Oh, I am on the fence!!!!
If you are not behind on your bills then go with the machine. If you are broke and behind on the bills, use the money to get caught up. It isn't any fun stressing about money and bills and it can weigh heavy on your mind, especially at 3am.
You might come to resent the machine if you bought it at a financially stressful time.
Get caught up on your bills and buy the machine when you can afford it. Or you could do a bit of both.
Do you have Craigslist or something similiar? Pay your bills and then buy a used machine that is just as good.
Happy birthday to you.
Kirsten

I agree with Shelley and Harmony. You are an adult now, so "put your big girl panties on" and do the right thing. That means you need to take responsibility and pay your bills first.

But, there is nothing wrong with putting a little aside for yourself to save up for the new machine you want. Then you have your cake and eat it too--birthday cake, that is.

Have a happy birthday!!

I think a new machine will be a sweeter experience if the bills are paid. :wink: When I got my first machine--about 14 years ago--I worked for my dad in his Iris gardens--we didn't need the money for anything else at the time--so I bought the machine... it was so sweet.

Wait until you're ready. For a broken heart--eat a LOT of ice cream with a LOT of chocolate syrup and a LOT of whipped cream. It's gotta help.

Hope things turn around soon.

Looks like you are about 50/50 me I've been down this road oh so many times. I have paid the bills with my birthday money, and I have spent my birthday money on myself. So if you really want this machine drop a hint to mom and dad for a new machine (the one you want) if they give you the money and your bills are not over due, then buy the machine if not at least see about layaway. This way you can have your cake and eat it too. Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY, hugs.

Mary , I'm so sorry about your lost love, but it may not be lost forever! But if it is I hope you have some wonderful memories to keep.
I have to go with, if your bills are past due pay them, sometimes that's why we get these little money blessings, because we NEED them. If you can pay your bills on time then by all means spend that money on yourself! I am currently saving all the extra money that comes my way because I want a top of the line machine but don't want to make another monthly note. It's hard but it's not like I can't sew untill I get one.
Good luck with whatever you do, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY I hope your cheetos get there in time to cheer you up!

We did the Dave Ramsey program. While a new machine would make you happy for a little while, there is nothing as wonderful as the feeling of being FREE - dump that burden of debt and then save for an even nicer machine. Once the bills are caught up and all debts paid, you can even do some special projects specifically to pay for a nice new machine.

Is there any way you can pay on time for the machine. Pay your bills and if you have a downpayment left, then pay the machine of monthly? That is how I did it.

I say go for it. It's your BirthDay. Happy BirthDay. Enjoy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I'm certain there is a middle road here. I also do not often buy things for myself and almost need to be pinned down to do it. But my local pfaff dealer is wonderful. So let's think what she would do for me in this sistuation, and let's see if it helps you.

(this is all standard stuff no specail favors or anything like that)
TRADE IN, what is the trade in value of what you have towards a new machine, and might you get more "trade in money" if you were buying a fancier machine?
TRADE UP, if you buy a bottom of the line Pfaff at my local store you can trade it up anytime in the next 6 months (or maybe it's a year) and get the same exact money you paid to trade up.
TRADED IN perhaps they have a machine that has been checked over by their staff that someone used to trade up for, that you can have for less money. When the old tradeup machines sell again they sell for 1/2 the money.

Now I looked at the Pfaff 1122 (oh please other members don't smite me down!!!) It's the bottom of the Hobby line which means it's the bottom of the Pfaff line, I considered that route myself... I instead bought a bottom of the line of a different big name brand 4 months ago, and now I want something better with more gagets, even if that means getting an older machine that has the bells. You and your skills will fill the shoes of the sewing machine you're considering in about a nano second, and then you'll have a nice little machine that will last forever, all the while you're wishing you'd gotten the 1142 with the automatic button hole or that one fancy stitch that you never thought you'd use, but it sure would be great to help quilt this project. And you'd still be stuck with whatever bill or dept that you would have liked to get off your back.

You've been using your machine for sometime now, and while it isn't perfect, you know all of it's stupid things and the tricks to fix them. Is it better to save half for a better sewing machine in a little while, and pay down the other stuff a bit? That way you know you'll get it just not right this minute, and you'll have a little padding if you need it for something unexpected up ahead.

Advice is what we ask for when we know the answer and wish we didn't...

I know the feeling. I've been wanting a new machine for years. Last month my dear sweet husband gave the the nudge. I've been having so much fun I haven't regretted it a bit.