Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

ok..judge away, need some outside opinions!

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
rainbowtrout

rainbowtrout

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Messages
2,105
I want some pearls, been wanting them for awhile. I want these:

http://www.americanpearl.com/75x8mmbarcul.html in medium cream with silver overtones.


Now, I am not rich. Let''s be honest, here''s the deal:

30k in student loans, no cc debt (in deferral until 2013)
about 3k in bank, 2k in CD, 5-ish in trust fund for when I am 25.
I still owe FI 300.00 for ering, and I bought 400.00 wedding band at beginning of summer.

I was going to buy myself a 200 dollar ring as a reward for being extra good with saving money from my job at the end of the summer. THen they sold the ring. Then they marked up the earrings I thought I might get instead... And my mother said she would get me diamond studs (that fell through).

I could justify the pearls as wedding jewelry. But my wedding is June 2008, and in the medium cream they might not match a diamond white wedding dress. Besides, my grandmother left me her diamond rings when she passed.

Honest opinion: is is really fricking stupid to buy these? I''m leaning that way after writing this down!
 
okay here''s a Q. why do you need them RIGHT NOW?

i have a wish list of stuff for baubles, some of which is only $400-500 which isn''t much but if there are other $$ priorities or debt or stuff, that gets paid off first. i would definitely hold off on the pearls or anything else for yourself til you pay back the other smaller debts (300/400) you have and can purchase the pearls with cash you feel good about! good luck..
 
the 400 is paid :-P

but you are so right...I don''t need them RIGHT NOW! THis helps to think of it that way. I was thinking I could wait until my acct interest earns me the cost of them..that would be neat.
 
I agree with Mara. I also want to add that if you have to think twice about a purchase, or if you have to think really hard, then it means that it may not be the best time to buy. Try thinking this way: the necklace, or some form of it, will still be available for purchase years later, when you can easily afford it. Would you still want to be in debt years later for a piece of jewelry?
 
By June 2008, your taste in jewellery probably will have changed....no point in getting into more debt for something you won''t use for two years!
 
just to clarify--I wouldn''t be getting into more debt. I have the cash to buy them...I just don''t think I should spend it.
 
Date: 7/27/2006 12:57:18 AM
Author: rainbowtrout
just to clarify--I wouldn''t be getting into more debt. I have the cash to buy them...I just don''t think I should spend it.
Click to expand...
Okay, but I still think your taste may change between now and then!
2.gif
 
also a good point! Besides it will have to match the dress, and I have NO IDEA what that will be.
 
Date: 7/27/2006 12:47:50 AM
Author:rainbowtrout
I want some pearls, been wanting them for awhile. I want these:

http://www.americanpearl.com/75x8mmbarcul.html in medium cream with silver overtones.


Now, I am not rich. Let''s be honest, here''s the deal:

30k in student loans, no cc debt (in deferral until 2013)
about 3k in bank, 2k in CD, 5-ish in trust fund for when I am 25.
I still owe FI 300.00 for ering, and I bought 400.00 wedding band at beginning of summer.

I was going to buy myself a 200 dollar ring as a reward for being extra good with saving money from my job at the end of the summer. THen they sold the ring. Then they marked up the earrings I thought I might get instead... And my mother said she would get me diamond studs (that fell through).

I could justify the pearls as wedding jewelry. But my wedding is June 2008, and in the medium cream they might not match a diamond white wedding dress. Besides, my grandmother left me her diamond rings when she passed.

Honest opinion: is is really fricking stupid to buy these? I''m leaning that way after writing this down!
Click to expand...
since you want an honest statement and were so blunt yourself:

well, i don''t know that i''d call it fricking stupid but i''d call it financially silly and not a good way to start a marriage by being more in debt for a piece of jewelry you already say you don''t know will go with a wedding dress that won''t be worn for another 2 years.

besides, in two years your taste can change! mine certainly has.

and that $200 reward you promised yourself: is that after you pay FI his $300 or after? personally, i''d clear up that ''loan'' before i bought any personal jewelry for myself.

movie zombie
 
Date: 7/27/2006 12:57:18 AM
Author: rainbowtrout
just to clarify--I wouldn''t be getting into more debt. I have the cash to buy them...I just don''t think I should spend it.
Click to expand...
I think you just answered your own Q right there!

I agree if you have to really think and think about whether you should buy something or spend the money, after a while you start to go HMMM why is this really such a question for me?? Probably because you shouldn''t be spending it at that time and inside you know it. I do this sometimes too.

I agree that if they will still be there in 6 months, then think about it...review your situation and if you want them still. I think pearls are definitely classic but I wouldn''t rush to buy them right now.
 
Uff people---last time. Not getting into debt. Wouldn''t BE getting into debt for jewelry...

