I always save and pay cash. The great thing about owning a Mac is they have good resale value. Something else which is beneficial, is they tend to pay for themselves overt time if you use it for work related stuff!
My first iMac I received as a college gift. I sold the iMac to a friend. It still works today 10 years later.
I bought a PowerBook five years ago and a MacBook Pro last year. For those purchses I saved half of the cost, put the rest on credit. Then write the purchase off my taxes. I sold the PowerBook and used the money towards the MBP.
I bought a used PowerMac G5 four years ago and sold that last year.
Right now my MacBook White Core Duo, I reckon has a reasonable resale value of 1/3 of a new Alu MacBook 2.0 ghz. More or less close to savings for the remaining 2/3 in about a few months time. We'll see.
I can't, which is why my six-year-old G3 iBook has never been replaced. It also hasn't been powered on in almost six months. New and used Macs are all priced absurdly high.
I don't have a car payment, I use the money that would have gone toward car payments for Apple stuff - 24" iMac, 14" iBook, 2nd Generation iPod Touch and so on .
My present Mac is woefully in need of replacement, but I can't afford to right now; when the time comes it'll be paid for in cash.
Due to 'extraneous' circumstance the purchase of my current Mac was very expensive, but worth every penny (the extraneous circumstances that is, if not the Mac itself )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tauron
The question should not be "how to you afford a Mac", but rather "how to you afford a PC"
Seeing that PC's are actually more expensive to own than Macs once you do the full calculation and not just the upfront price on hardware.
Depends on your needs though, my experience has been the opposite.
I constantly saved. I sat down one day and made a budget, including my bills, some play money, food etc. and set aside a certain amount of money weekly for my computer.
My "play money", if there was any left over at the end of the week, it goes into the iMac fund, along with the cash I was setting aside to begin with.
Then i just started over the next week.
it took me roughly 6-7 months, but now I'm using my iMac with no regrets, and no debt either
WOW you are way ahead of the game, where did you learn such discipline?? good for you
most your age can barely spell budget let alone make and stick to it.
Comments
College
Crap job after college
Paid dues at crappy job but learned a lot
Get better job after years go by
In 30's now can afford to buy toys
In all seriousness there is no way I could afford a Mac when I was in college. Gratz to those that can from saving and hard work!
I bought a PowerBook five years ago and a MacBook Pro last year. For those purchses I saved half of the cost, put the rest on credit. Then write the purchase off my taxes. I sold the PowerBook and used the money towards the MBP.
I bought a used PowerMac G5 four years ago and sold that last year.
Are most people using credit?
Or saving up as much as possible?
Or are a bit wealthy?
set realistic goals
separate wants from needs
prioritize spending
taxes first--retirement 2nd--savings goals--set aside some for the less fortunate--live on rest
learn to say no, not now, "all things come to those who wait"
buy refurbished
learn to manage $1, then you can manage $100....then $1000
minimize credit use
follow dave ramesy
marry a prudent person
invest in yourself
don't waste--still have my strawberry imac g3 slot loader--(internet and print server)
listen to successful people--success breads success---talk less listen more
we've talked of this before
Seeing that PC's are actually more expensive to own than Macs once you do the full calculation and not just the upfront price on hardware.
Due to 'extraneous' circumstance the purchase of my current Mac was very expensive, but worth every penny (the extraneous circumstances that is, if not the Mac itself
The question should not be "how to you afford a Mac", but rather "how to you afford a PC"
Seeing that PC's are actually more expensive to own than Macs once you do the full calculation and not just the upfront price on hardware.
Depends on your needs though, my experience has been the opposite.
I'm 18, and bought a 24" iMac about 3 months ago.
I constantly saved. I sat down one day and made a budget, including my bills, some play money, food etc. and set aside a certain amount of money weekly for my computer.
My "play money", if there was any left over at the end of the week, it goes into the iMac fund, along with the cash I was setting aside to begin with.
Then i just started over the next week.
it took me roughly 6-7 months, but now I'm using my iMac with no regrets, and no debt either
WOW you are way ahead of the game, where did you learn such discipline?? good for you
most your age can barely spell budget let alone make and stick to it.