How can I get a MacBook by financing? If I am 18 and

[DBZmusicboy01]

My dad is the one who can only pay monthly. His credit is around 400 and I am pretty sure that's terrible so I don't know how I could get a MacBook by being paid monthly for 12 months. If my dad doesn't have good credit.

Thanks.

 

[Laco]

My dad is the one who can only pay monthly. His credit is around 400 and I am pretty sure that's terrible so I don't know how I could get a MacBook by being paid monthly for 12 months. If my dad doesn't have good credit.

Thanks.

No person should go into debt to purchase a Macbook. Unless it is absolutely vital to your work. Otherwise, if I was in your position I would continue to use the computer you already have.

 

[PDFierro]

No person should go into debt to purchase a Macbook. Unless it is absolutely vital to your work. Otherwise, if I was in your position I would continue to use the computer you already have.

Yup, exactly. OP, if you can't afford a Mac then don't get one. Simple as that.

 

[matasar]

Or get an inexpensive PC laptop. Seriously, please don't put your dad in debt to get you a laptop when it's overwhelmingly likely that a cheap or used PC will do what you need it to, even if it doesn't look as pretty.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

My laptop is 6 years old and I don't want a PC laptop because I tried windows 8 and it was a horrible experience. New laptops would be hard to downgrade. MacBooks battery last much longer and better built quality.

 

[Watabou]

I tried windows 8 and it was a horrible experience. New laptops would be hard to downgrade. MacBooks battery last much longer and better built quality.

No one is denying that. But if you want a Mac even though you know you can't afford it, is not cool to your Dad.

There are plenty of cheap PC laptops that are good. Or look at Chromebooks.

 

[pgiguere1]

I too would advise to reconsider if you really should get into debt to buy a MacBook.

But if you must, see this page: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/finance/instant_credit_page

There's an "Apply now" button, you can fill out your info (haven't tried myself) and then come back later and click "Check application status" to know if you're elligible.

 

[Nyy8]

My laptop is 6 years old and I don't want a PC laptop because I tried windows 8 and it was a horrible experience. New laptops would be hard to downgrade. MacBooks battery last much longer and better built quality.

If you can't afford something don't buy it?

Also, why not get a job yourself? Your 18, I'm pretty sure you can legally work and build up your own credit at this point in your life.

 

[Brittany246]

Get a job. Save up. Buy it without payments.

 

[Alexjones]

If you qualify, Most retail Apple stores sign you up right on the sales floor while you are making your purchase. Barclay's sometimes offer 18 month deferred interest. I never had an issue. Barclay's was always there to help make the purchase of a mac less painful to the wallet.

 

[Ccrew]

My laptop is 6 years old and I don't want a PC laptop because I tried windows 8 and it was a horrible experience. New laptops would be hard to downgrade. MacBooks battery last much longer and better built quality.

And buying one on credit with no means to pay for it other than your dad is how you end up with a 400 credit score.

And 400 is pretty much can't sign for a pack of gum territory.

 

[chetzar]

Get a job. Save up. Buy it without payments.

Agreed. The only way I would sign up for financing is if you have the money to buy it and want to use this card as a means to build credit.
My philosophy is (except for education) if you cannot afford to pay for it when you purchase it, you probably don't need it.

 

[luffytubby]

Everybody is different. I'm not going to be pretentious and claim to know what the OP needs and what he doesn't.


What I want to say, is about my experiencing with financing a purchase. The idea of financing is a good one if you really, in your heart of hearts, want to use that computer for a looong time. You said you had your PC for six years. Well, if you had your Mac for that long it would feel very old, while you would still pay it off.

Some stores (not Apple) allows you to finance at 0% or 1% interest rate over a period of years. You might be paying it off for 4-6 years. Be warned, that your computer is going to be old tech by then. You're really commiting yourself here. If you are okay with taking this responsibility then, I think you should go for it. My experience has been that most people regret paying off electronics like this after a couple of years. Several cycles and many updates, you will be giving a good portion of your income towards an old computer during the last few years. This of course depends on which one you get.
If you get the 2012 model, with about 5-10% less performance(for the 15-inch model) or the cheapest 2013, you can save off a lot of money that way.


Your dad is a reasonable human being who can say no to you if he does not want to lend you money. I personally think this might be a good life experience for you. paying off a laptop is not like paying of your college tuition or a house, but it will prepare you for that when that day comes. I believe in learning by doing. Its true that some people subcum to debt and never recover. their whole lives they try to recover and they are just stuck because they took loans with terrible interest rates then could never pay off. Good luck!

 

[zI INFINITY Iz]

Probably not what you want to hear, but my advice is similar to what others have said. I myself am an ID student (3rd year out of 4), so I don't have the time to make a lot of money on the side. I did save up for about 80% of a high end Haswell 15" rMBP. Of course I bought one anyway, with the idea of paying back that last 20% to the "person" that helped me mom

I had 1,5 month to decide (extended refund period), but after 2 weeks I already knew it: I returned it. The first months of 2014 are going to be a bit unstable/unsure for my girlfriend from a financial point of view, so the need to be prepared to support her, us, was higher then having this product I'm so passionate about. Another thing was the fact that I put myself under stress, financially. I could manage getting around, but it would be tight considering the fact I spend most of my money on such an expensive product.

