Curious as to the type of folks who share space on this forum. What are your bad habits/expensive hobbies? I'll start it with guns, motorcycles and scuba diving.
Bad habits/Expensive hobbies
- Thread starter russp1
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Bad habits/Expensive hobbies Well, sometimes they're one in the same. In my case it is definitely the guns.
... and related accessories!
rags
... and related accessories!
rags
rocketdog
Member
Pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, knives, cigars, liquor, beer, coins, wife. 
JCS&W
US Veteran
I have it down to Smith revolvers. However, there was a time when it was, in no particular order, golf, booze, cigars, big block cars, and last but not least, my wife.
Fresh water fishing. No time or good weather conditions to go fishing, but I seemed to end up in the fishing department at the sport shop. I have 28 rods & reels (a fly rod & reel that is NIB & 12 years old and never used), 3 tackle boxes filled with lures, spinners, rubber worms. The last time I went fishing was 3 years ago and I'm retired. 
2008 election and primer & powder shortage caused me to take advantage of pre-price increase conditions. I have a 10 year supply of components, more than 1 wheelbarrow full of range brass. Haven't been shooting in 3 months or reloaded ammo in 5 months and I'm retired.
Something is wrong. Haven't yet fired the last 2 guns I bought either. All of this is getting expensive shopping. I've become a hoarder with a part-time job.
2008 election and primer & powder shortage caused me to take advantage of pre-price increase conditions. I have a 10 year supply of components, more than 1 wheelbarrow full of range brass. Haven't been shooting in 3 months or reloaded ammo in 5 months and I'm retired.
Something is wrong. Haven't yet fired the last 2 guns I bought either. All of this is getting expensive shopping. I've become a hoarder with a part-time job.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
In the long distant past I was a big time gambler and owned and played with airplanes, harleys and guns. Now retired I cant pay attendtion. I still own a busted up plane and many guns from my past but I aint buying anymore.
A snapshot from a past life.
A snapshot from a past life.
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Andy Griffith
Member
Live steam, gardening and Geo. Dickel.
Isn't that enough?
I would say women, but my wife ended that long ago.
Fortunately, I'm not retired so I have plenty of time to do the things I want. Retired people work too hard and have convinced me never to do it.
Isn't that enough?
I would say women, but my wife ended that long ago.
Fortunately, I'm not retired so I have plenty of time to do the things I want. Retired people work too hard and have convinced me never to do it.
Cool picture Merrill! Is that a 74', or 75' TA? I think it's right around that era, but I'm not sure...
As for expensive hobbies, yes we share a common one on this board. The good news is that we should be able to get a good part of our investment back, if you are careful. Many other expensive hobbies/habbits are not so kind to your wallet!
As for expensive hobbies, yes we share a common one on this board. The good news is that we should be able to get a good part of our investment back, if you are careful. Many other expensive hobbies/habbits are not so kind to your wallet!
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
That be a 1976 trans am. The 1977s went to twin headlights. Mine was a 400 ci. They also came in 455. That car was pretty low built for me to get in and out of. They were a stiff hard ride at low speed. The faster you went, the better it rode and gave better gas mileage at higher speeds. That car didnt start to ride right under 85/90 mph!
Thuer
Member
Cool Picture Feralmerril.
I do spent money on revolvers, revolvers, revolvers, knives, whiskey and not on wife. She works and has money of her own.
I do spent money on revolvers, revolvers, revolvers, knives, whiskey and not on wife. She works and has money of her own.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
None of my wives worked while I was married. I keep reading of it though. We still got by.
I jettisoned my worst habit. 21 months smoke-free (knock on wood). At $5.50 per pack and 1-1/2 packs per day that's about $3500 saved so far. Unfortunately I gained much poundage and used a lot of it to buy clothes to fit my fat arse. And a new Caddy
Hobbies? Drums and guns. And gardening with my wife. Also into hockey, watching not playing. Looks like the CBJ is ready to go for it this year...
Hobbies? Drums and guns. And gardening with my wife. Also into hockey, watching not playing. Looks like the CBJ is ready to go for it this year...
Fine firearms, fishing, and 25 year old scotch seem to eat up my time and cash.....
forgot to add the grandkids.....lots of money there, too
forgot to add the grandkids.....lots of money there, too
Besides guns . . . . . . farming, tractors, keeping up land that I own. It is very expensive to keep a property from being overgrown with non-native invasive species like kudzu, privet hedge, etc. That's not to mention taxes.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
My kids (both teenagers, a boy and a girl); my wife; our pets (2 dogs and 2 cats) and my guns - oh and fishing.
