Should I get him THE bike?

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babyseal_IHB

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My boyfriend loves bike riding. It's his hobby. He has a mountain bike but takes good care of it. Recently, he has grown out of mountain biking and wants a road bike. The bike that he wants is 2009 Giant TCR Advanced SL1, which is going to come out next month. It's around $4,500, including tax. He really really want this bike. It's either nothing or Giant TCR. I have been thinking for a while, but still can't make up my mind.



He does not have the money to buy that bike now and is trying to save up money for the ring. I do not have enough saving to buy the bike now either, but will be able to when I get my tax refund next year. Since I will get the $7,500 tax credit, which I will pay back in the next 15 years. When I have the money, should I get the bike for him?



Reasons to buy:

1. I love him very much and wants to fulfill all his needs

2. He truly loves biking, and he will use it every week for many years

3. Eventually, we will get a road bike for him in the future. So if we are buying him the bike soonner or later, then shouldn't I just get it now so that he can use it earlier?

4. He is going to get me a ring, bike for him



Reasons not to buy:

1. $4,500 is a lot of money to us now. I can use that money to help my parents remodel their newly purchased home.

2. I can use that money to pay off my student loan.

3. I want to save up money for the wedding

4. Is $4,500 too much for a bike at our income level? Are we spending too much money that we don't have?

5. To help him to save up the ring, I am going to help him to pay the next property tax bill ($1,900). I won't have much money left after that and the bike.



I don't know. I want to get it for him, but also have doubts if it's a right decision. Should I maybe just wait till the price comes down?
 
Let's play Suze Orman's "Can I Afford It?"



"Ok, girlfriend"... how much are you taking home a month, what are your bills, how much do you have in savings, and do you have any credit card debt?
 
So, a baby seal walks into a club... =)



You are an awesome gf. But I think that money could be spent better. Looking at your list, #'s 2, 3 and 4 seem like very good reason's on not to blow $4,500.



As for your reason's to buy...

1. The gesture alone shows him that you love him very much, lucky guy.

2. He can still love biking with a reasonably priced bike.

3. He'll be cycling either with or without the $4,500 bike. Save your money.

4. He owes you a ring, unconditionally.
 
[quote author="GOTTI" date=1225955836]So, a baby seal walks into a club... =)



You are an awesome gf. But I think that money could be spent better. Looking at your list, #'s 2, 3 and 4 seem like very good reason's on not to blow $4,500.



As for your reason's to buy...

1. The gesture alone shows him that you love him very much, lucky guy.

2. He can still love biking with a reasonably priced bike.

3. He'll be cycling either with or without the $4,500 bike. Save your money.

4. He owes you a ring, unconditionally.</blockquote>


Yeah. What you listed are all true. I guess it's just sometimes that when I see him wanting that bike so much, I would want him to have it and do what I can. But when I see how my parents try to save money, I feel guilty and question it. I guess I should just wait. Thanks!
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1225956007]... not to mention, how long until he grows out of that hobby like he has the mountain bike?</blockquote>


He has always been biking. He still bikes with his mountain bike, just on flat trails. He will always love biking.
 
You know, if the bike was made of gold. $4,500 is a bargain. You can always get market price or better for it. But I doubt it is. Probably some sort of carbon fiber. I don't think any bicycle should cost more than $300 assembled. It's like golfers and golf clubs, it's not the jack, it's the hammer.
 
from what you say, it seems clear that you can not afford it, if you dont have the savings to pay for it now, im guessing you live on your paycheck month to month? if that is the case you should first build up an emergency fund to cover 3 to 6 months worth of all your expenses, especially in times like this. its situations like yours why the phrase "its the thought that counts" was created.



you have to many reasons listed as to why you should not spend 4,500 on a bike. it seems like you already know this though.



Good luck!
 
Even if you could afford it you should never buy any expensive first road bike...always start out with something affordable, say $800, get a couple of thousand base miles in THEN think about a spendy bike....you can then make a much more educated purchase, plus, dont just settle on one particular bike, test ride many before deciding, there are so many different ride qualities in road bikes...



I
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1225961629]Even if you could afford it you should never buy any expensive first road bike...always start out with something affordable, say $800, get a couple of thousand base miles in THEN think about a spendy bike....you can then make a much more educated purchase, plus, dont just settle on one particular bike, test ride many before deciding, there are so many different ride qualities in road bikes...



</blockquote>


Peter is right (for once). What is it about this bike that he needs? You can get a much cheaper bike that would perform well and you can modify as needed...just ask Eff. He has a sweeet ride and it didn't cost that much. Also, why put that much cash into a bike (or a BF for that matter). Save it up!
 
I really agree with the others who are saying to get a much less expensive one. When you both are in a stronger financial position, then maybe upgrade. I know what it feels like to have your bf that you know you are going to marry in a financially tough position and I know the guilt that comes from the sacrifice they make to put a nice ring on our finger. When we were dating, I did his taxes and gave him $4K for an IRA to reduce his bill, but I would not have spent $4K on something that didn't have an ROI. Don't get me wrong, I"ve been generous with gifts (ticket to Ireland one year, nice new tread mill another, etc...) but you have to look at where you are today and what it's going to take to not have to work so darned hard for the rest of your life. Forgoing medium ticket items like this when you can't easily afford them will get you to the point where you can have more.
 
