Wise or Foolish financial move?

[evangelist6589]

If you do not like Apple products please do not post as I am not asking for your advice regarding them nor do I care to listen to your opinion. Thanks..

I am thinking about upgrading my aging 2009 MacBook to a new model and a apple rep got me a discount of $100 or so. The total cost would be $1272 which included the extended warranty and a RAM upgrade. I figure I better do it while my current Macbook is running well, rather than wait till it breaks down and I get nothing out of it. Based on my price comparisons I could get $350-$450 out of my Macbook due to some major RAM and hard drive upgrades I have done to the machine.

This would be considered a consumer debt item and a debt I would have a choice to take on or avoid. This kind of debt is not the same as taking on debt to take care of ones teeth, fix a car, or pay the IRS. These days my practice of taking on debts is always to pay them off within a month and so far I have been able to do this. Had to charge $600 to get my car repaired and paid it off within a month. With this Macbook I gamble I could pay the debt off in full within 2-3 months and assuming I chop down going out to eat, and my car needs no more repairs or I have no more dental costs. My car should be fine as according to the mechanic everything is working well on it.

I am not buying books anymore nor tracts as I have too many and have saved some money. Church had a conference today and a bunch of books were available on the tables to purchase and I walked away not having spent a penny.

So would you think of this as a wise or foolish decision? I have been through the Crown Financial money matters study, and have read 2 of their books, and they do not discourage taking on debts, they just discourage not paying them back, so Crown is much different than the Ramsey approach to money. Thanks..

 

[Revmitchell]

Why is this in the Baptist section?

 

[evangelist6589]

Why is this in the Baptist section?

Where should it go?

 

[Revmitchell]

Computers forum or the Money forum.

 

[InTheLight]

If all you are using your computer for is to surf the web, and/or some light word processing and spreadsheet type of activity I would not do the upgrade.

Exactly what will a new computer do that your current computer cannot handle?

 

[annsni]

My Mac is a 2008 MacBook and it's still running great (although I think there may be an issue with the fan I need to address soon). I use it for the graphics and projection at church so it needs to run well and it does.

I would recommend you start putting away money each paycheck to go towards a new computer. DO NOT buy it on debt - you owe too many people already. Trust me, save up and you will do well. Also, look into the refurbished computers because you can definitely save money that way. All of our computers are refurbished and we have two 2008s (one MacBook, one MacBook Pro), a 2010 (MacBook Pro) and a 2011 (MacBook Pro) along with a Mac Mini (best thing you can get for very little money) that we got for the kids for Christmas of 2012.

 

[evangelist6589]

If all you are using your computer for is to surf the web, and/or some light word processing and spreadsheet type of activity I would not do the upgrade.

Exactly what will a new computer do that your current computer cannot handle?

Oh no I use it for photos, job hunting, and the like. Well my Mac won't last forever and since it is more than 5 years old I figured it would be time for an upgrade, and I better do it before my current model breaks. If I sold it today I might be able to get $400 off it, compared to nothing if it broke.

 

[evangelist6589]

My Mac is a 2008 MacBook and it's still running great (although I think there may be an issue with the fan I need to address soon). I use it for the graphics and projection at church so it needs to run well and it does.

I would recommend you start putting away money each paycheck to go towards a new computer. DO NOT buy it on debt - you owe too many people already. Trust me, save up and you will do well. Also, look into the refurbished computers because you can definitely save money that way. All of our computers are refurbished and we have two 2008s (one MacBook, one MacBook Pro), a 2010 (MacBook Pro) and a 2011 (MacBook Pro) along with a Mac Mini (best thing you can get for very little money) that we got for the kids for Christmas of 2012.

The refurbished model was $829 + $250 for the warranty including a RAM upgrade would be $1179 +tax. So it basically cost me $100 more for a brand new unit.

Perhaps I made a foolish move I am not sure. But as soon as I get the new unit I plan to sell this old one for as much as I can get it and I plan to put money each check towards the purchase I made.

I felt compelled to buy it right away for 3 reasons.

1. Apple is only making one hard drive based unit and I wanted to buy the mac before they discontinue them period.
2. I dislike the flash based models they are making these days that lack DVD ROM drives, and come with less disk space. A flash based model would cost me more money for the same amount of drive space and plus I would have to buy a external DVD drive costing me even more money!!!!!
3. I have a 0% on purchases CC for a year and will not pay any interest on the purchase.

 

[JonC]

Oh no I use it for photos, job hunting, and the like. Well my Mac won't last forever and since it is more than 5 years old I figured it would be time for an upgrade, and I better do it before my current model breaks. If I sold it today I might be able to get $400 off it, compared to nothing if it broke.