Regards,
Dave
Regards,
Dave
Black_Sheep
Member
In addition to a modest collection of old Smiths, I enjoy an occasional sip or two of Crown and spend a lot of time in the garage playing with my old cars. I recently sold a real decent '37 Packard to fund repair and upgrades on the custom '58 Chevy pickup I inherited last year when my brother passed away. I also have a '69 GTX that was purchased in '82 and totally restored in my cramped 2 stall garage over a period of 12 years or so...
here's the '58
here's the '58
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bitstream
Member
Guns and woodworking.
mkk41
US Veteran
Hey , me too!
With (a lot!) of guns , 5 Harley Davidsons , and my project '64 Vette , plus the tools , parts , and memoribilia that go along , that's where the bulk of my 'mad money' goes.
Remember , he who dies with the mostest of the bestest toys , still dies!
G.T. Smith
US Veteran
I have lots of bad habits. The worst are probably smoking and drinking loads of beer. Not as much as when I was a younger man, but still plenty. Most expensive hobbies used to be playing music in a bar band and buying more and more equipment. Don't play in bands no more though. Lost interest. Still pick a little every great once in a while though. I love guns and I buy when I can which ain't very often.
Peace,
Gordon
Peace,
Gordon
seagill
US Veteran
Sailing used to be my most expensive hobby, unfortunately when I moved I was forced to sell my boat. Now that I have a big enough backyard I decided to take up archery. After buying the bow, arrows and accessories my wife had a fit when she saw how much I spent. I still haven't told her about the other "bells and whistles" that I plan on purchasing.
Smith357
US Veteran
I've been into Skiing, Motorcycles, Firearms, and Guitars, by far the most expensive is keeping a Woman
straightshooter1
US Veteran
I guess shooting trap is my addiction. It is expensive.
I reload a box of 25 for just under $5.00. Each event takes 4 Boxes. Round that off to $20 bucks to shoot reloads. And, most days of Registered Shooting (competition) there are three events or $60 for the shells.
Then, to shoot one day of competition, it's about $28 as entry fees per event or $84. Then there's the options, where the money is. The cheapest is the Lewis Option, either $10 or $20 per event. So another $30 to $60 per day. So one day of shooting competition is at least $174. And, most competitions are three days and some are even longer. The Grand, in Sparta, IL, is almost two weeks long.
Gas and food and sodas-no problem as I've already spent a lot of money, might as well be happy, too.
Then there's the fees to shoot just plain practice. Practice, and I shoot a lot of it, is $4.50 per round of 25. Ten to Twelve rounds a day, sometimes more. So, $5.00 for the shells, $4.50 per found is, if I shoot ten rounds, is only $95.
And, I shoot every day except in the summer when the Club is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Then I go to a Sporting Clays course at least one day.
And, I got my wife into shooting this insane sport. Thankfully, she is still working and can only shoot on weekends and when she takes a day off (like this Friday).
Then there's the guns, the pouches, bags, glasses and....
They say Trap is addictive. It must be or I'd quit spending this insane amount of money on it.
I never added it up before. Of course, it doubles for Friday, Saturday and Sunday as my wife is shooting the competition then. Tomorrow, it's just me shooting with my buddies since it's the Preliminary day of the competition.
The good news, if I hit the Lewis Option, I get some money back. But, that's if.
I sure hope my math was wrong, but....
Bob
I reload a box of 25 for just under $5.00. Each event takes 4 Boxes. Round that off to $20 bucks to shoot reloads. And, most days of Registered Shooting (competition) there are three events or $60 for the shells.
Then, to shoot one day of competition, it's about $28 as entry fees per event or $84. Then there's the options, where the money is. The cheapest is the Lewis Option, either $10 or $20 per event. So another $30 to $60 per day. So one day of shooting competition is at least $174. And, most competitions are three days and some are even longer. The Grand, in Sparta, IL, is almost two weeks long.
Gas and food and sodas-no problem as I've already spent a lot of money, might as well be happy, too.
Then there's the fees to shoot just plain practice. Practice, and I shoot a lot of it, is $4.50 per round of 25. Ten to Twelve rounds a day, sometimes more. So, $5.00 for the shells, $4.50 per found is, if I shoot ten rounds, is only $95.
And, I shoot every day except in the summer when the Club is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Then I go to a Sporting Clays course at least one day.
And, I got my wife into shooting this insane sport. Thankfully, she is still working and can only shoot on weekends and when she takes a day off (like this Friday).
