The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: 2527 on September 25, 2013, 07:07:47 PM
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Anybody here maintain any expensive hobbies? Boats, sailboats, flying, sports cars, high-end (international) travel, horseback riding, etc?
My family buys international plane tickets every year because my wife is from another country. So it's expensive, but more of a need than an option.
I would like to get a sailboat when I have time, but a used sailboat without a lot of gadgets isn't very expensive, especially if it isn't very big. I had a small sailboat once before, but had to sell it when I was transferred overseas. I enjoyed it and sold it for more than I paid for it. One thing with expensive hobbies is to stop them and sell the stuff when you lose interest.
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Bicycles. I live in an "N+1" world. If you aren't familiar with this, there's an old joke that says: how many is enough bikes for a cyclist? N+1, where N is the number you have now (or the number your spouse wants you to have).
Somehow I acquire/achieve more bicycles. Currently I have 4, and just got my 5th yesterday. Figure I'd better dump a couple of them in the next year, 2 are definitely on the chopping block but man it's so easy to buy another bike. They are just so shiny.
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I like to downhill ski, so now my children also like to downhill ski. Even with all used equipment for growing children, between lift tickets and travel to get to decent areas, it adds up.
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Yes. Owned a plane (in a 4-way partnership) up until a couple of years ago. Got a horse now.
You could also argue that my garden is an even more expensive hobby, if you count purchasing a large enough piece of property to have a proper garden on.
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Depends what you call expensive... I travel quite a bit (3-4 weeks a year) and also hike in the summer and cross-country ski in the winter. Any individual thing is not particularly expensive, but it all does add up.
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Sailing. But I do it much cheaper than I might otherwise. (Definition of a boat: A hole in the water into which you pour money.) I sail at a relatively low cost club. Unlimited sails Apr-Oct for $249. No boat maintanence. Serve on the Board as President actually. Which itself is an expensive hobby, because I then need to serve as a leader making donations.
Skiing. Learned to ski/race when I lived in Alaska. We had season passes then (parents needed something for us to not all go crazy in the winter and put this budget towards skiing). Now, it's so expensive I only go 1-2 times a year. Don't get much so much use out of my equipment.
Traveling. Love to travel to foreign countries. Been to: Canada, France, Italy, Monoco, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, England, St. Martin, Domenica, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados. ETA: Bahamas. Upcoming trip in October: Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman. Likely trip next spring: Brazil.
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Bicycles. I live in an "N+1" world. If you aren't familiar with this, there's an old joke that says: how many is enough bikes for a cyclist? N+1, where N is the number you have now (or the number your spouse wants you to have).
Somehow I acquire/achieve more bicycles. Currently I have 4, and just got my 5th yesterday. Figure I'd better dump a couple of them in the next year, 2 are definitely on the chopping block but man it's so easy to buy another bike. They are just so shiny.
My dream is to sell the car and use that money to buy as many bikes as possible!! :) I really want a winter bike to help me through snow/ice.
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Traveling. Love to travel to foreign countries. Been to: Canada, France, Italy, Monoco, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, London, St. Martin, Domenica, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados. Upcoming trip in October: Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman. Likely trip next spring: Brazil.
Not bad at all, I'm currently at 23 countries but I have the advantage that most of those are not any further than Chicago-New York. Next year's major trips probably South Florida in March and Central Asia in August/September.
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I like to downhill ski, so now my children also like to downhill ski. Even with all used equipment for growing children, between lift tickets and travel to get to decent areas, it adds up.
Me too. Things I do to mitigate the expense are renting a reasonably priced house with 15 people vs. paying for short term lodging and buying a season pass in April/May for the next year when they're 40-50% off.
It's still really expensive though. :(
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I had horses when I was a teen and have every intention of getting about 5-10 acres and having some again. I also want to raise chickens and goats and grow my own vegetables and maybe even some fruit trees, but it's going to cost some money for sure to implement and maintain. But if I can swing it, I'll also plant hay for the horses, and can eat the chickens and the veggies and fruits... so might not be as bad as it could be.
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Traveling. Love to travel to foreign countries. Been to: Canada, France, Italy, Monoco, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, London, St. Martin, Domenica, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados. Upcoming trip in October: Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman. Likely trip next spring: Brazil.
Not bad at all, I'm currently at 23 countries but I have the advantage that most of those are not any further than Chicago-New York. Next year's major trips probably South Florida in March and Central Asia in August/September.
Forgot Bahamas. Albeit when about 5-6, it still counts. :)
I do try to be reasonable about the travel - some of those were staying with friends (England, India, Hong Kong), through school (France), free hotel points through work (Switzerland), living nearby (Canada when I was in Michigan/Alaska, Mexico when in San Diego) or just plain old student cheap (Italy, Monoco, Asia). The rest is two cruises. I looked into a South America trip (Argentina & Chile) paying for flights & hotels and just about choked, this after telling my husband the past 1.5 years after our wedding I wanted to go on a "nice" belated honeymoon. We're still doing a "nice" trip, just not the one I originally envisioned. When we fly out for the wedding in Brazil I'll have to get over that choking sensation.
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Flight expenses are unavoidable for long distance travel, but accommodation/food costs could be amazingly low in some very interesting parts of the world. Two years ago we spent only ca 300$ for two on non-flight related expenses for a week in Georgia (country not US state). Room with a local family in the mountains was about 15 euros a night (dinner and breakfast included!).
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My piano lessons are $60 a week, so ouch. I'm not sure if there will ever be a point where I'll feel satisfied enough to stop with lessons, but we'll see.
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International travel for us. 2A2C, it adds up. WE normally go for 8 weeks a year broken into two trips. That cost will lower a lot when we retire next year as we will be travelling and focusing on slow travel with no home base to fund.
Otherwise DH plays golf. It's his passion but he buys quality clubs and keeps them for 1 decade+. The courses when we travel add up, but it's his only large expense really and keeps him happy.
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My dream is to sell the car and use that money to buy as many bikes as possible!! :) I really want a winter bike to help me through snow/ice.
Can't you just change the tires on your bike and put on huge winter tires as you would on a car? My one and only bike is my commute bike, my road bike, my mountain bike, my grocery bike and my winter bike (also spring, summer and autumn bike). It's a mountain bike and I just change the tires based on what I use it for.
When I commute, I put on slicks and I go faster than those dudes in leggings on 5,000$ bikes. When I want to do mountain or winter stuff, I put on my regular mountain tires....
My hobby is making wine. It is expensive, but I will become self sufficient very soon.
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Def going to try new tires first. But the dream is to have more than one bike, just for the luxury of it all!
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My piano lessons are $60 a week, so ouch. I'm not sure if there will ever be a point where I'll feel satisfied enough to stop with lessons, but we'll see.
You just have to get good enough that you can start giving lessons to absolute beginners! Then you can even write off your own lessons as a business expense!
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You just have to get good enough that you can start giving lessons to absolute beginners! Then you can even write off your own lessons as a business expense!
Haha, I am definitely good enough to start giving lessons to absolute beginners, but I think I would feel guilty doing so (I feel they would be much better off with a real teacher!). On the other hand, I'm definitely capable of being an SAT tutor (got paid $30/hour to do it in high school), but I'm not sure if I wouldn't be better off working harder at my job to get bonuses and promotions faster...but that's another topic.
That's not even that much. The voice teacher I work for charges $80/hr, and the ones my husband works for charge $140 and $200/hr.
However, the person who had my job before me worked in exchange for free lessons. That might be an option for you?
I agree, it's not that much, but not great by Mustachian standards. My childhood piano teacher charged more, and I think averages around here are more like $70 an hour. I think my piano teacher would prefer I practice more rather than work more haha. Anyway, piano lessons aren't exactly a financial hardship for me; I take home $6000 a month plus bonus and stock, and there are other places that I would work on first, like cooking more instead of eating out...;P
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We do sailing, sledding (snowmobiles), dirt biking, and camping/hiking.
Expensive hobbies for sure, but have you checked out the price of life these days?
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My hobby MAKES me money! Booyaaa!
Honestly, though, I think that I'm mentally incapable of picking up an expensive hobby. I tend to gravitate toward things like reading, walking, napping, staring at walls, and camming (the hobby that earns me money).
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camming (the hobby that earns me money).
What is camming and how does it earn you money?
Did you mean canning (as in preserving food)?
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camming (the hobby that earns me money).
