financial reflections

Recently I wrote an article stating my plans to avoid purchasing a HDTV for some time.  Well, part of my reasoning looks like it’s slipping away, due to the forces of supply and demand.  And it might be partly due to people agreeing with me.

Looks like prices for flat-panel TVs (which often are used as HDTV displays) have dropped quite a bit lately.  That’s reportedly due to manufacturers overestimating the consumer demand for the sets.  So they suppliers ended up with an overstock of those billboard-sized televisions, and they’re dropping prices to entice us to buy.

So why didn’t folks buy them in the first place?   Here’s my theory:

• They cost too much.  You can get a (low-end) used car for what some of the sets cost.  Not to mention the nearly $70,000 103-inch set that will be here in time for Santa.  That’s a Hummer and a Honda worth of TV!
• There still isn’t enough programming to make a big screen worth it.  HDTV looks great on a big plasma or LCD screen.  But there still isn’t enough (in my opinion) to make it worth the cost.

But then there is the fact that I’m a techno geek and always lust for the latest gadget.  But what reins me in at times like this is my budget and my goal of reducing my debt.  Darn my new-found fiscal efficiency.

But for those who are in a position to buy, this just might be a good time to make the jump.  Someday, I’ll follow.