I've done the same thing with fives. Put them in an envelope in my desk, along with a picture of what they were for. I actually paid for a new pistol that way.
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suggestions for a good way to descretly save for a high end knife.
- Thread starter Sir Hammer
- Start date
Very good advice. This paragraph is one of the most valuable pieces of information I ve seen in these forums since I been reading them. Wonder how many people can appreciate the value here.:thumbup:
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Every day that you get money from an ATM, put a $20 in a manilla envelope under your mattress. after a year, send me a private message telling me your address, and a day and time when nobody will be home. Leave a key under the doormat. This may all sound very strange, but I can explain later. Trust me, this is the BEST way to save for that knife!
Sir Hammer
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Dont drink but am a half a pack a day smoker. I do suppose that's a lot of money.
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I have an auto transfer come out on payday as several people have mentioned. I just never touch the money in that account.
Other thing that works well is to ask your employer to add additional withholding to your taxes. So come tax time you will have a larger refund for a big purchase.
Other thing that works well is to ask your employer to add additional withholding to your taxes. So come tax time you will have a larger refund for a big purchase.
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I'm 20 and have awful spending habits as well. I take all of my 1's and change that I get and throw them into a coffee can. Then at the end of a month I'll pull my paper bills out, take my change to the change machine at my bank, get cash, band the money together with a note saying how much is there, and put it in my safe. You won't believe how every little bit adds up.
I don't mean to be a killjoy, and this may sound like complete blasphemy here at Bladeforums, but at the age of 21, perhaps you should be using/saving that $400-$500 for something other than a knife.
Not that it's any of my business, but I wonder who is paying your bills/supporting you. If you are working and completely financially independent, then that's great. But if your parents are still supporting you, giving you money, paying for school, paying for a vehicle, paying for insurance, etc, etc, then perhaps that $400-$500 could be better spent elsewhere. After all, it's not like anyone needs a $400-$500 knife.
I'm 45 years old, and it wasn't until I was 31 that I started indulging myself on expensive luxury items. And I only started doing that once I became financially secure, with a good job, no debts, and plenty of savings in the bank to cover the sort of unexpected expenses and emergencies that are inevitable in life.
Back when I was single with no dependents, my policy for personal finances was this- after I paid all my bills for the month, whatever I had left over I would split in half. Half would go into the bank never to be touched, and the other half I would spend on "fun stuff". Sometimes I would save up the "fun stuff" money for awhile so I could afford something more expensive.
I know that paying bills, paying off debts, and saving for future necessities isn't nearly as fun as buying an expensive knife, but having $400-$500 in the bank when you REALLY need it can be worth far more than any knife.
But of course, it's your money, and you are free to do whatever you want with it without any judgement from me. And for all I know you might be completely financially independent with no debt and a good paying job. I just can't help but think of all the people I've met around your age who are drowning in debt, struggling to pay rent, gambling without health insurance, and living harder lives than they have to because they weren't more careful with their money.
Not that it's any of my business, but I wonder who is paying your bills/supporting you. If you are working and completely financially independent, then that's great. But if your parents are still supporting you, giving you money, paying for school, paying for a vehicle, paying for insurance, etc, etc, then perhaps that $400-$500 could be better spent elsewhere. After all, it's not like anyone needs a $400-$500 knife.
I'm 45 years old, and it wasn't until I was 31 that I started indulging myself on expensive luxury items. And I only started doing that once I became financially secure, with a good job, no debts, and plenty of savings in the bank to cover the sort of unexpected expenses and emergencies that are inevitable in life.
Back when I was single with no dependents, my policy for personal finances was this- after I paid all my bills for the month, whatever I had left over I would split in half. Half would go into the bank never to be touched, and the other half I would spend on "fun stuff". Sometimes I would save up the "fun stuff" money for awhile so I could afford something more expensive.
I know that paying bills, paying off debts, and saving for future necessities isn't nearly as fun as buying an expensive knife, but having $400-$500 in the bank when you REALLY need it can be worth far more than any knife.
But of course, it's your money, and you are free to do whatever you want with it without any judgement from me. And for all I know you might be completely financially independent with no debt and a good paying job. I just can't help but think of all the people I've met around your age who are drowning in debt, struggling to pay rent, gambling without health insurance, and living harder lives than they have to because they weren't more careful with their money.
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But I also like to convert it to $100 bills, as there is less likelihood I would break it for an impulse purchase (like at a bar).
GronK
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$3 a day would be $90 a month, more than $1000 a year.
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Open up a Paypal account and transfer money once a week (even if it's just $10). Also, sell some of your things that you don't really need anymore, and have people pay with Paypal. You can end up with a decent balance faster than you think. When you're ready to buy, transfer the funds in your PP back to your checking account (oh, get one of those too, if you don't have one already). I believe you can transfer $500 per month (in either a single t'fer or several smaller t'fers - doesn't matter) with no fees or issues.
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Sir Hammer
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Work full time pay my own bills and support myself. Single with no children. My needs get paid for first and my wants are what I save for. I do without most of what because I can't just go out and spend whenever I want. Saving for what I want is the only way I'll get what I desire. I Dont need a 400$ knife but I do want it and even if it takes me 3 years to have that money be extra than I'll wait until its extra. No matter how much we have our money could always go to something better, but we only get one life to live and deserve to have the things that we enjoy while we are here.