What is camming and how does it earn you money?
Did you mean canning (as in preserving food)?
Oh no! Canning sounds really fun too, though.
Camming is webcam modeling. Basically people give me money to see my naughty bits, etc. It's the safest form of sex work :-)
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With my body, people would pay me to get dressed.
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With my body, people would pay me to get dressed.
Bahaha! You'd be surprised...
Anyway, sometimes I just get money for having a charming personality and keeping people company or amusing them with silliness (toilet paper nipple pasties? Frugal and fun!). I'm sure you have charisma, Jeff L!
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My better half is an avid white-water paddler. Her speciality 'playboat' canoe probably costs as much as the car we'll end up buying so she can get out to the rapids more often. It's not mustashian by any means, and I wish she could kick the habit, but what can you do? I've been thinking about taking lessons myself. You know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
I'm beginning to think that in my own science/math tutoring business, I may be massively undercharging. That or the arts are just more highly valued.
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Mountain biking:
Hard tail 29er, full suspension Yeti, and soon a fat tire bike. It's my first expensive hobby (after 47 years of not understanding why people spend money on expensive hobbies). I'm obsessed, I love it, and I have no regrets. Fortunately I don't have to travel to ride- I can access a fun trail out my back door.
N+1 indeed. :)
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I have a very expensive hobby which I have stopped since children arrived.
Magic the Gathering and playing Warhammer 40K and Fantasy.
Each time a new set is release for MTG, I actually get a bit sad because I know I'm not going to be drafting the new set.
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I have a very expensive hobby which I have stopped since children arrived.
Magic the Gathering and playing Warhammer 40K and Fantasy.
Each time a new set is release for MTG, I actually get a bit sad because I know I'm not going to be drafting the new set.
I also play Magic the Gathering - to offset the insane cost of playing a Collectible Card Game, I do a lot of trading & run an online eBay store in my spare time. Sometimes this is boring/a hassle, but it does pay for my hobby plus a little extra spending cash now that I've learned what to do.
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Traveling is it for us. I grew up in Australia, and most of my extended family are there (the rest are in Scotland), so every other Christmas I pack up Mr. Nat and the kids, and we spend a month in Western Australia. Flights for four are incredibly expensive, but thankfully we spend most of our trip staying with my aunt and uncle. The second that we get home from Australia, we start saving for the upcoming trip, even though it's almost two years away. These trips are non-negotiable for me, especially as my family there shows signs of aging.
My husband and I also spent a few weeks in Scotland this summer, both to see relatives, and to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.
We travel a LOT. Much of it is paid for by Mr. Nat's frequent flyer miles, but quite a bit is not.
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Mountain biking:
Hard tail 29er, full suspension Yeti, and soon a fat tire bike. It's my first expensive hobby (after 47 years of not understanding why people spend money on expensive hobbies).
You consider mountain biking to be an expensive hobby? Different world views, I guess. I mean, you spend a bit on a bike (or maybe two or three), and then what? Occasional tire & brake replacement, chain lube, maybe a new chain every year or two? I mean, it's not like a horse, where you have to feed the critter every day :-)
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My horse costs me about $500 a month. Yes, that's $6,000 a year. More than my food, more than my clothes, property tax, insurance, or any other category.
But I've been frugal (or maybe cheap) all my life, my house is paid for, between my investments and social security I have more income than I need. So I can afford it.
It's a good feeling. I can do anything I want. I just can't do everything.
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My horse costs me about $500 a month. Yes, that's $6,000 a year. More than my food, more than my clothes, property tax, insurance, or any other category.
Mine probably comes in about half that, since I don't have to pay for board. (Deal with friends: friend takes care of my horse along with her 3, and in return I ride with her so her non-riding husband doesn't nag her about being out in the mountains alone.)
It's a good feeling. I can do anything I want. I just can't do everything.
Yeah. And even better, the main limit on what I can do is time, not money.
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I have a very expensive hobby which I have stopped since children arrived.
Magic the Gathering and playing Warhammer 40K and Fantasy.
Each time a new set is release for MTG, I actually get a bit sad because I know I'm not going to be drafting the new set.
How's your painting? I never got into Warhammer, but I know people who claim they've funded the hobby by assembling, painting, and selling complete armies. Everyone wants pretty miniatures, but not everyone has the time or the skills to make 'em that way.
Not really something you can do with ankle-biters about, though, I guess.
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Mountain biking:
Hard tail 29er, full suspension Yeti, and soon a fat tire bike. It's my first expensive hobby (after 47 years of not understanding why people spend money on expensive hobbies).
You consider mountain biking to be an expensive hobby? Different world views, I guess. I mean, you spend a bit on a bike (or maybe two or three), and then what? Occasional tire & brake replacement, chain lube, maybe a new chain every year or two? I mean, it's not like a horse, where you have to feed the critter every day :-)
Haha, well yah. It's a lot more expensive than reading library books and walking (my previous hobbies).
You're right, there is no daily money obligation. However, I've probably spent more than $8,000 in the past year and a half: bikes, maintenance, repairs (stuff breaks when you wreck), traveling, clothes/shoes/gear, and the occasional race fee. That's a lot of money to me.
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Traveling. Love to travel to foreign countries. Been to: Canada, France, Italy, Monoco, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, London, St. Martin, Domenica, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados. Upcoming trip in October: Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman. Likely trip next spring: Brazil.
Not bad at all, I'm currently at 23 countries but I have the advantage that most of those are not any further than Chicago-New York. Next year's major trips probably South Florida in March and Central Asia in August/September.
Well, not to brag (meaning, I'm definitely bragging)...but we're at 24 (more if you use a very, very lose definition of "country"; some lists like the Travelers Century Club would count the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, US Virgin Islands, etc. as separate "countries"). We'll add 2-3 more at the end of next month (still not sure whether to count Hong Kong as separate from China; I probably will since there's different visa requirements and there's still a border crossing).
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I could say homebrewing because I bought a $1000 brewing system a decade ago, but I am still using the same system and it chops a huge amount off our booze bill (I am always astounded what a six pack of good beer costs at the store).
Possibly camping/Rving would count. We bought a small trailer 5 years ago and I have a truck to tow it with.
I have spent an embarrassing amount on my latest hobby (hunting and shooting) in the last couple of years, but most of the money went for firearms that tend to appreciate in value. Ammo is expensive, but I have acquired the gear to load my own and if I end up using a lot of it I will learn how to melt and cast my own bullets and shot. Considering that I buy a lot less stoopidly expensive bison and free range chicken when I am bringing home organic, free-range "chicken of the tree" (squirrel) and rabbit for dinner, I am not sure I would call this one extravagant.
Beyond that? I am guess foregone earnings will make ESR the most expensive hobby of all.
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However, I've probably spent more than $8,000 in the past year and a half: bikes, maintenance, repairs (stuff breaks when you wreck), traveling, clothes/shoes/gear, and the occasional race fee. That's a lot of money to me.
Ah, that explains it. You seem to mountain bike at a much different level than I do (which is taking the dogs and going to ride around someplace scenic). I haven't (knock on wood!) had a real bike wreck since I was a kid, do just about all my own maintenance, and haven't the slightest desire to race, all of which holds the expenses down. My expenditure for the last year & a half (excluding gas to get to riding places) is probably close to $80 than $8000.
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Traveling. Love to travel to foreign countries. Been to: Canada, France, Italy, Monoco, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, London, St. Martin, Domenica, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados. Upcoming trip in October: Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman. Likely trip next spring: Brazil.
Not bad at all, I'm currently at 23 countries but I have the advantage that most of those are not any further than Chicago-New York. Next year's major trips probably South Florida in March and Central Asia in August/September.
Well, not to brag (meaning, I'm definitely bragging)...but we're at 24 (more if you use a very, very lose definition of "country"; some lists like the Travelers Century Club would count the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, US Virgin Islands, etc. as separate "countries"). We'll add 2-3 more at the end of next month (still not sure whether to count Hong Kong as separate from China; I probably will since there's different visa requirements and there's still a border crossing).
lol. Well, see edit above, I forgot Bahamas. And if you count China and Hong Kong, then I claim credit for Macau too. It was a separate passport stamp after all!
I didn't count those "flexible" countries either (or add Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico to my tally), but as a former Alaskan resident, I can tell you that at times, it definitely is treated like a separate world, and the mainland referred to as the "lower 48."
