My New Guitar, Smart Spending or a Wasted Expense?

Posted on by in General, Saving Money & Finances

Last week I finally gave in to a long term desire and purchased a shiny new, but basic, classical guitar.

I look at my guitar and I see it needs playing, while my wallet gently weeps….

The back story and decision to purchase….

I have owned guitars in the past, at one point I had 3, a steel stringed acoustic, a electric Fender Stratocaster and a cheap encore electric bass, despite this I have always been an awful guitar player. I didn’t practice enough and when it came to my time to leave the UK I sold them off (actually the acoustic never sold so it lives, in England).

My life is much more simplified now and I actually think I have more time so the desire for a non-computer based hobby has been nagging at me. Picking up the guitar again felt like a good idea but it’s extremely expensive to have my guitar shipped over.

So I started looking around a few music shops, gauging price here, quality and working out what I needed. As I have not picked up the axe for over 3 years I felt Beginner suited my just fine.

I found a very well priced beginner classical guitar (the cheapest kind of guitar) in a small locally owned music shop near my home but it took me at least 4 months of umming and arring until I finally made the purchase.

Why so long? Did I make a good purchase?

I wasn’t absolutely sure that I would be staying in Cairo for the next year due to waiting on news of a scholarship for my partner’s studies. She got the scholarship about a month ago and it cemented that we would be in Cairo for another year.

I am so anal about aquiring now objects these days that that was a big factor. I also am a heavy questioner of any object purchase and even now I am edgy that I made the right purchase.

For a second in the store I almost lost it and purchased the expensive looking Yamaha classical, luckily I kept with the adequate beginner model…

The guitar cost 300 Egyptian Pounds and I had to get an electric tuner which was an additional 90 Egyptian Pounds. In USA $ that works out approx $69 at time of writing… The question I had to cover is related to usage.

Could I really justify $70 of lost money that could go to debt or savings? Will I even use the guitar? Is it possible it will save me money?

I *think* the answers to all those questions is yes. I have been using the guitar daily for the last week and have learned 2 songs. I seem to be picking things up quicker than before and I am really enjoying the relaxation time. My hope is that I will choose guitar playing over popping out to a cafe, a meal or even a beer enough times to save more than the $70 purchase.

Being responsible for my purchase…

I never used to be like this. Many years ago I would have just grabbed a guitar if I wanted one. I may even have used my overdraft, knowing that wages were coming in a few days. Being so anal over every purchase actually gives me a good standing now and responsibility to prove to myself that I will be using the purchase. Hopefully This means I may will actually learn more than just 5 simple songs this time…. Who knows I may even record a song and post on this blog one say like Sam from Financial Samurai did here: Where Did All The Time Go?

Are there any other bloggers/readers who have put music online for us to hear? If so let me know, I would love to hear it :)

Why did I tell you all this? – I want to know what you think….

I thought it would be interesting to let you know the mindset I apply when making a purchase and I hope it spurs you to leave a comment below and let me know how you deal with purchases, if you think I am OTT, what purchases you have recently made and anything else you want to say.

….. What songs have I learned?

I know you only read down this far as you are burning to know what songs I have learned so far ;)

Well the first is a pretty easy one by one of my favorite bands ever. I love almost every song they have ever produced!

Where is My Mind by The Pixies.

The next isn’t quite learned yet, my timing is off, but it’s Johnny Cash’s excellent version of Nine Inch Nails Hurt. This song is depressingly brilliant.

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15 Responses to “My New Guitar, Smart Spending or a Wasted Expense?”

  1. Mark

    31. May, 2010

    Forest.

    I think of you buying that guitar as an investment. Just look at the entertainment it has brought you already. You should get much better with more practice.
    .-= Mark´s last blog ..Weigh in Day!! =-.

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    • Forest

      01. Jun, 2010

      Hey Mark, absolutely agreed :) …. not all investments need a financial return :) .

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  2. Rebecca The Greeniac

    31. May, 2010

    Money well spent in my opinion! There’s no friend like a guitar. It can bring you years of self-made entertainment.

    And since you asked… here’s a link to some songs that my partner and I wrote/recorded back in the neolithic era: http://www.reverbnation.com/beckyandlarry

    Don’t judge them too harshly… they were meant to be scratch tracks for an album we were going to record (meaning they’re tracks you lay down in the studio so you’ll have something to play along with while you record the real stuff). But alas, Larry seriously injured his back shortly after these were recorded and priorities quickly shifted.

    Hope you enjoy your guitar!
    .-= Rebecca The Greeniac´s last blog ..Lovin’ My Solar Oven! =-.

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    • Forest

      01. Jun, 2010

      Hey Rebecca, you have a fantastic voice, nice chilled music too. I hope Larry gets well enough at some point for you guys to resume recording :( … I am sure you could play Live with that style of music in a TON of places… Could be a good side earner :)

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      • Rebecca The Greeniac

        01. Jun, 2010

        Aw… thanks for listening. We haven’t had an actual paid gig in about 10 years… Larry’s still fighting the back problems and it’s hard to commit to a gig when he never knows when the pain will strike. So mostly we just torture the cats with it these days! But the paybacks don’t have to be monetary… we still love to play!
        .-= Rebecca The Greeniac´s last blog ..Lovin’ My Solar Oven! =-.