Then there's the guns, the pouches, bags, glasses and....
They say Trap is addictive. It must be or I'd quit spending this insane amount of money on it.
I never added it up before. Of course, it doubles for Friday, Saturday and Sunday as my wife is shooting the competition then. Tomorrow, it's just me shooting with my buddies since it's the Preliminary day of the competition.
The good news, if I hit the Lewis Option, I get some money back. But, that's if.
I sure hope my math was wrong, but....
Bob
Well for years I had very real appreciation for fast cars, faster women, and slow horses; anyone of those is a certain guarantee to keep all but the most well healed in constant contact with his banker Ya but it was fun as long as it lasted.
Ya but it was fun as long as it lasted.John Eilertson
Member
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Like so many others, I spend far too much on sporting goods. I also have a pretty fair amount of fishing gear, and have traveled as far S as Cabo and as far N as the Kenai River to attain tight lines. (Got 'em, too.) The cost of gasoline is so high that it can limit some aspects, such as scouting, but I know more or less where I want to go and what for. But, now here I am, thinking about getting a boat...?!
LennyLames
Member
When I review all the hobbies I've participated in, the most expensive are offshore sailing and flying. Not only do they have the highest acquisition costs (in the 6 figures) for equipment, they also have have the highest maintenance and usage costs.
Even if the equipment sits there doing nothing, the cost of the slip is several hundred a month, with regional variations. For marinas, the longer the sailboat, the higher the fees, as they generally charge by the foot of overall length. Launching and hauling out the boat with a Travelift costs a few hundred per round trip. For planes, the hangar or tie-down fees are fairly size constant, unless you get into much larger wingspans beyond 37 feet. Aviation is also much more regulated than sailing, with annual inspections, Aviation Directives to comply with, etc.
Then, to actually enjoy the hobby is even more expensive. Every offshore voyage (minimum 2 weeks) cost thousands. I seldom day sailed. Once I left the channel, I sailed past the edge of the earth (beyond the horizon) to some international destination. Even checking into the Bahamas cost $300 for any boat over 37 feet (mine was longer). For flying, factor in engine reserves (eventually, roughly every 2000 engine hours, the engines will have to be replaced or overhauled). Engine reserves are much higher than the cost of aviation gas, perhaps a couple of hundred per hour, depending on the plane, type and number of engines.
I used to hang out with a retired naval aviator in Key West whose trimaran was a few slips from mine. Capt. John E. was sailing from TX to the Bahamas when his mast broke in a storm and he struggled into Key West. He never left. He taught me celestial navigation. But the most profound piece of advice that he gave me was that "If it floats, flies, or fornicates [I modified the actual 4-letter-based word], it's cheaper to rent." Clearly, we had both chosen the more expensive route to boating.
Years later, I got married and shortly thereafter, sold the expensive equipment because they were no longer being used. I still get a longing for the lifestyle, but the reality is that I no longer can just take off and disappear for weeks at a time.
Even if the equipment sits there doing nothing, the cost of the slip is several hundred a month, with regional variations. For marinas, the longer the sailboat, the higher the fees, as they generally charge by the foot of overall length. Launching and hauling out the boat with a Travelift costs a few hundred per round trip. For planes, the hangar or tie-down fees are fairly size constant, unless you get into much larger wingspans beyond 37 feet. Aviation is also much more regulated than sailing, with annual inspections, Aviation Directives to comply with, etc.
Then, to actually enjoy the hobby is even more expensive. Every offshore voyage (minimum 2 weeks) cost thousands. I seldom day sailed. Once I left the channel, I sailed past the edge of the earth (beyond the horizon) to some international destination. Even checking into the Bahamas cost $300 for any boat over 37 feet (mine was longer). For flying, factor in engine reserves (eventually, roughly every 2000 engine hours, the engines will have to be replaced or overhauled). Engine reserves are much higher than the cost of aviation gas, perhaps a couple of hundred per hour, depending on the plane, type and number of engines.
I used to hang out with a retired naval aviator in Key West whose trimaran was a few slips from mine. Capt. John E. was sailing from TX to the Bahamas when his mast broke in a storm and he struggled into Key West. He never left. He taught me celestial navigation. But the most profound piece of advice that he gave me was that "If it floats, flies, or fornicates [I modified the actual 4-letter-based word], it's cheaper to rent." Clearly, we had both chosen the more expensive route to boating.
Years later, I got married and shortly thereafter, sold the expensive equipment because they were no longer being used. I still get a longing for the lifestyle, but the reality is that I no longer can just take off and disappear for weeks at a time.
