I go with the philosophy that Pinball machines can be liquidated quickly. So If you have the cash use it(dont leave yourself strapped) .At worst case scenario,If forced to sell, you probably wont get your entire investment back ,but you won't loose your ass.

Easy, Dip into your "emergency" fund. You can always sell your other pins if you need to. Pinballs are like money in the bank anymore.

Screw your rules
Houses are overrated
Buy more pinball machines

(Though $5k seems a lot for a safe cracker)

Assuming you have a credit card correct?

Before I get flamed I'd like to say my wife and I have zero credit card debt..along with no car payments or debt other than a mortgage

Buy the game with the E fund. IF there was a legit 'emergency' can always use the CC immediately...and use the grace period of 30ish days to sell off a pin.

Then start building up you emergency fund again...which is actually your pin fund.

I think an emergency plan is much more important than an actual emergency fund

You should probably be asking Suzie Orman and not a bunch of guys on a pinball forum. But I say use your emergency fund and buy it. Worst case scenario, an emergency hits before you're able to build your funds back up and you have to sell the game. Can't imagine it would lose any value in that amount of time.

well, I think you know what Dave Ramsey would say if you asked him this question, right? If you went all Dave Ramsey before, I'd say don't stray from that path...

While I would agree that dipping into your reserve makes total sense, the above advise is the best you are going to get. Plan your work and work your plan. Build up to the extra cash and buy it when you can. Don't stray from the plan. It has worked well for you thus far. Don't stray now for a pinball machine.

Agreed. You made it this far into your life without owning a Safecracker. There will still be Safecrackers around once you've saved up enough money. Save up and pay cash. That how you live the rest of your life, so don't stray for your hobby. My 2 cents

You probably wont miss SMB too much...

Either save up or sell off what you don't play/want for the SC.

You only live once. I like to spend and want immediate gratification. I'm pretty good with putting $ away monthly, maybe not as good as a few of my friends, and definitely not Suzy Ormon approved. I want to retire comfortable, but I also want to enjoy life getting there. As others have said, pins are pretty easy to turn into cash if needed.

Please understand I am trying to be nice and helpful in my comments.

Pinball machines are the pretty much define unnecessary luxury. You just got into this enjoyable hobby four months ago but are already seeing games that you will "never" see again for that price.

Sorry to hear you got burned on a condo. Real estate can be a rough experience, but you are burning up your down payment in games. Buy a duplex(or a fourplex) with your money and let your tenants pay your mortgage. Now you get to live for free in one of the units. You figured out how to fix pins, you can fix pretty much anything in a rental.

Take all of that money that you are spending on rent and now you can buy pins with all of that extra money.

Necessities first, luxuries second.

Also I am sure I will catch much abuse for this statement, but will you really enjoy that one $5K pin more than 2-5 cheaper pins?

+1 save for a while longer and another one will turn up or you will find another game you want for much less.

I've seen Safecrackers for sale, there will always be another.

LOL ,If Suzie owned a pin,would it be WPT or SC