[DP1112]

So, I have completely fallen in love with riding. I ride my bike almost everyday, sometimes twice a day. I'm not going to be cliche or corny and say it has changed my life, but it certainly has changed an aspect of it. Next semester I am transferring to another college that is located in a small town, I am pretty much putting up my car the next two years and I will be riding my bicycle everywhere. Anyways, the dilemma is, by January of 2007 I want to add another bike to my stable, probably an AM or a 29er. While i'm sure most of ya'll are like, so what's the dilemma, my dilemma lies in this. The 1000+ i would spend on the AM, or the 800 + or - i would spend on the 29er could potentially go to things that are more "important". Things such as rent, some of my loans, bills, etc.. It's just hard because, i know I will get way more enjoyment out of the bike, and say i even do knock out 1500 off of a college loan. It won't make THAT much a difference, but having another kick a** bike might?? I don't know, i guess the problem is I know i need to be responsible, but I don't want to be. Please set me straight (or at least send some cash so I can do both!)

 

[Christine]

Well, keep in mind that you've got a lifetime of biking ahead of you, and the college years aren't the time for owning the best of ANYthing. Just be thrilled you've got your youth, and save the $$$ for when your bones and muscles demand better treatment.

Not that you should restrict yourself to a $75 Target special, either. I would suggest purchasing a used bike, from somebody older and richer who likes to upgrade every couple of years. Or simply keep an eye on the classifieds, Craigslist, bulletin boards, etc.

A lesser bike would force you to become a better rider. It would also be a lot less to worry about getting stolen around campus since you'll be riding "everywhere." Besides, maybe for graduation you could ask for THE bike as a gift from the whole family..........???

 

[shiggy]

Well, I follow/followed my passion for cycling. If I had been more responsible I would still be married to the woman I dearly loved.

 

[TNC]

Ouch.

Well, I follow/followed my passion for cycling. If I had been more responsible I would still be married to the woman I dearly loved.

Man...I consider myself very lucky. I've been able to pursue most of my passions fairly vigorously...and remain happily married to the same woman for 33 years. I realize that doesn't happen very much.

 

[Shad6Bones]

When you brought the college loan into the picture... The answer was obvious (to me).

Do not have debt. Do not do it. I am very proud to have 0 debt. I have friends who are in the hole and others who are DEEP in the hole... Debt, no matter how shallow or deep is more than just a drag. Avoid it. (The government and loans are not getting any easier on interest and time to pay it off)

Reward yourself with your dream bike when you have a good job or even your dream job.

S6

 

[DP1112]

thanks guys, i really appreciate your opinions. My mom said pretty much the same thing, but it's hard to listen to her because well, she is my mom. I knew what decision I needed to make, but I just needed some reassurance.

 

[LyNx]

:yikes: :eekster: :shocked: Are you serious Shiggy? I really love MTBing, right now it's my life and my ride is "my girl" but I don't think I could let it get in the way (even though I so right now am only looking for an active/biking girl) if there was a woman I truly loved - being that she had similar feelings of course.

Well, I follow/followed my passion for cycling. If I had been more responsible I would still be married to the woman I dearly loved.

To the OP, I'd have to agree having the bling bike in college is a bad idea especially for the fact it could get stollen. Ride what you've got and try to pay off the loan(s), then when you graduate get the bike you want.

 

[salimoneus]

When you brought the college loan into the picture... The answer was obvious (to me).

Do not have debt. Do not do it. I am very proud to have 0 debt. I have friends who are in the hole and others who are DEEP in the hole... Debt, no matter how shallow or deep is more than just a drag. Avoid it. (The government and loans are not getting any easier on interest and time to pay it off)

Reward yourself with your dream bike when you have a good job or even your dream job.