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Traveling. Love to travel to foreign countries. Been to: Canada, France, Italy, Monoco, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, London, St. Martin, Domenica, Grenada, Tobago, Barbados. Upcoming trip in October: Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman. Likely trip next spring: Brazil.
Not bad at all, I'm currently at 23 countries but I have the advantage that most of those are not any further than Chicago-New York. Next year's major trips probably South Florida in March and Central Asia in August/September.
Well, not to brag (meaning, I'm definitely bragging)...but we're at 24 (more if you use a very, very lose definition of "country"; some lists like the Travelers Century Club would count the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, US Virgin Islands, etc. as separate "countries"). We'll add 2-3 more at the end of next month (still not sure whether to count Hong Kong as separate from China; I probably will since there's different visa requirements and there's still a border crossing).
lol. Well, see edit above, I forgot Bahamas. And if you count China and Hong Kong, then I claim credit for Macau too. It was a separate passport stamp after all!
I didn't count those "flexible" countries either (or add Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico to my tally), but as a former Alaskan resident, I can tell you that at times, it definitely is treated like a separate world, and the mainland referred to as the "lower 48."
Why on earth would you refer to Puerto Rico as a non-US country?
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Why on earth would you refer to Puerto Rico as a non-US country?
Traveler's Century Club (http://travelerscenturyclub.org/) is a club for people who have visited at least one hundred countries and territories. Their list of countries and territories is often used to determine how many countries you've been to. It can be found at http://travelerscenturyclub.org/countries-and-territories/alphabetical-list and includes such "territories" as Alaska and Hawaii. From that page: "Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from the parent country, either geographically, politically or ethnologically (see the Territory Status page for detailed criteria)." Using their criteria, it makes sense, but still....
Googling for "list of countries" (no quotes) brings up several good links, such as:
http://www.state.gov/misc/list/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_of_the_world.htm
http://www.internetworldstats.com/list2.htm
The last three links list Puerto Rico and New Caledonia separately. Every list had Hong Kong (though it technically belongs to China now). The second list had Puerto Rico and New Caledonia listed, but grouped with the parent country (USA and France respectively).
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Would you say that you've been to France if the only place you visited there was New Caledonia? I wouldn't and I think US-Puerto Rico situation is similar.
I'm still in my 30-ties so plenty of time to see more of our planet. :) Australia is on the long term list for sure, but with the current currency rates and the fact we wouldn't go for less than three weeks it's going to be very expensive...
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However, I've probably spent more than $8,000 in the past year and a half: bikes, maintenance, repairs (stuff breaks when you wreck), traveling, clothes/shoes/gear, and the occasional race fee. That's a lot of money to me.
Ah, that explains it. You seem to mountain bike at a much different level than I do (which is taking the dogs and going to ride around someplace scenic). I haven't (knock on wood!) had a real bike wreck since I was a kid, do just about all my own maintenance, and haven't the slightest desire to race, all of which holds the expenses down. My expenditure for the last year & a half (excluding gas to get to riding places) is probably close to $80 than $8000.
Hopefully part of the steep outlay is from entering the sport with nothing. Skill-wise I lay no claims to any sort of "level". In fact, my lack of skill explains my apparent penchant for breaking stuff.
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Skill-wise I lay no claims to any sort of "level". In fact, my lack of skill explains my apparent penchant for breaking stuff.
I didn't mean level as skill, I meant it as goals, e.g. racing. Indeed, that's one thing that, if I can be blunt, really pisses me off about some mountain bikers, specifically the ones who ride at breakneck speed down shared-use mountain trails, oblivious to the fact that there are people, dogs, horses, and such using the trail too. Bikes have brakes for a reason :-)
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Why on earth would you refer to Puerto Rico as a non-US country?
Traveler's Century Club (http://travelerscenturyclub.org/) is a club for people who have visited at least one hundred countries and territories. Their list of countries and territories is often used to determine how many countries you've been to. It can be found at http://travelerscenturyclub.org/countries-and-territories/alphabetical-list and includes such "territories" as Alaska and Hawaii. From that page: "Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from the parent country, either geographically, politically or ethnologically (see the Territory Status page for detailed criteria)." Using their criteria, it makes sense, but still....
Googling for "list of countries" (no quotes) brings up several good links, such as:
http://www.state.gov/misc/list/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_of_the_world.htm
http://www.internetworldstats.com/list2.htm
The last three links list Puerto Rico and New Caledonia separately. Every list had Hong Kong (though it technically belongs to China now). The second list had Puerto Rico and New Caledonia listed, but grouped with the parent country (USA and France respectively).
I'd guess that there would be a lot of extremely pissed Puerto Ricans (especially the veterans) if you told them they were not Americans.
That said, PR is a fascinating place I many respects and well worth visiting (we have done so several times). Its a lot harder to get to from CO than it was from the NYC area, so I have not been back since we moved in mid-2011. I miss it and the people/culture.
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I actively try not to acquire expensive hobbies.
I love to travel, and I'm in the Foreign Serivce. I don't, however, constantly travel to other countries on short trips like many co-workers, or tally my "country count." I focus on appreciating the fact that I'm already living in a foreign country, so my wife and I spend more time exploring the city we live in, really learning the language, and doing domestic travel. I have co-workers who literally travel to other countries 1-2 times a month.
Similarly, I did not pick up diving as a hobby, declining invitations from friends/coworkers, because it seems expensive, and there are plenty of alternatives that I believe I would enjoy just as much
Cooking is my biggest hobby, but I refuse to buy expensive ingredients, instead focusing on cheaper ethnic foods and foods available where I am living.
Hobbies are things you focus on, but one potentially anti-mustchian feature of this is that the more you specialize and the better your taste becomes, the exponentially more expensive enjoying certain hobbies becomes. Wine, Diving, Golf, Cars--a lot of hobbies become extremely expensive at the margins. I try to imagine what it what cost me to become an expert in a hobby, and if the answer is too much, I seekone of the million other things in the world to spend my time on.
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My better half is an avid white-water paddler. Her speciality 'playboat' canoe probably costs as much as the car we'll end up buying so she can get out to the rapids more often. It's not mustashian by any means, and I wish she could kick the habit, but what can you do? I've been thinking about taking lessons myself. You know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Whitewater kayaking is my expensive hobby too. However it doesn't have to be that expensive. The trick is be on the lookout for sales and be willing to spend decent change at a moment's notice when things are cheap. Skiing is the same way.
A brand new playboat will cost you $1200 max retail. Wait 1 year or pick it up at an end of season sale and the same boat is $799-$999. 2 years old used usually go for $300-$500. Teach kayaking lessons 1x per week with a local outfitter and you get pro-deals where you can get a brand new boats for 20% off wholesale prices. I've never paid full price for a boat, paddle, dry-top, life-jacket, or helmet and I never intend to.
Also compared to skiing, kayaking is dirt cheap because you don't need to pay for lift tickets or season passes. So once you have the gear, you're all set to go.
If you're in Colorado and want lessons, let me know. I'll hook you up for cheap.
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I am also wrestling with the biking habit. I will still say, that a well used bike is a bargain, and an unused bike is expensive at any price.
There is two formulas for the number of bikes you need.
n + 1: for single people where n is the number of bikes you currently have. (discussed above)
s - 1: for married/SO people where s is the number of bikes where your partner would leave.
...Credit my local bike shop.
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We love Key West, Disney and festivals around Florida. Those three account for about 90% of our yearly entertainment budget. Lol.
www.HavingFunInFlorida.com
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Stamp collecting or philately is my drug. It has kept me away from liquor, cigs and drugs.
I got a fine silver coin collection as well. I stopped with coins in 2008 as I had amassed a collection I was happy with.
Largest acquisition was a single US stamp for $3100 odd in April this year ( celebrated the fact that my parents finances were finally self sustaining ). Yeah!!
It might make me a tidy sum over time. I bought 25 blocks of an issue for $780 in 2008; now valued at $150 - $200 per block. I've thought of becoming a dealer but just can't pull the trigger. I guess I'm a lover, not a pimp.
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Too many... On the plus side, I've slowly learned to become frugal with my expensive hobbies...
- Cycling, both mountain and road. I do all my own work on them (including initial builds, often getting good deals on quality used parts from local racers that tried them and then quickly moved on to something else). If I'm buying a lot of parts, online is the way to go, when I just need a couple I walk down to my local bike shop. I no longer do group (too many nuts on those group rides) or rides where there is an entry fee (why spend money when I can ride by myself for free?).
