In 1958, a vinyl monophonic LP of the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1. Performed by Van Cliburn, winner of the International Competition in Moscow that year!

I was working as a soda jerk and short order cook in a drug store diner in Roswell, New Mexico.

My recollection is I paid less than a dollar for it. I still have that recording in my over 5,000 LP collection.

I don't remember.

It was 1994. I bought a Times Ironman digital watch with part of my first paycheck. It wasn’t anything too expensive, maybe $30, but that was when the whole Indiglo watch thing came about. I thought it was awesome to be able to tell time in the dark because the whole face illuminated blue instead of just using that stupid little light on the side. I kept and wore that watch daily for over ten years, and still used it intermittently for probably another 10 years until it finally crapped out. I remember being sad when I threw it out in my mid 30s.

That has been long ago, not sure but probably pot and 8 tracks.

First real, actual, printed-on-paper paycheck?

A Hercules Graphics Card. HUGE leap up from the standard display adapter.

Don't judge me. It was 1986.

A Belgian 20gauge double barrel shotgun. I was 12 and wanted to go bird hunting with my step-dad.

My first 'real' job circa 1961 with an actual paycheck-less-taxes was @ $1.25/hr part time after school job at a tire shop. Most of the "what's left" went for gas to get to the job.

summer of '92, I was 12 y/o and looping at an insanely expensive country club. I made about $60 a day, strictly cash. Bought everything under the sun that a 12 year old with several hundred dollars per week would buy..baseball cards, bubble gum, movie tickets, you name it. Those were the days!

Mostly car parts, gas and dates...the rest I wasted.

Probably gas to get to work.

The first thing I treated myself with was a Sony Minidisc Walkman. I thought it was the future of music. I was wrong.

my first job was freshman year or so in high school and i worked as a grunt at a local dog grooming shop. it was under the table and the owner (who had the shop in the same city as me) would take me home after my mom dropped me off after school.

i bought food.

First job was at 10. Threw papers from the van for 3-4 hours before school then sold subscriptions door to door for 3-4 hours after school. First money I got went for food. Fridge was always empty at home so I worked for meals first. After that, bike parts, lots and lots of bike parts, mail order style.

a tank of gas, and a few albums,
shiek yerbouti,
This year's model,
and one other I cannot remember

Hard to remember, but with the little money I was making at the time, probably a pizza.

I have been thinking about this thread all day. I remember how excited I was and what a sense of accomplishment I felt. My parents were broke so getting money out of them was rare. The sense of empowerment at having a little cash was new to me. I can still feel that like that little kid buying that bike. Good times.

More than one check it was a summer of detassling corn. Bought a Bear Polar II compound bow, arrows and accessories. I think I must have been in 8th grade.

I think I was 13, packing groceries in a supermarket at $0.50/hr plus tips (a quarter a bag was a lot). I have no idea what I did with my first paycheck--probably gave it to my folks.

flashguy

First paycheck I was 16 and worked as a busboy in the restaurant at a local country club. I don't really remember, but I'm guessing the money was saved up to buy a new fangled Denon CD player. I was the first in my subdivision to have one.

I got to pick 3 free CDs with the purchase of the CD player at American TV in Waukesha, WI. The choices were limited, but I got the following new releases:

Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
Thompson Twins - Here's to Future Days
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms.

I probably should have held out for a free bicycle. Anyone from SE Wisconsin will remember that.

Next purchase would have been a pair of B&W DM202s from Audio Emporium in Brown Deer, then a handmade in Waterloo Trek 520 road bike from Wheel & Sprocket in Hales Corners.

I can't remember but I was probably 12 or 13, so I'd guess video games or cassette tapes.

1978 pumping gas I bought a Pioneer SX-535 Receiver. Total heaven back then. I am sure a six pack or two of beer made the purchase list also.