MZ: His check is on the table at home, actually, but he is away for the week. It was supposed to be after, but when I started writing things down I think I may adjust my "award" to 25 or 45.

I''m liking the advice, but I''m just sayin''...no debt. It is helping me to read this though.
 
hey Rainbowtrout,

I don''t have an opinion on whether you buy the pearls really but as far as you saying there''s no debt... I think people are right in referring that you are ADDing to the debt when you shared that you still have

''30k in student loans...'' and ''still owe FI 300.00 for ering.'' You have $30,300.00 of debt from the sound of it. The prior posts are probably referring to that debt which you could detract from by putting the $200 towards that rather than the jewelry.

However, I do believe in treating oneself for having been good about saving (I''m def. an incentive based person) so perhaps the $25-45 award to self is good.
28.gif
 
rainbow - do you have TJ maxx nearby? they have those pearls or something similar for less than 50 us bucks.
 
Those are lovely, but they aren''t a "classic" strand of pearls so I would see them more as a splurge than an "investment piece". I''m also a bit put off by the spelling error in the description and the bad pun!
2.gif
I think it''s something that can wait, and who knows, maybe your FI could give them to you as a wedding present in ''08?!?

I inherited a more typical strand of round pearls from my grandmother and though I love them, I just don''t wear them very often. Unless you consider them daily jewelry, it may be more of a splurge than you really need to take on right now.

Oh, and I know this is a very unpopular opinion, but $30k in student loans is an investment debt, not a consumer debt... they tend to have very low interest rates and long pay schedules, so don''t let that weigh too heavily on your mind. It''s a good kind of debt. LadyKemma will, of course, disagree with me.
2.gif
 
NO- Dont buy them!
1.gif
 
Date: 7/27/2006 9:57:09 AM
Author: sumbride
Those are lovely, but they aren''t a ''classic'' strand of pearls so I would see them more as a splurge than an ''investment piece''. I''m also a bit put off by the spelling error in the description and the bad pun!
2.gif
I think it''s something that can wait, and who knows, maybe your FI could give them to you as a wedding present in ''08?!?

I inherited a more typical strand of round pearls from my grandmother and though I love them, I just don''t wear them very often. Unless you consider them daily jewelry, it may be more of a splurge than you really need to take on right now.

Oh, and I know this is a very unpopular opinion, but $30k in student loans is an investment debt, not a consumer debt... they tend to have very low interest rates and long pay schedules, so don''t let that weigh too heavily on your mind. It''s a good kind of debt. LadyKemma will, of course, disagree with me.
2.gif
Click to expand...
grin. actually i think she can have some poils. pearls get more beautiful the more they are worn and can be worn with jeans and t-shirt. i wear mine 3/4 of the year, but not in the hot sweaty summer, because i don''t want them to absorb sweat.

I own several strands. i encourage TJ maxx, because i found mikimoto quality japanese there, that were slightly damaged, not noticeably. they have the baroque too. freshwater too.

one thing i noticed that the pearls shown were different from the pearls at the bottom of the page. You don''t want the little beads as spacers - will go out of style quickly.
 
it ate my post!

Try 2:

Let''s see...going to try to re-create here

I looked at the American Pearl site bc they get rave reviews on PS....I will certainly look for a TJMAx. While I think the other reasons are great, my jewlery taste doesn''t change a lot--I still wear pieces I got when I was 10 and 11 for birthdays and such. I know, I''m boring.

I do think looking at it as "adding" to debt is a good idea. What I will do is this: I will put the 350 in my new and shiny 5% savings acct and in two ys it will have made me enough interest to cover the cost of the pearls if I still want them.

For now, here is what I am thinking for my "incentive"

1) pearl studs (can get for around 30-50)
2) a digital camera (this is what I SHOULD buy since I have no camera and leave for Morocco in a month)
3) some of the Bare Escentuals makeup (the 25.00 foundation)
4) some new lotion for my face--I''m all out-- and exfoliant (also a SHOULD)

I would wear them a lot (pearls) but earrings are more practical for now, I think.
 
style="WIDTH: 99%; HEIGHT: 158px">Date: 7/27/2006 10:08:12 AM
Author: ladykemma
grin. actually i think she can have some poils. pearls get more beautiful the more they are worn and can be worn with jeans and t-shirt. i wear mine 3/4 of the year, but not in the hot sweaty summer, because i don''t want them to absorb sweat.

