Do you keep a "reserve" fund?

[70salesguy]

Do you other AKers keep a "reserve fund" for "finds" and "deals"?

I know I do, always hoping for that great "find" or "deal", like finding a Paragon at an estate sale. :sigh:

This would be money you have "squirreled away" and could be spent in the event of a great find.

Anyone else here? :scratch2:

[JohnVF]

I keep a mental allowance and then always break it. I spent way more than usual two weeks ago and said I was taking a month long "audio" holiday, then a killer deal went up on CL last weekend that, though a deal, was still a lot of money...and I replied thinking there was no way I was first in line. Turns out I got it and my "holiday" of no more spending resulted in spending twice as much as usual and getting four more pieces of equipment. Help!

[Scorpion8]

I do. Got a secret hiding place for it too, or the wife will just consider it "available". It's really just a surge fund in case of extreme finds, since I rarely go overboard on purchases.

[roadie1]

Sort of. Not cash on hand but out of my 3 credit accounts MC, Visa and Paypal buyer credit I always knockdown the balance on the Paypal first. I always pay more than the required monthly payment on all 3 but hit the PP hardest. Just in case I do come across something on ebay.:deal:

Who says I'm addicted to audio?:nutz:.................R1

[Tedrick]

I did, but I spent it :sigh:. Now I rely on a credit card that my missus doesn't know about :nono:.

[gearhound]

That was what my yearly $200 tool allowance (from work) was for.
For over 25 years....my wife didn't even know about it?

Me and my BIG mouth................

Steve

[drknstrmyknight]

I only take the returnables back when I find a great piece of gear.

[whoaru99]

Nope, not really. Being single I have no real need for a "special" account.

About the closest thing I have is the coin pail in the back room. BTW, a (5 quart?) plastic ice cream pail holds about $500 worth of mixed coin change - at least based on the change that comes out of my pockets, anyway.

[bre's dad]

for me, this is more or less a self sustaining hobby. I'll troll the thrifts or yard sales for gear, keep some and sell some. That money in turn buys other gear and so on. I also keep a $20 on hand for those 'I'd be an idiot to pass that up' deals, though they are few and far between.

[wizargoz]

Yep, like Bre's Dad, I collect for a while and then resell what I'm not going to use for my audio Fund. My 'sell" inventory is back up there now, so it will be soon...

[philcib]

Do you other AKers keep a "reserve fund" for "finds" and "deals"?

I know I do, always hoping for that great "find" or "deal", like finding a Paragon at an estate sale. :sigh:

This would be money you have "squirreled away" and could be spent in the event of a great find.

Anyone else here? :scratch2:

Yep. Basically it's 100% of the proceeds from when I sell things. I also
have a "if you buy something, you have to sell something else" policy.

[Arkay]

I set aside certain income each month for audio, and that is what my "hunting fund" is for that month, except when/if I sell some gear, that money gets added in, too.

Temptations here (wholesale market in Hong Kong) are far too many for me to "keep" any "extra" fund for the rare great score -- despite a shrinking/drying-up market, I can "score" at least a couple times a week. However, I am getting pickier and pickier, and selling off more now than I'm buying. I plan to sell seven turntables this month, for example, since I just got two TTs that are (I believe) far superior to the others (and am eying a third --a JVC GT-2000). I'll probably also sell several pairs of speakers and some cassette decks, too. In a sense, part of the money from those sales just means I'm just getting back the liquidity that became locked up in the two TTs I bought (and plan to keep), but all of that money will be earmarked for audio purchases.

I may end up saving some of it in a fund as you suggest, as I am moving towards costlier purchases, but do not want to dip any further into income (or assets) than I have been doing. I'm thinking about buying a few things (like a REALLY GOOD cartridge for the new PL-L1 TT and maybe a good Mac amp, and that could get costly. My usual audio budget won't pay for items that expensive, but if I pool the money from selling off some gear, the cash would be sufficient.

I'm also planning to sell a couple dozen collectible boomboxes worth several thousand (in total, at current market rates), to top up my Paypal account. I don't buy much online, esp. not audio stuff, but occasionally there is something I want (esp. from Japan).

[Dark Knight]

All of my tradesman friends at work do. They all take small private contracts here and there. They then shave a little off the top before handing it over to their wives.

I could never figure out how that worked successfully. The wives gotta know when new gear is coming in the house. Mine could spot a new egg timer in a cluttered kitchen from 50 yards away.