- Flying, in a club where we collectively own a few single engine airplanes and I also rent a twin engine periodically. Club dues are quite reasonable and you can't really find a twin cheaper to rent than a Twin Comanche! I also don't fly many hours. I just hit 10 hours for the year the other day... Flying as safety pilot for other people also is a way to build some hours and get time in the air for free. I'd probably drop out of the club and go rental only, but there aren't any 6 seater airplanes anywhere around for rent (but the club has one), and that's the one I need for going on trips (I *refuse* to ever fly commercial again, the whole commercial experience is inhumane).
- Auto racing, a full cage track/rally car plus a closer to stock sports car that I used for occasional gymkhana style events. I do my own work when it doesn't involve hazardous materials or things so badly rusted that I know I'll destroy them. I've dramatically decreased my range of events. I used to do everything within a 3 hour drive. I've cut that back to 1 hour and have chopped pretty much everything out except for rally. I try to drive each car once a week to keep fluids flowing/battery charged, but my mileage has dropped dramatically. At one point I was doing 30,000+ miles a year. I'm looking at about 6,000 this year!
- Astronomy. I quit going to the planetarium/observatory and invested in my own telescope. No driving and paying to see just what they want to show us on their schedule. Got a screaming bargain on a second hand scope + lens set, plus free shipping just by surfing for deals for a few months until exactly what I wanted popped up! It'll pay for itself in a couple years. Hardest part with this is that I enjoy it so much I *really* want a bigger scope and more/better lenses! Time to exercise my willpower muscle. :-)
- Shooting. Ammo prices are absolutely through the roof right now (when you can even find anything). Planning on dropping out of my local shooting club as I rarely get there. I mostly do events the next city over. I've cut those trips back as well, only going when the weather's going to be nice. I was finally able to say I have "enough" equipment and I walked away from my wishlist.
- Amateur Radio. I've resolved to build my own stuff instead of buying (whenever possible) now. I've also cut back on volunteering for events. I only volunteer for stuff in my own suburb/on this side of the city. I no longer drive all the way across the city to help out.
- Motorcycling. I fell off the wagon last week and bought a motorcycle... However, due to it's condition and the circumstances of the person getting rid of it, it only cost me $1. I'll be doing all my own work getting it driveable again. If I'm lucky, I should be able to ride it enough in the Summer to more than cover the insurance/registration fees with the 50-60 MPG it should get (it's a 600cc, more than I wanted, but for the money I saved (even after the repairs) I can buy a LOT of extra gas...).
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Ok BlueMR2 makes me brave to admit my addictions: and the frugal rationalization accounting that allows me to continue.
Golf, I live on a golf course and am a member. "low" cost per round, no expense to get there, make enough money on betting to pay for drinking afterwards.(I don't seek bets, I let them come to me, others want to take me down for ego purpuses, works against them) I sell insurance and have sold enough to those I golf with to pay for the hobby many times over.
Auto racing, I do HPDE's with a car the advertises for my business. Again, I have sold more than enough to make this self sustaining. I also am co owner and driver in a couple of series 24 Hours of Lemons, and Chumpcar. The cheapest way to honest to God race. The whole process is "mustachian" scrounging through junk yards, learning to do all manner of repairs, buying used safety equipment (my race suit is a 2k suit that was worn by a guy in a big time series, got on ebay for $92 because I'm the only guy thin enough to wear it).
Motorcycle, 10 year old really nice BMW motorcycle. Harder to justify except it is a great blood pressure drug, I do all my work on it (learned a lot about them when I hit a 120lb dog and had to rebuild the previous bike) Unbelievable how much it relaxes me. It does get about 45mpg, so when I went to see my 83 year old FIL in the mountains this weekend it saved me gas money, made for a great time of spending time with my wife, etc, etc.
Basically, if I work these are not a money issue once they don't pleasure me any more I can retire if I want. But I like going to work so probably will do so forever!
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Was a paraglider and powered paraglider for about 8 years. The equipment set me back about $5-6000, but the real costs comes in when you drive all over the country to sit on a hill with either too much or too little wind all weekend haha.
Then I built electric bikes and stand up scooters. I spent $5000 there on the two bikes, but with the savings in car costs the first has paid for itself, and the second will do the same in another 7000 miles (just over 2 years for me).
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Horseback riding lessons. $50 for a one hour private lesson once a week.
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Video Games - not X-BOX/Playstation/Wii - I use to play on a gaming PC, bought 1 year ago a new PC:
I buy all components and set it up by myself..
Just the PC, no monitor, keyboard, sound-system.
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If you want to race sailboats, you should just crew on one. All of the fun of sailing without any of the expense or inconvenience. People with 2 person boats are always looking for crews, as well as bigger boats.
Just pop down to your local yacht club, you'll definitely be able to find someone in want of a crew.
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If you want to race sailboats, you should just crew on one. All of the fun of sailing without any of the expense or inconvenience. People with 2 person boats are always looking for crews, as well as bigger boats.
Just pop down to your local yacht club, you'll definitely be able to find someone in want of a crew.
Once I free up some time, this is my plan. I was crew for a year while living in LA but been unable to find the time since I last moved. I even got to do a few overnight races.
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Just pop down to your local yacht club, you'll definitely be able to find someone in want of a crew.
Yeah, but when you live at about 5000 ft elevation between the mountains & desert, popping down to the local yacht club could be expensive.
OTOH, who needs water to sail? http://www.nalsa.org/
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Hi,
I am just new to MMM. But luckily my hobby is also my job and my way if life. I am a professional falconer, so everything I do has something to with birds of prey. I get paid to do what I love the most. So I see it as making me money rather than costing me anything. I have my own private bird that costs me in food and vet fees. but eventually most of them are sold for a profit, as I tend to get them given for free in the first place. My biggest cost for falconry is the driving around. It is just unavoidable living in the uae. but I tend to keep it as low as possible. I share a 4x4 with a friend. most of the driving is done in a small car.
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Travel is one... but thanks to work it's being curbed significantly :(
I like to backpack and other styles of travel just don't cut it for me... less than 6 weeks and it feels rushed, less than 4 and I'm and I'm not even tempted... I like "getting lost" in foreign places and traveling slowly... other travel feels rushed and not so much fun to me. Unfortunately this is completely at odds with my job :(
And yes even backpacking can be an expensive hobby. My preferred budget for developed countries is approx $100/day. Can do it on less, but generally aim for this... 6 weeks, 42 days, $4,200 plus flights!
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I collect comics and vinyl. That's expensive enough for me!
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Paintball is my vice. I have scaled back significantly recently and go less frequently, play more pump or limited paint games, more outlaw ball. I've even started selling off some of my excess equipment.
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I used to skydive a lot, though my DZ was relatively inexpensive compared to most (Lodi parachute center)....The best day of my life is when I sold my sailboat last summer. I travel a lot, and go backpacking (i.e. in the mountains). Travel will be a huge part of my retirement calculations. I do it relatively cheaply, but when you are still paying rent/mortgage at home, it's not cheap. That's how those 18 year old gap kids get off so cheap...It's only the travel they are paying for.
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I have a lot of expensive interests, but I have scaled them back in order to save more.
Flying: It has been an interest since before I had memories (according to my mom). I've always done something with flying, whether it was building and flying R/C gliders/planes as a kid, or dreaming about getting my pilot's license. In my early 30's, I took up hang gliding. Not because I'm a dare-devil (it's actually quite safe, compared to a lot of other common activities like motorcycling), but because it is the cheapest and purest form of aviation. Training cost me $1k. Full gear and a glider (if you go used) can be had for around $4k or less if you look a long time and are willing to accept perfectly safe/function yet ugly stuff. Once you have your gear, flying is free. You just have to get to a launch site which costs gas. The latter is what sort of killed it for me. I live about 2.5 hours from the nearest launch site so it costs me ~$75 per round-trip in gas alone (not counting wear and tear). Still not THAT expensive but hang gliding is not something you should do once every few months. You need to stay current and fly often.
