The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum
The Original Unofficial Toy Steam Forum
Established 2006
The biggest, most popular steam forum around! Accept NO imitations!
We have a growing community of regular posting members who chat about all aspects of toy and model steam.
 
FAQ :: Search :: Memberlist :: Usergroups :: Join! (free)
Profile :: Log in to check your private messages :: Log in

Chat Safe Rules

Having Trouble Joining ? Click here.


burning a hole in my pocket...
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> Off topic board
View previous topic :: View next topic  

What to do with my tax return?
Save for a Jensen 50
64%
 64%  [ 11 ]
Buy a Thinkpad T61p
11%
 11%  [ 2 ]
Give it to my broker to invest and watch it do nothing
23%
 23%  [ 4 ]
Total Votes : 17

Author Message
Mister Occlusion


Steam Legend!!


Joined: 28 Jul 2007
Posts: 3784
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:38 pm    Post subject: burning a hole in my pocket... Reply with quote

I don't know what to do with my tax return...

Lenovo has a sale on Thinkpads.  I would love a new Thinkpad.  I don't especially *need* a Thinkpad, just like I don't especially *need* a steady supply a root beer, but the T61p (or maybe the R61...) is looking pretty good, and with the options I want comes in at $1500 (I got a nice tax return  )

Or, do I save with the hope of an affordable Jensen 50 coming available, both in the desired vintage (one with the most modern heaters), and for a decent price (which will still be more than the Thinkpad, I expect).

Or, do I either stick it in my low interest savings account, or give it to my broker and watch it gain and lose and hopefully end up being worth more in a year than it is now (no, I'm not fond of my broker right now).

Or is there another option?

Just thought I'd do a poll, since I've never done one before, and everyone just loves having their opinions asked
_________________

Gingerly prodding the envelope since 2007.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
pauly


Hero Steamer


Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 1989
Location: middlesbrough

PostPosted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the jensen of course
_________________
knowledge is power

 

every thing I love is either heavy, dirty or dangerous   : Fred Dibnah
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnreid


Steam Supreme Being


Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 11121
Location: Friendship Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Mon May 12, 2008 11:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmmm a lifetime supply of Root Beer, an option for sure
_________________
Your life is an occasion...Rise to it
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Nick


Steam Legend!!


Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 7280
Location: Minnesota, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 12:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was waiting for one of these threads to appear.

If you think about it, the Jensen will in a way be an investment too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
johnreid


Steam Supreme Being


Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 11121
Location: Friendship Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 12:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The problem I have, is with this "Saving" concept, how does that work?
With me a small supply of cash enters my life, a windfall of sorts, I decide to "save" it for a certain item, and then I buy a Special to be announced when it arrives engine ( new, and English ) then I see a Bowman in Ebay and then... Just what is this "Saving" thing and how is it done?
_________________
Your life is an occasion...Rise to it
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
psantama


Junior Member


Joined: 18 Sep 2007
Posts: 105

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 1:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

the jensen 50 to run all your generators at thye same time and power the thinkpad..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
Nick


Steam Legend!!


Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 7280
Location: Minnesota, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 1:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

johnreid wrote:
The problem I have, is with this "Saving" concept, how does that work?
With me a small supply of cash enters my life, a windfall of sorts, I decide to "save" it for a certain item, and then I buy a Special to be announced when it arrives engine ( new, and English ) then I see a Bowman in Ebay and then... Just what is this "Saving" thing and how is it done?

I can't wait to see what this one is.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Mister Occlusion


Steam Legend!!


Joined: 28 Jul 2007
Posts: 3784
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 1:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

heh.. I was thinking about that tonight, while waiting in purgatory.  Within 3 years the Thinkpad'll be worth maybe a couple hundred.

And, even worse, they'll probably release a new model soon too (else why would the old ones be on sale?)

Ah I hate spending money.. There is always guilt attached once you pass a certain level and it's not an essential item..

ooo..I forgot to add Jensen 10 and 95G  XD
_________________

Gingerly prodding the envelope since 2007.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Nick


Steam Legend!!


Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 7280
Location: Minnesota, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mister Occlusion wrote:
Within 3 years the Thinkpad'll be worth maybe a couple hundred.

That's what I don't like about computers, once it leaves the store, it's out-dated.