My first post basically described how I saved up "loonies" and "toonies" (canadian 1 and 2 dollar coins) for many years in a several scotch tins. The end result was over 1K to start my new hobbie. Well, I have enough left over for one more purchase promised at the start of my quest. I will post the Bat Cave "refit" when the last unit arrives.

My wife has her own reserve fund, too. However, she often goes into it for special things for the family and children. She has been supportive while I use mine for "me" alone, on my new passion.

DK

[meggy]

Just a couple hundred in my pocket at all times for GS stuff.

[MikeCh]

Uh, no....but I should. I guess I like surprises?....though that's not the smart way to approach this hobby. I'm getting closer to the self-supportive like others here, but we need some non-snow weather first so I can spend time refinishing several pairs of speaker cabinets outside.

[motorstereo]

Not as much as I used to when there was a used vintage audio store a few blocks down the street from me. Always had a supply of cash on hand for those phone calls that would start with " I think I may have something down here you may be interested in." Might have been broke all the time but wow those were the days.

[jimmy666]

i always have between 300 and 1000 cash stashed away for a big score or a pinball machine. you never know when you may need it and a bank machine is not available.

[jimbofish]

I get $50 from my mother-in-law for Xmas and my birthday which is my carry-around stash for whenever I want 'no-questions-asked' purchases.

Then there's the 'cyber-stash' which is the money from stuff I've sold that ended up getting deposited in the house checking account. Available at any time but sometimes requires an explanation. Parts and supplies get deducted from the balance (in my head.)

Then there's the growing bundle of envelopes in my drawer with bowling prize money, cash from gifts that were returned, etc. that's waiting for that Holy Grail find.

[tdst51]

Do you other AKers keep a "reserve fund" for "finds" and "deals"?

I know I do, always hoping for that great "find" or "deal", like finding a Paragon at an estate sale. :sigh:

This would be money you have "squirreled away" and could be spent in the event of a great find.

Anyone else here? :scratch2:

Nope. Live from paycheck to paycheck. Don't have a savings account and don't have any life insurance. EEGADS! What's wrong with this picture?!? :smoke:

[similost]

Yep, I kept a fund.. it was called 401 something or another.. now I have to live on my enjoyment..

[70salesguy]

I get $50 from my mother-in-law for Xmas and my birthday which is my carry-around stash for whenever I want 'no-questions-asked' purchases.

Then there's the 'cyber-stash' which is the money from stuff I've sold that ended up getting deposited in the house checking account. Available at any time but sometimes requires an explanation. Parts and supplies get deducted from the balance (in my head.)

Then there's the growing bundle of envelopes in my drawer with bowling prize money, cash from gifts that were returned, etc. that's waiting for that Holy Grail find.

That's pretty simular to what I do.

Since I have to travel a little bit with my job, I always carry a little "cash stash" for emergencies and such. That's available for "instant finds" that might "pop up".

This came in handy when I found the 4 JBL 4312s on CL! :thmbsp: As soon as the guy called me back, I was able to head straight up to his location and get'em before anyone else could ruin the deal.

I also have the "growing envelope" hidden away. Mine started with some cash I stashed back years ago in preparation for Y2K, just in case all the financial systems had gone to heck for a few days. I just kept adding to it from birthday gifts and other cash sources as you have done.

Nice to know if that "holy grail" item comes along, I might have the cash to "bring it home" !

[theophile]

I have a credit card with a very low interest rate(less than 10%,not double figures).I always bring it's balance back to zero.
With a $10,000 limit,I can pounce when I see the 'Holy Grail' pop-up.

My problem isn't finding the money,it's finding the gear.Most of the delicious stuff which shows-up on US eBay,never sees the light of day here in Aussieland. :tears:

[Deuce]

Do you others keep a "reserve fund" for "finds" and "deals"?
This would be money you have "squirreled away" and could be spent in the event of a great find.

Anyone else here? :scratch2:

70salesguy ...
You KNOW I do ... :yes:

Always keep 8 or 10 of these around ... just in case ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/DeuceRoadster/4144193400616.jpg

[Kyle85318531]

Gah, rich dude..

[Deuce]

Gah, rich dude..

NO ... :D
Just a old dude ...

[electronjohn]

My Dad collected antique clocks, and always kept a benjie tucked in his wallet in case he chanced upon an auction or something. He taught me well...although it's usually a twenty or two stuck in the back of my wallet. Have to go to Minneapolis tomorrow...better get out my list of thrifts!