Cars: Loved them since I was 13 or so. Fast cars. Racing cars. Did some HPDE days, did some engine swaps (big engines in small cars) and modifications etc. This taught me valuable wrenching skills since I did everything myself. Fast cars are too expensive though and while fun, just not worth it to me now. Maybe when I am retired, I can truly afford to pick it back up. So for now, I satisfy my wrenching itch by maintaining a 90's van that I have as a fully paid for second vehicle. With 166k miles on it, it needs work from time to time and if I weren't able to do it myself, it wouldnt' make sense to keep. But it serves me very well, gets over 20mph on the highway, carries my hang glider, anything I need from the hardware store, dogs, can pull a trailer when needed, and doubles as a mobile hotel for when I want to travel on the cheap (back seat folds out into a very large and comfortable bed). Typicaly traveling in the van is usually a weekend sailing regatta out of town or a weekend at the mountain to hang glide.
Sailing: It's fun but I especially like the racing aspect. Keeps my busy mind laser-focused on ONE thing and one thing only: winning the race. I bought a 17' racing dinghy for $3500 used. I pay $1100 per year for memebership and boat storage at a sailing club. Every three years or so I buy a new sail for $1k. The club hosts fun races every weekend and also has ammenities I can use any time including a club house, bath house, sandy beach, camping area, picnic tables, and boat repair area. A small dinghy like this costs nearly zero to maintain, but it isn't a pleasure boat that you would go cruising in with guests, or sleep aboard. I may get one of those someday to have as a movable cabin on the water, but not until retirement since it costs too much to store and maintain (initial purchase of a decent used sailboat is quite cheap).
Lately I try to focus on cheaper things:
- Gardening (you can spend a shitload of money on this so I'm trying to go permaculture and not buy anything other than seeds...... use compost for fertilizer, raked leaves for mulch, fallen or cut down limbs for posts, vines for trellis, etc). Plus this has the benefit of saving me money on food, and it can take a LOT of time depending on how big your operation is.
- Computer games. I play strategy games exclusively. I'll play a good game all the way through a couple of times. They cost maybe $50 and I only need 1-2 games a year max. The only down side to them is that I'm sitting on my arse which is what I do for my day job as well. I offset this by ensuring my other hobbies are very active and that I work out regularly. Typically only play games during the winter months as I'm too busy gardening/hiking/sailing/flying in the other seasons.
- Hiking with the dogs and friends
- Splitting and stacking firewood. I live on a wooded lot and there is always more firewood to split and stack than I have time for. It's really satisfying for some reason. And I love having fires in the fireplace.
- Helping friends with home remodel projects. This is great because I get to remodel, but don't have to pay for any of it, and I get to help my friends.
- Reading. I'm always learning about things so I never make time for fiction, but I read a ton of non-fiction. Usually on topics that allow me to learn to do more myself, which saves money and increases a sense of accomplishment.
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snowboarding, scuba diving, travel, brazilian jiu-jitsu, and rock/ice/mountain climbing.
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Yeah, but when you live at about 5000 ft elevation between the mountains & desert, popping down to the local yacht club could be expensive.
OTOH, who needs water to sail? http://www.nalsa.org/
Well, I only live at 2500' elevation, but well east of the rockies in the middle of the prairie and I am still less than an hour away from a sailing club and own a small sailing dinghy. Lake sailing in a small boat is just as fun as coastal I think, and can be done almost anywhere. That being said, I did just build myself a small land sailer from some spare bicycle parts and metal tubing.
As far as my other expensive hobbies besides sailing...
Flying - In particular owning an aircraft by myself is expensive, and probably not worth it. I had been flying about 65 hours a year until this year, and really scaled it back. Now I'm trying to get in on a partnership instead, which should save a bit.
Motorcycles - I haven't spent that much on this as I've really only had one daily rider for the last five years, and bought it used. Other cheap bikes have come into my life, gotten fixed up slightly, and then sold off or given away.
Cars - currently building a Locost. While this is a fairly inexpensive way to have a sports car, I find I'm spending a lot of money on upgrading my tools and shop equipment. In fact, I just got an electric permit yesterday so I can install a sub-panel in my garage in order to have a few 240v/50amp outlets to run a larger welder (currently only have 120v/15a).
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Lake sailing in a small boat is just as fun as coastal I think, and can be done almost anywhere.
Fairly true, though still a bit of a problem hereabouts, where the nearest lake that doesn't dry up at least occasionally is about a 50 mile drive. And there's always windsurfing. Still, there's a part of me that thinks the whole point of sailing is to get to Hawai'i or some such place without getting on a commercial flight.
Flying - In particular owning an aircraft by myself is expensive, and probably not worth it. I had been flying about 65 hours a year until this year, and really scaled it back. Now I'm trying to get in on a partnership instead, which should save a bit.
Yes, plus I've always understood that you really need to use a plane about 200 hours/year, just to keep it from deterioriating from hangar rot.
Cars - currently building a Locost.
I've wanted to do something of the sort for a long time. Though I would really like a knockoff of the Europa...
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I'm just starting to get into building musical instruments (handpans, similar to steel drums: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHDS0HcN6XI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHDS0HcN6XI)). It's inexpensive at the level I'm on, but has potential to be very pricey. Hopefully if I ever get to that point it will start paying for itself ;-)
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I'm just starting to get into building musical instruments (handpans, similar to steel drums: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHDS0HcN6XI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHDS0HcN6XI)). It's inexpensive at the level I'm on, but has potential to be very pricey. Hopefully if I ever get to that point it will start paying for itself ;-)
Which explains the drum quasi-full of gasoline your found yourself in possession of lately ;)
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Computers and video games.
Though with two kids, the later has depleted. I don't even remember the last game I bought (it was well before my son was born in February). I *might* by the new XBox 1 shortly after it comes out because of the interaction it has with Comcast (I should be able to return one of the two boxes that we rent).
The former I am now being smart and able to use my consulting company to buy some stuff to play around with and expense. Still takes away form what I am able to keep for myself, but at least it doesn't impact our day to day living as much ;)
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Love the contrarian aspect of this topic. If it pleases you to be frugal in all things as an end and a means, the equation is balanced. If you have been frugal to make your indulgence a pleasure rather than a detriment in your life, denying yourself is masochism in action. The analytical processes of frugality, however, can bear some wonderfully strange fruit when the day to indulge arrives.
To wit: Living on the water in the only sub-tropical area of the continental US, sailing and its accompanying lifestyle danced before my eyes for a decade. Fantasies came and went, crewing on the boats of others only convinced me that I didn't play well with the other children and should find a boat capable of supporting my solitary (and occasionally companioned) travel lust. During the search for a perfect vessel, my decision matrix kept eliminating choices on the basis of maintenance, investment of time, and opportunity for use. I wanted to go to lots of interesting and little known places, have comfortable living quarters, minimal docking fees, get there reasonably quick, and not sustain egregious downtime expense.
Turns out I didn't want a boat at all.
When my dog became too old to fly, driving became the only option to get from our sub-tropical winter digs to our Pacific Northwest summer hideout (whole 'nother story, but it pays more than it costs). Dreading the diagonal transcontinental throwdown, I had to ask myself - why? Interstate highway madness, fast food, bad hotels and above all else the pressure to get it over with came back. Why does it have to be that way? Um, because...well... Hey! What's this lightbulb doing over my head?
And so the problem, as so often occurs, contained the seed of the solution. Road atlases, festival guides and books like William Least Heat-Moon's Blue Highways became the new fantasy fuel. Our boat became a motor home rebuilt school bus repurposed potato chip truck slide-in truck camper lightweight trailer van. Not just any van. A van you can walk around in, with a comfortable bed, practical toilet, storage for the accoutrements of extended comfortable living, and (most critically) the ability to park in any standard space without drawing undue attention. How else could you overnight, without charge, in any city or village parking spot, taking nothing in the way of space and resources in excess of any other parked vehicle and leaving nothing behind but a good feeling among the local merchants?
The new land-yacht plan was not a unique idea. Akin to the infamous/hilarious Rule 34, there is an internet support group for just about everything. "Stealth Camping" is the umbrella term for our undertaking, and it covers everyone from folks who actually live in their vans (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nhgfjrKi0o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nhgfjrKi0o)) to off-grid conspiracy-theory types to friendly nomads to DeLuxe Stealth Glampers like me.
