GAS : family intervention!

[JeffGreene]

George:

I can empathize. I just went through the same scenario with my oldest son (31 yrs old) except his issue was the acquisition of expensive Trap guns ($5k plus). He seems to have accepted it in the same spirit as you, and like you expressed relief. He is selling several to begin getting his finances organized. Go out with the Bronica and post some great images!

 

[Will]

My gas is probably the worst around. I've considered nearly every possible way of making money to buy cameras, I generally have a glazed over appearance (thinking about buying cameras), and I have a sizeable credit card debt to show for it. Well, things have gotten out of hand in recent months with the GAS growing to terrible size.

This week, the idea of buying a custom MP on credit. . . came to mind. More than once, and with increasing force.

Tonight, not surprisingly given my antisocial personality these past days, I was the target of an invervention. They told me that it needs to stop, that I need to get a grip. . . .

and they raided my wallet. They took all my credit cards. I had three. Now, I have zero.

So there you go. I'm 24 years old and already I've been forceably deGASsed.

George,

I am just a little bit older than you, and I am scare to get into your situation, so I don't have a single credit card...

I understand what you are getting into, I am dieing for a R-D1s. 😀

As I had fun shooting a Minolta 5D last night, 200 photos within 30 min at a friend's wedding last night. (Borrowed the camera on the spot. Handholding @ ISO 3200 B&W, no flash and with all those image stabilize and stuff but let's don't get into that for now)

I had supplementary income, so I blowed "some of them" on gears. I also trade up, it end up costing me more for the same thing, but I am not spending as much, you might want to consider this.

I have enough cash for the R-D1s, but I have dreams/goals/target in life, that's the only thing holding me up for the purchase.

You have dreams right? Realising your dreams will cost you $, right? Forgive me for being so rude, but mate, stay foucs in life, photography is still a job or a hobby after all...

We have some great financial advices here!

Set up a second account with your bank and use it only for emergency GAS. Any time you have spare change, unexpected money put it in the "camera fund".

This is my #1, you can still have fun with all those shopping.

You can live without credit cards if you put your mind to it. Cut 'em up if you need to. It feels better when you take a little longer, save real cash and make your purchase. Done deal, no monthly payments and interest to worry about.

#2, power of cash!? yeah!

Yep, as Max, the 95% of my card purchases are with debit card. Actually, the credit one is more a sort of 'in case of emergency' or when debit is not accepted (to my surprise, VERY rarely) and to be honest I never asked for until the bank sent me one directly a couple years ago.

Drastic movement, but let some time pass and in the end you'll be way grateful they did that. So many people would be so happy to have others caring so much.

#3, debt prevention!?

Your custom MP will come, just take a little longer!

 

[sf]

Well, I'm done with the cards. I've got a job on the way here - to begin on Monday - and I should have things all paid down within a couple months. Then back to GAS again!

I have cancelled my scanner sale, partly because I found work, and partly for other reasons. I love the scanner, is one, and I'd only save 3 weeks pay by selling it and buying a decent flatbed to replace it. No sense in that. I know I'd kick myself for it down the line.

Thanks for the support and advice, all. You'll be seeing see GAS talk from me, and more actual photography. Just wait till I post my first roll of Rollei IR 400!

-George

 

[Terence T]

I understand what you are getting into, I am dieing for a R-D1s. 😀

Save yourself some dosh and get a used R-D1 instead. A simple firmware update, available Jun 1 onwards, will turn it into a R-D1s. I've handled a prototype of the R-D1s and the hardware looks identical. All the improvements seem to be software related.

 

[sf]

Save yourself some dosh and get a used R-D1 instead. A simple firmware update, available Jun 1 onwards, will turn it into a R-D1s. I've handled a prototype of the R-D1s and the hardware looks identical. All the improvements seem to be software related.

this is much like the dumb D70s thing that Nikon did. And the Canon 30D with minimal upgrades from its 20D predecessor. They could have just waited till the D200 came out, maybe sold a few more, but they see how the market environment is, and will it with fluff.

Anyone ever read or heard the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? There is a chapter where the characters are on a planet that had some strange history with shoes - it was covered entirely in shoes during some freak marketing event that basically drove the entire productive capacity of the planet into shoe production, and inspired all the inhabitants of the planet to buy shoes just as ravenously.

Years later (maybe centuries), they find layers (as we might find in the eroded walls of the Grand Canyon) of a strange rubbery material . . .shoes.

We are bound for a similar situation with digicams. A planet covered in them, and future archaeologists digging through layers of digicam evolution. They'll draw pictures of humans as creatures with cameras on straps around their necks as natural appendages. Or as common as underwear.

 

[Silva Lining]

this is much like the dumb D70s thing that Nikon did. And the Canon 30D with minimal upgrades from its 20D predecessor. They could have just waited till the D200 came out, maybe sold a few more, but they see how the market environment is, and will it with fluff.

Anyone ever read or heard the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? There is a chapter where the characters are on a planet that had some strange history with shoes - it was covered entirely in shoes during some freak marketing event that basically drove the entire productive capacity of the planet into shoe production, and inspired all the inhabitants of the planet to buy shoes just as ravenously.

Years later (maybe centuries), they find layers (as we might find in the eroded walls of the Grand Canyon) of a strange rubbery material . . .shoes.

We are bound for a similar situation with digicams. A planet covered in them, and future archaeologists digging through layers of digicam evolution. They'll draw pictures of humans as creatures with cameras on straps around their necks as natural appendages. Or as common as underwear.

Heh, that is the biggest tangent i have seen on a thread in a long time!! 😛

Good luck with clearing your CC balance, you'll feel liberated when it is done, as it is sooooo much harder to pay off than to accumulate.

I too have a ravenous GAS problem, but my 4 month old son helps keep me on track (Not that I am suggesting this as a solution to your current sutuation !)

So I give myself a budget, each month. It is automatically placed in a savings account so I can spend it month on month, or save it up over time for bigger purchases. It is hard to keep to though, I've recently spent the last few months budget on a Canon VT, then I saw a nice Contax 1 on eBay - outside my budget. I watched the seconds tick down towards the close of sale - it was very hard not to click he BID NOW button, but I didn't and felt quite proud of myself for showing restraint afterwards. Sounds silly, but I am sure there are a few fellow GAS sufferers who will identify with that.