Hi all, Hope you are all well, I haven't been around for a few days, a combination of being heartbroken, busy and other stuff.

I went to a sewing machine store today, a local place recommended to me by my Auntie Sue who is a quilter and all round expert when it comes to anything you can do with fabric and sewing machines, she's a whizz.

Anyway, having never used a sewing machine that was less than 25 years old, I am BLOWN AWAY by the ones I tried at the store today. My goodness! It is liking driving an Italian sports car when all you have driven before is a rusty old tractor. It made me realise that some of the things that I experience with my old machine should not be like that.

Well, money wise I am not going to spend a fortune. I am sensible enough to know that as a beginner, a real expensive machine would be overkill for me at this stage. But I did a car boot sale yesterday and sold a load of old junk, making a total of £90 (about $150) in cash! Plus it is my birthday tomorrow so I hope to get some cash from my Mom and Dad. I can afford a Pfaff 1122.

I am in such a quandry, as I am so broke at the moment I should really put all this money towards bills and debts. But then I think that I have had such a bloody miserable few months, I never buy anything for myself, have just split up with the love of my life and am heartbroken, why shouldn't I buy something to make me happy?

I'm sure I will go ahead and get a new machine anyway, but right now I am torn with guilt that I am being so indulgent. So I think I just need a few friendly nudges. :(
Mary

My personal opinion (which would not be the same as my husbands) would to buy something for yourself for your birthday. A new machine, or at least one that works well and does not bring you great frustration will do wonders about brightening your days. If you really enjoy quilting and sewing and am getting rather frustrated with your old machine, I would buy the new one. It will help you be much more relaxed and less stressfull. Go for it girl!!!

I say new machine. Go for it.

Kitty, here are some ((((HUGS)))) for your heart!

I know how you feel looking at the machines; I went thru that last year. Who knew that they were making machines that do everything but brew your coffee??? A good basic Pfaff will serve you well, tho - and who knows, you may even be able to make a few things to sell and balance out the old checkbook.

When one door closes, another opens - the hard part, I know, is finding the $#@! open door :lol: Hang in there, and hang out with us :wink:

My machine that I used for 20 years before I got my Bernina 18 mos ago was a Pfaff and that machine is a workhorse, it's still going strong, never had any troubles with it. I just wanted something with more bells and whistles after quilting for a few years. I sometimes still take my Pfaff when I go somewhere to quilt as it weighs far less than my Bernina.

It's just my personal opinion, but it sounds like you deserve something for yourself. The birthday money and sale of junk I would consider YOURS!

Wishing better days for you!
Susan

I think you should sack feeling guilty....get the blinking machine ordered and quickly girl!! Think about yourself for a change, you deserve it :D

Kitty
Get a new machine you deserve it. If you pay enough $$ for the machine it will last for years . You will not regret the purchase ever!!!! :D :D

Happy Birthday :thumbup: :thumbup:

Mary this is just my opinion, I think you should take care of your bills first so you don't have that monkey on your back and regret later buying the machine, then with the money you got left buy yourself a new machine it may not be the one you are dreaming of but it will be new and your bills will be up to date.

I so hate to be a wet blanket!! But if you are behind on your bills by all means take care of them first because if they come shut off your electricity that new machine wont be much good! But if you are current and just thinking about paying extra... well then go for the new machine!!!!!!! Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!! For mother's day, I went out and bought myself a new sewing machine and serger. If I can do it, so can you.

PrettyKitty-I would say your bills(unfortunately), and see if maybe the machine can be on layaway. Happy birthday and so sorry about the break up. But things will get better.

Sad to say this- pay your bills. Good credit can bring you the ability to buy a good machine on payments (if you want in the future). Take care of the bills, you'll feel better.

Happy Birthday!

P.S. If you feel the urge to splurge- just buy a pretty fat quarter or two. Just enough to make the blues go away, just trying to pick one out will keep you occupied.

Not meaning to be a party pooper here... I have been in your position where I wanted something, but there were bills to be paid.

I have a rule I use, and it has always served me well...."Do what you NEED to do first.... then you can do what you WANT to do...." even if that means laying a new machine away and paying for it over time. Sorry for putting a damper on things.


Happy Birthday! :)

A new machine will do wonders for your moral. Bills will always be there. A good machine will last a long time. It will help you take your mind off your troubles. Besides it won't go to your backside like chocolate. I saved money I got for Christmas to buy a whole bolt of fabric I wanted. It felt good. You cheer up and buy that machine. I'm saving my money for an embroidery machine. Have a good day. Deb 8) :thumbup:

I have BEEN there :( :(

Buy the machine. If you pay bills, a year from now you will have nothing to show for this little windfall. If you buy the machine, you will always have a physical reminder of how special you are. A year from now, will paying those bills make such a difference in the big picture of life?

