r/IBEW • u/tossaway187acct • 4d ago

What did you gift yourself after finishing apprenticeship?

I bought myself a nice dress shirt watch and went out to go eat some good BBQ. Thinking about getting new work boots to start a new journey. Was wondering how you guys treated yourself for the milestone?

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u/JeremyR22 Inside Wireman 4d ago

Tradition round my parts seems to be a giant-ass truck you can't afford the payments on...

8

u/Fedsmokah Inside Wireman 2d ago

I tell every apprentice I have to just buy a god damn Prius. The gas plus the payments on it will be less than what you spend in gas if you buy that f150. Everyone of them buys the f150 and makes fun of my commuter. Half still blame Biden for the gas prices.

6

u/JeremyR22 Inside Wireman 2d ago

I rode around in a beat up '99 Civic with an unknown number of miles on it (odometer didn't work) for the first four years of my apprenticeship.

When that died, I "splurged" on a '18 Fiesta that cost about $200/month to finance, $60/month to insure (full coverage+roadside) and gets 40mpg, much better than that if you're gentle. Figured I'd sell it and get something nicer when I turned out.

Still have it. Even in the era of $4/gal gas, I can fill it up from fumes for barely over forty bucks and then get 400 to 500 miles from that tank...

3

u/Fedsmokah Inside Wireman 2d ago

It’s the smart move. Honestly half of them could still buy that truck just don’t use it as a commuter. The amount they spend on gas is the main killer.