Buying Gear

[CONAN]

Credit Card or Save up......?

I am thinking of buying a Matamp GT200 NOW!!!!! But it will mean loading over £1000 onto C Card I have just paid off!!!!!

Advice please!!!!

[welshchris]

I don't mind using credit cards, my usual trick is to pay for gear with one then shift the debt onto another with 6 month intrest free offer or similar.. Pay off the gear card within the 6 months and all is good in the world again..

Having said that I'm thinking I'll have all mine paid off within the next two months or so may decide to go for a year without any credit card debt... It'll mean saving up for any new toys, but think I've everything I want for now.. ok ok a baritone resonator and an aluminium electrical guitar.. but they can wait for a while.

[imlikeajungle]

I personally believe buying stuff when you don't *have* the money is not okay. Society has changed, I understand this is socially accepted as 'normal' these days. Many people do it under the 'I want it NOW' monniker which I believe is not a good thing... The hunt is usually better than the catch. The outskirts of capitalism & consumerism I guess? I think I'm old school: I never ever ever buy something when I don't have at least a decent financial buffer left, let alone would I get into debts to buy something as replacable as guitargear...

Forgive me for preaching!

[slomatic]

Having been a frequent credit user, and now a strict money only guy I agree with you. Visa cards lead to unneccessary impulse buys....plus, isn't the whole loans thing the reason we're all fucked?!

I say save the cash. Besides, the rig you have now doesn't need any upgrading, it'll serve you well. With gear, there's a danger of ownership becoming more important than what it's used for. You can be sure I wouldn't own a Matamp half stack if I didn't gig regularly. Tools of the trade!!

[Garfunk M. Rafferty]

I don't own a credit card, I'm bad enough with a debit card!! If I had the facility to get myself into debt I'd be bankrupt in 6 months.

[Graham]

Well I refused to have a card until in my thirties and even then only because there was no other way for me to access hire cars when overseas!! Up to that point my wife and I always saved up our pennies until we could affford whatever we were chasing after - As to my owning one - I do have one but I actually think my bank owns it - HOWEVER -as a slightly grey haired member here I have been across the coals a few times now, and had plenty experience of crippling debt - these days its different and the card gets paid directly from the bank on time every single month - those Bas***ds won't get a penny of mine that I can avoid believe me. I was bled dry for fifteen years - in those days base rate (prime for our American friends) went up to 15% before the bank took their vig! - took me so many years to dig myself out - debt is a horrible thing - it has a cumulative crippling effect - just eats you away!

I am hardly an example of self control when it comes to GAS but none of it's borrowed - if you guys cant afford something without the little plastic rectangle - just say NO!! believe me its easier to get out from the grip of chemicals than that of the banks!!I hear all the BS about credit being tightened up but believe you me it won't be too long before they are throwing it around again - banks offering credit to kids is akin to the old stereotype of the pusher at the school playground gates with his introductory free dime bags BUT at least with junk on the whole you know what you are getting into................ Banking is legal and many of their credit card based games are nothing other than legalised thievery!!

Grumpy Graham

[Cado]

Respect the power of compound interest & this guy

[squarewave]

Credit Cards are EVIL!!!!!!! Just like casinos the odds are not stacked in you favour. SAve and you will feel more rewarded when you get the goods!

[Poorbob]

I love the fact that if my dad pays his credit card bill on time every month, his credit score goes down. For that paradoxical reason alone, I wont get into that mess.

Well, actually, if by some miracle down the road I get offered an American Express black card, I might just have to take that because it seems so cool. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[CONAN]

Ah fuck!!! I will just have to save then!!!!!