Any and all advice welcomed ...

[Pixelated]

So I posted elsewhere here that I installed the newest OS on my 7-year-old Mac Mini ... and the Mac Mini is not a happy camper as a result.

Several people here have offered advice on how to reinstall an older OS. I read the advice. Three or four times. And I decided "Nope, not me ..." I went to a local Mac repair shop and they told me (1) it would effectively wipe the HD, and (2) it would cost $120.

A new Mac Mini will cost $600. Okay, that IS somewhat more than $120 but I want to look for online work (transcription, writing, etc.) and I need a reliable machine for that, and frankly I'd rather spend the money on a new computer.

I'm hoping to leave my retail job in the fall, and any online work would compensate for that lost income. But some of these sites (if not all) require you to "bid" for jobs, so it will take a while for me to become known. So the sooner I can start, the better.

My question, then: what's the best way to finance this? I could save up for it, although I have other things on my "To Do Now That I've Got a Job" list (first is my car ... without that, I'm toast. Then there's my cat, who needs dental work. I need dental work. And so on.) I was planning to work my way through that list slowly but surely.

Another way is via a payday loan company. I know there are true horror stories about those places, but I believe that here in Canada the laws are more restrictive on them. I've borrowed from one of 'em repeatedly over the past few years, and I've had no problems (partly because I didn't go nuts and borrow huge sums, no doubt). They've been telling me I could get an "instalment loan" with them, but until this issue with the computer came up, I saw no reason to 'borrow' any more than I needed to get me through a week (usually about $60).

The payday loan would help me get the computer now, and help me get started in applying for online work now. Saving up would postpone it, but would ensure that when I did buy the computer, I had no debt to pay off.

Thoughts?

[bloo]

I take it you don't have a low interest credit card? It seems like they used to give those away like candy but I nagged my son to apply for one when he was 18 to start building credit and he couldn't even get one from his bank. That he had money in, no less.
Last year, when he was 20, we added him to our car loan when we bought a car for me and lo and behold, he just got a credit card offer in the mail yesterday.
I've no experience with payday loans. What would be the cost over time with borrowing $600 from them? Have you talked to your bank about the possibility / cost of an unsecured loan?
If the company you work for is large enough, could they advance you the money with a plan to deduct small amounts over subsequent paychecks? That would likely be interest-free?
You sound careful about money. Borrowing from family/friends not an option for you? I wouldn't blame you, I LOATHE borrowing. I prefer having the money to pay for things because it seems like if I put something on a card that I buy and we'll pay off an unexpected expense seems to occur.

[Javarod]

Lets see, payday loan, very bad idea. They're terrible when you're in a bind, and even worse when you're not, don't go this route.

I suppose the big question is why a Mac?
Second would be is there any other financing options?

[Pixelated]

I take it you don't have a low interest credit card? It seems like they used to give those away like candy but I nagged my son to apply for one when he was 18 to start building credit and he couldn't even get one from his bank. That he had money in, no less.
Last year, when he was 20, we added him to our car loan when we bought a car for me and lo and behold, he just got a credit card offer in the mail yesterday.
I've no experience with payday loans. What would be the cost over time with borrowing $600 from them? Have you talked to your bank about the possibility / cost of an unsecured loan?
If the company you work for is large enough, could they advance you the money with a plan to deduct small amounts over subsequent paychecks? That would likely be interest-free?
You sound careful about money. Borrowing from family/friends not an option for you? I wouldn't blame you, I LOATHE borrowing. I prefer having the money to pay for things because it seems like if I put something on a card that I buy and we'll pay off an unexpected expense seems to occur.

No, I have no credit card. I have two that have gone to collection, so ... I'm pretty much persona non grata for that until those get paid off (balances aren't huge, thankfully, but it will take some time). Yeah, I remember when those were being handed out like candy too!

The payday loan company I've dealt with over the past couple of years says a $1,000 loan would cost $25 per week, and I'd end up paying a total of about $1,300 in the end. Not surprising, I do know the interest rates at these places are higher than credit cards -- but for people without a CC, these may be the only option.

I've heard horror stories about these places, but AFAIK laws governing them in Canada are fairly tough (not that you can't get yourself in trouble with them -- I can see how it can become a vicious cycle).

Bank will not help, because of the aforementioned collection issue. That's standard, so no surprises there. The 'company' I work for is a one-man office. There aren't even benefits attached to this job -- a loan is absolutely out of the question.

I am more careful about money than I used to be, but only because I've seen, up close and personal, the results of NOT being careful. I didn't handle money well in my younger years, and the results are now on my head.

Lets see, payday loan, very bad idea. They're terrible when you're in a bind, and even worse when you're not, don't go this route.

I suppose the big question is why a Mac?
Second would be is there any other financing options?

Love your avatar!

Why a Mac? Only because that's what I've always had. I worked for a very short time on PCs (in a bank) and then, for a decade, on Macs in journalism. I'm familiar with them, and they are, generally, idiot-proof. They are also largely untouched by malware, only because there aren't enough of them out there to make it worthwhile for the people who write malware and viruses to bother with them.

