What was the biggest thing you saved up to buy, before you were age 18?
I saved up from my paper route to buy my Radio Shack stereo. It had a turntable, a radio, an 8-track player and a cassette player all in one unit. I was covered!
I remember saving my money so I could buy Aurora Prehistoric Scenes model kits. Some comic books. Later on LP's and cassettes. Never bought anything "big" until I was employed.
I got my first tape recorder from my grandpa[by the way his father, my great grandfather was a great musician at CARNEGIE HALL]when I was 11years old. So with my allowance I saved money to buy blank tapes and tape whole movies from TV, then listen back to them. That's how I got to appreciate film music and also to this day have in my head every line ever spoken in some movies, word by word.
I got my first "real" job on my 14th birthday as part of a summer hire program meant to give highschoolers their first work experience during the summer break, and used the money from my first couple paychecks to buy an Atari VCS (the system later known as the 2600), putting it on layaway with the first check and paying it off with the second. Does this count?
My parents (or Santa, rather!!) got me one of these for Christmas when I was 8 or 9 years old...
It came with a few games, but after that I used to save my pennies so I could buy more games for it. They weren't cheap and hard to come by at the time, as I remember...
It was the greatest present I got as a kid, had hours of enjoyment on it. Happy memories.
The Sony Playstation. All my friends had it before me and it took me more than one visit before the store had them in stock. Wish I kept the thing instead of giving it to my friend Roger when the PS2 came out.
used the money from my first couple paychecks to buy an Atari VCS (the system later known as the 2600), putting it on layaway with the first check and paying it off with the second. Does this count?
Totally! I think my stereo was bought on layaway.
I wonder if "layaway" still exists. It sure promotes more responsibility than revolving credit.
used the money from my first couple paychecks to buy an Atari VCS (the system later known as the 2600), putting it on layaway with the first check and paying it off with the second. Does this count?
Totally! I think my stereo was bought on layaway.
I wonder if "layaway" still exists. It sure promotes more responsibility than revolving credit.
Layaway does exist, but it's not as prevalent. It now seems to be a seasonal thing, used mostly for Christmas presents and the like; a lot of major retailers now offer layaway only around the beginning of the holiday season, and end it at Christmas or shortly after.
There's a hobby shop near me that does offer it, though. I used it there a year or so ago to ensure I'd be the one to pick up their last copy of a discontinued LEGO set I wanted but wasn't ready to pay for in its entirety just yet.
I saved up from my paper route to buy my Radio Shack stereo. It had a turntable, a radio, an 8-track player and a cassette player all in one unit. I was covered! (Remember this is BEFORE age 18...)
Once again D-In-B proves he and I are twin sons of different mothers!
When I finally got tired of the meager money babysitting brought (14 or so), I got a part-time custodial job. When I finally scrimped up enough for a big deposit, I headed down to Radio Shack and cherry-picked my first real hi-fi. The amount I put down secured ownership, and they financed the rest. I had to pay off the balance each month for about a year. Being underage, Mom had to co-sign for me, but I fiercely guarded my new independence and never missed a payment.
That system kicked serious ass. It got slowly replaced through the ages and there are many days I still pine to have it again.
Radio Shack ROCKED in the 70's. Accessable hi-fi gear that could compete with the big names, and all without the snobbish BS.
When time allows I'm gonna stick pix of it on this post.
I used to save my pennies so I could buy more games for it. They weren't cheap and hard to come by at the time, as I remember...
Did you feel like "saving your pennies" was an experience, Thomas, you'd rather have avoided, or one you're glad to have had?
That's a good question, David. Haven't thought about it like that before. I'm not sure actually, it was just something I did so I could get more games for my console. Mind you, I'm pretty hopeless with money these days, so maybe that says something!
Once again D-In-B proves he and I are twin sons of different mothers!
When I finally got tired of the meager money babysitting brought (14 or so), I got a part-time custodial job. When I finally scrimped up enough for a big deposit, I headed down to Radio Shack and cherry-picked my first real hi-fi. ....... I fiercely guarded my new independence and never missed a payment.
He makes payments on time. He babysits. He's even polite to mashers!
Wherever you go, Ock-man, do women and gay men lay down on the floor when you leave, grabbing at your ankles and begging you not to go??
He makes payments on time. He babysits. He's even polite to mashers! Wherever you go, Ock-man, do women and gay men lay down on the floor when you leave, grabbing at your ankles and begging you not to go??
Oh yeah... happens all the time. Then I wake up.
I was just thinking (again) about that hi-fi. I'm pretty sure the first thing I played on it was Styx "Equinox". What an amazing album. And such an excellent recording. Still my favorite Styx album, I think.
