Have some money to spend - what shall I get?

[ISiddiqui]

Well, not exactly have some money to spend, but money that was allocated for something else just came open. For those who aren't my Facebook friends, me and my fiance mutually broke up a week and half ago (having to do with lack of just about any common interests, and the fact she has a ton of growing up to do [though I'd imagine she'd have a different point of view, but she's just wrong]).

So, because her parents weren't on board (and have no money) and mine weren't on board (because I converted to Christianity), I was going to burden much of the cost on credit cards - including $1,300 for the place, $1000(ish) for the food, and $3,000(ish) for the Honeymoon.

Thankfully that money, which would have to had been paid within 3 months, is freed up, so I had some ideas (blowing the money on myself for a change - another contention on my part - seems like a great way to go).

- An out of contract Samsung Galaxy S III (I have an HTC Thunderbolt which is trying its best not to hold a signal) - $550 to $600
- Nexus 7 tablet (I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but its old in tooth already) - $200
- A new laptop, preferably a Samsung Series 9 (I know its a lot of Samsungs here) - $1400

Though I don't want to spend all of what I'd be blowing on a potential wedding (due to still being a co-signer on her apartment - yeah, I'm screwed on that for 6 months more), some of it being spent on myself would be quite nice I think.

[DaddyTorgo]

I think it boils down to which of those you'd get the most use out of - since really the amount of $ isn't a huge issue. More use out of a phone or a tablet? How is your laptop holding up?

Would you consider going cheaper on the laptop and doubling up with two items?

[stevew]

The S3 is really sweet. I'm not sure it is $600 sweet though.

[ISiddiqui]

Well, I don't have a laptop. I do have a 5 year old desktop ;).

Of all of them, I'd likely get most use out of a phone.

[Logan]

High class escort might work right now.

[ISiddiqui]

Or I can get a Verizon Galaxy Nexus for $450ish. Nexus has Jelly Bean on it - that's an option.

[sterlingice]

With a 5 year old desktop, I think a new laptop is in order tho $1400 seems stupid money when you can get good ones for close to half that.

I suppose it's no fun to suggest "Maybe just not spend the money" would be a good idea :D

SI

[ISiddiqui]

:D

Smartest idea - but I want to be stupid a bit longer before I wise up (maybe that's the issue with why the relationship went on so long, but shut up!) ;)

[Bad-example]

High class escort might work right now.

One $300 Hookerbot, or 300 $1 Hookerbots?

[JediKooter]

VEGAS BABY!!!

[Karlifornia]

Professional karaoke machine and a video camera so you can be America's
Next great YouTube star

[Lathum]

VEGAS BABY!!!

This

Binge drinking and senseless sex with nameless strangers.

[Lathum]

dola- and I'm sorry it didn't work out, of the times I saw pics and updates on FB you guys seemed very happy together.

[Scoobz0202]

When does your phone contract end?

But if your not wanting to travel, and want gadgets, I'd probably go in the laptop direction. I'd consider the Asus Zenbook UX31 as well as the Samsung.
Asus' Zenbook UX31 ultrabook - The Tech Report - Page 9 (http://techreport.com/articles.x/21902/9)
Samsung's Series 9 ultra-slim notebook - The Tech Report - Page 9 (http://techreport.com/articles.x/21551/9)

Or if you are not dead set on the aesthetic, I'd recommend my personal favorite the Lenovo T430 or X230 (Upgrade monitor, buy extra ram and samsung 830 128GB SSD separately). But I have a feeling if you are looking in the Series 9 direction the Lenovo look may be a deterrent. Maybe get a $199 Nexus tablet for the hell of it. They seem like nice little devices for only $200.

Or. Build a new desktop for $600-800, maybe new monitor as well. And if you are feeling frisky use this link to get a T430 or X230 w/ their upgraded monitors for <$650. If you are a gamer, you'd have a nice desktop and a laptop for ~$1500, give or take.
http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrar...barnesnoblegold
(I have an account and verified the link worked.)

[stevew]

If you're currently on an unlimited plan, you'll spend full price for a phone anyways.

If you're on a family plan of some sort, you can probably add a line and cancel your current line(port your number to google voice).

Seems like there should be some way to get the phone under 600 if you're willing to be creative.

[Subby]

need 2 get her pic and # to confirm story k thx pls bye!

[M GO BLUE!!!]

So you're looking to blow the money on a credit card that you would have spent on a wedding that now will thankfully take place? If you were charging the wedding I would assume that you don't have a lot of money as it is.

