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March 1, 2007 11:06 PM Subscribe
What should I buy for $100?
Due to a bonus at work, I have exactly $100 of discretionary money. What should I spend it on? I am already traveling to Japan soon, so travel is out. And, while I am not completely adverse to charity, I am extremely poor myself, at least in terms of fun money (this is the first discretionary money I've had in three months). I am looking for specific suggestions, not "books" or "awesomeness".
Due to a bonus at work, I have exactly $100 of discretionary money. What should I spend it on? I am already traveling to Japan soon, so travel is out. And, while I am not completely adverse to charity, I am extremely poor myself, at least in terms of fun money (this is the first discretionary money I've had in three months). I am looking for specific suggestions, not "books" or "awesomeness".
This post was deleted for the following reason: Chatfilter.
A really nice dinner. With a friend if you can. Buy all of your favourite expensive snacks for afterwards - ice cream, chocolate, wine, strawberries, etc - things you wouldn't normally buy because of the cost. Rent a movie. Have yourself a luxurious evening.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:15 PM on March 1, 2007
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:15 PM on March 1, 2007
Hmmm... If I had an extra $100, I'd probably spend it on groceries... But if you're already well-stocked in that area, what are some things you've been denying yourself lately? New CDs? A new DVD player? Home decor?... It's hard to answer when you don't tell us what you're interested in.
posted by amyms at 11:16 PM on March 1, 2007
posted by amyms at 11:16 PM on March 1, 2007
Save it for when there is something you want. Dont spend for the sake of spending.
posted by dantekgeek at 11:16 PM on March 1, 2007
posted by dantekgeek at 11:16 PM on March 1, 2007
A night of paintball with your friends.
A party hosted by you.
Go out and buy what you feel like when you feel like it till the money runs out.
Don't think long term, just go for instant satisfaciton. If buying it that second makes you feel good, then do it.
posted by Sonic_Molson at 11:16 PM on March 1, 2007
A party hosted by you.
Go out and buy what you feel like when you feel like it till the money runs out.
Don't think long term, just go for instant satisfaciton. If buying it that second makes you feel good, then do it.
posted by Sonic_Molson at 11:16 PM on March 1, 2007
Forgot to preview... So, on belated preview, I'll second what miss lynnster said.
posted by amyms at 11:17 PM on March 1, 2007
posted by amyms at 11:17 PM on March 1, 2007
(or a professional massage.)
(or yoga lessons.)
(or trade it in for 10,000 pennies, and build a replica of the alamo out of them.)
posted by PEAK OIL at 11:18 PM on March 1, 2007
(or yoga lessons.)
(or trade it in for 10,000 pennies, and build a replica of the alamo out of them.)
posted by PEAK OIL at 11:18 PM on March 1, 2007
if I had extra money I absolutely had to spend, I'd pay off my library fines so I could borrow books again, but that's just me.
That said, do you have to spend it now? ... if you do, I'd say add a bit of your own money and buy a beginner acoustic. They're cheap, if you get the starter types (mine was 150 CDN) and the happiness it brings you will be unrivalled.
Either that, or dinner and a movie. Friends, significant other, yourself.... yeah. Instant gratification should be gratifying, and there's nothing better than hanging out.
posted by Phire at 11:29 PM on March 1, 2007
That said, do you have to spend it now? ... if you do, I'd say add a bit of your own money and buy a beginner acoustic. They're cheap, if you get the starter types (mine was 150 CDN) and the happiness it brings you will be unrivalled.
Either that, or dinner and a movie. Friends, significant other, yourself.... yeah. Instant gratification should be gratifying, and there's nothing better than hanging out.
posted by Phire at 11:29 PM on March 1, 2007
save, keep, and grow the $100
if you haven't already:
-deposit it in ING or HSBC Direct online for interest. (look for deposit bonuses online if u can for ING)
-go to Sharebuilder and begin investing it in any kind of company that you are interested in.
money begets money, and you should invest it/save it if you haven't already developed that habit. most people were "poor" at some point in their lives, and even though you describe yourself as such at the moment, you can begin to build and put yourself in a spot with enough money for fun too. start with the little things, like $100 at a time.
posted by redhotchips at 11:41 PM on March 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
if you haven't already:
-deposit it in ING or HSBC Direct online for interest. (look for deposit bonuses online if u can for ING)
-go to Sharebuilder and begin investing it in any kind of company that you are interested in.
money begets money, and you should invest it/save it if you haven't already developed that habit. most people were "poor" at some point in their lives, and even though you describe yourself as such at the moment, you can begin to build and put yourself in a spot with enough money for fun too. start with the little things, like $100 at a time.
posted by redhotchips at 11:41 PM on March 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
I was going to say a cheap electric guitar, but those are pretty worthless without an amplifier, so, yeah, seconding Phire's suggestion of an acoustic guitar.
posted by lekvar at 11:43 PM on March 1, 2007
posted by lekvar at 11:43 PM on March 1, 2007
Five ideas:
1. Find $60 more and go sky diving.
2. Still-Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins, Norwegian Wood by Murakami, Magnetic Field(s) by Ron Loewinsohn, Real Life of Sebastian Knight by Nabokov, Rules of Attraction by Ellis, The Sneeches by Dr Seuss, No Exit by Sartre, coffee.
3. good wine, good chocolate, good cheese + invite friends over
4. all ingredients + tools necessary in order to cook a certain type of cuisine
5. This project.
posted by mustcatchmooseandsquirrel at 11:46 PM on March 1, 2007
1. Find $60 more and go sky diving.
2. Still-Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins, Norwegian Wood by Murakami, Magnetic Field(s) by Ron Loewinsohn, Real Life of Sebastian Knight by Nabokov, Rules of Attraction by Ellis, The Sneeches by Dr Seuss, No Exit by Sartre, coffee.
3. good wine, good chocolate, good cheese + invite friends over
4. all ingredients + tools necessary in order to cook a certain type of cuisine
5. This project.
posted by mustcatchmooseandsquirrel at 11:46 PM on March 1, 2007
If you're as strapped for cash as you say, spend it on something that will allow you to spend less in the long run. My immediate thought was that if you spend a lot of money on coffee, get a French press and a few bags of beans. I hadn't realized how much dough I was blowing on coffee until I got a French press for Christmas and stopped blowing said. What a revelation.
If you already make your own coffee, well, I'm sure there are other similar things. Find something that annoys you a little bit in your life, and fix it.
posted by crinklebat at 11:49 PM on March 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
If you already make your own coffee, well, I'm sure there are other similar things. Find something that annoys you a little bit in your life, and fix it.
posted by crinklebat at 11:49 PM on March 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
An iPod shuffle. And listen to it on your trip. Or save the money and use it during your trip. It's very easy to blow 100 dollars in Japan.
posted by misozaki at 11:52 PM on March 1, 2007
posted by misozaki at 11:52 PM on March 1, 2007
Funny how there are two distinct schools of thought developing in this thread: responsible vs frivolous. Invest it, save it, use it to save money in the long run - or throw a party, have a nice dinner, go skydiving.
Personally if $100 was my first disposable income in three months, I would jump at the chance to treat myself to something fun or nice - screw the savings account. But in the end this is a highly personal decision.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:59 PM on March 1, 2007
Personally if $100 was my first disposable income in three months, I would jump at the chance to treat myself to something fun or nice - screw the savings account. But in the end this is a highly personal decision.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:59 PM on March 1, 2007
PercussivePaul nails it.
Savings is great. Everyone should save. But you deserve some awesomeness, and a great meal, some fun snacks and a good weekend with friends is worth it.
Or, if you can find a small airstrip in your area that offers it, a girlfriend once gave me a "training pilot lesson" where I got to take off in a small Cessna, make a few turns and then have the instructor land it. We flew over a nearby lake and were in the air for about 30 minutes.
Total cost? $50. I shit you not.
That might've been a local specialty, but it was absolutely amazing and a world of fun.
Go, enjoy yourself!
posted by disillusioned at 12:09 AM on March 2, 2007
Savings is great. Everyone should save. But you deserve some awesomeness, and a great meal, some fun snacks and a good weekend with friends is worth it.
Or, if you can find a small airstrip in your area that offers it, a girlfriend once gave me a "training pilot lesson" where I got to take off in a small Cessna, make a few turns and then have the instructor land it. We flew over a nearby lake and were in the air for about 30 minutes.
Total cost? $50. I shit you not.
That might've been a local specialty, but it was absolutely amazing and a world of fun.
Go, enjoy yourself!
posted by disillusioned at 12:09 AM on March 2, 2007
Take a class and learn something fun! Intro to a language, some kind of dancing, photography, whatever interests you!
posted by aubilenon at 12:20 AM on March 2, 2007
posted by aubilenon at 12:20 AM on March 2, 2007
it sounds crazy... but I'd spend one hundred dollars on a quarter ;)
posted by Satapher at 12:28 AM on March 2, 2007
posted by Satapher at 12:28 AM on March 2, 2007
Save half, spend half and make everybody happy. This way you get to enjoy it twice and feel free to break this up further, depending on how expensive your tastes are. Four good movies, for example (not that there are any right now)
posted by IronLizard at 12:30 AM on March 2, 2007
posted by IronLizard at 12:30 AM on March 2, 2007
These are all great suggestions. (Even the ones from the squares who said you should save it!) What would I do though?
Get a pony keg of your favorite kind of beer. Invite 5-10 of your best friends over and have everyone bring some kind of food they kick ass at making. You make something you kick ass at making, and then everyone eats and hangs out. Rent/Buy/Already Own a movie that most of the group has already seen and likes, and put it on while everyone drinks and talks about the movie together. Except during the Totally Awesome Parts. Then back to the foodstuffs/desert/rest of the beer. Then: Awesome sleepover!
All that said, I understand not everyone will cotton to this idea. Still, if I was your homie, I'd want you to do this.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 12:33 AM on March 2, 2007
Get a pony keg of your favorite kind of beer. Invite 5-10 of your best friends over and have everyone bring some kind of food they kick ass at making. You make something you kick ass at making, and then everyone eats and hangs out. Rent/Buy/Already Own a movie that most of the group has already seen and likes, and put it on while everyone drinks and talks about the movie together. Except during the Totally Awesome Parts. Then back to the foodstuffs/desert/rest of the beer. Then: Awesome sleepover!
All that said, I understand not everyone will cotton to this idea. Still, if I was your homie, I'd want you to do this.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 12:33 AM on March 2, 2007
a night out really good go-carting
do you speak japanese? if not, a language class or tutor
pay for shareware you use but haven't paid for
a nicer shirt than you would usually get for yourself
posted by bottlebrushtree at 12:35 AM on March 2, 2007
do you speak japanese? if not, a language class or tutor
pay for shareware you use but haven't paid for
a nicer shirt than you would usually get for yourself
posted by bottlebrushtree at 12:35 AM on March 2, 2007
Satapher pays too much, a hundred and some change for half of good or an ounce of decent. :)
I remember being in the daily grind when the boss-man slipped me a $100 for a good idea. It went to booze, meat, other sundries and a weekend Bar-B-Q party with a few good friends. Totally worth it.
While I understand, I'm sad that you said 'no books', I recently picked up half-a-dozen paperbacks of a favorite author that I hadn't read and they kept me busy and happy during my free time for a good month or so.
Buy a suit. Around where I live, you can visit the suit-mart and get three suits for $100. Maybe you can get one really nice set of clothes and some shoes for the same and look *nice* for the next year if you so need.
Get some cooking equipment, a George Foreman Grill, or a Rice Cooker, or something else depending on your taste. Something that six months from now you'll think "that was the best $100 I've ever spent".
Hit up the bath section of your neighborhood store, get some Vitamins and some Mud Mask/Facial Peel/etc. stuff that you would never even think about before. The next time something important is about to happen, pimp yourself up and be style'n.
Decorate... buy something that gives your living space that *wow* factor. Get new sheets for your bed, throw away all of your underwear and socks and buy new ones.... Get some nice fluffy towels, a nice bathrobe, some nice PJ's.
The key is to either blow your $100 on something totally enjoyable and memorable, or to blow it on something that months or years later you think "wow, I'm glad that I blew that $100 on this".
Anyway, I truly hope that you somehow enjoy your bonus. :)
posted by zengargoyle at 1:12 AM on March 2, 2007
I remember being in the daily grind when the boss-man slipped me a $100 for a good idea. It went to booze, meat, other sundries and a weekend Bar-B-Q party with a few good friends. Totally worth it.
While I understand, I'm sad that you said 'no books', I recently picked up half-a-dozen paperbacks of a favorite author that I hadn't read and they kept me busy and happy during my free time for a good month or so.