S6

super post. it's so easy to screw your credit while struggling in school, i know it took me 7 years to clean up my own (very ugly) mess after severe credit card abuse. life is 1000 times easier when your credit is in the 95th percentile

 

[Tarekith]

Yeah man debt is soo much stress, like all the time, it invades your thoughts even when you're doing something fun. Soo not worth it. I love biking, but you have to take care of your responsibilites first to get the most out of life IMO.

 

[bitflogger]

So, I have completely fallen in love with riding. I ride my bike almost everyday, sometimes twice a day. I'm not going to be cliche or corny and say it has changed my life, but it certainly has changed an aspect of it. Next semester I am transferring to another college that is located in a small town, I am pretty much putting up my car the next two years and I will be riding my bicycle everywhere. Anyways, the dilemma is, by January of 2007 I want to add another bike to my stable, probably an AM or a 29er. While i'm sure most of ya'll are like, so what's the dilemma, my dilemma lies in this. The 1000+ i would spend on the AM, or the 800 + or - i would spend on the 29er could potentially go to things that are more "important". Things such as rent, some of my loans, bills, etc.. It's just hard because, i know I will get way more enjoyment out of the bike, and say i even do knock out 1500 off of a college loan. It won't make THAT much a difference, but having another kick a** bike might?? I don't know, i guess the problem is I know i need to be responsible, but I don't want to be. Please set me straight (or at least send some cash so I can do both!)

I'm with Christine and Shiggy here. Do not be a fool about money, education and your passions. It takes a while to realize that nobody will care for you but yourself or your family if you're lucky as well as what savings will do for you.

I would also suggest a resume that could be shown to an audience broader than coffee shop managers.

For anybody young or other repeat after me: I am a complete idiot that deserves ridicule and misery later in life if I do not save or at least open an IRA account. Saving is serious stuff. I survived becoming unemployed and a market that had little to no use for educated white males and was able to start a business in a circumstance that brutalized and/or bankrupted some friends and associates. Now it's allowing us to do the Harvey Mackay cliche on buying the BMW house before the BMW car.

The bike part of it is being in a trash and gangsta-free zone where we can bike/walk for work, schools and shopping and be close to trails.

Good luck.

 

[9.8m/s/s]

So, I have completely fallen in love with riding. I ride my bike almost everyday, sometimes twice a day. I'm not going to be cliche or corny and say it has changed my life, but it certainly has changed an aspect of it. Next semester I am transferring to another college that is located in a small town, I am pretty much putting up my car the next two years and I will be riding my bicycle everywhere. Anyways, the dilemma is, by January of 2007 I want to add another bike to my stable, probably an AM or a 29er. While i'm sure most of ya'll are like, so what's the dilemma, my dilemma lies in this. The 1000+ i would spend on the AM, or the 800 + or - i would spend on the 29er could potentially go to things that are more "important". Things such as rent, some of my loans, bills, etc.. It's just hard because, i know I will get way more enjoyment out of the bike, and say i even do knock out 1500 off of a college loan. It won't make THAT much a difference, but having another kick a** bike might?? I don't know, i guess the problem is I know i need to be responsible, but I don't want to be. Please set me straight (or at least send some cash so I can do both!)

I agree with most of the other posts, college is not the time to have the best of anything lying around. Also, quick financial tip: Right now student loans are rediculously cheap, like in the 3-4% range. Money Markets are paying in the 4.5% range. If you put your money in a mm account, you will have liquidity that you would otherwise give up, and you will be making money on the spread. It's a concept I work with my clients on all the time for paying college tuition. Your just doing it on a smaller scale. Good luck.

 

[DP1112]

yeah I totally hear what ya'll guys are saying, especially about credit. But, I am already pretty good into loans, about 15K or so (going into jr. year). So the 1500 spent on the bike won't really do much. The next two years I won't accumulate MUCH more debt, because I am going to a much cheaper college. I can see what ya'll are saying though. This problem actually got solved the other day though. i was talking to my aunt and my mother and telling them about the bike. Then I proposed that if I make dean's list and just sacrifice X-mas (my bday is jan 17) then i can get that bike. So, they agreed.