ka-ching

[tzikeh]

I had trouble with Financial Aid this semester, which means that the first three payments for tuition were out-of-pocket (adios to the remainder of inheritance). The loan will (finally!) come through at the end of this month, and it's far more than what I now need.

[Poll #942514]

Comments

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

I'm torn between the new laptop and the paying off of other debt. I mean, if the laptop is legitimately dying, then you really do need one for school (and if it also adds to the fun, well, what's the bad in that?!). But I also really hate the idea of spending more than absolutely necessary on interest.

Also important to consider -- if they screwed you over this semester, what are the odds they might screw you over next semester as well? NOT THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN! EVERYTHING WILL BE GREAT!! HONEST!!!

[cereta.livejournal.com]

What she said. If the laptop is sufficiently an issue with schoolwork, I'd say do that. Otherwise, debt. Not that I took my own advice in grad school, shc sighed.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel better, my parents used their undergrad student loans to buy pot and a used car.

They never graduated. Wonder why?

[zoerayne]

I'd say either the laptop or the TV.

However, I also wanted to say "LCD, not plasma" about the TV. You won't be able to afford one as big, but all the research I did when I was TV shopping indicated that LCD is the better investment in the long term; they have nearly twice the life of plasma—important in a fannish context, when the television is on far longer than their "typical" two to four hours per day *koff*—and the biggest problems that LCD TVs had in the past (burnout of individual pixels and narrow viewing angle) have been overcome in the last few years. I've got a lovely 37" HD flat-screen LCD, and I adore it.

[semielliptical]

Either laptop or debt - not because the laptop is acceptable, but because it will probably be both useful *and* happy-making.

(And are you still interested in the Best of Masterpiece Theatre?)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

OH GODS YES MASTERPIECE THEATER HELLO

*cough*

Thank you kindly for the advice!

[semielliptical]

I don't remember if I told you - the Masterpiece Theatre will be on VHS so I'll need a snail mail address - you can email your address to me at semilunar {at} gmail {dot} com if you're still interested.

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

The question I have: is the student loan interest rate fixed or variable? If fixed and you have debt at a higher interest rate, then I'd suggest paying off the higher rate.

as for the laptop - as long as it works, keep it (for now) and start shopping around for the cheapest laptop (one that is basic - not a vidding laptop) as well as the lowest financing you can get on it.

ex. Student loan debt = fixed 8%
credit card debt 20%
laptop financing = 12% (or lower if you can find a lower interest credit card)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

is the student loan interest rate fixed or variable?

This... is a very good question. I will read the materials and find out.

Thanks for thinking of it this way!

[klia.livejournal.com]

Come to CA! *koff*

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

There's always that. ;)

[keiko-kirin.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with morgandawn, and wish I'd some sage advice when I was cheerfully spending my grad school loans. However, I also support the new laptop idea, because it's useful and fun. If it were me, I might opt for a good middle-of-the-road laptop: more than basic, but less than luxury. Also, I'd see if I could get one used, because in today's throw-away society, it's pretty amazing what nice toys people get rid of when they can afford to buy a newer nice toy.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

I see that at least I'm not the only stick-in-the-mud who is saying laptop or debt. Speaking of laptop: have you seen this? http://www.axiotron.com/

It's an after-market modification that makes a macbook into a tablet. I would love one of these if I were in school, but I also can't touch type. And I was always drawing graphs and charts in science class, so I have trouble imagining *typing* my notes in a lecture.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

...

I want to have sex with it.