Buy the machine!

I think you should treat yourself and buy a new machine. :D

First, let me say, I LOVE QUILTING. I understand, and live, the obsession.

But, you are an adult, with adult responsibilities. Part of that includes paying the bills. Other people depend on you to pay your bills. It's not all about you (sorry!). And having that debt over your head will not allow you enjoy that new machine.

Go look up a guy named Dave Ramsey. Getting you out of debt is his expertise. You can find him on radio stations all over, or you can listen to him online. He also has a book called "Total Money Makeover". If you go to his website DAVERAMSEY.COM all of his financial tools are currently only $10.00.

It will change your life.

How about a compromise? Put aside part of the money to save for a new machine, then use the rest to pay your bills. Every paycheck period, pay yourself first--put some money into your sewing machine fund. You'll have enough before you know it, and you won't feel guilty and be in debt because you didn't pay your bills.

There just never seems to be enough money to go around, but if you're willing to compromise, you can still find a way to get what you need AND what you want--just not all at once!

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.

I think you should go for it. Hey, you only live once.

Sometimes we need to do something just for ourselves. I say buy the machine. Your birthday is special and you deserve to have something that makes you happy. Go for it.

If you really interesting in purchasing a sewing machine, do not purchase one that all of the little cutesy things on it. Just make sure it will sew a good 1/4" and do a great top stitch.

While its your birthday and thats important...it will make you feel better in the long run to actually be a grown up independent woman. That means taking care of business first. For yrs. I actually would sit on the curb by the mail box and cry over the bills coming in because it seemed they overwhelmed me. Then I decided I could do something about it. I got a second job, when that wasn't enough, I got a third job.. Do whatever it takes..if you want a new machine..sell some of your junk on ebay and you'll soon have enough to pay for it! Good luck and Happy Birthday!

Pay the bills first. Find something to put your pocket change in and put it in DAILY, you will be suprised how quickly it adds up.

I am in a position now to go and get the machine I want, but I am not going to do it. It is a greed not a need, so I am saving my pocket change until I get enough. When I get enough, I will decide then if I really want to spend it or save the money for the future.

Myself, I would not feel right if my bills weren't caught up.

DD

It looks 50/50 here. get the machine/pay the bills. Let us know what you decide.

just a thought- we are all talking about getting through this moment- this need vs. this months bills. What about next month and the next month after that? Will the same bill problem be happening? Perhaps it's time for Consumer Credit Counseling. There are free (note that- free) services available- take advantage of them. They will sit down with you and your bills and get you on the right track. Sometimes it takes someone else to put it in perspective and give you the pat on the back for doing it.

Debt is not a good thing if you can't handle it. So it may mean not getting that machine you want right now, in the long run you will benefit from good credit and the perks of that good credit- picking and choosing a good interest rate when you must (not need) to purchase a bigger item (such as replacing a car or buying a home).

I'm lucky to have a small second income that provides all the fun I need for my quilting habit. I have a notary service for my work that I use for fun or save. It is actually helping to give my daughter some extras for her wedding or I gave my son $100 to help with the cost of one book for this semester of college. It's the little extras I can do without forcing the budget into a downward spiral of debt. If they don't need something, I splurge on some fabric.

OK - here's my 2 cents. I say pay your bills. Then save for your dream machine. You've been using this machine and could probably use it until you can save enough to buy the new one. I found that there will always be something that we absolutely have to have, but what good is it if you never get out of debt. A long time ago, my DH and I agreed that we would not buy anything until we had the money for it. I put us on a strict budget and although it does take a while to save for things, it's such a great feeling to be able to buy them AND pay them off.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

First I want to tell you happy b-day. It sucks that you have bad things happen around your birthday.

Here's where I stand on the purchase, I have found that spending any significent amount of money while depressed is not a good thing. Especially if it's something your going to have to make payments on. Maybe once you have another bill or two paid off, then get the machine you want. I know how it is when looking at these new ones...I have my eye on a new one too. I currently use a $70 one from Walmart. But it is paid for. Right now I want to get a few bills paid off before I get into another payment. I will feel so much better using it if my bills are paid, and I can afford to buy something to use it on.
Hang in there. Your situation will get better in time.

Firstly, haveahappy birthday.
I am in the Pay your bills camp. I always think hard before buying something I want but dont necessarily need. If debt piles up, all you can think of is that, your cannot always remember what it was you so despaerally wantned.

Look to the future, soon the sun may shine.

I would go to your local (and reputable) quilt/sewing machine shop. Talk to the shop owner and see if they have a fairly new pre-owned machine.

You might be able to pay your bills (I don't like to owe anything to anyone) and still get a fairly decent, not to old pre-owned machine.

Good luck!!

Let us know what you decide to do!!