Have you ever financed anything in aquarium keeping

[SimbaAnto]

Only if it's a 0% apr

 

[bakbay]

I don't need no stinkin' financing -- I got a few of these at home...lol

 

[Badblackdog]

Other than businesses have you ever financed something aquarium related. I'm just really curious

Cash, cash, cash.
My LFS gives me a little discount for buying with cash. I also think financing a hobby is a bad idea unless you are very financially disciplined.

 

[NTLA]

This hobby is expensive. If you have to finance the initial tank/build it may just be better to wait until you have the cash. But I am pretty debt adverse anyways.

 

[d2mini]

No. I'm (mostly) financially responsible.

 

[vlangel]

No, I started out in this hobby with used everything and worked my way up from there.

 

[Tiny Bubbles]

After many years without having a tank, I was shocked at the prices of tanks these days when I decided I wanted to start up again. I did consider charging one and making payments, then I decided to find a used tank online instead. I do feel better about not going into debt to get started again in the hobby.

 

[Joe.D]

When I entered the hobby I made the decision to go with all new gear with a Red Sea Reefer 350. I’ll let you do the math, but it was thousands of $. Could I have paid for it outright, yes. But Amex had a 0% finance offer for 2 years. Sure, I’ll take the free financing.

Would I have taken out a loan or put it on a credit card and paid interest? No way.

 

[ghostandhyde]

I’ve financed something because I was to lazy to go upstairs and get my wallet

 

[RockRash]

I use credit cards to purchase most things for the points. I never carry a balance so why not get 3% back on what you buy.

 

[William Chiavetta]

I use credit cards to purchase most things for the points. I never carry a balance so why not get 3% back on what you buy.

What is your credit score?

 

[William Chiavetta]

I use credit cards to purchase most things for the points. I never carry a balance so why not get 3% back on what you buy.

What is your credit score?

 

[NTLA]

Reading this thread back I am seeing that a lot of people are saying the finance with a credit card for a month or less and then pay it off before they pay interest. I wouldn’t really consider this financing (like affirm or a personal term loan). However this is what I do and it works with me. I would caution on playing the points game if you can’t pay off your card every month. Carrying a balance will negate all the cash back benefits of a card really quickly.

 

[William Chiavetta]

Reading this thread back I am seeing that a lot of people are saying the finance with a credit card for a month or less and then pay it off before they pay interest. I wouldn’t really consider this financing (like affirm or a personal term loan). However this is what I do and it works with me. I would caution on playing the points game if you can’t pay off your card every month. Carrying a balance will negate all the cash back benefits of a card really quickly.

If you miss that bill ur screwed!

 

[PeterErc]

I never financed anything on aquarium stuff.

I did take out a 2nd mortgage on the house, to pay for the electric, water, phone, car/homeowners insurance, gas, groceries and wife tax.

I have a really nice tank, sure am glad i was able to pay cash for it

 

[Devaji]

I financed nearly 10k in a tank upgrade. Tank, stand, sump, equipment, everything. I opened a 15mo interest free CC, and paid it off early. Didn't pay a dime in interest.

Only if it is 0 APR would I consider it. Then you can still make interest on that money in your bank or invest or whatever instead of paying the lump sum immediately.

Otherwise,

I am not paying interest on a what is a luxury hobby.

I could have paid everything in cash

But I was offered a buy now pay later arrangement for $6,000 over 18 months & 0% interest

If it's 0% interest, I take advantage, and reinvest

Only if it's a 0% apr

 

[Age3ntAar0n]

Not necessarily financing, but we make every single purchase with one of two credit cards (either AMEX cash back or American Airlines). Both cards are paid off at the end of the month, while our cash sits in a high yield savings account.

If you are pulling out a loan to fund a hobby, then you cannot really afford your hobby.

 

[Reefer Brent]

We use 0 percent cards as a budgeting tool. We typically put anything thats not a repair or necessity over $1500 on a 0 percent of some sort. (Sometimes I just pay for it cause I don't want a monthly payment that big) We tell ourselves we can't make another purchase of this sort till that one is paid off, and we don't pay it off more than a month or two early so we are extending the savings periods. It's something to look forward to and feel good about paying off and limiting myself at the same time. Currently my OLED tv is keeping me from upgrading my aquarium lol.

 

[LPS Bum]

Nope. My rule is if I can’t pay for it immediately, I’ll wait until I can. No reason to pay an interest penalty for a hobby.

Saved for my Gen 2 Reefer 625 Deluxe for a couple of years before I bought it. Tough to wait, but well worth it.

 

[mch1984]

No, but I refuse to finance hobbies (especially aquaria), something about NEVER seeing a decent financial return from it.

I hustle a little harder when it's more than the available bankroll, build up additional reserves and buy cash, be done with it.

This is why I need to find a good side hustle