Buy a suit. Around where I live, you can visit the suit-mart and get three suits for $100. Maybe you can get one really nice set of clothes and some shoes for the same and look *nice* for the next year if you so need.
Get some cooking equipment, a George Foreman Grill, or a Rice Cooker, or something else depending on your taste. Something that six months from now you'll think "that was the best $100 I've ever spent".
Hit up the bath section of your neighborhood store, get some Vitamins and some Mud Mask/Facial Peel/etc. stuff that you would never even think about before. The next time something important is about to happen, pimp yourself up and be style'n.
Decorate... buy something that gives your living space that *wow* factor. Get new sheets for your bed, throw away all of your underwear and socks and buy new ones.... Get some nice fluffy towels, a nice bathrobe, some nice PJ's.
The key is to either blow your $100 on something totally enjoyable and memorable, or to blow it on something that months or years later you think "wow, I'm glad that I blew that $100 on this".
Anyway, I truly hope that you somehow enjoy your bonus. :)
posted by zengargoyle at 1:12 AM on March 2, 2007
Dude, Japan is expensive. $100 will last you at most three days, assuming your hotel is paid for, and the only other thing you buy is food and train tickets. Even if you've already budgeted your whole trip, believe me, an extra $100 will be good to have around, just in case.
For instance, they have really good clothes there. You may find you can't resist some crazy Harajuku accessories, or an Engrish t-shirt, or something.
posted by lampoil at 4:53 AM on March 2, 2007
For instance, they have really good clothes there. You may find you can't resist some crazy Harajuku accessories, or an Engrish t-shirt, or something.
posted by lampoil at 4:53 AM on March 2, 2007
When I want to treat myself with a small amount of windfall money, I usually buy some sort of subscription. That way, the money lasts. I'm clueless as to your interests, but I love The New Yorker, Games Magazine and Scientific American. I could probably get at couple of these for $100. (Maybe all of them via one of those student subscription services.) Tivo is also subscription -- as are Netflix and Audible.com. Companies like Harry & David will send you exotic foods each month if you subscribe to their services. Lynda.com allows you to watch online training videos (for apps like Photoshop and Flash) for $25 a month.
posted by grumblebee at 5:29 AM on March 2, 2007
posted by grumblebee at 5:29 AM on March 2, 2007
What kind of drugs do you like? Buy $100 worth of them.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:57 AM on March 2, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Meatbomb at 5:57 AM on March 2, 2007 [1 favorite]
Art. Find a 'starving artist' who could really use that $100, and buy some art from them; a painting, a clay mug, a quick sketch of yourself and your sweetie. Then -you- have something to cherish, and the artist gets to have a little boost as well.
posted by Rubber Soul at 6:05 AM on March 2, 2007
posted by Rubber Soul at 6:05 AM on March 2, 2007
I am gonna second zengargoyle there is nothing like new undies, socks, towels ect. They just make you feel better. (I also second spending it on your Japan trip)
Are you dating someone? It is always nice and satisfying to spend it on someone you fancy.
If you are going to take a savings route, I would definately go with ING. Find someone you know who has it... referals get BOTH of you money... so you will already be at about $120USD. Then, go bigger... my fiance is saving for a LCD tv (or something like that) The interest is great!
Also, just go about your week with the money in your pocket... there might be something you have seen that you wanted bad and totally forgot about.
posted by ForeverDcember at 6:10 AM on March 2, 2007
Are you dating someone? It is always nice and satisfying to spend it on someone you fancy.
If you are going to take a savings route, I would definately go with ING. Find someone you know who has it... referals get BOTH of you money... so you will already be at about $120USD. Then, go bigger... my fiance is saving for a LCD tv (or something like that) The interest is great!
Also, just go about your week with the money in your pocket... there might be something you have seen that you wanted bad and totally forgot about.
posted by ForeverDcember at 6:10 AM on March 2, 2007
Yeah, like lampoil said, Japan is very expensive. Unless you want to spend the second half of your trip eating instant ramen every day, save it for then. At the very least, spend it after the trip if it turns out you didn't need it.
posted by krisjohn at 6:27 AM on March 2, 2007
posted by krisjohn at 6:27 AM on March 2, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:14 PM on March 1, 2007