tell us all about it!
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post #10 of 28
7/24/08 at 3:09pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Six months of that life insurance.
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post #11 of 28
7/24/08 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew Crippen
Six months of that life insurance.


My wife wants to retroactively apply it to our theater season tickets. I'm not sure that's allowed. Ah the burden of unexpected wealth
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post #12 of 28
7/24/08 at 4:58pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

A black market kidney... and some salsa.
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post #13 of 28
7/24/08 at 9:10pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Well, since I finally received my $600 check from the Feds I'm kind of in the same situation. I thought there were three ways to go. #1-something activity based (parachuting? Don't think so). #2-something tangible (BluRay player? ). #3-something irresponsible (one helluva night at the Pub? In my younger days, maybe). So I decided on #2. A Samsung 1400 BR player and two discs are on the way. Still have $280 left so maybe a couple of sway bars for my old Fiat.

As for you, Dave? I'm sure #3 is out of the question so I'd say #2 as well. Get something(s) that you can get the maximum enjoyment out of for the longest period of time. Or go jump out of an airplane! But don't forget the chute. And maybe some more salsa.
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post #14 of 28
7/24/08 at 9:50pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Maybe a game system; my wife wants to play the new Lego Indiana Jones game and I need a new game system for that.

There's your answer: Playstation 3, and assorted games for it including Lego Indiana Jones. I'm playing Lego Star Wars at the moment and it's a hoot!

(And you get a BD player to boot, assuming you don't already have one. But that might violate the "unnecessary" condition -- us HT enthusiasts "need" to have the latest bestest home video format, no? )

But the trip also sounds good.
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post #15 of 28
7/25/08 at 5:00am
Thread Starter 

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yee-Ming
There's your answer: Playstation 3, and assorted games for it including Lego Indiana Jones. I'm playing Lego Star Wars at the moment and it's a hoot
Lego Stars II in particular was super! My wife and I played co-op all the way through both. She really was Lego Indy, and then maybe Lego Batman. Alas, my GameCube is obsolete so I need a whole new system to get these games.

They're a real consideration: Wii, XBox, PS3 are all intriguing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gene c
Or go jump out of an airplane! But don't forget the chute. And maybe some more salsa.
The salsa's on the ground in case the 'chute doesn't open.

I was telling my wife that no matter the windfall, it's never enough. Were it $25, I'd be wishing it were $50 to buy a new game. At $500, I wish it were $1500 for a new TV or speakers. Were it $10,000, I'd wish it were $15k to build a new deck. Were it $100k, I'd grumble that it's not enough to retire and live a life of leisure.
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post #16 of 28
7/25/08 at 5:15am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

I'm getting ready for my yearly October Horrorthon...so....

22" LCD widescreen monitor...probably Samsung ($300)
PC sound system of some significant wattage...probably Logitech ($200+)
Then I'd...erm, well, that's it! Wow! Took care of that wad fast enough!
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post #17 of 28
7/25/08 at 6:44am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
I've come into a small inheritance, of $500, and the terms are that it be spent on something fun and unnecessary. I'm not allowed to abide by my nature, and save it, invest it, or pay bills with it.

So my wife and I are discussing how to blow our windfall.

What would you do with such a sum?
A pair of Forbes-approved dress shoes?
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post #18 of 28
7/25/08 at 9:00am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

2 hours at Pandora's Box in Manhattan.

Even have enough left-over for lunch in Chinatown (may I suggest Wo Hop on Mott st. Get the fried dumplings and the duck mei fun)
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post #19 of 28
7/25/08 at 9:10am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

If it has to be fun and impractical: an HD-DVD player and discs.
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post #20 of 28
7/25/08 at 11:22am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
I've come into a small inheritance, of $500, and the terms are that it be spent on something fun and unnecessary.
Me. I am fun and unnecessary.

--
H
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post #21 of 28
7/26/08 at 4:20am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
iPod Touch is tempting

One of the coolest $500 toys ever. Holds my entire music collection, a few movies, some games and controls iTunes/AirTunes via my wireless network. Oh yeah, internet and email too. Best of all, it's not a phone.
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post #22 of 28
7/26/08 at 5:18am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

My wife was in the same situation a few years ago - almost exactly the same amount, and from a grandmother's will (but maternal rather than paternal).

In the end we thought it appropriate to get something that would remind us of the old lady and bought a limited edition print and got it framed. We were fortunate to find an etching of a field of cow parsley, which bizarrely enough was one of her favourite plants. The picture looks great, and (though this wasn't the intention) its value has risen well above what we paid as the artist has grown more collectable over the last few years.

In case you're wondering what cow parsley looks like - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_parsley
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post #23 of 28
7/26/08 at 12:55pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
I was telling my wife that no matter the windfall, it's never enough. Were it $25, I'd be wishing it were $50 to buy a new game. At $500, I wish it were $1500 for a new TV or speakers. Were it $10,000, I'd wish it were $15k to build a new deck. Were it $100k, I'd grumble that it's not enough to retire and live a life of leisure.

You are very wise.

Focus on the positive.

It's 500 dollars you didn't have before and that you get to spend on something fun!!!
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post #24 of 28
7/26/08 at 1:40pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
The salsa's on the ground in case the 'chute doesn't open.

Try using Silica instead of Salsa. I hear Silica absorbs impact.
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post #25 of 28
7/26/08 at 3:15pm

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Rent Brewster's Millions. That should give you some ideas. Run for office as None of the Above. I'll vote for you.
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post #26 of 28
7/26/08 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan X
Try using Silica instead of Salsa. I hear Silica absorbs impact.
Yes but it also absorbs water and I do not wish to be dessicated. It's not the fall that kills you, but the subsequent dehydration...
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post #27 of 28
7/27/08 at 2:20am

Re: What to spend $500 on?

Anything you can do together (and without any kids, if applicable). Strictly speaking that would count as an investment, and perhaps even not be unnecessary, but the contents, what you decide to do could meet the terms fully.

That driving trip could be nice. Make sure it includes something slighjtly sinful - like a private sauna.


Cees
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post #28 of 28
7/27/08 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What to spend $500 on?

I looked at various toys, but I really don't want any new stuff at the moment. I have a hard time finding time to play with the toys I already own.

I think we're going to apply our unexpected riches to pay for the season tickets to the local Broadway Theater League for the upcoming '08-'09 season, an unplanned splurge last month. But we had a good time with Wicked and all the shows for the new season look good. So it should be a lot of fun, and a good "investment" for my wife and I to spend good time together.
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