Gotta love the Student loans...

[Hoosier]

Ok, so my question is this:

Do the guns have actual sentimental value. Did you actually shoot those guns with your family, were the guns given to you by your family? If it's just that you remember gun culture with family generally, and not related to these specific guns, then sell them.

If it was the M1 Garand that your grandfather served with in Normandy, then of course keep that. You see where I'm going with this? If these guns aren't anything special, then dump them and down the road when you have money again you can pick up something newer (and better!)

My two cents, good luck to you!

[ChadAmberg]

I agree with Hoosier but with a different slant. Keep guns you really enjoy or have sentimental value. Sell one or two that don't.
Lets say you make a thousand bucks from that.
Then open up an emergency fund with that thousand bucks, and put it away.
For me right now I don't owe very much compared to what I make, but I'm very cash poor right now. I know how much my interest rate is charging me a month and I'm OK with that. In an emergency I could live for over a year just off available credit. But not having a small emergency fund is what is killing me right now. So I get my work bonus in a few weeks, and for once I'm not using it to pay down debt, I'm going to put it away to keep myself out of trouble. A few more months on the debt won't make or break anything.

[sniper7]

IMO firearms and musical instruments can easily be replaced, found again unless you have something very rare.

Inventory what you have, figure out which guns/instruments have the most significant/sentimental value and look to sell the rest.

Also take into considerations your needs. I already know you need to keep your CCW and you definitely need to keep the shotgun since you wife is so well trained on it.
If you are using your instruments constantly and they are your true love then keep those, if you have something you could live without for a while, sell it. there will always be more.

I read in the previous posts these aren't to be sold to pay things off, but more to give you an emergency backup fund. good idea to get top dollar for them. if the deals are good enough you can sell almost anything instantly.

Also take a look around the house for various things you don't really need that are more of a convenience than a necessity and sell those on craigslist.

Put all your cash into a fund you won't draw from...even think about a CD so you can gain a little bit more interest than a savings account or something (CD rates truly suck right now as well but they will beat a savings account). just make sure you get one that won't penalize you if you pull the money early in case you need it...you won't get the interest or it will be pro-rated but that is a mute point in the time of need.

[Hoosier]

Well said sniper... and just so you know in the future, it's "moot" not "mute" in this usage

[sniper7]

I knew this! I promise! My dad was a high school english teach for 36 years! he would be disappointed in me now!

[Hoosier]

Yeah, using Firefox helps me tons because it underlines anything it doesn't recognize. That still leaves me to remember there / their / they're and bear / bare and the like.

[sniper7]

Yeah, using Firefox helps me tons because it underlines anything it doesn't recognize. That still leaves me to remember there / their / they're and bear / bare and the like.

I do the same thing!

[BigBear]

.... They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly, But bear-like I must fight the course. ...

Too much. I may just sell 'em all. If I can hold off till August and see if I get a job in my feild that pays more, I may be okay.

[theGinsue]

Well said sniper... and just so you know in the future, it's "moot" not "mute" in this usage

Unless you're Joey from "Friends", then it's a "moo point".

I agree with what has already been said. If you really need the money, keep the things that have sentimental value and sell the rest for what you can get for it. those items can be replaced when you get back on your feet, but the items with sentimental value can never be replaced.

[Troublco]

Don't sell it all, BigBear. Unless you could get completely out of debt by doing it (not going to happen, from what you said), you need something, maybe a couple somethings, for yourself. If you decide you have to get rid of some of your stuff, keep your rifle, a pistol, and your horn. You have to have something for you. Don't give up your ability for self defense, or self determination, or whatever you'd like to term it. Also, I am reminded (as I am so often) of an old saying:

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese Proverb

I've also thought of another saying;

Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance. ~John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice, 1851

In this case, the things you like are far from useless. Both have an intrinsic value beyond what they're made of. "More than the sum of their parts" some would say. Keep the faith, keep moving forward, and you'll get through it. Just don't forget to smell the roses.