Shopahol
Now that I'm suddenly (and by all indications, briefly) flush with disposable income, I've become a bona fide shopaholic.
It seems as if I've lost all self-restraint. This is particularly vexing, considering the expenses associated with my particular varieties of geekery. This is also made easier by my continued and unremitting single status, since I don't really have anything else to spend my money on.
So as a kind of therapy, let's evaluate some of my more recent purchases:
$1500 for a new television
I didn't really need it, but it doubles as a damn good PC monitor and does help work productivity. So that's questionable, but can be justified without too much sophistry. Also a valid tax-deductible business expense.
$181 for a new computer CPU and memory
Again, didn't really need this, but helps with work productivity. So, about as justifiable as the TV... possibly a little more so.
$45 for a new CPU cooler
I wasn't happy with the stock CPU cooler, so I got a new one to have "silent" cooling for my CPU. Now we're on shakier ground here... but whatever. $45 is nothing to sneeze at, but it's not going to break the bank either.
$356 for a camera flash and a couple accessories.
All right, now we're talking. Frivolous, expensive, and waaaay beyond the level of my involvement in photography. But still, fun. And educational, right? Right....
$478 (less $90 rebate) for a new camera lens, and a couple more accessories.
Aaaghhh....
So, yeah. Things got a little ridiculous there for a while. But I'm better now.
Honest.
May 26th, 2008 - 09:34
What lens did you get?
May 26th, 2008 - 22:02
A Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro, in Pentax mount.
By my figuring, I’m going to… “need”… a couple more lenses before I have my ideal kit.
An ultra-wide zoom (Sigma 10-20mm, $500), a superzoom walkaround/travel lens (Tamron 18-250mm, $500), and possibly an autofocus version of my 50mm primes ($200).
Of course, with the ultra-wide and the flash, I could conceivably start doing some for-pay architectural/real-estate photography. Because we all know how that industry is on the up right now.
Help!
May 29th, 2008 - 05:15
This tells me that you’re living life! I think it’s cool you’re pursuing your hobby.
June 13th, 2008 - 07:01
Jeff!
I may have you topped in the frivolous expenditure department, although my brand of reverse parsimony falls more under domestication than geekery. Let’s recap. After one year living in Austin, TX I’m on the move again to the Big Sky state. No, not Valhalla (how cool would that be…or wait, is that where you go when you die in battle?…hmm, still cool), rather Montana. While most sensible suburbanites use a move as a chance to pare down their possessions to manageable levels, my fiancee and I decided to pile it on.
First came the vintage Schwinn bikes, purchased as a pair for $300 from a local guy off of Craigslist. While we both already own bikes, we don’t own VINTAGE bikes. And where are you going to find cool, vintage stuff in small town Montana?! (Note to reader: everything in Montana is at least 45 years old.)
Next came the washer and dryer for $250, to replace the washer and dryer we already own, but decided to leave for our tenants, to be “nice”. Our sole justification, “it’s going to be hard to find good appliances in small town Montana!” (Note to reader: our house is approx. 1.5 miles from Home Depot, Loews, JC Penney, and Target)
Finally came the guitars, an electric for $600 (including amp) and an acoustic for $300. After a whole 12 months residing in the live music capital of the world, how could we NOT buy guitars? What are we, a couple of total squares, sitting around at night playing Guitar Hero III, desperately trying to fantasize our way around the fact that we’re uncoordinated and tone def? Not any more!!!
Maybe it’s something in the air (like poison), but you’re not alone my friend. We all have moments of weakness in the face of the constant barrage of commercialism our society throws our way. Stay strong.
- Brian
June 24th, 2008 - 16:35
Hah! Yeah… well, new toys are fun. Anyway, we’re doing our patriotic duty by keeping the economy going, right?