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bendandsnack profile picture

bendandsnack

Account Exec

Politicker
Arsonist
Executive
+8

What did you buy with your first big commission check

About to get my first decent sized commission check!!!


I want to buy myself a diamond bracelet, but also have the opp to buy my first car for $3500(I live in a big city & don't need one)...thoughts??


Additional context based on comments - the car is my brothers so I know how it's been taken care of/it's issues, only even considering buying a car bc it's cheap, he's just charging me what the dealer would give him.


Should be in the $90k-$100k range gross pending how much ops fucks up the math, technically could do both but I don't want to get in the habit of blowing my commission.

🧠 Advice
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🥫 Consumer Goods
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37 comments

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Pachacuti
Politicker
10
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
A $3500 car is someone else’s problem don’t make it your problem.

If the bracelet makes you happy, go for it.
braintank
Politicker
5
Enterprise Account Executive
What kind of car can you get for $3,500?!
My first check of that size I bought a plasma tv. Back in the day they were several grand. I'm old...
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Yeah, I think for a car that costs $3,500, my concern about maintenance takes on more significance. I wouldn’t do it. Especially since she said she didn’t need it.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
5
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
I used it for the down payment for my apt in NYC. Moving from finance to sales, it was just timing.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
A car will have costs that go beyond the initial purchase, particularly in a big city, as I'm sure you're aware.
Nothing wrong with getting yourself something that you want. If that bracelet is speaking to you, then you could treat yourself. It can be a good reminder of your success and a motivator moving forward.
Congratulations on getting a nice check!
braintank
Politicker
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Don't buy a car if you don't need it.
I lived in NYC for a bit and had a car and it sucked. Always worrying about parking.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
And the cost! Insurance. Maintenance. Parking. Even when you aren’t using it, you have to pay all those things. Not worth it if you don’t need it.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
4
War Room Community Manager
This might not sound mathematically correct, but a
$3500 Bracelet > $3500 Car

More importantly, congrats on your first big commish check!
sketchysales
Politicker
4
Sales Manager
Put it into savings or a downpayment on a house or paying off any debts you have.

Bracelet makes you feel good today, savings/downpayment/no debt makes you feel good tomorrow.
In fact im going to go on one here, i dont get people who buy shit over paying off debts. Pay off your debt fast and you will have disposable income in a few years that means you can buy a bracelet even when you dont have a big commission cheque.
Girldad4
Good Citizen
0
senior AE (Account Executive)
100% on this. We paid off my wife’s student loans and our family car with commission checks. Not the most glamorous, but the only debt we have now is my car (which my company currently reimbursed most of) and our mortgage.

Another option is to max out your 401k early. I’m top heavy, contribute 38.5% of my paycheck to my 401k so it’s maxed out by my first commission check typically.

Not to say I haven’t also splurged (bought a golf simulator and created a golf sim room in garage), but that comes later down the road IMO.
Caleb1010
Personal Narrative
3
Affiliate Broker
Congrats! Bought myself a nice watch with my check. Still wear it everyday and love it.
I'd go with the bracelet imo if the car isn't necessary.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
If you don't need it, don't get it. go for the bracelet, at least it will give you something to show off.
alonzoharris
Politicker
2
Partner Manager
Trip for me and my wife (then girlfriend) to Negril 🇯🇲
Maximas
Tycoon
2
Senior Sales Executive
It won't buy you a car, try something else you would actually need.I would probably buy some electronics and/or even pets if I were you:)Check also if your home still requires any missing equipment you may use!!
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
I bought a car with cash for the first time in my life…..it was a bit more than $3,500 😂
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
First commission check was too small so just had a nice party with my spouse.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Of course the irony is that I did buy a car with the check I got when our company was acquired. My first new car ever! However, I live in the burbs and replaced a car I already had. I still have that car, though I’ve passed it on to my daughter to use. Well over 200K miles on it! <br><br>If I were you, I’d treat myself to that nice bracelet and indulge. :)
Justatitle
Big Shot
2
Account Executive
Central air for my house
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
2
Account Executive
Paid some debt and put the rest into savings. Also, you'll be spending $3,500 + to maintain it with insurance, registration, smog checks, etc.
At least a bracelet isn't a depreciating asset(By much at least), but if you really need/want it, go for it.
ZVRK
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Opel Astra H 2005 :D
GDO
Politicker
1
BDM
buy the bracelet and wear it when you're working to motivate you. Or buy some dividend stocks. si what I did with my first commish
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
1
Burn Towns, Get Money
I put a downpayment on my first house with my first big-ass check.
Used subsequent big-ass check to pay off the mortgage.
But, if you're in a situation where that would tie you down too much, invest most and splurge something like 10% of it.
J.J.McLure
Politicker
1
Owner at *redacted*
I got myself a watch. I wanted to have something that I could still look at in 20 years and remember that part of my life. I’d say go for the more permanent choice so it has meaning to you.
coletrain
Politicker
1
Account Executive
If you don't need a car and don't go to the burbs often: don't get the car, it'll be more of a burden and regret for you.Seems he'll be alright with selling it to the dealer.
My thoughts? Retirement fund then down payment. Also I'd take a trip somewhere warm, being in Chicago at this time of year wears on me.
Nairobi
Politicker
1
AE
Wow, that's going to be a nice check, congrats! My biggest check was only 12k and I planned a nice trip with it
cap
Opinionated
1
Enterprise Sales
International biz class seats
emerge.life
Valued Contributor
1
Field Sales Development Executive
I bought myself some shoes and saved the rest... Boring, right?
countingmyinterest
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I would put it for a down payment on a house tbh.
1
VP
Bought every owners dream, a Hatteras sportfisher to dump even more money into to form a dependency on big commission checks.
detectivegibbles
Politicker
1
Sales Director
Paid off some stupid debt and built the foundation for investment portfolios.
1
Director of Sales
Trip to Disney for the family.
Mendizo
Opinionated
1
Sr. Director
Assets before liabilities.
My first aggregate commission check was six figures, which was a crazy amount for me. While we celebrated with a nice dinner, the biggest thing was topping off the emergency fund and having no debt (over a couple of years we paid off the house).
That was 10 years ago, and I can't tell you how nice it is to have zero debt and literally no worries on the financial side. Even if everything goes to shit, we could survive for decades on what we have.
Assets before liabilities.
YoureMuted
Executive
0
Regional Sales Director
This. All day.
gator5o
Fire Starter
0
Senior Account Executive
Bank it. Build up a cash reserve for the day you say I quit and can carry yourself till you find something new. Once you hit that "reserve" number then go buy a bracelet. I know kind of boring advice. Sorry.

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