Just live thrifty and happy. Pay the CC's off & put some money in the bank. Then buy a car & a condo & get all in debt again. (That last part is what I did. I don't really recommend it.)

[Swaggs]

I'd go for a vacation and a cheaper laptop. :)

[ISiddiqui]

dola- and I'm sorry it didn't work out, of the times I saw pics and updates on FB you guys seemed very happy together.

We were mostly. But I guess I am a caution that even though you really love someone and she loves you, it may be completely wrong.

If you're currently on an unlimited plan, you'll spend full price for a phone anyways.

If you're on a family plan of some sort, you can probably add a line and cancel your current line(port your number to google voice).

Seems like there should be some way to get the phone under 600 if you're willing to be creative.

Family plan, unfortunately, and there is a fun story for that as well. Tried to get her off the family plan (she's the other line) and everything was going well up until they told her that in order to set up her own account she needed to pay $400 deposit since she has absolutely no credit. I told her well its time to get a credit card. So we'll see how quickly she gets on that (I don't want to pay an EFT for her line).

I can update my phone in December... but that's like 5 months away! :D

[ISiddiqui]

So you're looking to blow the money on a credit card that you would have spent on a wedding that now will thankfully take place? If you were charging the wedding I would assume that you don't have a lot of money as it is.

Just live thrifty and happy. Pay the CC's off & put some money in the bank. Then buy a car & a condo & get all in debt again. (That last part is what I did. I don't really recommend it.)

Meh... so responsible! Stop it ;).

I have a small amount in savings that could likely cover the tablet, phone, etc... but its more fun to charge a bit ;).

[Neon_Chaos]

One $300 Hookerbot, or 300 $1 Hookerbots?

Spend that $1000 to get a plane ticket to the Philippines.

Spend the rest on a month-long orgy with your own personal harem.

edit:

With $4000 left...

week-long orgy.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Buy a bottle of this & PM me your address.

http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/l/blend_bal12.jpg

[ISiddiqui]

Oh, um... speaking of parents... they just called me. After 2 years of not speaking. They heard about the broken engagement and wanted to make sure I'm ok (which I am). They want to come down and see me and I they still know I'm a Christian, but they miss me and want to come down right away (easier since apparently my dad retired since the last time I spoke to them).

I'm still in happy shock :stunned:

[britrock88]

Hoping all of this works out well for you. (Treat yourself to a laptop -- wait until tax-free weekend if GA has one.)

[stevew]

Buy the Series 9. Yes it's probably overpriced, but there is quite a bit of value gained from getting exactly what you want.

Call up Verizon and ask a hypothetical of "my girlfriend broke her smart phone and I don't want to buy her another one right away. Can I put a cheap flip phone on her line and suspend the data pack." I'm like 95% sure it's yes. You can knock that line down to 9.99/month. She would be pretty motivated to move on to her own plan. You save $30/month amid the line naturally ending is probably cheaper than an ETF.

[ISiddiqui]

She already has a flip phone ;).

[Coffee Warlord]

Bitching laptop and a top notch trip to Vegas. Done.

[Desnudo]

iPad and nice bottle of scotch

[Toddzilla]

- An out of contract Samsung Galaxy S III (I have an HTC Thunderbolt which is trying its best not to hold a signal) - $550 to $600I made that EXACT same switch - Thunderbolt to Galaxy III - about a month ago, also out of contract, and it was worth EVERY PENNY and then some.

[Marc Vaughan]

Buy a bottle of this & PM me your address.

Slightly off topic ... but this is my favourite tipple myself -

The Balvenie Single Barrel Scotch Whisky (http://www.whisky.com/brands/balvenie_brand.html)

[Coffee Warlord]

Slightly off topic ... but this is my favourite tipple myself -

The Balvenie Single Barrel Scotch Whisky (http://www.whisky.com/brands/balvenie_brand.html)

Of which I have a bottle of the 15 year stuff at home, a groomsman gift from my buddy. :)

[Easy Mac]

As someone who had credit card debt in the past, just live frugally while you have to, you'll have plenty of time to spend the money you do have in the future.

[WVUFAN]

I currently work for Verizon, and I deal with SIII's all the time. They are fantastic devices.

If you're only a few months out of upgrade, have you called Verizon and see if you can't get an early upgrade?

[stevew]

Do you like working for V.? Most of my retail friends migrated there. Good money, hello stress.

[WVUFAN]

Do you like working for V.? Most of my retail friends migrated there. Good money, hello stress.

Not as much stress as I expected. I worked for Amazon for nearly 10 years before I moved home, so I was expecting far worse in terms of stress, but not so much so far.

