Thursday, February 24, 2011

What Would You Spend Your Advance On?

See this silver beauty of a necklace? Well, it's mine! I'm not the only one in the world that has one, mind you, but it was the one thing I promised I'd get myself if and when I ever got published. I wear it everywhere I go--everywhere. I'm not your typical jewelry girl. I like funky stuff and this little rocket just sang to me. Symbolic, you ask? Maybe, but it just screamed me. I didn't want anything else, not even a fancy dinner.

I told my husband about it when he asked me what I'd want to get with my first advance (the part that wasn't going to pay bills!) and I told him this was all I wanted. I showed him the picture of it on-line, getting onto the website of the store in NZ, because it was no longer available in the states. From what I recall only 2 stores sold it in the whole country to begin with (yes, that's how long I stalked this necklace)! And of course, my husband, being the super cool guy that is, ordered it for me the minute I sold my first book! He must have really been paying attention too, because my husband and the internet don't play nice together. :)

So, I guess I'd like to know, what would you get? Something super extravagant or a nice little keepsake like I got? Would you pay down bills? Start a college fund? Eat lobster and caviar in bed? Go on vacation to Aruba? Blow it in Vegas?

What would be the one thing you'd spoil yourself with?

xoxo -- Hilary

25 comments:

  1. Most will pay bills. But there will be some kind of family vacation to Disneyworld. Be it just a day, or a week. I have been dreaming of the day I can take my girls there... when I can go myself. :)

    If it's an extravagant bonus?? Well, then it's Disney in Paris... :)

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  2. Oh, sounds nice! For me, it would be Tokyo Disney!!!!!

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  3. I'd split it in three-

    1: bills
    2: invest back into writing business for marketing, travel, conferences
    3: blow the rest on the family with a vacation

    Love the necklace!

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  4. Your husband is so sweet--it's a great necklace! I'd pay off my husband's car, go to some writing conferences (like Leaky Con!), buy my daughter the complete works of Barbara Cooney, and put the rest in savings (we're trying to save up for a house). I'd probably take the family out to dinner too (we never go out to eat). I'd also renew my Dad's subscription to The Onion :)

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  5. Love these ideas!

    Mine is Greece. I obsess about the food, the wine, the culture and beauty, and most of all the mythology. I MUST GO!! Good thing the troll loves the idea. In fact, if we could afford it, we'd take a cruise.

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  6. awww what a sweet hubs!

    well, if it was a nice chunk of change, i'd definitely pay of hubby's truck. if it's only enough for a little shopping spree, i'd probably get my gym membership back, lose 30 pounds, and buy every dress Anthropologie sells.

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  7. hi miss hilary! wow i looove that rocket necklace! way cool for sure. i could like to see a picture of you wearing it. for that money stuff first id give some to help animals and some to help people. then for sure im getting a neat ratoo! :) then im taking my brothers and my sister anywhere they could wanna go in the whole world. yikes! i better get goin on getting my wip done so i could get famous and rich like you.
    ...smiles and hugs from lenny

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  8. Oy! I haven't thought that far ahead!

    If I were published and lucky enough to earn something from it, I'd put that down on a home and stop this renting business. However, the idea of a Hawaiian getaway has crossed my mind.

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  9. bills and savings. Though i'd probably take my family out for dinner

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  10. Love the necklace, Hilary! Any advance I got would go toward my student loans (ugh) but I would definitely buy a ring or necklace to commemorate the occasion. I like to tease my husband that I'd get a tattoo but I'm not sure I actually would.

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  11. Pay off (part of) my student loans. If I had about five grand to spare, though, I'd buy myself a new Italian scooter. Vroom! I do have two tattoos already, but I would definitely get the title of my book inked somewhere, maybe my shoulder.

    Love your necklace! (Just don't show it to Beth Revis, or she'll get jealous! ;D )

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  12. That necklace is so beautiful and unique!
    I do like the idea of buying a keepsake like that as a reminder...I know I'd probably go out to dinner to celebrate, but other than that...I don't know! I hope I'm in that position to finally figure it out though someday!

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  13. I would go sit on a beach for 2 weeks with a drink in my left hand and a diamond ring on my right. ;)
    I really like that necklace! Very unique.

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  14. I'm thinking big advance (since we're hypothetically dreaming here). After bills, I'd vacation with my family to New York and Ireland. THEN I would go to the Highlights Chatequa conference to spend a week in blissful writing with other children's writers.

    If it's a small advance, there's a knitted owl hat I've salivated over and a pen from one of the coveted pen shops.
    My Blog

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  15. I LOVE that necklace (I wanted to be an astronaut my entire childhood ... then, I grew up, went to college, and discovered that I hated physics! :-)) Your hubby is a sweetie! Definitely a special vacation!

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  16. That's a gorgeous necklace! If I ever earned money for my writing, the first thing I'd buy is a laptop computer. I'm so tired of being tethered to a wall!!!

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  17. Anonymous2/24/2011

    I'm planning first to pay for a real website, since I'm clueless on that...lol. Then set up an acct for writing expenses, promo, and travel. If it were a large drool worthy advance, I'm taking my family somewhere. Somewhere awesome. Like a South African Safari! LOL

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  18. Wine? Champagne?

    Seriously, I promised the hubs to take him to tea at the Ritz. Can't wait!

    Gorgeous necklace.

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  19. It would depend on how much I'd be getting but probably towards a boat for the family to enjoy. :O)

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  20. I'd have some fun for sure and maybe a little keep-sake like you got. But I think most of it would go in the bank.

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  21. Hmmm...depends on how much it is. But would most definitely use it to market my soon to be published book. And if I had money to spare, go on a viking river cruise through Europe. Also, love the necklace!

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  22. OMG! I thought I'd get some crazy answers, but you guys are so smart! I love the idea of reinvesting it into marketing for your book and for poor Nicole to get a laptop! I also think paying down bills is so great, there is nothing like that piece of mind knowing something is paid off! I also think it's important to get a little something for yourself. It doesn't even have to be expensive. Just a nice reminder that YOU DID IT! I love the vacation idea too! I want to go to Japan so bad! The advance I'm getting soon though, will ALL go to bills, every penny!! *sniff* ;(

    Jess, what is Leaky Con??? I've never heard of it!

    Lenny, I'm not even a little rich OR a little famous! Ha, ha! Maybe someday, right?

    Love you guys!

    Hilary

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  23. I'd go to Costco, buy enough food for a couple months, and write another book, without leaving the house, until it's finished. Okay, I'd probably leave a few times.

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  24. Ooh tough choices...probably a little vacation.

    <3, New Follower
    Everyone loves a giveaway

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  25. What a fun post, Hilary! I would definitely splurge on a trip to Australia. And if there was enough, I'd get hardwood floors, too. But in reality, I'd have to put most of it in the bank and pay off the bills. One can dream though, right?

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