How Much Do You Spend On Hobbies?

[Tom Geiger]

Here's an article:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/07/25/how-to-save-hobbies/

No big relevations here, but a good opening for a discussion.

Our hobby is cheap next to some of the hobbies / sports listed in the article. I can say that I've never used monies needed for my family. Anything I spend is purely extra money, after all the bills are paid and the family is well taken care of. Still, I see and hear different in the hobby....

Thoughts?

[disabled modeler]

With my lack of any real budget I rarely ever get to buy anything for myself...bills,payments,etc. take it all before there is a chance to and they come first here too. I normally shop at garage sales for models,gas-oil-auto related stuff when possible. The last kit I bought was around two years ago...even though I had a little extra left over I felt guilty afterwards...

[High octane]

I spend too much on my model car hobby, however I've been drastically cutting back the last year or so. I'd rather not tie up more ca$h for a larger stack of unbuilt kits as I already have more than enough.

[Ramfins59]

I'll only spend on the hobby after all the household bills and my mandatory "squirrel some away" fund is taken care of. I have more than enough kits, promos and builtups in the TO DO pile to last me a long time.

I'll buy some newly issued kits that appeal to me now and then, but not nearly as many as I used to.

I do see a lot of stuff on EBAY that I would love to get, but after "watching" the prices on those items go up and up I just let them pass.

[cobraman]

On model cars and supplies I think maybe a 100 a month give or take depending what I see and have to have. My other two hobbies are collecting miniature Cobra cars both AC and Daytona which is not too expensive ( at least the ones I buy ). My other hobby is shooting and gun collecting and that is where the bulk of my "extra" money goes. Can't say what I have invested in guns in case my wife might see this. : )

[rmvw guy]

I don't spend much on anything anymore. Wife does most of the shopping. I have about all the supplys I need already from past spending I guess. If I go out at all it will be for glue or paint most likely. Sorry, I'm not helping buisness anywhere, I know! I receive a gift certificate for a hobby store sometimes since everone knows I love building models, that helps.

[JTalmage]

I'm terrible at buying things on impulse. I'm *just ok* on managing money... but I also have 4 real life project cars. Which is sort of a problem lol

I like 1:1 cars

I like scale models

I like hotwheels/matchbox cars

I like antiques, mostly vehicle related stuff like signs

I like vinyl records/8tracks

I like guitars

I like movies and video games

I like guns (but dont own any as of yet)

I like spending money apparently

Edited July 25, 2014 by JTalmage

[uncle potts]

Not near as much as I would like, sometimes. I have more than enough kits to keep me busy for a very long time. So most of my money, what little I do spend, Is for paint, glues, and any other supplies I may need to finish a build. Since the wife does the budget, and I've been off work due to two surgeries in the last 8 months, this has made life much easier for her.

[Joe Handley]

I try not to add things up, especially where my R/C stuff is involved, I just don't want to know the numbers...........

In the last year, my spending had been nearly non existant due to lack of un-spoken for funds. My store had been seeing declining sales and all of our hours declined in kind until the store changed hands in March, some of the "legacy" employees left on their own, a few were not asked to stay, and I was one of 3 that was asked to stay on. Since then the new owners heavily changed how things were done and our sales are better than I've seen in a long time.........and sometimes only during Christmas.... So far things have gone well enough that not only are my hours better than they have been in a long time, but we have hired one of the guys who lost his job when a particular, long standing hobby shop closed it's doors a couple months back.

[mikemodeler]

More than I should!

Like Richard (Ramfins) stated, I make sure the bills are paid and then scrounge around for some "play money".

Like many here, I have a lot of models to build without buying another one and plenty of paint/glue/foil and anything else I might need. I am guilty of checking out Hobby Lobby and their clearance section, I think I have a couple extra Revell '69 Camaros of various issues and hope I can resist buying anymore!

[martinfan5]

Not enough

[D. Battista]

Not enough

I heard that..!

[Pete J.]

Generally I have to say that I am lucky, I do one or two custom jobs a year and that pays the hobby bills. How much is that? Well, I would rather not say, but it is enough to keep me comfortable in my past time.

[Fabrux]

These days I'm lucky to buy one new release kit a month. Most of my "new" purchases come from a local thrift shop, and even then I don't always buy them myself as my father-in-law picks up kits for me whenever he sees them. When I was still working I usually picked up a couple-three kits a month. If one were to add up the dollar value of everything in my stash, we'd be seeing a significant investment! I also have a 1:1 project truck, a 1998 GMC Sierra that unfortunately hasn't had much done to it in the year I've owned it.

I've had some exposure to various hobbies that my mom gets interested in; she tends to rotate through various hobbies until she either loses interest or becomes too costly. Everything from toll painting to knitting to quilting. But, the past few years she has been really big into Stampin Up stuff and has amassed a huge assortment of supplies. But hey, she has no kids at home anymore so why not! Plus she has a business license and sells things she makes so it is mostly a self-sufficient hobby now.

[Ace-Garageguy]

When I'm not making much money, I spend what I can on the little cars. When I'm making pretty good money, I spend on the big cars. When I'm making NO money, I just work on what I've got, with what I have on hand. It's all relative.

Edited July 26, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[unclescott58]

Too much. And not as much as I wish could.

Scott

[Rob Hall]

A buck or two, here and there.

[martinfan5]

A buck or two, here and there.

:lol:

[slusher]

I use to be a big impulse buyer but I have slowed way, way down. I have enough kits at my work pace I will never build them all. I don't have a big stash and I have plenty of supplies. I am very pleased with what I have. Been staying off ebay. Looking on ebay will make you want things you don't need...

[slusher]

On model cars and supplies I think maybe a 100 a month give or take depending what I see and have to have. My other two hobbies are collecting miniature Cobra cars both AC and Daytona which is not too expensive ( at least the ones I buy ). My other hobby is shooting and gun collecting and that is where the bulk of my "extra" money goes. Can't say what I have invested in guns in case my wife might see this. : )

Ray I always said you had money. Three hobbies, how do you fold that wallet ??

[cobraman]

I don't smoke or drink and lead a simple life. My wallet is in sad shape. My purchase have been made over many years. If I had any "real" money I would have a Cobra ( replica ) in my garage.

[slusher]

I don't smoke or drink and lead a simple life. My wallet is in sad shape. My purchase have been made over many years. If I had any "real" money I would have a Cobra ( replica ) in my garage.

Just having fun with you Ray. I am the same way I lead a very simple life...

[Mark]

As much as I want...no mortgage, no vehicle payment, all the bills get paid, and there's some left for savings, retirement, charity, and all of the other important stuff. I'm not rich, but consider myself very fortunate in that way. Other people I know have season tickets for one or more sports teams, blow money at the bars or the casino most weekends, own boats or motorcycles (or both) that they really can't afford, or have other activities that are way more expensive than mine. I have been tapering off somewhat on new releases, concentrating on filling holes in various sub-collections (Indy 500 pace cars, concept cars, for two examples) and picking up decal sheets and parts to go with things already "in stock". I've sold off some stuff that I'll never get to, and don't regret getting rid of anything (yet).

[2000-cvpi]

I tend to go in waves, some times I buy a lot when there is money for kits. Then there are months long droughts that I don't buy anything. I have enough supplies for the next 5 years, so I don't buy much of that stuff. Kits have to be a good deal for me to buy them, I am inherently cheap so if it isn't priced right, I pass. I have splurged several times on hard to find kits, but that is few and far between.

[wayne swayze]

Far too much....not nearly enough....