On 9/18/06, Cotty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 18/9/06, Charles Robinson, discombobulated, unleashed: > > >"Charles, we really have a lot of other things that we need to spend > >money on, and you have a perfectly good camera..." > > > >:-( > > > >Looks like my "save up the moonlighting money for a K10D" plan just > >got shot full of holes. I'm bummed. Even though I know she's right. > > !! > > You gonna let her tell you what's what ?? > > You gonna let her wear the trousers ?? > > You gonna let her have the final say ?? > > Sure you are. > > But the key trick here is, confusion. Works a treat. > > Use dummy equipment and decoys to your advantage. Build up a collection > of tat and old junk so she doesn't know what's coming or going. Then > when the coast is clear, pounce. Go into covert operational mode. > Delivery to work address only. Substitute items that look like each > other. Stifle hysteria over new acquisitions until late at night with vodka. > > I've got so much stuff in and out that she can't tell what's coming or > going. It's like a sleight of hand, only bigger. > > Values - nothing is as advertised. (Converted to US dollars for clarity) > so anything around 50 bucks comes in at 25 or 30. This builds in room > for human error which we all have to take into account. It's not lying - > it's like traffic cops allow 10% on your speedo for error. It's just > 'write-off' ergonomics. 500 bucks comes in at 'Oh a couple a hundred or > so'. Once you get over a thousand, it gets more tricky, but can be done > with some creative accounting. Always deduct any local taxes, postage, > insurance, anything like that. Then of course there's the profit margin > the manufacturer makes, that's got to come off. Before you know it, a > $1200 camera can come in at "gee, WAY under a grand, honey", and sound > very palatable. > > Creativity with numbers. It helps if you cross your fingers behind your > back as well. > > Good luck Mr Phelps. >
Cotty's on the right track, but we need to expand a bit on his logic. Buy stuff you'll never use. Heck, even buy stuff you don't want. Hold on to it for a while and then sell it. Let's say you buy an MX with a wonky meter for $50. As far as your wife is concerned, you only paid $30. Keep it for a month or two and then offer it to eekbay. If you can sell it for $50, you've just turned a $20 profit! Even if you can only get $30 for it you broke even. ;) And if your wife ever complains about too many perfectly good cameras, you can always say "But honey, I sold that MX a while back...." Now, as far as that moonlighting money goes. Hide it. Not necessarily all of it, but at least some of it. Twenty bucks here and there is small enough to not be noticed. And then when you do spend it on a new K10D, chances are your wife won't even notice. If she does, well, that's where Cotty's advice comes in. Somebody on the list, I think it was either Cotty or Amita, introduced us to the concept of MAD (mutually assured destruction). My wife and I are experts. Here's how it works: Any time your wife purchases something that's not necessary (shoes, purses, a new cam for her mustang, whatever she's into) make a note. When the time comes to get your new camera, and she thinks you shouldn't, and all your other aces have been trumped, remind her of every last dime she's spent. Works every time. (And it works both ways, so don't use it too often.) You should have a new K10D within 6 months, tops. I hope you enjoy it. -- Scott Loveless http://www.twosixteen.com Shoot more film! -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