Our chosen vessel is a Mercedes Sprinter 12-passenger diesel, bought for half the previous owner's cost from an estate. It gets better mileage than my 2000 Dodge Caravan. The wrap around windows and percieved-as-upscale brand practically eliminate rousting by local constabulatories on the lookout for street campers (just the way the world works, folks - using reality to my advantage), and my custom build-out was lots of fun to plan and execute. The front seats/driver area is always exposed, so it always looks empty at rest. I've done Mardi Gras from an expensive hotel that was a pain to get in and out of and Mardi Gras parked in the middle of the madness - the middle is way more fun and convenient.
Unlike their sometimes-problematic passenger vehicles, MB commercial vehicles can, for the most part, be serviced and maintained by careful and resourceful owners. There's a great internet support group for this, natch, and the joy and challenge of self-reliance in this regard has been a real bonus for the project.
So, my old dog has gone on to the next adventure before me, a new girlfriend (and her dog) have joined the crew, and our sailing across the strange and beautiful backroads of the US continues. Crossing the Continental Divide to the wonderful mandolin sounds of Chris Thile or taking in a desert sunrise from the high and delightfully lonesome driver's seat, the Silver Seed (from the lyric to After the Gold Rush) has delivered joy, independence, utility, discovery and wonder in ways our original vessel plan could not (and was never intended to) match.
Expensive hobby? Maybe. Yes. Priceless experience? Undoubtedly.
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Our boat became a motor home rebuilt school bus repurposed potato chip truck slide-in truck camper lightweight trailer van. Not just any van. A van you can walk around in, with a comfortable bed, practical toilet, storage for the accoutrements of extended comfortable living, and (most critically) the ability to park in any standard space without drawing undue attention.
Interior pics / floor plan? I'm planning on doing this in a few years and it sounds like you have one hell of a van.
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Interior pics / floor plan?...
Kinda simple and déclassé, Russ - truth be known. The whole thing was planned around the idea of using Rubbermaid restaurant bus tubs held in racks by shock cords as portable storage units, and a re-purposed motorcycle ramp as a platform for a bed (that could also be used as an, um... motorcycle ramp). Can take the whole thing out and put the seats back in in under an hour. Racks are built from salvaged dunnage lumber sprayed with zolatone for that industrial grey look. Folding up the bed for dining and elaborate plumbing didn't pass muster. We'd rather lounge about than sit around a table, and an ingenious cassette toilet http://www.amazon.com/Sanitation-Equipment-Visa-Potty-Model/dp/B000FBNWYK%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIAA4MWUJXHBYFRNQ%26tag%3Dsquid1263065-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000FBNWYK (http://www.amazon.com/Sanitation-Equipment-Visa-Potty-Model/dp/B000FBNWYK%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIAA4MWUJXHBYFRNQ%26tag%3Dsquid1263065-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000FBNWYK) is simple, sanitary, remarkably stable and easy to maintain without all that holding tank/plumbing lines nonsense. The toilet/tool storage area is in the back, separated by solid rack sides and a shower curtain (strangely private). Bed, storage, cooler and microwave amidships. A velcroed wall of industrial carpeting separates the front cabin from the mid when bivouacked, and rolls up behind the driver when underway. I have a big utility battery charged up by a relay from the 220amp alternator when underway. That runs the rooftop vent fan, 12 volt mattress pad, LED cabin lighting and Peltier-element craigslist-find cooler without risking the starting battery. Don't have a floor plan, made it up as I went along. Not especially pretty on the inside (tight quarters), either - but wonderfully functional.
In this, we are pretty much iconoclasts to the other folks doing this. They seem to favor high-craft buildouts with rooftop PV solar, giant AGM battery banks, elaborate plumbing and cooking setups, etc. Didn't pass my cost/benefit/effort analysis. Put most of my time into finding the historically sweetest deal on the high dollar part of the equation, a hobby that brings me great joy, but inexplicably produces consternation on others in the Sprinter support group. Hey, don't blame me 'cause I manufacture my own luck! Allow me to point you towards the RV buildout section of the forum http://sprinter-source.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=119 (http://sprinter-source.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=119) for examples that far outshine mine. Or come visit and check it out for yourself.
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I have a lot of expensive interests, but I have scaled them back in order to save more.
Flying: It has been an interest since before I had memories (according to my mom). I've always done something with flying, whether it was building and flying R/C gliders/planes as a kid, or dreaming about getting my pilot's license. In my early 30's, I took up hang gliding. Not because I'm a dare-devil (it's actually quite safe, compared to a lot of other common activities like motorcycling), but because it is the cheapest and purest form of aviation. Training cost me $1k. Full gear and a glider (if you go used) can be had for around $4k or less if you look a long time and are willing to accept perfectly safe/function yet ugly stuff. Once you have your gear, flying is free. You just have to get to a launch site which costs gas. The latter is what sort of killed it for me. I live about 2.5 hours from the nearest launch site so it costs me ~$75 per round-trip in gas alone (not counting wear and tear). Still not THAT expensive but hang gliding is not something you should do once every few months. You need to stay current and fly often.
Cars: Loved them since I was 13 or so. Fast cars. Racing cars. Did some HPDE days, did some engine swaps (big engines in small cars) and modifications etc. This taught me valuable wrenching skills since I did everything myself. Fast cars are too expensive though and while fun, just not worth it to me now. Maybe when I am retired, I can truly afford to pick it back up. So for now, I satisfy my wrenching itch by maintaining a 90's van that I have as a fully paid for second vehicle. With 166k miles on it, it needs work from time to time and if I weren't able to do it myself, it wouldnt' make sense to keep. But it serves me very well, gets over 20mph on the highway, carries my hang glider, anything I need from the hardware store, dogs, can pull a trailer when needed, and doubles as a mobile hotel for when I want to travel on the cheap (back seat folds out into a very large and comfortable bed). Typicaly traveling in the van is usually a weekend sailing regatta out of town or a weekend at the mountain to hang glide.
Sailing: It's fun but I especially like the racing aspect. Keeps my busy mind laser-focused on ONE thing and one thing only: winning the race. I bought a 17' racing dinghy for $3500 used. I pay $1100 per year for memebership and boat storage at a sailing club. Every three years or so I buy a new sail for $1k. The club hosts fun races every weekend and also has ammenities I can use any time including a club house, bath house, sandy beach, camping area, picnic tables, and boat repair area. A small dinghy like this costs nearly zero to maintain, but it isn't a pleasure boat that you would go cruising in with guests, or sleep aboard. I may get one of those someday to have as a movable cabin on the water, but not until retirement since it costs too much to store and maintain (initial purchase of a decent used sailboat is quite cheap).
Lately I try to focus on cheaper things:
- Gardening (you can spend a shitload of money on this so I'm trying to go permaculture and not buy anything other than seeds...... use compost for fertilizer, raked leaves for mulch, fallen or cut down limbs for posts, vines for trellis, etc). Plus this has the benefit of saving me money on food, and it can take a LOT of time depending on how big your operation is.
- Computer games. I play strategy games exclusively. I'll play a good game all the way through a couple of times. They cost maybe $50 and I only need 1-2 games a year max. The only down side to them is that I'm sitting on my arse which is what I do for my day job as well. I offset this by ensuring my other hobbies are very active and that I work out regularly. Typically only play games during the winter months as I'm too busy gardening/hiking/sailing/flying in the other seasons.
- Hiking with the dogs and friends
- Splitting and stacking firewood. I live on a wooded lot and there is always more firewood to split and stack than I have time for. It's really satisfying for some reason. And I love having fires in the fireplace.
- Helping friends with home remodel projects. This is great because I get to remodel, but don't have to pay for any of it, and I get to help my friends.
- Reading. I'm always learning about things so I never make time for fiction, but I read a ton of non-fiction. Usually on topics that allow me to learn to do more myself, which saves money and increases a sense of accomplishment.
Wow! It's only $180 a year for club membership down at my Yacht club, and storage fees are maybe $90 if you want to store your boat. That'ss $NZD too, so maybe .7-.8 $USD
I guess I should feel lucky.
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Mixed martial arts, I was looking to get out of my comfort zone when I started but I'm hooked now. At $170.00 per month it is my biggest expense keeps me on the straight and narrow both financially and in terms of lifestyle choices.
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Bicycles. I live in an "N+1" world. If you aren't familiar with this, there's an old joke that says: how many is enough bikes for a cyclist? N+1, where N is the number you have now (or the number your spouse wants you to have).
This perfectly describes my husband, I can't wait to share this with him.
Bikes aren't the worst thing to be addicted to (my husband has one very nice booty) but man are they pricey...and hard to store in an apartment!
