j'avais or j'ai eu?!

Question

En 2004, ________ de l'argent.1- En 2004, j'avais de l'argent.2- En 2004, j'ai eu de l'argent.What's the difference between 1 & 2 in meaning?I always have trouble choosing Passé composé or L'imparfait. Could you please enlighten me? Thank you.

Accepted Answer

Hi Amir,
It is difficult to comment on your two examples as there is no other context and the difference between the use of the imparfait and the passé composé is perspective so we need more context.
As a rule by using the imparfait, you zoom into a period of your life -
So you might say -
En 2004, comme j'avais de l'argent on a beaucoup voyagé = As I had some money in 2004 we travelled a lot
But you might use the passé composé to say 
En 2004 j'ai eu de l'argent et j'ai tout perdu l'année suivante = I had some money in 2004 but I lost it all the following year
indicating that the fact that you had money was a short-lived fact.
Hope this helps!

Answer

En 2004 j'avais de l'argent. -- In 2004 I had money.
Avoir is a verb of state, which almost always are used with the imperfect, because a state implies something that exists for a longer period of time.
Here is a kwiziq list of verbs of state:
https://french.kwiziq.com/learn/theme/1512981