[Senator]

My wife just got me a Nexus 7 tablet for my Hudl football stuff. It is fantastic. Grabbed a Clear 4g plan and I am golden.

[ISiddiqui]

If you're only a few months out of upgrade, have you called Verizon and see if you can't get an early upgrade?

Does that work?!

[DaddyTorgo]

Slightly off topic ... but this is my favourite tipple myself -

The Balvenie Single Barrel Scotch Whisky (http://www.whisky.com/brands/balvenie_brand.html)

Balvenie has totally become my Scotch of choice now.

[WVUFAN]

Does that work?!

It depends on the person you talk to on the phone. Tell him/her that you'll cancel when your contract is up and/or complain about the quality of your current phone, and that will help.

I've seen customer service do it for customers before, especially if they have a good payment history, but it's not a guarantee. Worth a shot. Worst they can say is "no".

[claphamsa]

im on my third thunderbolt in 3 months... so ready for January! POS

[ISiddiqui]

Grumble... first thing first - I know I'm an idiot, but I haven't unfriended my ex on Facebook yet (she hardly ever posts). So was scrolling along my wall and right there from her a status update: "Blush!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^"

So, first thing - yes that's a child posting not a woman, so I know its for the best we split. But... its been 2 weeks. She better not be going around with someone else already :mad:. There are proper breakup procedures for long term relationships! You don't just jump in with someone.. unless you were during the relationship (and I doubt that).

Just annoyed.

[sabotai]

The world has changed. That's actually a remarkable amount of time for her to post something post relationship. It's usually more like 2 days, not 2 weeks, before the ex (who hardly ever used Facebook in the past) starts posting about how life is oh-so-fucking-great now to make the other other person annoyed/angry.

[sabotai]

dola,

And you're an idiot. Take her off your friends list now.

[Toddzilla]

FWIW I did the "I'm gonna cancel" bit with Verizon and it worked great. "There's no reason to lose a valued customer over a phone" they said.

HOWEVER

The Galaxy S III and the iPhone are on the "No Early Upgrade" list and are not eligible for early upgraders. Trust me, I spoke to 12 different people at Verizon over the course of a week.

They'll let you upgrade early, but you ain't getting a Galaxy S III

[ISiddiqui]

Yes, I've established me as idiot. And crud about Galaxy S III. My Thunderbolt decided not to receive incoming texts this evening, so I think I may try to get a Nexus out of contract... and then in 2013 have options.

[ISiddiqui]

So played with dad's Kindle Fire and it's fun, but doesn't seem (to me) to add much beyond my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (now if it doesn't ever get Ice Cream Sandwich that's one thing... but I guess I could root it).

And my phone yesterday decided to stop giving me incoming texts until I rebooted it. So the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is looking faaaar better, and they have some 'very good' used ones on ebay for around $400.

[stevew]

Have you tried time contact HTC about it?

Cowboom might be worth checking out as well.

[stevew]

Samsung SCH-i515 Galaxy Nexus Verizon Android Phone - CowBoom.com (http://www.cowboom.com/product/1056896)

$329

[ISiddiqui]

I saw that earlier... thanks for the heads up... that's great stuff!

[Desnudo]

Grumble... first thing first - I know I'm an idiot, but I haven't unfriended my ex on Facebook yet (she hardly ever posts). So was scrolling along my wall and right there from her a status update: "Blush!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^"

So, first thing - yes that's a child posting not a woman, so I know its for the best we split. But... its been 2 weeks. She better not be going around with someone else already :mad:. There are proper breakup procedures for long term relationships! You don't just jump in with someone.. unless you were during the relationship (and I doubt that).

Just annoyed.

It would help me empathize if you posted some pics

[WVUFAN]

The Galaxy Nexus phone may not be to the level of the sIII, but it has been upgraded to Jelly Bean -- one of the few (perhaps only) phone that has been so far.

Jelly Bean has Google Now, which is a big upgrade.

[ISiddiqui]

Holy crap, Galaxy Nexus is freaking great!! So much faster than my old Thunderbolt.

Oh, and in ex news... apparently she feels that getting a credit card is a not a good move for her financially so she'd like to stay on my Family Plan and pay me by money order by the 5th of every month. I was kind of floored by this. Though I really wouldn't like to pay an EFT, I'm not waiting until April to kick her off the damned plan. Maybe I'll give her a month before I cut off her phone... or make it an early Christmas present ;).

[sabotai]

It always amazes me when someone's ex feels they are, in some way, entitled to certain things. It may not be good move for her financially, but in the words of Turk on Scrubs, "That's why they're called YOUR problems."