I just couldn’t resist and spent $1,450 at the Apple Store, breaking my promise to not buy anything this September. I ended up purchasing a 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro. What got me? Well, there was a tempting promotion offering a free $230 i-Touch with each notebook, plus Steve Jobs was in San Francisco launching new products!
Here’s why I splurged:
– My current laptop is a 12-inch i-Book with 512MB of RAM and a 20GB hard drive—it’s painfully slow and the space bar sticks.
– My wife has a much newer MacBook, which I bought for her last Christmas. Yes, I admit, I’m a bit jealous.
– While shopping, a shampoo bottle at Walgreens caught my eye with the slogan, “Because you’re worth it!”
– Rarely does anyone besides my wife buy me gifts. The last gift from my mom was a plastic cube with a clam inside—found in her cupboard.
– Factoring in the $230 rebate for the i-Touch, which I plan to sell on Craigslist for $199, my total expense drops to $1,051.
– And honestly, how can I write effectively about personal finance on such outdated tech?
Despite my justifications, there’s a silver lining. Apple offers a two-week return policy, so I have until September 21st to decide if I really need this new laptop. Over the next two weeks, I’ll ponder several questions:
– Do we really need a third computer?
– Will a new laptop truly inspire better writing?
– Can I justify the expense given my finances are already allocated elsewhere this month?
– Am I breaking a promise to myself and my readers?
– What if Steve Jobs announces an even better MacBook in the next few weeks, just in time for the holiday shopping rush?
So, here I am, needing your advice. Should I keep the MacBook or return it? I’m also crossing my fingers that if there’s a new release, it happens within my return window!
In summary, while I navigate these guilty pleasures and financial decisions, remember it’s okay to reassess big purchases. After all, managing money wisely isn’t just about resisting spending but also about making informed choices that align with your values and needs.
