Probably not
Not really an impulse buy but ever since they came out I’d wanted an iPhone. A friend of mine had one and let me look at for a bit from a minimum safe distance but I wanted my own. For the last few years I’ve been throwing 5p, 10p and 20p coins into a jar, bagging them up every few months and saving the money. This was to be my iPhone fund.

One day, at work, I was a bit bored and thought to myself: “Hallo, I’m going to buy an iPhone today!”, even though I didn’t have all the cash saved up; I just wanted one! So I went home for lunch, took saved up change to the bank (about 70 quid) then went over to the O2 shop. Half an hour later I was the proud owner of a lovely shiny lovely iPhone!

I class it as an impulse buy because I spent the next few days trying to justify having one. £35 a month was probably a bit steep, the phone itself was £150, did I really need one?

Yes. Yes I did. I love my iPhone. I know I’m an Apple Whore (I have a Mac Pro, Cinema Display, ultra-thin aluminium keyboard and an iPod too) but I don’t care: it’s lovely and shiny and lovely! I could never go back to using a ‘normal’ phone again!

A few weeks ago EON paid £300 back into my account from overpaid direct debits. Should I use this to help contribute to clearing overdrafts and credit cards, or should I buy camera gear?

I put the money towards a better Canon lens (17-85mm USM lens), along with a battery grip and a bunch of Cokin filters for my humble 350D. I was saving up for a 40D but the new toys on my little 350 make it look like a man’s camera now!

So I guess have all the shiny things I want/need. I’m saving up for furniture now...

Length? About 18 months in 20 pees.
(Ghostlight, Fri 22 May 2009, 11:38, Reply)