Jan 18th, 2008
When Gift Cards Can Help You Spend Less
I love my iPod touch. There’s very few gadgets I’ve ever had that I’ve loved as much. Not only is it a great audio player, it serves as my planner, stumbler, email checker, quick Web browser, alarm clock, and about a zillion other functions. That said, I was torn when I learned about the new applications being released for the iPod touch at Macworld Expo this past week, due to the cost: $20.
Twenty dollars isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but as I continue in uncertain times with my job (and entering the month where those bills from the holidays are coming due), a dollar is still a dollar, and dollars are even more difficult to let myself part with. I didn’t think I’d be willing to pay the $20 to get those, at least not right now, until I realized something: I didn’t actually have to pay $20.
Over the last couple of years, I received as gifts two iTunes Store gift cards, one for $25 and one for $50. I’ve bought exactly two songs ever from iTunes: Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order for me and Music Box Dancer for a friend (don’t ask). This is not to say I’m opposed to buying music online; quite to the contrary, I think that it’s the way to go at this point. But I have so many CDs–including dozens I just rediscovered from early college–that I almost never buy any new music. When I do want to listen to something new, I often borrow it from the public library to actually see if I really want it. So I had $75 of credit in the iTunes Store which I remembered yesterday. That credit wasn’t going anywhere, and it wasn’t all that likely I was going to spend it on music, so I went ahead and used it for the four new iPod touch applications (you may want to see my personal blog later tonight for a quick review of the new apps). This way I was able to treat myself to some new tech items without it actually hitting my pocketbook. It’s unlikely I would have actually ponied up $20 cash to pay for these, but since this was credit that wouldn’t likely be used otherwise anytime soon, I was able to justify using it for some fun and functionality in my iPod.
Sometimes, even gift cards you wouldn’t typically use can come in handy!
[...] I often borrow it from the public library to actually see if I really want it…. source: When Gift Cards Can Help You Spend Less, Uncommon [...]
[...] Uncommon Cents wrote an interesting post today on When Gift Cards Can Help You Spend LessHere’s a quick excerptThat said, I was torn when I learned about the new applications being released for the iPod touch at Macworld Expo this past week, due to the cost: $20…. [...]
[...] osc1 wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI’ve bought exactly two songs ever from iTunes: Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order for me and Music Box Dancer for a friend (don’t ask). This is not to say I’m opposed to buying music online; quite to the contrary, I think that it’s the … [...]