I wish that he desires a less expensive bike, then I wouldn't have been bothered by this. I did try to talk him into getting a less expensive bike. I don't know much about bikes. He did extensive research, online, visiting all the bike stores he can find, and somehow decided he wants that bike. He almost got a 2008 model for like $3,600. He was going to put it on his credit card, and I convinced him he shouldn't. When I tried to convince him to get a less expensive bike, he was like, "Really? You think I should settle for a less expensive one?" When he said "Really?" the 3rd time, and I saw those sadness in his eyes, my heart aches. It really does. It's moments like that makes me throw away rational thinking and tell myself that I will get him the bike with all I have. There were many times, I have decided to get him the bike. Then I see how my parents try to save up every penny, it makes me question how I spend my money. I do feel guilty when I think about my parents. Also, I question myself if I would spend $4,500 on my wedding, the answer is yes. Then, it doesn't seem too bad he wants a $4,500 bike.



At this point, he is debt free. I have car payments, little student loan, and pay my parents $300 a month. We pretty much don't have rent. He just pays property tax, insurance,utilities, and $400 for his dad's HELOC to live in a house two of us comfortably. We don't have much saving, but we try to save up for our future. We don't have enough for an Emergency Fund. But we don't need to worry about downpayment when we do decide to buy our own house in the future.



Back then when I was still a college student, and he was looking for a job, we had just enough for our living expenses. I had to cook everyday and managed to spend only $50 a week on food for two of us. We would spend all the money left on a snowboarding trip. We had more debts back then and faced more financial pressure. It was probably toughest time that we have been through. Now we make much more than we do before, more than double income. But somehow we feel more financially stressed. I worry way less back then. Back then, I would go on a small diet and use all my money to get him what he desires without any hesitation. I always thought things will be so much better when I started working. I thought money won't be a issue in my life. We are better now, but there are also more expectations from us. I just find myself more stressed about money now than ever.



When I told him that I can help him to pay half for the bike, he told me he doesn't want my help and it's okay not getting the bike. I am not a big spender. It's just when I find out how much he desires for that bike but can't afford it, my heart aches and want to help him all I have or give him all I have.
 
i know what you mean about the more income, the more financial stress. i long for the days when i thought $2000/mo was more than enough to live, eat, and play. it sounds like you're a sensible person and so is your bf. he's lucky to have such gf that's willing to make big sacrifices and you're lucky to have a bf that listens to you. i have way too many peers who do what they want, buy what they want, be damned what anyone tells them even when its for their own good. we all know now the results of that type of recklessness.



boys and our toys... its tempting. i find myself eyeballing some very expensive ones of late. with this retail economy, i know it's the best time for me to get a great deal. but with this general economy, i know it's also the worst time for me to spend my savings unnecessarily. if you don't have an emergency fund, yesterday was the time to start saving for one.



i'm on my first road bike which is an all-carbon fuji that cost me $1200. and i thought that was a splurge. your bf has a lot more biking experience in general but i couldn't imagine spending that much on a first.
 
"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint - Exupery



As someone who has been married a while, one thing that kept us afloat was separating our needs from our wants. I live by a couple rules financially.



1) Pay yourself first. (This mean both paying down debt and contributing to the big-picture financial goal you have, with a steady and aggressive plan in place.)

2) Ask yourself, "Do I need this or do I just want it?" Chances are if you've made it this long without it, you don't need it.

3) If you do need it or it's a justified want... get it, but never pay retail!

4) Save the receipt. Make sure you can return anything that is bought on impulse. Sometimes after you buy something you find out it doesn't make you as happy as you thought and you start wishing you had your hard-earned money back (or the charge on your card gone.)



Good luck!
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1226021391]"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint - Exupery



As someone who has been married a while, one thing that kept us afloat was separating our needs from our wants. I live by a couple rules financially.



1) Pay yourself first. (This mean both paying down debt and contributing to the big-picture financial goal you have, with a steady and aggressive plan in place.)

2) Ask yourself, "Do I need this or do I just want it?" Chances are if you've made it this long without it, you don't need it.

3) If you do need it or it's a justified want... get it, but never pay retail!

4) Save the receipt. Make sure you can return anything that is bought on impulse. Sometimes after you buy something you find out it doesn't make you as happy as you thought and you start wishing you had your hard-earned money back (or the charge on your card gone.)



Good luck!</blockquote>


Those are very good rules. I need to learn to apply those in my life as well. Thanks!
 
[quote author="Shooby" date=1226025518]This makes me sad, I wish my girlfriend would do/think like this for me.</blockquote>


Time for a new girlfriend?



Also, there is a lot of wise advice going on in this thread.
 
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