Need some advice.

BBK_2

Basically I'm a student, I'm currently looking for part-time work and i can't see myself finishing my course without being able to purchase an Apple Macbook, Brand new they cost around £1000... I've tried as hard as i can to get work so I can buy one... second hand or brand new i really don't mind as long as it helps me get my work done. I've tried signing up for the finance option but i'm not being accepted (they use barclays for the finance option)... I have no past work history. Would i be accepted for a credit card so i could buy a Macbook? Second hand they go for around £600, I know i can pay it back i have the money (monthly) to pay it back. This is basically the only option i can see at the moment... I've asked family members for loans but non of them seem to want to help me out, What credit card should i go for (if i'm elegible)? I only really want around £500...

thanks for the help.

lisyloo

i have the money (monthly) to pay it back

If you have the money to pay it back, then why haven't you been saving that money each month in the past?
If you had saved what you claim you can pay off for the last X months then you'd have enough to buy one?

My personal feeling is that if you can't get the finance then you won't get a card.

Have you spoken to your own bank about a loan or overdraft?
What did they say?

Poostix

Why do you need a mac? is it something specific that you can't find on a windows machine or on Linux? (Ubuntu has pretty much everything you can ask for but its all free?)

I only ask because if its software then you can probably find a suitable alternative for much less. My Ubuntu machine only cost about £300 and its amazing for that price.

KingElvis

Yep, why do you NEED a Macbook?

I need a Bentley GT but it isn't happening LOL

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

BBK wrote: »

Basically I'm a student

http://www.natwest.com/personal/students/g4/other-student-products/student-credit-card.ashx
http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/studentcard2.asp
http://www.lloydstsb.com/credit_cards/student_card.asp
http://www.rbs.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/g1/student.ashx

BBK_2

lisyloo wrote: »

If you have the money to pay it back, then why haven't you been saving that money each month in the past?
If you had saved what you claim you can pay off for the last X months then you'd have enough to buy one?

My personal feeling is that if you can't get the finance then you won't get a card.

Have you spoken to your own bank about a loan or overdraft?
What did they say?

Saving money isn't really something I'm good at, especially being a student. And if i saved money from the past few months I'd still have to wait another few months before i could buy one. I know that if I've got to pay back monthly i'll make sure the money's there

BBK_2

Poostix wrote: »

Why do you need a mac? is it something specific that you can't find on a windows machine or on Linux? (Ubuntu has pretty much everything you can ask for but its all free?)

I only ask because if its software then you can probably find a suitable alternative for much less. My Ubuntu machine only cost about £300 and its amazing for that price.

I'm a music student, and the software i use is for Mac only (Logic Pro 9) And my work's strictly Logic based. I wish there was an alternative

KingElvis wrote: »

Yep, why do you NEED a Macbook?

I need a Bentley GT but it isn't happening LOL

Thank you for the sarcastic remark.. that helped alot.
Read above ^

katsu

I know as a music student you are going to make heavy mac use, so appreciate a PC isn't really going to help. You could look at a credit union for a loan, but you would probably need to save with them for a few months first. Look for your nearest one and see what they say. Also, go to the bank you do your student banking with and see if they can offer you a credit card, but please make sure you can fund the cost. Could you increase your student overdraft by £600 to enable you to buy a second hand mac instead of a new one by credit card?

Good luck with your course.

KingElvis

BBK wrote: »

Thank you for the sarcastic remark.. that helped alot.
Read above ^

Not sarcastic, just asking a question.

I work in IT and the first question I always of anyone requesting expensive equiment is WHY?

More often than not, when questioned, their reasons vanish.

Again, just asking a question but didn't you know you needed this expensive gadget when you started your course? can you share or borrow?

Good luck anyway.

lisyloo

Saving money isn't really something I'm good at

So you really need and want this, but can't be bothered to put the required effort into saving?
Sorry, but if I was your bank or relative I woudln't be interested in lending money to you either.
You don't seem to be willing to put any effort into something that you claim is important to you.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but you need to be aware of how this appears to potential lenders.
Best of luck with getting the Mac and with your course.

It is MASSIVELY better to save up for things.
Not only do you save the costs of interest and charges, but you also don't get into a muddle if your income drops or your outgoings increase.
I am saying all this for your own good.
If you get into bad habits now it will affect you for the rest of your life.

<soapbox mode>

I've saved up for things all my life and started work when I was 13.
I've been a student too and worked in all my holidays.
I'll be mortgage free soon (at age 43) and I've acheived that mainly because I've always lived within my means (whatever they are) and have never been paying for yesterday.

<soapbox mode off>

Sirmaggie

Hi All,
I have an Amex Platinum cash back card, im in my first year and I have spent around 9k on it so far, first year will be up in June 2011.

Rates: 0.5% for aggregate amounts up to £3,500; and 1% for aggregate amounts from £3,501 to £7,500; and 1.25% for aggregate amounts in excess of £7,501.

I also have a Halifax Clarity card, that gives £5 back if you spend £300 per month on it.

Question is: Is it worth spending my first £300 per month on Halifax Clarity card to get the £5 and then the rest on the Amex to get that cashback, or shall I just stick to spending all on the Amex??

I ALWAYS pay off the full balance every month by DD (I have learnt from previous mistakes!:D )
My total spend on cards is normally around £13 to £14k per year.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this, any advice is always welcome.....:beer: