Travel Technology - How do you afford your tech purchases?

I think I'm pretty well off. I'm above middle class with a growing family of 6 but still I have some discretionary income and that means I can usually afford some of the cool new tech gadgets. But I am surprised by those on this board who have all the latest tech gadgets. How do you do afford it? Do you work in a field that gives you access to gadgets for reviews or do you just purchase them on your own dime? Are you married? If you are married you have to tell me how you can convince your wife to let you spend all that money on the newest tech gadgets. :)


Just curious.

Work extra. Seriously.

If you live in a major city, search craigslist for the terms "focus group" or "paid study."

If you live in a major city, search craigslist for the terms "focus group" or "paid study."

Do you mean to say that some folks get paid to test new cool gadgets?

Second job. I'm addicted to electronics, but working a few hours on the weekend gives me $ for nothing but electronics, travel and beer.

How do you afford 4 children? Children are really expensive. I read about 1 million each by the time they finish college.

We're dual income no children. I also work a lot, but I like what I do, so it's not difficult.

How do you afford 4 children? Children are really expensive.

That's what I was thinking. Not having 4 kids probably helps. :D ;)

Do you mean to say that some folks get paid to test new cool gadgets?

Repeating my question....

I usually upgrade to the latest and greatest by selling what I have on eBay or to friends, usually get 50-60% of the original value. To me that applies to the cost of the new unit.

Per Diem... I can't eat 50 bucks of food everyday so I have money left over. If I don't drink it away then I always have extra cash.

Per Diem... If I don't drink it away then I always have extra cash.

:D

Well, considering how many people on Flyertalk are always talking about their flights in business and first class (even for leisure travel) and all the mileage runs they take, I would guess that a large proportion of Flyertalkers are in a very high income bracket.

I was fortunate enough to have had a boss who is always looking for way to improve efficiency not only in the office (not by doing more with less) but our internal and mobile classrooms. He still pushes the envelope on what works smart, reduces redundancies and makes using our products easier for our customers. If it is technology on the cutting edge and can improve our efficiencies then we see how we can incorporate it into our processes.

Can you say, "Business expense"???

Can you say, "Business expense"???

Ditto. I've expensed to myself or my clients virtually every gadget I've bought.

For example, part of my work requires a lot of photo taking when I'm on the road. Personally, I also wanted a new digital camera. If my budget was, say, $1,000, by expensing it I effectively raise by budget to ~$1,300 when one takes the tax benefit in to account.

:D

Typically if I fly for for 4 days, that's 200 bucks. I'm in a support position so when we go out to eat, I don't pay anyway. so I spend 8 bucks a day on lunch if that. All the rest pays for car insurance, taking my wife out when I come home etc etc. I typically make 200 bucks extra a week like this.

There are so many ancillary benefits to traveling such as buying toy's, free vacations, house hold bills..... plus alot of extra Liquor!!!!1 :)

I sell dope!



Okay okay...sell things on Ebay for extra cash....crap

Similar to many of the previous comments, I leverage a combination of things that are all fairly interwoven.

1. I do a LOT of beta testing of various products which leads to free products often or very cheap products and then usually more products to test.

2. Whatever I buy, I always find a deal, 10-40% usually. 10% off is a no brainer, 20-40% takes a bit of work, this deal plus THAT deal, etc. 40%+ is a perfect storm, which requires planning, knowledge of deal sites, rebate games, combination discounts, etc. This takes more time, but for higher value purchases 400+$+ it makes sense. It is also fun.

3. Whatever I buy to upgrade, I usually SELL the previous generation on ebay, craigslist or a forum specific to that product type. Since I SAVED 10-40% originally, I can usually sell for around what I bought it for. I always keep boxes, keep everything in very good condition and have a list of satisfied buyers to reference. So, NET cost for any purchase remains very low.

4. I have learned a great deal about technology through my business and testing and INVEST in what I know. This has netted me returns of 5-10% a quarter, but in the past 2-3 years 10-20% a quarter. This helps pay for the BIGGER purchases. A quick 10 minute trade two weeks ago yielded enough to pay for several years of toy purchases (and upgrades!) I wouldn't have executed it unless I understood the technology landscape that the specific company was in, the competition, the valuation of their customers and my personal understanding of their product, service, revenue and business model.

5. I don't have kids. Don't have debt, don't own a home (since it is much cheaper to rent and my returns are far above what my home appreciation would be) so all these things leave a bit more discretionary money than for someone who is managing the lives of six, plus planning for the future of six. Studies show, it will cost 250K$+ for four years of colleage for a child born today. I don't know how the OP sleeps at night!!

:-)

I think I'm pretty well off. I'm above middle class with a growing family of 6 but still I have some discretionary income and that means I can usually afford some of the cool new tech gadgets. But I am surprised by those on this board who have all the latest tech gadgets. How do you do afford it? Do you work in a field that gives you access to gadgets for reviews or do you just purchase them on your own dime? Are you married? If you are married you have to tell me how you can convince your wife to let you spend all that money on the newest tech gadgets. :)
Just curious.
This is the internet. Anyone can be anything, do anything, have anything :D :D

While there are plenty of people out there with gadgets, some of the stuff I have read is obviously smoke & mirrors and rehash of techical reviews.

I've just been working my butt off, but it's getting kind of tiresome. Time to find myself a sugar-momma :D

Being single helps.

Time to find myself a sugar-momma :D



I heard Britney is available. ;)

Momentum trading.

Buy and sell IPOs from China.

I have been upgrading everything in the house (computers, tv, audio) for years by buying the "current" model when the "next" model is in the stores. My "old" stuff goes on eBay, and brings in enough money to pay for the "new" (to me) equipment.

In other words, buy the previous generation rather than the latest and greatest. The hottest stuff isn't that much better* than last year's (or earlier this year's), and costs half as much. Fry's Electronics (http://www.frys.com) and eCost (http://www.ecost.com) are good places to find closeouts of the last generation toys.

* Unless you're a hard-core gamer, in which case last month's equipment means certain death.

I work for a major electronics retailer where I get a generous discount.

I heard Britney is available. ;)

Please. Even *I* have standards.

I have been upgrading everything in the house (computers, tv, audio) for years by buying the "current" model when the "next" model is in the stores. My "old" stuff goes on eBay, and brings in enough money to pay for the "new" (to me) equipment.

In other words, buy the previous generation rather than the latest and greatest. The hottest stuff isn't that much better* than last year's (or earlier this year's), and costs half as much. Fry's Electronics (http://www.frys.com) and eCost (http://www.ecost.com) are good places to find closeouts of the last generation toys.

* Unless you're a hard-core gamer, in which case last month's equipment means certain death.

The question is, if you do this and next year you sell the "current" for the "next" (or the next current as it were), do you really save in the long haul? Maybe getting the "next" and skipping every other cycle would be more cost effective?

Please. Even *I* have standards.

cris judd (backup dancer) was married to jennifer lopez for 10 months, and got $15MM in the divorce :eek:

Simple, live with no debt. (aside from a mortgage)

Never have a car loan!

and don't have four kids! yikes! ;)

I came from a family of six but now days, I think family size is getting smaller.

Simple, live with no debt. (aside from a mortgage)

Never have a car loan!

and don't have four kids! yikes! ;)


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