I don't have any super expensive hobbies, but if you add together all of our hobbies that would be lumped under the "outdoor sport lover" category they add up. My husband's bike addition is the biggest part, but backcountry ski gear, backcountry camping gear, etc adds up too.
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hey I love photography and hence, keep on buying camera lens of different power range
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Woodworking: Machines cost money. As much as you have. My planer cost me $600. The only thing that does is surface wood down to a different thickness. My router was $170, and bits are $20-40 each. Wood costs a lot of money. I got a damn good deal on some oak (super cheap), and just my workbench alone has about $200 worth of wood in it. A chair I'm going to build is going to have about $200 worth of wood in it, and another $100 in leather. I am making some money off of this hobby, however. Making everything from cutting boards to large built-in storage centers. Helps to offset tool/wood costs for me.
Motorcycle: My bike is a 2008, but I got a damn good deal on it (about $1500-2000 lower than it normally would have gone for). I use it for commuting (we have 1 car), fun rides, and I do trackdays on it. Trackdays are the real expensive part. $170-200 per day for an entrance fee. Plus you have to trailer the bike out there. Tires last about 4 days for a set (at $300+ per set). Plus, there's all the other associated things that go along with it (generator, tire warmers, canopy, nice tent to stay at the track in, gas to/from the track, leather suit, riding gear, etc).
SCUBA: Gear is expensive to buy. Air rentals are about $10/tank. Unless you only dive near where you live (I'm in cold water), you have to travel places.
But, the whole reason for me saving as much money as possible in other areas is so I can easily afford to do my hobbies and still save for retirement. My goal isn't to retire in under 10 years. More like 25. I have no problems with those who do want to retire ASAP, and I have no problems with those who want to retire at 65. Different strokes for different folks.
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Hi,
I am just new to MMM. But luckily my hobby is also my job and my way if life. I am a professional falconer, so everything I do has something to with birds of prey. I get paid to do what I love the most. So I see it as making me money rather than costing me anything. I have my own private bird that costs me in food and vet fees. but eventually most of them are sold for a profit, as I tend to get them given for free in the first place. My biggest cost for falconry is the driving around. It is just unavoidable living in the uae. but I tend to keep it as low as possible. I share a 4x4 with a friend. most of the driving is done in a small car.
You're a falconer in the United Arab Emirates? Baddddasssss.
My team at work is named after the Falcon. Go Falcons!
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I don't really have any expensive hobbies, but I do have a bit of a weakness for coats.
I love traveling, but I don't consider it a 'hobby' per se.
I guess I am planning on spending decent money on furniture for a new apartment, but not really a hobby either and will fall under the "things purchased for life" category.
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I love going to concerts. Every time a band I love comes to my state, I always try to see them. I go to roughly 7 concerts a year. Tickets are anywhere between $15-50 each. Then there's the cost of travel. There are several venues between 15-30 miles from my house, and sometimes (maybe once or twice a year) I go to a venue in Mass which is about 100 miles away.
My other expensive hobby is my first project car I just bought. It's a 1994 Ford Bronco. I bought it for $1500 and have already spent about $300 in parts for it. It's going to take about $1,000 just to get it drivable again, and several thousand in bodywork to fix the rust and other issues it has. But there is nothing I would rather do in my free time and it's very rewarding.
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Mixed martial arts, I was looking to get out of my comfort zone when I started but I'm hooked now. At $170.00 per month it is my biggest expense keeps me on the straight and narrow both financially and in terms of lifestyle choices.
this and golf. the worst part about golf is that I'm not great, but that one awesome shot each round keeps you coming back
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Mixed martial arts, I was looking to get out of my comfort zone when I started but I'm hooked now. At $170.00 per month it is my biggest expense keeps me on the straight and narrow both financially and in terms of lifestyle choices.
this and golf. the worst part about golf is that I'm not great, but that one awesome shot each round keeps you coming back
Golf and Bowling -- the worse you are the more you get to enjoy the game :)
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Collectible mortorbike. My husband just "inherited" his father's 1942 Indian motorbike, that he brought with him when he emigrated from Holland. It was an early inheritance that my FIL gave my DH rather than selling it for $20K. My husband really felt like this was something to hold on to, that it was a piece of family history etc. He's super excited about and it was just delivered to our house yesterday.
We now have a 60 year old motorbike in the basement that would cost a TON of money to restore (I think he casually looked at an exhaust pipe or something that was priced @ $900).
I know he's not going to blow our money on it, and it will probably only appreciate in value as more time passes, regardless of whether he restores it, but I do worry that he's going to get itchy to start working on it. I'm hoping that this is a project he will put off until we have enough to be FI, and then get a part time job on the side to pay for it.
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I actively try not to acquire expensive hobbies.
I love to travel, and I'm in the Foreign Serivce. I don't, however, constantly travel to other countries on short trips like many co-workers, or tally my "country count." I focus on appreciating the fact that I'm already living in a foreign country, so my wife and I spend more time exploring the city we live in, really learning the language, and doing domestic travel. I have co-workers who literally travel to other countries 1-2 times a month.
Similarly, I did not pick up diving as a hobby, declining invitations from friends/coworkers, because it seems expensive, and there are plenty of alternatives that I believe I would enjoy just as much
Cooking is my biggest hobby, but I refuse to buy expensive ingredients, instead focusing on cheaper ethnic foods and foods available where I am living.
Hobbies are things you focus on, but one potentially anti-mustchian feature of this is that the more you specialize and the better your taste becomes, the exponentially more expensive enjoying certain hobbies becomes. Wine, Diving, Golf, Cars--a lot of hobbies become extremely expensive at the margins. I try to imagine what it what cost me to become an expert in a hobby, and if the answer is too much, I seekone of the million other things in the world to spend my time on.
Have you thought of snorkling? All the fun of diving at a miniscule fraction of the price. My very Mustachian BF got my mask, snorkel and fins for $5 at a yard sale, we go together quite a lot and explore the new world under the sea :)
I also wouldn't focus how much it costs to be an expert in a hobby, as this makes most hobbies expensive. For example even something like Surfing (which I consider to be a cheap hobby - I got started with 5 lessons totaling $200, bought a board for $200 used, spent approx $50 on little things like a leg rope, rash vest, wax etc, mooched a wetsuit second hand for free - the marginal cost of this hobby is a bit of petrol) could be really expensive - Surf camps in exotic locations, many different top of the line boards to give the best performance in different conditions running over $1000 each, surf coaching at $50+ a lesson, top of the line wetsuits run up to $500 and some surfers will have one for each season, at the extreme end of the scale a house close enough to the beach to allow before work surfing sessions etc. I look at:
-cost to get started (and if this cost is recoupable or not if I don't like the hobby. I could sell my board and get 100% back as I got it used).
- on going costs (I try and avoid hobbies with weekly fees such as fitness classes)
- by having a few different hobbies I enjoy none of them ever get to the level where I would even think about taking them seriously enough to get into the expensive end of the scale.
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Booze!
We spend far too much on booze at the moment. Hoping to save some money by taking up home brewing once we've moved into a bigger place :)
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I have a very expensive hobby which I have stopped since children arrived.
Magic the Gathering and playing Warhammer 40K and Fantasy.
Each time a new set is release for MTG, I actually get a bit sad because I know I'm not going to be drafting the new set.
TCG's for me as well, but Yu-Gi-Oh! instead. Never really got over my childhood I suppose.
Computers and video games.
Also this. I try to keep it to a minimum though.
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Have you thought of snorkling? All the fun of diving at a miniscule fraction of the price. My very Mustachian BF got my mask, snorkel and fins for $5 at a yard sale, we go together quite a lot and explore the new world under the sea :)
Have you ever been SCUBA diving? In no way, shape or form, is snorkeling all the fun of diving. Diving can be done on a budget. If you live somewhere with decent diving, you can buy some used gear, rent tanks for the day, and shore dive.
Sure, if you don't live in warm water diving, you may not enjoy it as much as going to the caribbean, but it's still fun in cold water as well.
You don't need to go somewhere exotic for diving. Buying gear saves a lot of money after renting more than a handful of times.
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Have you thought of snorkling? All the fun of diving at a miniscule fraction of the price. My very Mustachian BF got my mask, snorkel and fins for $5 at a yard sale, we go together quite a lot and explore the new world under the sea :)
Have you ever been SCUBA diving? In no way, shape or form, is snorkeling all the fun of diving. Diving can be done on a budget. If you live somewhere with decent diving, you can buy some used gear, rent tanks for the day, and shore dive.
