By Dennise Williams, Staff Reporter 
MONEY. YOU either spend it or save it. No matter how fancy or technical decisions seem to be it really comes down to those two choices. And with this being the year 2004, Sunday Business decided to look at what can be done with $2,004 in terms of spending and saving.
Now let's look at a few ways we can spend it.
EATING OUT
When it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner, $2,004 can be spread out over the course of the week or knocked out in one sitting. It all depends on your idea of what constitutes a good meal. The average fast food restaurant and local eatery usually has meals that can be had for around $200, so the $2,004 can serve as lunch money for one person for the week. However, if you move up to fine dining, $2,004 might not go as far as in years pass.
PERSONAL CARE
A survey of Corporate Area spas reveals that facials range from $1,500 to $2,500 so the $2,004 budget could be blown on that alone.
However, manicures and pedicures usually run for about $1,000 so, conceivably, you could treat yourself to a mani/pedi two times for the month for $2,004.
Now hairstyles are as unique as the individual but sources in salons reveal that $2,004 can still buy a wide array of services, it just depends on what the client has in mind.
For the man about town, a trim and shave range from $300 to $600, so $2,004 budgeted exclusively for the barbers will last about two to three months.
ENTERTAINMENT
A night out on the town can be a major expenditure, but if your tastes are modest, $2,004 can still afford a nice evening out. Movie tickets for two cost $740 and popcorn, drinks and snacks can take care of the rest of the funds.
The National Gallery, for the art aficionado, will not set you back more than $200 for two adult tickets. Emancipation Park in New Kingston has no admission fee and so an evening stroll under the stars will cost you nothing.
JUST SAVE IT
Now for the truly inspired, finding ways to spend money will take no effort whatsoever, but what will take effort is resisting the urge to splurge. Saving is hard. No doubt about it. But the rewards are worth the effort. If you think $2,004 is nothing, you're wrong. Have you ever been broke and needed even just $500?
Can you image the joy of running into a few thousand dollars at the right moment? Well, if you can, it's time to open an emergency account. Instead of spending $2,004 each month, save it.
By the end of the year, the end of five years or even 10, you will have a nice chunk of change. You could use it for Christmas spending at the end of the year and avoid debt in 2005.
Or, you take time and save for a down payment on a house. The choice is yours. Consider these scenarios:
OPTION #1
Starting with a $1,000 opening balance and depositing $2,004 monthly over one year, at a rate of return of 10 per cent compounded monthly and taxed at 25 per cent, you will save $25,935.00.
OPTION #2
Starting with a $5,000 opening balance and depositing $2,004 monthly over one year, at a rate of return of 10 per cent compounded monthly and taxed at 25 per cent, you will save $30,235.00.
OPTION #3
Starting with $1,000 opening balance and depositing $2,004 monthly over five years at a rate of return of 10 per cent compounded monthly and taxed at your marginal rate of 25 per cent, you will save $145,835.
OPTION #4
Starting with $5,000 opening balance and depositing $2,004 monthly over five years at a rate of return of 10 per cent compounded monthly and taxed at your marginal rate of 25 per cent, you will save $151,577.
OPTION #5
Starting with $1,000 opening balance and depositing $2,004 monthly over 10 years at a rate of return of 10 per cent compounded monthly and taxed at your marginal rate of 25 per cent, you will save $353,764.
OPTION #6
Starting with $5,000 opening balance and depositing $2004 monthly over 10 years at a rate of return of 10 per cent compounded monthly and taxed at your marginal rate of 25 per cent, you will save $362,008.
