[zenkmander]

This may seem like an odd question, but how can some of you afford the ultra-super-kill-you rigs and video cards that are lingering on the market? Seems like quite a bit of money to spend to build those monstrous machines. So, I'm wondering, what exactly do you do for a living? I myself work part-time at a local retail store, and it would usually take me months and months to save up for an entire system, complete with a 7800GTX and 23" LCD monitor.

[MIG-31]

Well i work full time for the last 15 years......can not always afford to upgrade to often....but do occasionally break the bank from time to time.

But it does help out selling the used stuff via ebay to reimburse some of the cash toward future upgrades..

[pigdog]

I'm in the Army. They keep sending me on trips to "exotic" places. When we deploy on these jobs we reap a fair harvest in allowances.

That, coupled with the fact that I'm not spending any cash while on task, means that when I get home it's "buy myself a present" time.

[Lowfat]

I can't afford it

I work as a manager at BK

This summer i spent almost every available cent on my computer, because I am addicted, like a drug.

[Dark Lord]

i only work a part time summer job, so what ever cash i make there and whatever i get as gifts for christmas/birthday are my only forms of income.

with that said, i dont spend much money at all, and when i do spend i search for deals.

as an example, my video card. i bought it the week it came out, it retailed for 400.00, i got it for 380.00 after tax. my ram, 199.99 a stick at the time, bestbuy had them on sale for 99.99 per. my cpu, the month they came out it was going for somthing like 250-300. found a guy on ebay selling them brand new in the package for 155 + 10 shipping.

when ever i purchase video games i always hit up the ads. between circuit city, best buy, compusa, some one almost always has it on sale for 10-15 bucks off.

i may not have alot of money, but i can afford to own some very expensive things and have money left over.

[dj_stick]

Simple: I can't

I'm upgrading now on a budget of
a: 18th birthday money
b: recompensation from selling my current machine to my dad
c: money paid from 20 hrs of work training

[SFOSOK]

How I afforded my rig I am making.



Well, sold PSP package (the most awsomest thing ever)
Worked for my father helping him a waterfall and gigantor pond in our backyard.
Have a full time job for a month.
Selling crap on E-bay.



I seem to have this trend goin, buy super expensive stuff, sell it, but other stuff with the money. With comps I'm doin it in moderation, because I need myself a new rig. It's also very future proof and cost effective. Took about 3 months of researching but I am more than happy with what I am getting for the price.

[temeteus82]

Currently saving for new mobo, CPU, RAM and GPU.... got 200 € in the bank and I'm hoping that at xmas there is around 500 to 600 € in the bank

[Flexkill]

I like to lend myself as a Partime contract killer....Hours are great, and it pays really well.

[Kombatant]

I was working for a computer magazine here in Greece until recently; and now I am on the lookout for a new job. When you are into computers, you come to settle with the fact that you have to upgrade every 2 years give or take, so you tend to save up

[BWX]

I can't.. but I do it anyways (with a lot of moderation) with a little square piece of plastic that is it currently putting me further and further into debt.

[Necrosis]

Originally Posted by Kombatant

I was working for a computer magazine here in Greece until recently; and now I am on the lookout for a new job. When you are into computers, you come to settle with the fact that you have to upgrade every 2 years give or take, so you tend to save up

That, and I buy awesome Greek food off him to help cover expenses.

[Dyre Straits]

I almost never pay retail for anything. I always check for sales and I also [almost] never buy the 'latest/greatest' of anything. I usually wait until prices fall or, like I said before, a sale.

I do the same with games and software. CompUSA just about always has a good deal on recently released games. So, again, I watch the ADs like a hawk.

[niceguyrichy]

two words for you - credit card.

it also helps that my fiancee has a 12 year old, so any games I want I just convince him that he wants it even more than I do and he bugs his grandparents until they buy it for me. uh...I mean him.

and like dyre says, watch out for the sales man. you can pick up some serious bargains.

[Callandor]

Nice niceguyrichy, nice

Well, I'm a student so there's nothign I can do but to save for anything I may want to buy. As a result my rig tends to look good more on the inside than the outside if you know what I mean. I sometimes buy stuff of rich friends who tire of things really quickly and always want to be on top, and like Dyre, I never buy anything that's latest or anything like that, that's just killer on the pocket man. Sometimes, when I was younger, I stole stuff from other rigs I was working on either at school or some other place around like that, at a LAN or something, I know it wasn't a nice thing to do, but it was the only way to survive back then, and besides, I'd never really take anything mondo expensive like a gfx card or a processor or something. Mostly I just stole games and laser mouse and mouse mats and things like that. Yeah, I know it was bad, but I now that I'm older and wiser, I don't do that kinda thing anymore. Plus, I don't think I'm truly the only one

Other than that, it's odd jobs, my little company that I run, that's still really young as I still have to study and handle it, and my parents and family and things when they feel like giving me something (which isn't really very often). Sometimes I wish I just had a stable job. But I'd like to get financially stable -before- I start splashing out when I start working and then hopefully from there, finanancially free as well..hopefully. I know, that's what they all say, then look at them a few years down the lane, married, broke and with a bunch of children. Well, hopefuly I'll be able to brace myself before that happens. If it does happen that is. (which it most likely will)

[Drakon]

I work part time during the school semesters and full time in the summer. I used my "good old cc" for my present rig. I'm still paying for the bloody thing.... GO GO Interest Rates!

[daedal]

I can't afford it, that's why I put it on my Visa.
Seriously though, it's a matter of budgeting and work unfortunatly. There is no easy answer.

[Ferret_Style]

lol with a wife, 2 kids, and a house... pretty much well credit but mainly just watching for sweet deals like the X800 pro from ati referbed fro 179

[Sandok]

I can't lol... Still a student and I already spent my summerjob money (5k on clothes and accesories and car)

[Zelig]

I can't, so I don't have a top of the line rig.

Besides, even if I could, I'd have better stuff to spend my money on.

[Robert McClelland]

I don't have CC good thing to I let my parnets help me out with my own bills and pay them next month or two if I need something for my computer

[pr0digal jenius]

i'm missing a kidney...



...no..i buy huge expensive stuff every so often, but dont upgrade as often

[SFOSOK]

well, this is my only options to spend money on

Car (but why the hell would I do that?)
Girl (already spent enough for 2 super computers)
Gaming Rig (bout time)

I have worked for my dad and other people since I was a boy and saved up my money to make customized things here and there then end up selling them on E-bay when I get bored of them to make my money back. Also I worked a lot. My father always needed things to be done and would always find something for me to do, wethere it be simple yard work, puting tile the bathrooms, molding, putting in wood floor, taking out 15 yr old carpet and foam padding (worst thing I've ever done), Building a pond, painting what is needed, cleaning the roof with high pressure water, washing cars, and cleaning up the house. I guess I'm lucky enough to just get the opportunity to things like this for my father and recieve money for it sometimes. Without my pa I would probably be broke and have a shit work ethic.


Edit:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

i'm missing a kidney...



...no..i buy huge expensive stuff every so often, but dont upgrade as often

Sounds like me : ). Though I'll go for a deal if it is really good.

[MythicaL]

Originally Posted by Tulcakelume

I work as a manager at BK

Sounds like Judas

[Dyre Straits]

Originally Posted by SFOSOK

.... taking out 15 yr old carpet and foam padding (worst thing I've ever done)....

I do home remodeling and maintenance. I never thought taking out old carpet and padding was such a terrible job. I just pull the carpet back about 6 feet a time, cut it with a razor knife through the backing into 4 x 4-6 feet sections and it's easy and fast to get out of the way. It also packs down nicely in the back of a pickup truck or trailer at these sizes.

Sounds like you're getting some good experience, though! I like that.