What is the average lifespan on a Mac? I have a Dell which is running fine, but I'm looking to replace it and was also considering Apple. It's well over 8 yrs old, just considering an upgrade....but if Macs only last 5 yrs then I don't know if it's a wise investment. Anyway....what is the average lifespan on a Mac?

BTW...it would be foolish to finance the computer. They depreciate much too quickly to even consider not paying cash. Save the payments you would be making and purchase the computer when you are ready (it'll be a newer computer without the debt).

 

[evangelist6589]

What is the average lifespan on a Mac? I have a Dell which is running fine, but I'm looking to replace it and was also considering Apple. It's well over 8 yrs old, just considering an upgrade....but if Macs only last 5 yrs then I don't know if it's a wise investment. Anyway....what is the average lifespan on a Mac?

BTW...it would be foolish to finance the computer. They depreciate much too quickly to even consider not paying cash. Save the payments you would be making and purchase the computer when you are ready (it'll be a newer computer without the debt).

Oh no I did not finance it. I put it on my 0% on purchases CC and I plan to pay it off within 90 days. Not sure how long Mac lasts. I guess it just depends. My last iBook gave up the ghost in under 5 years.

Was it foolish? Since I won't pay any interest perhaps not. But if I financed it yes it would have been foolish.

 

[annsni]

Was it a need? No

Do you have other debt that you should be paying attention to? Yes

Was it a foolish move? Yes

Never buy anything "right away". You can ALWAYS buy a computer and trust me, there will be a hard drive based Mac for a while to come. The wise choice would have been to decide what you might want when the time comes, keep your current computer running cleanly and back it up frequently (I back up weekly) and start putting money aside. If it's important, it's worth waiting and saving for.

 

[Rolfe]

I hope that this does not mean that we will see another financial trouble thread soon.

 

[Rolfe]

Had to charge $600 to get my car repaired...

This should have been reason enough not to take on another debt.

Noticed that there was only one hour between the OP and the declaration that it was purchased. Either an impulse buy or predetermined decision?

 

[Revmitchell]

Someone needs to learn the difference between need and want.

 

[InTheLight]

What is the average lifespan on a Mac? I have a Dell which is running fine, but I'm looking to replace it and was also considering Apple. It's well over 8 yrs old, just considering an upgrade....

I had a Dell PC at work that lasted me 11 years and my wife's home computer lasted for 10 years. The only reason I replaced them was because support for Windows XP was ending. I've since custom built two screaming gaming machines for around $1,000 each. Intel i7 processor, 16 MB RAM, solid state drive, upper tier graphics card, custom cooling. Yes, I overbuilt them but I figure they'll last 10 years.

I've never heard of an Apple that has lasted 10 years. I'm sure they exist but I personally don't know of it and I know plenty of Apple owners.

 

[Don]

For $1,200, I could buy 3 PCs that would run just as well and do the things I saw listed in this thread.

Make up your own mind as to what's a wise or foolish choice. Deciding on only one type of computer, when a cheaper model is available and would take you minimal time to adapt to -- is purely a *want.*

 

[InTheLight]

For $1,200, I could buy 3 PCs that would run just as well and do the things I saw listed in this thread.

Make up your own mind as to what's a wise or foolish choice. Deciding on only one type of computer, when a cheaper model is available and would take you minimal time to adapt to -- is purely a *want.*

Now, Don, he said he doesn't want to hear stuff like this. If he wants to overpay to live in Apple's proprietary operating system prison, that's his prerogative. Now go butcher a rabbit!

 

[Don]

Now, Don, he said he doesn't want to hear stuff like this. If he wants to overpay to live in Apple's proprietary operating system prison, that's his prerogative. Now go butcher a rabbit!

Actually in the process of rounding up cows to be butchered...if my son doesn't come to a decision about the rabbits, they may be next...but after the turkey, which has gotten way too ornery for anyone's good....

Evangelist probably thinks Apple products don't get viruses, either....

 

[Rolfe]

The variety of accessories for Apple products is a plus.

 

[evangelist6589]

Was it a need? No

Do you have other debt that you should be paying attention to? Yes

Was it a foolish move? Yes

Never buy anything "right away". You can ALWAYS buy a computer and trust me, there will be a hard drive based Mac for a while to come. The wise choice would have been to decide what you might want when the time comes, keep your current computer running cleanly and back it up frequently (I back up weekly) and start putting money aside. If it's important, it's worth waiting and saving for.

Yes it would be foolish if suddenly my car were to need repairs, or when I visit the dentist or doctor they discover something. However at least I put it on a 0% CC and chose not to finance it. Financing it would have been a very stupid move and no way I would have done that.

Perhaps I could have avoided this one by saving.