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  3. Financial Samurai

    01. Jun, 2010

    Great work Forest! Only $69 for a guitar is cheap! Music is the best outlets ever, and despite spending a boat load more on mine 10 years ago, it’s proved to be worth every penny!

    I look forward to hearing you put together an album too! I’m trying to record the 3rd song, but man…. it’s not easy getting the playing and singing right.

    You’ll have a lot of fun. The guitar is one of the cheapest and best things to buy ever!
    .-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Who Needs A Job When You Have A Private School Degree =-.

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    • Forest

      01. Jun, 2010

      Hey Sam, yeah I picked a pretty cheap one but it’s pretty solid. All the guitar’s here are Chinese made for the Egyptian market so are generally cheaper than USA but may lack in quality in certain places as the quality control isn’t as high even is it bears the same brand names…. Like the Chinese Strat’s vs the American Strat’s…. My guitars I owned back in UK cost a hell of a lot more and I can honestly say the sound is clearer on this classical than an equiv priced UK classical so I think I got a good deal…. Anyway if I get good then i will def have to upgrade.

      I doubt an album will be coming for a while, or even a song…. My singing is pretty dire!!! Looking forward to hearing your other tracks and maybe even an original Samurai tune soon?

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  4. Money Funk

    01. Jun, 2010

    OMG! Both Awesome Awesome songs! You and Sam… Awesome taste in music. I think it was a well though out perfect purchase. And for the price… that’s a bargain. And a guitar is a good tool for a minimalist. We all need a hobby to keep our minds sane away from the computer. Can’t wait to hear your recordings.

    At one time, I learned some Peter Murphy songs on the base. And I was also gifted at the Violin {fave was Mozart}. But that was so long ago {like eons}. I’d probably much sound a cat on a fence {eeks}.

    Best of luck – and I want to hear that Johnny Cash song. Wait, are you going to sing too? ;)
    .-= Money Funk´s last blog ..Money Funk goes Comic =-.

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    • Forest

      02. Jun, 2010

      My partner has a beautiful 200 year old Violin and she too has not played it for so long that she has nearly forgotten!! But I am sure you both could pick it back up very quickly…. It’s a beautiful instrument.

      Ha ha, you won’t be hearing me singing, that isn’t something I am capable of! It just won’t ever work :) .

      Thanks.

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  5. Des @ Affiliate Progress

    01. Jun, 2010

    Hi Forest,
    guitars are never a waste of money, especially for Pixies fans! Sounds like you got a good deal there.

    It is currently one of my most difficult downsizing decisions. Which if any guitars do I keep? Could I take them all and my amplifier? Even though they do tend to gather dust most of the time, I’m sure I’ll get back to playing more regularly so it seems a shame to ditch them.

    Then there’s the mandolin etc…… :-)

    Great to hear you are getting so much enjoyment out of it. Money well spent I think!

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    • Forest

      02. Jun, 2010

      Ha ha, thanks. I am a big Pixies fan…. I can only think of one song of theirs I have heard that I don’t like much (but I can listen to it!). I love all kinds of music though so I do vary what I listen too.

      If you own some beautiful guitars it’s damn near impossible to part with them! Took me a while to part with my last ones even though I wasn’t playing them… Luckily I have been playing the new one for a little each day.

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  6. Jolyn@Budgets are the New Black

    04. Jun, 2010

    Oh, my. I am seriously considering purchasing my camera that I have wanted for YEARS and it’s considerably more than $70. But I totally agree — it’s not all about the cost. How much will I use it? Have I simplified my life enough to dedicate the time necessary to learn how to use it properly? The second part of that may never be true… ;)

    Love those songs as well. “Hurt” has been making the rounds on facebook, like people are just discovering it. Looking forward to hearing your progress!

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    • Forest

      06. Jun, 2010

      Hey Jolyn, I am looking at a new camera too… considerably more than $70…. I currently have a rebelXT (4 years old) and need to get to the end of it’s ability before justifying an upgrade!

      I have been a Nine Inch Nails fans for many years and when Johnny Cash released the cover album that Hurt was from I was all over it…. His version of Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus is great too….. I am happy it’s making rounds again :)

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  7. Michelle Adams

    23. Jun, 2010

    I like the way you worked through this purchase with a lot of thought Forest. I think for the money you spent you gained a lot! Learning something new, entertaining others and the sheer satisfaction of mastering those songs!

    I’ve been tossing up an iPad purchase for weeks now….I’ve imagined I already have one then questioned when it is I’d actually have used it each day….surprisingly not as much as I thought I would. I probably will get one eventually but getting sucked in by the hype, I’ve learned how to NOT do that anymore. Now I have your tips to apply too, thanks. :)

    Looking forward to seeing you play us a tune here. ;)
    Michelle Adams recently posted..Taking Your PLR Content From Good to Great, or Better Still FantasticMy Profile

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    • Forest

      11. Jul, 2010

      Hey Michelle, thanks a lot for your comment :) .

      I would love an iPad too but just can’t justify a purchase like that quite yet….. Maybe next year.

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