Trent — I would love to hear your thoughts on frugality and discouragement. This past week, I have felt like everything I try to do frugally just backfires. I hung my sheets over the shower rod instead of putting them in the dryer — and it turns out the top of the shower rod was dirty. I bought generic razor blade refills after making sure they would fit my razor — but I was wrong and they don’t. I chose not to buy monthly parking in my office building for $80, promising myself that I would get to work early enough to get a free parking spot — and then I was running late for work one day, parked at a meter, completely forgot about it, and ended up with TWO $40 parking tickets!

Honestly, it just makes me feel stupid and depressed — it makes me feel like it’s not worth it to try to be frugal because I’m just going to screw it up. Do you ever deal with this kind of discouragement? And how do you overcome it?

I had never been very good at math or science, but just to prove I could handle anything I put my mind to, I signed up for Calculus and Organic Chemistry in the same semester, just for “fun.” I have never worked so hard at anything in my life since, but out of sheer determination I ended up with a B in both courses.

It almost killed me, but I think back on that as a great semester. No practical application, but just putting your mind through mental “boot camp” can give you confidence for all kinds of tasks. I am a teacher now, and when I face piles of papers to grade, I always tell myself, “Relax, you can handle this. Remember you’ve taken calculus and organic chemistry. You can do anything.”

Just to add on, no one will care if you’re a CS grad with no experience at age 22 or 30, and minor league baseball should provide some great stories to fill the gap. If you do stick it out a few years and decide to fall back on the degree, I’d suggest getting a cert or contributing to an open source project before you start interviewing – just to show you have an interest in the continuous learning a CS job requires. Good luck!

The question you have posed here is actually best posed to your private teacher. S/he knows your abilities and goals better than anyone besides you, and can help you make an educated decision. Beyond that, your teacher should have strong connections to people who sell high quality used instruments and can help you get the best quality for the best price.

That said, if you are dedicated to your practice, there is no reason to buy an inferior instrument. Quality instruments have great resale value. If you’re interested in buying a used instrument from a private seller (i.e. ebay, Craigslist…), have your teacher and other experienced cellists try the instrument before you buy it.

I am a bassoonist, and my instrument was possibly the most important purchase I’ve ever made. You spend so much time with your instrument. It can build your career or help you along spiritually. A quality instrument means the difference between hours of frustration in the practice room and hours of growth. It is an investment that is worth your time in research and there are so many more factors to consider than the immediate cost.

I would take that oportunity- most people don’t get something like that. Unless, as someone else pointed out, you are looking for an excuse to get out of the sport.

So…

1) Find out about their trade-up policy. Some stores will buy back your old instrument when you buy a new one. If your store does this, I’d take less issue with buying the starter.
2) As Sandy (comment 17) said, be sure to play several cellos at several price ranges first before deciding.

Another point to consider budget-wise: does the cello you buy come with a case, bow, strings, rosin, etc. that come with the instrument? Does this differ from what you were renting? And are these quality items?

If you don’t try the baseball gig then you might look back the rest of your life wondering what could have been.

So my automotive tip for the day would be to get the brake pads done regularly even though you can’t afford $100 to $200. You won’t be able to afford $700 two or 3 months from now either but you won’t have a choice!

I’ve noticed that so much of your PF advice is not about what to do with your money but what to do with your life. And I’ve noticed that I’ve really started to internalize that sort of advice. I think that puts you a cut above the other PF bloggers out there. So I just wanted to say thank you.

I agree paper checks need to go, but there also need to be a better system for transferring money between individuals. Possibly an ETF between cell phones- I’ve read articles where cell phone minutes are used as currency in some countries where there currency is untrusted.

I’m sure the frugality trend won’t last- no trends do… still at least it isn’t a harmful trend.

If the savings rates include retirees then they will definitely go to zero in a few years even if people remain frugal as more baby boomers will retire.

I hope we see some security improvements: Why is it still so easy for identity thieves to open accounts in other people’s names? Why isn’t there at least a hidden PIN# to use credit cards?

Here is something pretty different: How about peer-to-peer credit cards? Instead of borrowing from a bank have a CC that links to a peer to peer site. Let the market decide rates instead of some bank, and let me loan money to the non-frugal for their CC balances :-).

-Rick Francis

There are a lot of good reasons to not play baseball – time away from family/spouse/children is a good one. But, to me, money is not a good reason to at least give it a shot for one year. I really think you’ll regret it as you get older if you don’t give it a shot now. I recommend you read Odd Man Out about a lefty relief pitcher from Yale who played one season in rookie ball and hung up his cleats for med school. I think its clear he has no regrets at all.

And if you are in Spring Training in Florida, Appy League or South Atlantic League ball I’ll likely run into you. Good luck!