And in the end, I can manage at least another year without a super powerful 15" rMBP. Of course it would be much nicer to have such a MacBook, but you got to get your priorities straight in life. I know it's VERY hard to do this at the age of 18, I made some stupid decisions myself back then. But try to think clear, ask yourself questions like: do you REALLY need it? Can you delay your purchase? Is that MacBook really going to be worth so much money? What will the actual difference be between what you have now and that expensive MacBook? Are you willing to pay that much money for the difference?

Good luck!

PS: like somebody else said, either way, you might learn important lessons from whatever you will end up doing.

 

[iDutchman]

Going in debt for a computer? That's insane.
Like others have said, if you can't afford it, don't (attempt) to buy it.

Here in the Netherlands (or Europe), it's very uncommon that people try to finance 'little' purchases like that. That's also why a majority of the population still does not have a creditcard. No credit card, no debt.

Save up some money and then go for it when you actually earned it.

 

[luffytubby]

Visa Electron is a great card, because you cant overcharge on it. Then nothing to worry about. Only thing that sucks is that it doesnt have a chip, but it works in 90% of physical stores and almost everywhere online.

 

[greygray]

Buy what you can afford and spend within your means. A Mac is undoubtedly nice, but you might have to settle for something less with a lower budget.

 

[TheSpeed]

OP I suggest getting last years model from gumtree or ebay/craigslist etc.

I just got a replacement MBA from Apple which I sold for 1300 (Was the top end Air)
I could've purchased the top end haswell rMBP for 1700 but I thought it wasn't really worth it. I'm a student at uni, do I really need the top end Haswell?

Anyhow I was stumbling across gumtree when I found a sealed 13 rMBP haswell 2.6/8/256 for £700. This was almost 500 off the rrp. I quickly snapped it up.

Moral of the story is is that if you take your time and look around you can find amazing deals. I just got my brother a 2012 Top end 13 Air for £500. People upgrade every year and are willing to seperate from their macs for insane prices.

If you're in the UK I can help you look around for deals and even contribute a small amount to your mac, I too am a student so don't expect a lot haha. PM me if needed.

Good luck.

 

[Buck987]

Get a job. Save up. Buy it without payments.

This is the right way to do it. Period.

 

[saturnotaku]

Everybody is different. I'm not going to be pretentious and claim to know what the OP needs and what he doesn't.

There's nothing pretentious about trying to give the OP a life lesson about living within one's means.

 

[john123]

There's nothing pretentious about trying to give the OP a life lesson about living within one's means.

It's not pretentious, but it is arrogant, sanctimonious, and preachy—even if it is also "correct." The guy asked how to do something, not whether or not he should do it...and yet the vast majority of responses skipped over his question and elected to answer (without being asked) the latter question. That's kind of annoying.

 

[saturnotaku]

It's not pretentious, but it is arrogant, sanctimonious, and preachy—even if it is also "correct." The guy asked how to do something, not whether or not he should do it...and yet the vast majority of responses skipped over his question and elected to answer (without being asked) the latter question. That's kind of annoying.

Irony preserved for posterity.

 

[luffytubby]

There's nothing pretentious about trying to give the OP a life lesson about living within one's means.

Of course it is. When you have so little information you cannot possible make such a judgement call about someones means or capabilities, but goes ahead and assumes all sorts of crap about them. That is being a snob. You take a little part of someone and then you extend that belief to the rest of him. He mentioned his father had a bad credit rating, and then immediately all of the replies were literally about people who were better knowing than him, and they all had to give him lessons.

Again. Nothing wrong with highlighting your own questions to the OP. But ask more into the matter, before you assume. My experience is that rarely do people want advice if they have not asked for it. And rarely do they listen to it, if you sham it down their faces anyway.
I have a bad habit of doing it myself sometimes - Being better knowing than others, but it is something I try working on.

 

[john123]

Irony preserved for posterity.

I applaud you for your effort, but I think you're confusing a bunch of things. When I come over the top on someone, it's because of one of a number of things, such as:

• they are ignoring facts
• they've mis-applied reason or logic
• they have an axe to grind
• they've developed a belief or theory and then manipulated the evidence to fit it rather than the other way around,

If someone asks a question, I answer it. If I feel so compelled to point out something else, I do that too but only at the end and after answering the question.

Unfortunately, that is not what happened in this thread. While I don't disagree with the advice (I've never had a single penny of real "debt" in my life), I do disagree with the snotty delivery, the implication that the OP was trying to screw his dad, etc. Had the OP made a snotty comment himself, I would probably say "game on" with the lecture, but he didn't. It simply wasn't warranted in this case.

 

[jahall05]

In order for you to get credit, you would have to at least have a job with a high enough pay...What high enough to Barclays is up to them.

A credit score of 400 isn't going to be enough most likely. You can't even get a student loan from a bank without at least a 650 in most cases.

I would save and then get it or spend less on a PC or find a cheap enough refurbished or used Mac.