I made it to my destination for my business trip last night about 11pm ET. It was only a four hour flight but it seemed like 8 hours. It felt like they made my seat extra small and uncomfortable. When I finally made it to the hotel and checked into my room, I was pleasantly surprised. The room was not the usual crappy hotel layout and was more like a suite. I have nice fridge, a small bar, granite counter tops, and a 42" wall-mounted Plasma TV in my room. The hotel has been recently renovated and they did a really good job. I don't travel that often but my company usually does not spring for diggs like this.

So what is the deal with all the temptation around me?

  • I want a wall-mounted flat screen. I have been pricing them for about 6 months. I haven't decided when I will make the purchase but I can only purchase it once I payoff my credit card debt.
  • The hotel is right next to a huge Outlet Mall. I can walk to it in about 1 minute.
  • One of my co-workers is already planning to go shopping right after the meeting today. HELP!

I need my readers to comment or email with a little motivation so I won't go on a spending spree. Help me guys. I would do the same for you...LOL.

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7 comments

  1. Anonymous // November 6, 2007 at 12:04 PM  

    Don't do it! First, if you can hold out till after Christmas you can probably get a much better deal. Second, it's your reward and think of how great it will be to look at it and think "I earned it!" Third, you should take advantage of having the one in your hotel room to product test it and see if it's what you really want.

  2. Anonymous // November 6, 2007 at 2:01 PM  

    Go out and buy something, you've earned it! :)

    I'm in the same boat as you with the TV. It is first on my list of things to buy once the credit cards are paid off. Just be strong and think about how far you've come. That day will be here sooner than you think and you'll be glad you waited.

  3. SingleGuyMoney // November 6, 2007 at 8:06 PM  

    *ellen - Thanks! Very good advice. My test of the TV so far tells me I WANT IT!!! LOL
    * frank - You are right, I have earned it. I do plan to buy something big once I pay off my credit cards...IN CASH!

  4. Anonymous // November 7, 2007 at 3:24 PM  

    IMO, I wouldn't do it. As a matter of fact, I'm totally against it. Let me explain my situation and why I don't. I have no debts and money saved and invested in the market. I could easily pay cash for a nice big TV. One of the main reasons keeping me from doing so is that I don't want the TV to take the little free time that I have. I think the time spent watching TV could be used to do better things, such as learning a 2nd language, studying, or learning a music instrument. Also, I'd rather invest the 1 to 2k so that later in life I won't have to work :) Just my opinion.

  5. Anonymous // November 8, 2007 at 2:22 AM  

    This is a little ridiculous. From what I can see, you don’t have a money problem, you have a budgeting problem. It seems like you bring in lots of money, but you also spend lots of money and probably aren’t too sure of where it’s going. You are doing some things right (steady employment, solid income, emergency fund), but you apparently have no grasp on balancing your planned retirement/debt reduction with fulfilling your current need for gratification. If you have a relatively steady income, which it seems like you do, you should prioritize your wants and budget accordingly. You shouldn’t be deciding in the store how to pay for something you want, or even if you should buy it, you should be deciding IN ADVANCE how much you can spend for stuff you want. The saying holds true, a man can’t live on bread and water alone, it’s best to decide in advance how much you can spend on life's little luxuries.

    This isn’t so much a you problem, but it’s a problem with America as a whole. The whole instant gratification or self denial/overindulgence thing shows up all over. I seem to know lots of women who will eat nothing Monday through Friday so they can drink like fish on the weekend and not gain a pound. Or do you know any overweight people who deny themselves their favorite foods for a few weeks because ‘it has too many calories’, then fall off the wagon and put twice as much back on? I think its call Atkins.....

    This applies to money as well. It doesn't do any good for a person to deny themselves 1 $5 gizmo a month if it means they end up treating themselves a $100 gizmo every 12.

    Anyway, my advice is to set up an actual budget in Excel and track your spending against your budget. Take your monthly income, set aside money for fixed expenditures, and decide – in advance - how you want to spend the rest. Once you make your decision, stick to it for a while and evaluate every few months. You may decide that you can live with paying off your debt over a longer period of time if it means you eat better, or you could decide you’d be willing to work longer if it means you get to enjoy life more, etc…but at least you’ll be making conscious decisions where you’ll be forced to acknowledge the repercussions. I don’t think this will help you pay off your debts any sooner, but I do think this will help you lead a happier life. Another poster said to buy the TV because it’s something you’ve earned. Well, how does he know? How could you know? The facts are you work, you have earned the right to spend some money on frivolous things that only you’d want, but it’s up to you to decide how much.

    Make the decision, but make it wisely.

    best of luck,
    lowman

  6. SingleGuyMoney // November 8, 2007 at 8:49 AM  

    *Ronnie - Thanks for your comment. You are so right, TV does take up alot of time you can use for doing something else.

    *lowman25 - Thanks for your comment. Actually, I do have a monthly budget and I have been using a budget for the last year.

  7. Anonymous // November 10, 2007 at 3:47 AM  

    I think if you see good deals and if you spend under $100 or $200 that's not so bad. Enjoy yourself within reason. But definitely hold off on the flat screen TV. Good luck.