As I mentioned earlier, I've dealt with a local payday loan company over the past couple of years. I've not gotten myself into trouble mainly because they say "Oh, you qualify for $240 now!" and I say, "Thanks, but I just want the minimum - $60 - to get me through until the next paycheque." But yes, I can definitely see how someone could get into a really vicious cycle with these places.

There are not really any other borrowing options. I could save up, but again, that would mean a delay in my getting started on any internet work. I'd like to apply (and hopefully get started) ASAP, partly because I hope to get out of retail in the next few months.

I've written to several sites that offer jobs such as transcription and asked if Macs are useable for their purpose. If not, then for sure I'll go in another direction.

[Javarod]

Love your avatar!

Thanks.

Why a Mac? Only because that's what I've always had. I worked for a very short time on PCs (in a bank) and then, for a decade, on Macs in journalism. I'm familiar with them, and they are, generally, idiot-proof. They are also largely untouched by malware, only because there aren't enough of them out there to make it worthwhile for the people who write malware and viruses to bother with them.

Tell me about it, that's about all I used for more than a decade. Unfortunately my iMac died (needs a hard drive, removal is a 20 step process). When that happened I dusted off an old laptop and put Linux on it. Since then I've bought two computers, a laptop for a whopping $149, and a micro sized desktop (Lenovo ThinkCenter M700 Tiny) for about $379 and put Linux on both. For basic web use (email, surfing, Netflix, Youtube and so on) they work great even though neither are exactly high spec.

As I mentioned earlier, I've dealt with a local payday loan company over the past couple of years. I've not gotten myself into trouble mainly because they say "Oh, you qualify for $240 now!" and I say, "Thanks, but I just want the minimum - $60 - to get me through until the next paycheque." But yes, I can definitely see how someone could get into a really vicious cycle with these places.

Problem is the interest rate, on something like a $600 purchase, you'll prolly wind up paying back that much in interest. Have you considered seeing if a pawn shop has anything decent?

[Pixelated]

Tell me about it, that's about all I used for more than a decade. Unfortunately my iMac died (needs a hard drive, removal is a 20 step process). When that happened I dusted off an old laptop and put Linux on it. Since then I've bought two computers, a laptop for a whopping $149, and a micro sized desktop (Lenovo ThinkCenter M700 Tiny) for about $379 and put Linux on both. For basic web use (email, surfing, Netflix, Youtube and so on) they work great even though neither are exactly high spec.

Problem is the interest rate, on something like a $600 purchase, you'll prolly wind up paying back that much in interest. Have you considered seeing if a pawn shop has anything decent?

The payday loan place I've used over the past couple of years said a $1,000 loan would cost me just under $1,400 all told. Not great, no, but it's not too bad.

Never thought of a pawn shop, but ... do they normally have tech specialists? If I were buying a computer for my own entertainment, I'd be fine with that, but since I'm hoping to use this to work, I don't want to risk spending money -- even a comparatively smaller amount -- for what turns out to be a flawed product.

[Javarod]

The payday loan place I've used over the past couple of years said a $1,000 loan would cost me just under $1,400 all told. Not great, no, but it's not too bad.

Never thought of a pawn shop, but ... do they normally have tech specialists? If I were buying a computer for my own entertainment, I'd be fine with that, but since I'm hoping to use this to work, I don't want to risk spending money -- even a comparatively smaller amount -- for what turns out to be a flawed product.

Not too bad, interest down here is usually worse than that. The only thing a pawn shop is good for is giving you the oppurtunity to get a computer cheap, albeit used.,

[Pixelated]

Not too bad, interest down here is usually worse than that. The only thing a pawn shop is good for is giving you the oppurtunity to get a computer cheap, albeit used.,

I think the laws up here are more stringent when it comes to payday loan places. I know "mine" has a huge sign on the wall clearly showing the difference between a loan there and on a CC.

I'm sure our city is big enough for some pawnshops. I should give them a look.

[Slayer]

Have you checked what your local electronics shops offer? Some here have interest-free monthly payment arrangements.

[BlaqueKatt]

They are also largely untouched by malware, only because there aren't enough of them out there to make it worthwhile for the people who write malware and viruses to bother with them.

That is no longer true, especially since people are over confident they "don't need antivirus/antimalware" Kaspersky stats

security through obscurity is. a. prevalent. myth.

[Pixelated]

Have you checked what your local electronics shops offer? Some here have interest-free monthly payment arrangements.

No. I'll look into that. Thanks for the suggestion.

That is no longer true, especially since people are over confident they "don't need antivirus/antimalware" Kaspersky stats

security through obscurity is. a. prevalent. myth.

Hmm ... I have to admit I have never, ever updated my security on any of the Macs I've ever owned -- nor have I ever had a problem with malware or viruses. But I am aware that there are viruses and malware out there that can affect Macs. Obviously if I'm going to work online, I'm going to have to reconsider that laissez-faire attitude. Up until now, my Macs have largely been big toys ("Time to play Farmville!" ).

[Javarod]

That is no longer true, especially since people are over confident they "don't need antivirus/antimalware" Kaspersky stats

security through obscurity is. a. prevalent. myth.

Its never been entirely true, but with a bit of common sense, its been true enough that avoiding trouble is easy.