I own several strands. i encourage TJ maxx, because i found mikimoto quality japanese there, that were slightly damaged, not noticeably. they have the baroque too. freshwater too.

one thing i noticed that the pearls shown were different from the pearls at the bottom of the page. You don''t want the little beads as spacers - will go out of style quickly.
Click to expand...
Hmm... now I''m thinking, buy a couple strands from TJ Maxx and get them restrung into a perfect strand!
37.gif


I noticed the differing strands too... the beads as spacers is definitely not a long-term look.

pearls definitely do get better with wearing. They like to absorb the oils from the body, but yeah, I always worry about my sweat as it tends to be rather acidic... I''ve actually bleached some t-shirts with my sweat! yuck!
 
has anyone tried the overstock.com ones?
 
Date: 7/27/2006 10:18:36 AM
Author: rainbowtrout
For now, here is what I am thinking for my ''incentive''

1) pearl studs (can get for around 30-50)
2) a digital camera (this is what I SHOULD buy since I have no camera and leave for Morocco in a month)
3) some of the Bare Escentuals makeup (the 25.00 foundation)
4) some new lotion for my face--I''m all out-- and exfoliant (also a SHOULD)

I would wear them a lot (pearls) but earrings are more practical for now, I think.
Click to expand...
from that list, I''d go with the camera! If you''re going to Morocco, it''s a must!
 
Date: 7/27/2006 1:03:34 AM
Author: Mara

Date: 7/27/2006 12:57:18 AM
Author: rainbowtrout
just to clarify--I wouldn''t be getting into more debt. I have the cash to buy them...I just don''t think I should spend it.
Click to expand...
I think you just answered your own Q right there!

I agree if you have to really think and think about whether you should buy something or spend the money, after a while you start to go HMMM why is this really such a question for me?? Probably because you shouldn''t be spending it at that time and inside you know it. I do this sometimes too.

I agree that if they will still be there in 6 months, then think about it...review your situation and if you want them still. I think pearls are definitely classic but I wouldn''t rush to buy them right now.
Click to expand...
This sounds like a good rule of thumb...I tend to obsess over purchases anyway, but if I notice "too much" obsessing it should be a warning.
 
overstock pearls are... blah.

from what i''ve heard, anyway.

there are other pearl vendors with good prices. www.purepearls.com ?
 
Date: 7/27/2006 10:20:18 AM
Author: rainbowtrout
has anyone tried the overstock.com ones?
Click to expand...

I have some black pearls from overstock and I LOVE them, but the clasp just broke, so I have to get them restrung
38.gif
but that''s ok because I actually wanted them a little shorter anyway.
36.gif
They aren''t "fine pearls" but since I''m not often around anybody who could actually tell the difference, I think they''re fabulous and they were definitely a bargain.
 
i wash my pearls with soapy hands and water after wearing and lay them flat to dry, becuase i SWEAT when i teach.

TJ maxx has some opera length baroque for $30. need to go back and get them

regarding overstock - you have to be able to judge the luster and orient of the pearls which can't be done on line. has to be in person.

i think poils look great with a jeans jacket or suede blazer. choker length
 
Date: 7/27/2006 10:24:00 AM
Author: ladykemma
regarding overstock - you have to be able to judge the luster and orient of the pearls which can''t be done on line. has to be in person.
Click to expand...
True, but they have an excellent return policy!
 
definitely the camera! and just to make yourself feel a bit special AND rewarded, a new lipstick or nail polish to celebrate your summer earnings.

movie zombie

ps i''ve found that the little reward of a splash of color seems to do wonders in the reward department for me. and its certainly less expensive than some of the alternatives you''ve cited.
 
This is the way I look at jewelry purchases right now. Is it something that I can get anytime or is it one of a kind? If it is something I can get anytime, I really just figure I can wait. I got my ruby ring because it was unique and I thought it was a good deal. Same with my tennis bracelet. If the deal is something you can''t get in the future, go for it. If it is an common item, wait until you are more certain.
 
another vote to putting your money towards a camera. The pearls will always be there (in some form or another) but to capture your vacation is a once in a lifetime event.
 
Hey Tacori:
Vacation-hee. Time of a lifetime, yes. Vacation--not so much :-) Truth be told, I'm a little scared of living in Africa for a whole year, but it will be a great experiance (and I'm getting paid, which is always nice)

MZ: That sounds like a good idea about the lipstick or nail polish. Maybe I'll get some with SPF in it as well, sunscreen is impossible to get there. Or, I think I might get some designated hand lotion--my nail ambition right now is to not bite them, but it's hard with no lotion in the house (yes, I know I should buy body lotion).

Oi..now I have to figure out how to deal with buying a camera. On the upside, I will have some "play money" there--which sadly I CANNOT save since no one will turn Dirhams into Dollars, and they pay you in Dirhams. If I want jewelry I'll get some of the traditional Berber crafts or the like.
 
stop!

before you buy (a digital) camera. inquire what electricity they have where you are going. you may need to buy one there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top