Sure, if you don't live in warm water diving, you may not enjoy it as much as going to the caribbean, but it's still fun in cold water as well.
You don't need to go somewhere exotic for diving. Buying gear saves a lot of money after renting more than a handful of times.
Never been - but the point was there are other ways to experience under the sea that aren't expensive. The water is pretty warm here and there are cool things close to the shore/surface so I haven't had a real desire to go deeper. But I think your hints sound really I good - I didn't even realise there was a cheaper way to go diving. (The license alone here costs about $700 to complete).
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I used to be an N+1 cyclist, but when I got to 5 bikes, the minimalist/unclutterer/Mustachian in me took over. I bought one nice all-purpose bike (Surly Ogre) and sold all of the others. Couldn't be happier with that decision. No more stocking parts/tubes/etc. for a bunch of different-sized bikes, no more decisions about which bike to ride, and I got a big chunk of my garage back. It's not the fastest or the lightest bike, but I don't care. Half the point of Mustachianism (for me) is building a lifestyle where you never need to be in a hurry.
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I used to be an N+1 cyclist, but when I got to 5 bikes, the minimalist/unclutterer/Mustachian in me took over. I bought one nice all-purpose bike (Surly Ogre) and sold all of the others. Couldn't be happier with that decision. No more stocking parts/tubes/etc. for a bunch of different-sized bikes, no more decisions about which bike to ride, and I got a big chunk of my garage back. It's not the fastest or the lightest bike, but I don't care. Half the point of Mustachianism (for me) is building a lifestyle where you never need to be in a hurry.
I agree, I had 3 at one point and that was too much for me... 1 would be ideal (1x10 CX bike w/ 30-35mm slicks), but I like having a backup (with mostly similar parts) in case anything breaks.
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Cycling - I spent a ton on unnecessary upgrades to my bikes, plus building my "dream" bike and then refusing to sell my old one after the fact (even though selling the old one was part of the financial plan I used to justify building the new one). I did eventually come to terms and sell the older one but not until after I had two fancy schmancy basically redundant race bikes for a couple of years.
Brewing - I have thousands in equipment--I don't even want to think about the actual number. It should save money eventually since bulk grains and hops are pretty cheap when you price out the cost per pint, but I've gotten carried away with upgrades and gadgets from time to time so there go the supposed savings.
Cars - I used to do performance mods and stuff. At least the cars I had were cheap to buy, but I was still wasting money on them just for the sake of having fun.
Audio equipment. I believe I have around 20 pairs of speakers scattered around. I have no excuse for this.
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This:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pmFBThnzBc8/TUGQy6XFgSI/AAAAAAAAB4o/pv_dDvypU0s/s640/boat.jpg)
+ Fishing gear
= ~$4400 last year.
(Granted, I did drop $2100 on a brand new trailer just in Nov/Dec). Actually now that doesn't look nearly as expensive as I thought.
Looks like Mint says $9500 for everything labeled 'Boat' since I bought it in 2010. So add in the purchase price and this has cost me $17,000 to own thus far. That's repairs, fuel, storage (when I didn't have a backyard, marina (when we put it in one for a bit), gear, registration, taxes, fishing licenses, bait, etc, etc...
Worth it.
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Wine. We take a trip to Napa at least once every other year. Plus the normal spending ( though there is nothing normal about it) for the wine we drink. Every time I make some savings in some other area , I think "wow, that's more wine I can buy"
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Worth it.
This is the key point. Mustachianism isn't (IMO) about never spending any money on fun, it's about making sure you are conscious of what you are spending and that you're getting a requisite value back from that spending. Maximizing your enjoyment per dollar, as it were.
In this case, $17K on a fishing boat over 4 years doesn't sound unreasonably to me. Hell, half of my neighbors spend at least $17K more than necessary on their cars every 4 years. Plus, hopefully you've caught a lot of fish, which defrays the costs a little bit.
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Worth it.
This is the key point. Mustachianism isn't (IMO) about never spending any money on fun, it's about making sure you are conscious of what you are spending and that you're getting a requisite value back from that spending. Maximizing your enjoyment per dollar, as it were.
In this case, $17K on a fishing boat over 4 years doesn't sound unreasonably to me. Hell, half of my neighbors spend at least $17K more than necessary on their cars every 4 years. Plus, hopefully you've caught a lot of fish, which defrays the costs a little bit.
I wish I was catching enough fish :( But as the saying goes, a bad day fishing beats a good day at work (or whatever). I'm pretty good at catching oysters, they don't move very fast.
I think back to when I was trying to purchase this boat and all the headaches dealing with the owner, we almost went out and bought a brand new version of it. (The one above is a 2002). The new version? $29k before electronics/taxes/fees, BUT YOU CAN FINANCE IT FOR 12 YEARS! lol.... It would have had a cheaper monthly cost ($212 vs $230) for the 12 year $30k boat than the 3 year $7.5k boat, but I'd still be paying for it for another 8 years. I paid off my boat in 1.5 years. Its been costing me a little bit above average in the beginning to fix the things anyone would need to fix on a 12 year old boat and motor, but at this point the last few things on my list are mostly cosmetic/fishing related, so the cost of ownership for the next 4 years should be more around $1k-$2k/year mostly for fuel. I want a new windshield, a new steering wheel, to add a radio (I have speakers), to add trim tabs, to add a trolling motor... but all of those are wants, not needs. I'll add them as I can afford them, which will increase my enjoyment that much more.
I got a new magazine issue yesterday with all the newest hottest center console fishing boats. Its fun to dream, but my first thought when I look at a $100k boat is "I won't want to run this up on the beach, or risk hitting something in the shallows, or run it up near an oyster bank to harvest some oysters." Plus bigger boat = bigger gas bill.
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"I won't want to run this up on the beach, or risk hitting something in the shallows, or run it up near an oyster bank to harvest some oysters."
Great point - one of the (many) problems with having "nice" things is that you have to worry about them more. I remember wistfully the days of my youth, when I drove a series of Chevy Vega's; the most I ever paid for one was $250. My brother joked that they were disposable - if something major broke, I could just take the plates off and abandon it. I never actually did that, but I did scrap several of them and replace it with another one when I could do that cheaper than fixing it.
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Ha ha -- all these biker comments make me laugh, and really appreciate my sweetie. Because we are BOTH bike crazed, neither of us minds that we have a shit ton of bikes between us. Though if you tallied up the price of ownership, it might be high, I don't mind one iota because all of our bikes are much used, and over the course of their useful lives, are extremely cheap, whether I count them as transportation or entertainment. We do most of our own maintenance, and when appropriate, we buy used. But sometimes we go for the new shiny. And though I am extremely frugal in many other areas of life, bicycles are something I am willing to put good money into. So if your spouse/SO is giving you a hard time about the number or cost of your bikes, my best suggestion is: BUY HIM OR HER A NEW FABULOUS IRRESISTIBLE BICYCLE FIRST and then see how your situation improves.
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I like to ride my Harley and camp. So I have a toy hauler as well and a big suburban to pull it and haul the family. We used to tent camp but that got old after about 5 years of doing it.
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Have you thought of snorkling? All the fun of diving at a miniscule fraction of the price. My very Mustachian BF got my mask, snorkel and fins for $5 at a yard sale, we go together quite a lot and explore the new world under the sea :)
Have you ever been SCUBA diving? In no way, shape or form, is snorkeling all the fun of diving. Diving can be done on a budget. If you live somewhere with decent diving, you can buy some used gear, rent tanks for the day, and shore dive.
Sure, if you don't live in warm water diving, you may not enjoy it as much as going to the caribbean, but it's still fun in cold water as well.
You don't need to go somewhere exotic for diving. Buying gear saves a lot of money after renting more than a handful of times.
Never been - but the point was there are other ways to experience under the sea that aren't expensive. The water is pretty warm here and there are cool things close to the shore/surface so I haven't had a real desire to go deeper. But I think your hints sound really I good - I didn't even realise there was a cheaper way to go diving. (The license alone here costs about $700 to complete).
Ouch. Our basic SCUBA open water course is typically $200-300 here in the states. That gets you to do daytime diving down to 60 ft. If you want to go deeper, go at night, light wreck diving, etc you need to be advanced certified.