The first thing I ever bought with my own money

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Baz

Hard to know the very first thing - that was a long time ago.

But I do remember what I bought with the money I made from my first job out of college.

My 1970 Volvo 145S:

Baz, is that a knee board? Seems a little early to be a 'fish'".

[Nordwest]

I mowed a lot of lawns to buy this bike in 1972.

[GH85Carrera]

If we are talking money earned from a job, it would have to be part of the payment on my first car. A 1960 VW bug. Dad gave me an interest free loan on the $600. ($3,824.83 in today's money) I paid the first $100 with my "lives savings" of hundred bucks. I had a job at a local commercial photographer's place after school and Saturday's. I paid off dad for the car in a few months. I had to pay for 100% of all car expenses, except the insurance. Dad paid that.

To establish some credit I studies the magazines and went to every stereo shop in town to figure out the components of my first Stereo. It was $1,000 (6,172.00 today) and was a quadraphonic system with 4 Advent speakers, and a Sanyo amp and a Dual 12something turntable. It was a dang nice system that lasted 25 years before getting replaced with an amp that fits in today's stereo cabinets. They old amp was HUGE. With a wooden case.

[drew1]

Probably gas, 2 cycle oil, and lawn mower parts. When I was 4 or 5, we moved to a place with a couple of other houses on the road. By the time I was 10 or 11 Daddy gave me our old lawn mower as other houses were built and the road paved. I made some money cutting people's grass and learned a lot.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

If we are talking money earned from a job, it would have to be part of the payment on my first car. A 1960 VW bug. Dad gave me an interest free loan on the $600. ($3,824.83 in today's money)

Ha! My second car was a 1960 VW bug that I bought when I was 17 - 1967!


EDIT: I forgot to add that I also paid $600 for mine!

My first car was a Henry J. I traded a bull calf to our neighbor for it when I was 9 or 10. I only drove it a few times. Dad sold it in our farm auction when I was 12.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Ha! My second car was a 1960 VW bug that I bought when I was 17 - 1967!

My first car was a Henry J. I traded a bull calf to our neighbor for it when I was 9 or 10. I only drove it a few times. Dad sold it in our farm auction when I was 12.

Yea, it was a powerhouse. Zero to 60 in just under one minute! Top speed, 70 on flat ground with no headwind. The legal limit was 70 back then and the slightest hill meant downshift to 3rd and 45 mph. Steep hills were 2nd gear. 36 MPH and gas was 24 cents a gallon.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

If we are talking money earned from a job, it would have to be part of the payment on my first car. A 1960 VW bug.

My first car as well.

No gas gauge, just the reserve tank.

I paid $150 for it - first big purchase with my own money...straight cash, homie, from ranch chores and umpiring LL as a 14/15 years old.

[tabs]

First money made was selling Avacados on the corner in the 6th Grade in 64.... $25 for less than 8 hrs. I still have the silver quarters and Halves.

First real purchase was a Thompson Center Hawken 45 caliber rifle with a tang sight, 2 bullet moulds and loading stuff for $110 in 72. Bought it from a guy who needed the money. Still have it.


About those Avacados..i made so much money my parents took notice. So we loaded up the trunk of the Corvair and headed to the swap meet. Where in a couple hours we sold out making $60. My parents didn't want to give me a split until I mentioned it was my idea. Then they grudgingly slipped me a $20. Dad put their money in a little box in his Dresser...i still have that money.

[Les Paul]

Mowed many lawns, paper boy, worked on farm for grandad scooping all kinds of critter
-****, stacked hay, dug post holes, etc etc.

51 years later still like new. Probably helped it was thought to be lost from 72-2015.

[asphaltgambler]

Hot Wheels cars and a carrying case initially when I was 9. Believe that was in 1969 when they hit the stores. My local go to for them was Ben Franklin's. They had a toy section

[Sooner or later]

An 8 track ghetto blaster and 2 8 track tapes.. Three Dog Night and Steppenwolf

Mowed lawns and babysitter.

[Racerbvd]

Hot Wheels , I'd collect deposit bottles on the way to and from School. Then I would cash them in .05 &.10) and at the end of the week, I would ride my bicycle up to Zare's, which was farther away that I was allowed to ride and buy bag load of Hot Wheels.

[Ziggythecat]

The very first thing I bought, was probably a Superman comic book.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yea, it was a powerhouse. Zero to 60 in just under one minute! Top speed, 70 on flat ground with no headwind. The legal limit was 70 back then and the slightest hill meant downshift to 3rd and 45 mph. Steep hills were 2nd gear. 36 MPH and gas was 24 cents a gallon.

LOL! Yeah, I used the “accelerator” pedal like an on-off switch. When it was really cold out I’d drive around in 3rd gear to blow more hot air on the windshield. I came up with a big tachometer somewhere, put it on the hood in front of the windscreen. I adjusted it somehow so it read twice the actual RPM. I upgraded the handling with a set of Michelin X tires. I had a friend with a Renault Dauphine and another one with a ‘59 VW. We used to bomb around town like a (small) herd of turtles.

[OldSpool87]

I was 5-6 and collected UPCs from boxes. Empire Strikes Back was released and I loved battle scene on the ice land of Hoth. I sent away for the grappling hook accessory which Luke used to get into an AT-AT. Checked the mail every day starting the day after I mailed in the UPCs. Problem was that I had no concept of time (a true luxury). It eventually came and was great. I still love getting stuff in the mail.

[p911dad]

I remember clipping a little form off the back of a box of cereral and taping a quarter to it and sending it in. (no, this is not the actual item, I got it off google images) I filled up the laundry tub in the basement and it actually worked! yippee!

[jshape]

1962 Gibson J45 Jumbo Starburst I bought in 1963 from a music store in the small Ohio town of Newton Falls. It had been ordered by someone who actually wanted the clear spruce top and didn’t want the sunburst when it came in. A friend who knew I was looking clued me into its being there. I think I paid $200 for it. Alas.....I sold it when I got married for honeymoon money. Still married today so I’m not too upset. Value today is probably $6,500 or so.



(Not mine - just a pic from the web)