DISQUS

Chris · 2 years ago

I have a World Book set of encyclopedias. But they are green. Yes they are worthless, but they do look nice on the shelf.

Zook · 2 years ago

I never spend that type of money on "stuff" like that. This is EXACTLY what "stuff" turns into over time.

That $500 back in 1995 could have got a nice vacation to one of the countries inside the books you bought.

FinanceAndFat · 2 years ago

Sounds like any number of foolish things I have purchased in my life. So many mistakes and foolish ideas, I can't even believe it's true.

Sadly, I'm just now getting started on finally paying all the debt from all of the stupid stuff.

Fecundity · 2 years ago

At least you got a couple of years of use out of them. Putting the $500 on the credit card was unwise. The Internet making the books obsolete was just unlucky timing.

Not remembering that you already owned the movie and purchasing another copy is a classic move in our house. Welcome to the family. Or should that be The Family, since we're talking about The Godfather?

Hopefully you can find somethihng remarkably discounted at Amazon and turn that $7.16 back into something worth a little more, at least worth more to you.

And, hey. You could always look to the "One Red Paperclip" guy for inspiration.

Linda · 2 years ago

Why didn't you return or exchange the DVD at Blockbuster?

BTW, I think you got your money's worth. That little girl will love the encyclopedia. Who knows where it could lead for her. You probably did more good than a $500 donation to charity would have done.

I think spending money on a DVD collection is just as poor an investment; it's the same or more dollars spent, just in smaller installments. I recently gave away my old VCR and dozens of videos, many of which I hadn't even opened. I learned my lesson and won't spend a dime on DVDs. The only ones I have were given to me for free.

Kevin · 2 years ago

I've been selling off junk I don't need, and it can be discouraging thinking about how much money I paid and how much money I'm getting now.

I think it's more productive to learn from these kind of mistakes, try not to repeat them, and focus on the fact that you're turning annoying clutter into cold hard cash. No matter how you cut it, you have another $7.16 to invest.

Incidentally, if you forgot you owned The Godfather, maybe that means it's not that important to you and you could sell the first copy too.

aaa · 2 years ago

Microsoft Encyclopedia on CD costed only $50 10 years ago.

marissa · 2 years ago

Thanks for the story, JD! I remember when my family bought a 486 PC in early 1994, it came with Encarta on CD. :)

I recently sold 2 Apple IIc computers, tons of software and peripherals to a family on craigslist. $50 for everything. I spent a LOT of time during my preteens using my Apple and saving up to buy more stuff for it. Although it seems like a huge sunk cost to let go of two computers (originally priced at $1300 each in 1984!) and a ton of peripherals and software for such a low price today, the value I got from using that Apple is inestimable. I have so many good memories of tackling simple programming problems and playing games. Those experiences were formative in my decision to study CS in college, which has led to a very satisfying career so far.

Maybe the young girl who received the encyclopedias will find something that piques her interest and becomes a great intellectual investment!

SingleGuyMoney · 2 years ago

Thats funny, I remember those. My parents bought me a set from a door to door salesman too. I don't kow what happened to mine though.

JD · 2 years ago

Harping over $500 spent several years ago is a sure way never to become wealthy. Focus on the dollars, not on the pennies. I'm several years younger than you are and have a net worth of 5 times yours and it's liquid (not talking about home equity here). I did it by focusing on bringing in "big" dollars and not about how to save a few bucks here and there or earn a few extra bucks here and there. I remember a show like 20/20 did a profile on wealthy people once to argue that they were out of touch with the average person. They asked them things like how much is a gallon of milk, or a carton of OJ, or a Big Mac, etc. None of them knew the answers to these, but the "average" people they asked did. To me it didn't tell me that the rich people were out of touch, obviously they are in touch with more important things given that they have been able to make the millions most people never make. But they were more focused on making a lot of money, that's where their efforst went, not into moaning about the price of a gallon of milk.

dong · 2 years ago

I think Encyclopedia's even in today's age can be worthwhile. I'm not sure I'd pay 500 for a new set. I think any good old set will do. As a kid, I used to read through the old set I had that was dated from the 40s. It was out of date, but I still learned alot. I think a good encyclopedia can still be a good launching point for further study.

mapgirl · 2 years ago

I'm wondering why you bought an encyclopedia, but when I was a kid, my mom and dad bought the whole she-bang. Thing is, I actually read them back in the olden days before there was a computer in every home. I used to do my vocabulary homework in front of the TV with the dictionary set, get lost in the encyclopedias when I was looking up something else for school, yanked out a Great Book and read a few chapters of Montaigne when I wanted to feel erudite and arcane. I probably wouldn't know half the things I know without reference books at home to inspire me to learn more.

It sure beat running to the library all the time. The interwebs are great these days, but there's still something nice about sitting on the couch with a book on your lap and just flipping the pages till you get to a picture of something weird and interesting looking and reading the entry.

Alright. I'm a dork. I know. I admit it. Better here than on my own blog! LOL!

J.C. Carvill · 2 years ago

Nowadays it is not expensive at all if we want to be frugal and smart at the same time. The Internet has most answers to all of our questions & appetite for information.

I really like your story. You are several steps ahead of me. I still have my thick textbooks at the garage.

RandomName · 1 year ago

Good story, I liked it. Money, you can't take it with you anyways and you got a nice little story to tell.