I buy the cheapest one the store has, and get about 3 years from it. For what I use a computer for, it works perfect.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
johnreid


Steam Supreme Being


Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 11121
Location: Friendship Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dont have a Laptop, wish I did just for the Web, but I have only bought two prebuilt computers, an AT that cost me close to 5 grand and even had a 20 meg hard drive ( I was told that I would never fill it as long as I live ) and a 486 that crapped out in 6 months. I still like to buy the Motherboard and build it up as I like it. That used to be the cheapest way to go, and if you want a half way decent computer, still is.
_________________
Your life is an occasion...Rise to it
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Mister Occlusion


Steam Legend!!


Joined: 28 Jul 2007
Posts: 3784
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

that's the problem with me; I always try to buy the best that I can afford, because if I buy cheap I will invariably upgrade it, or regret buying it.

I've got an Acer Travelmate supplied by work.  It's utter rubbish (cheap buggers only have 1 IDE channel in it with the HDD and DVD both riding on it, so trying to do anything while burning a DVD is a waste of time). Plus the case is flimsy and the keyboard is a horror.  I don't even use it outside of work for fear of wearing it out prematurely.

I've seen Thinkpads burn out (7 and 8 year old ones where the backlight/inverter goes), but it's rare to find one that has worn out.

Ah, I'm drifting off course... My A21 is in fine shape and does just about anything, other than get more than 45minutes to a charge XD

I tried putting OSX on it, but it didn't like it, so now it's got Ubuntu.   Last week it had BSD, and next week it might be Server '03 XD
_________________

Gingerly prodding the envelope since 2007.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kusuchi


Hero Steamer


Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 1735
Location: St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mister Occlusion wrote:
heh.. I was thinking about that tonight, while waiting in purgatory.  Within 3 years the Thinkpad'll be worth maybe a couple hundred.

And, even worse, they'll probably release a new model soon too (else why would the old ones be on sale?)

Ah I hate spending money.. There is always guilt attached once you pass a certain level and it's not an essential item..

ooo..I forgot to add Jensen 10 and 95G  XD


But not a # 90 Atomic?

I'm not a broker, but the word on the street seems to be  commodities.

Since the US currency is rapidly falling from favor, many national economies would prefer to keep their oil in the ground rather than exchange it for overextended dollars.

Maybe collectibles, like steam engines, may not be such bad investments.  Just be prepared to sell them on Chinese E bay.





 
_________________
Richard


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnreid


Steam Supreme Being


Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 11121
Location: Friendship Indiana, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Just be prepared to sell them on Chinese E bay.



You mean Cheebay?

What is going to be hard to understand is how the Chinese value some things differently than we do, Intellectual Property and such are very important to our way of life, while in China many valuable Corporations would be practically worthless. The Service Economy just wont cut it if China rules the world.
_________________
Your life is an occasion...Rise to it
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Les


Steam Supreme Being


Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 8536
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset.

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 5:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The thing is how often does a #50 come up on e-bay, and are you prepared to wait a long time?
_________________
Les - Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternatives.

www.freewebs.com/lesmarsh
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Stitch


Full member


Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 944
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2008 7:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a lecturer in a business school, my advice would be to invest in the shonkiest scheme you can find and then use the returns to help pay for another engine      

Seriously, do you have any debts? If so, the first use of the return is to clear them.  
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> Off topic board All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Card File  Gallery  Forum Archive
smartBlue Style © 2002 Smartor
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
 

Welcome to The Unofficial Mamod & Other Steam Forum!
Welcome. We're a friendly place to share knowledge & chat about this great hobby. Since our Jul ’06 startup, we’ve grown to over 350 members, who have posted over a quarter of a million posts. We can answer most toy steam questions, basic or complex. Our multi-national members enjoy sharing photos & videos of engines by Mamod, Wilesco, Jensen, Bowman, SEL, Doll, Bing, Scorpion, Renown & more. All collectors are welcome & if you are just starting out in the hobby, we can suggest some ideal engines. Our forum is ad free & costs nothing to be a member.
Press the 'Join' button at the top of the page, to be part of the largest toy steam forum on the internet.
Questions? Email the forum’s Administrator: Chantry_James at yahoo.co.uk
Engine of the Month October
Clinton's Workshop 2008
Boiler by Model Components Australia.
Engine by Bassett Lowke

Click picture to enlarge