10-11-2005, 06:15 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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The Sabbatical Ends: Results?
Well, as anyone who has followed the site lately may have noted, I am off of my tech sabbatical. In the last 10 days, I've purchased an upgrade to Resco Explorer, the WM 5 upgrade from Dell, and a case. Since my spreadsheet was lost early on, I can't give you accurate counts of how much I didn't spend, but I estimate it to be around $200 or so. Mostly a success, although some will argue it wasn't - I think it was a good way of teaching myself to distinguish between a PPC Want and a PPC Need. So now that it's over, and you've seen my results (And that of our originator), are you ready to sign up for a tech-buying sabbatical? Or will you decide to wait until new device season is over 
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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10-11-2005, 07:04 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,734
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$200 seems a bit little for a whole 3 months. I do not think its worth the stress and enforced abstinence. If you saved $500 I would have been more impressed.
Surur
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10-11-2005, 07:40 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,520
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Good going Jon!
True, there were some disagreements about some of your choices, some of them coming from me(I admittedly can be a hard line purist sometimes :wink: ) , but all in all I think that if you accomplished what you set out to do then it was a success.
So, what I think would be interesting is if you track your behaviors 30 days out. I wish I did this myself.
Did you find it difficult?
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Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii |
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10-11-2005, 08:58 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 398
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Re: The Sabbatical Ends: Results?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jon Westfall
Or will you decide to wait until new device season is over |
Yes all I'm waiting for is an HTC Universal with a 6gb HDD, a Monahans Processor and a Stanwood (see bottom of page) graphics chip. Then I'll be happy.
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10-11-2005, 09:08 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 42
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Good going!
It really is hard sometimes to say "no" to ourselves. Some of these toys are just sooooooo tempting.
Personally, I have a small rule:- - If it is $20 or less - just buy it (usually covers almost all upgrades)
- Otherwise, wait a month. Note every instance where the item would have been needed or useful to have. This does not include nice-to-have or W!BIC instances. If there are several instances of real need, then I buy it.
I had to impose this rule on myself because it was just too easy to keep buying new items for my PDA. This also keeps my wife from rolling her eyes too much. :wink:
Julio
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10-11-2005, 09:16 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 267
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Er... does saving up for a Nikon D50 kit with 2 lenses count as a sabbatical? 
I think it's not bad, but I agree on not learning the diff between a need and a want.
The Nikon is definitely a big want. The excuse being I don't have a digicam as of the moment, and taking pictures is a BIG way I relieve stress. 8)
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10-11-2005, 11:35 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by rmasinag
Er... does saving up for a Nikon D50 kit with 2 lenses count as a sabbatical? |
Actually, I think that saving for something is a GREAT way to curb impulse purchases - we live in a world of instant credit, where few people pay cash for things. The buy it on credit, then try to figure out how they're going to pay for it after the fact. So simply by putting off the purchase long enough to save up for it, you're miles ahead of most people. ;-)
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10-12-2005, 02:44 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 73
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New device season is the perfect time for a sabbatical. As soon as you buy one, something else better will come out. Better off waiting for steady state again...
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10-12-2005, 04:07 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 359
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Quote:
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we live in a world of instant credit, where few people pay cash for things. The buy it on credit, then try to figure out how they're going to pay for it after the fact.
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Here here, I must say this is the one thing about civilzation today I DON'T agree with... Personally I would never buy anything on credit I can't buy with cash (with the exception of the big 3 House, car/including repairs but excluding modifications that are not "needed", school). I guess this is why I find it ironic that my friends who make 6 figures but are still in debt up to their eyeballs, but I who only makes mid 5 figures am debt free except mortgage and a car bill.
It all comes down to responsbility and control... 2 things that people seem to be lacking these days.
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10-12-2005, 04:57 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by PDANEWBIE
It all comes down to responsbility and control... 2 things that people seem to be lacking these days.
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Indeed! Maybe I should start Budgeting Thoughts. ;-)
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