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Every time you get money, put 10% of it into a separate account (online) that you can't withdraw from by your bank card. I also do take all my change and throw it in a can every day when I come home. I never spend any change. And here in Canada we have no $1 or $2 bills so if I spend $1 and break a $10 bill, I get a $5 bill and $4 change so it adds up quick.
Other alternatives. Tell people who ask what to give you for Christmas that you are saving for something big and ask if they can contribute. Get another part time job and dedicate that money to your savings for your purchase.
Or look for something you can sell.
Other alternatives. Tell people who ask what to give you for Christmas that you are saving for something big and ask if they can contribute. Get another part time job and dedicate that money to your savings for your purchase.
Or look for something you can sell.
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Not to be mean but if you have to discretely save for a high end blade perhaps you shouldn't be buying one? If you have to plan to buy a toy (essentially) perhaps you should put the money towards necessities until you can not care about dropping 500+ on a toy. Personally my battle is do I buy a blade or something for the truck or bike.... Its never a question of funds, and if it is, I know I shouldn't be buying anything I don't truly care about blowing the cash.
Pay for everything with cash. Always break a bill, never pull out change from your pocket to make it even. At the end of the day everyday toss the change and any $1 bills in a jar. You would be surprised how quickly the jar will fill up.
I have saved up for a few expensive guns this way. I have much cheaper tastes in knives.
I have saved up for a few expensive guns this way. I have much cheaper tastes in knives.
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This is also a great idea! I do this too, nice to have a lump sum of money at tax time!
No, no, no. If you have to save for a $500 purchase you are not where you should be. If you're more set up career-wise and savings-wise you won't have to think about this. At 21 in your situation you should be saving that money up and figuring out what you want to do for work long term. A healthy savings account comes in handy. At your age I would want to have $5-$10k in semi-liquid assets for a rainy day.
I'm 15 years older and after a lot of keeping my head down I'm in a good spot even wih the family, mortgage, etc. If I want to by a $500 knife I merely subtract it from the bank. I don't because, well, you people are crazy and a $100 knife floats my boat pretty well, but you see my point.
DallasSTB
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I use a few different techniques to save up funds, the first being that which has been discussed by several people above - budget a little every month and be patient. Avoid going into debt for a knife that you feel like you just have to have now.
Another good tip is to dig around for forgotten items that have some value and sell them.
One little trick that I've used that I haven't seen mentioned is to buy good quality "commodity" knives in the aftermarket and trade up or sell them later when you spot something you really want. Sort of like a Knife Savings account. That way you can semi-satisfy your knife buying urges while "saving" for something bigger and better. For example - one month you save up $100 and buy a good condition Benchmade 710. A couple of months later you pick up a Spyderco Domino for $145. A couple of months later a Zero Tolerance 0770 Carbon Fiber for $150. These are reasonable example values I think, and at the end of 6 months or so you have around $400 in "savings" in your knife stash. Assuming you takr reasonable care of these knives, you should be able to sell them for about the same value as you bought and afford a single, more valuable knife. I've done this several times. It lets me try out new or recommended models and still save up value for something really cool later. I bought a Umnimzaan this way, along with my first inlay Sebenza (an Ironwood years ago)
Good luck to you in you quest.
Another good tip is to dig around for forgotten items that have some value and sell them.
One little trick that I've used that I haven't seen mentioned is to buy good quality "commodity" knives in the aftermarket and trade up or sell them later when you spot something you really want. Sort of like a Knife Savings account. That way you can semi-satisfy your knife buying urges while "saving" for something bigger and better. For example - one month you save up $100 and buy a good condition Benchmade 710. A couple of months later you pick up a Spyderco Domino for $145. A couple of months later a Zero Tolerance 0770 Carbon Fiber for $150. These are reasonable example values I think, and at the end of 6 months or so you have around $400 in "savings" in your knife stash. Assuming you takr reasonable care of these knives, you should be able to sell them for about the same value as you bought and afford a single, more valuable knife. I've done this several times. It lets me try out new or recommended models and still save up value for something really cool later. I bought a Umnimzaan this way, along with my first inlay Sebenza (an Ironwood years ago)
Good luck to you in you quest.
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Looks like everyone has it figured out already.
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Start a gofundme, except instead of making it for purchasing a knife (prohibited fundraiser) make it for something ridiculous like: www.gofundme.com/them-leaves
Or even start a serious fundraiser http://www.gofundme.com/fov4u0 Use extra for "miscellaneous expenses".
If you look at the site there are some really successful fundraisers for really asinine things like personal vacations, getting married, needing a computer.
Stuff like www.gofundme.com/gk4nag gets nearly $10k in donations. It's insane.
Or even start a serious fundraiser http://www.gofundme.com/fov4u0 Use extra for "miscellaneous expenses".
If you look at the site there are some really successful fundraisers for really asinine things like personal vacations, getting married, needing a computer.
Stuff like www.gofundme.com/gk4nag gets nearly $10k in donations. It's insane.