Anyone else goofy like me?

[Randy Price]

I grew up not having nice things.  Now that I can afford them I find I baby them almost to the point of non use.  A couple of examples- I bought a pair of Swarovski binoculars several years ago.  I always wanted a pair of premium bino's.  However, when I head to the woods I grab my Vortex's because I don't want to hurt them.  Same thing with my SC Legend Elite and Extreme rods.  A couple of years ago I had some bonus money so I bought two of each in different powers and actions yet when I go fishing I tend to grab one of my Avid rods.  I know I should use and enjoy them but I have a hard time with it.  Anybody else goofy like me? 

[FishinBuck07]

Nope if I spend the money on it I am using it!  Kind of a waste of money in my mind to let them sit there and collect dust.  Just my opinion though!

[the reel ess]

I didn't grow up poor, but we did live paycheck-to-paycheck. Luckily, my dad worked for a big company and never missed a paycheck. Now I'm married and we have a cushion in savings and a good retirement saved up. My wife is a state employee so she has a pension. We still live like we're a paycheck away from financial ruin. If you lived frugally in your formative years and had to labor for your wealth it's difficult to break that cycle. Not that you need to break it.

 

That said, I use my stuff. But I don't buy $500 rods or reels. I don't have a bass boat anymore. My truck is 12 years old.

[garroyo130]

Not with rods and reels but yes with baits

[Russ E]

If I am spending money on nice things, they will get used heavily.

I grew up middle class. We were not poor, but we did not have excess.

My dad's philosophy was, if you buy something use it. If it sits around sell it.

 

[Randy Price]

You guys are all correct!  I know I should use and enjoy it but it's a hard mental thing for me to break.

[MN Fisher]

31 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

That said, I use my stuff. But I don't buy $500 rods or reels. I don't have a bass boat anymore. My truck is 12 years old.

I'm still living paycheck-to-paycheck...Social Security for both of us. Money we had set aside in retirement plans had to be used for some medical emergencies some years back (ya, penalty paid), so we don't have a cushion. Some money in savings, but that's for any other emergencies that creep up. My truck is a 2001 that I baby as much as possible as replacing it is virtually impossible right now.

 

This is why I use 'budget' gear and my 'boat' is a $500 canoe...there's really not even half-decent shore fishing near me...I get a yearly gift of a check from the parents, and the memo on it is 'For fun use only' - that's where I get my fishing money and when it's gone, that's it for the year.

 

So, I get what I can afford and use what I have...fully.

[roadwarrior]

54 minutes ago, Russ E said:

My dad's philosophy was, if you buy something use it. If it sits around sell it.

[Bird]

I'm goofy but not in that way. Lol

 

2 years ago I bought a brand new 2500 pickup truck. 

My brother has a sawmill and firewood business  who I often help on Saturdays.

 

I volunteered my new truck for the day and hauled 8 loads of firewood to various clients.......it needed a good break in.

 

Have friends that will show me their truck and claim " never been on gravel road " or a firearm " never been fired ".......not me.

I worked hard for my stuff so it's gonna work hard for me.

 

 

 

 

 

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

If you lived frugally in your formative years and had to labor for your wealth it's difficult to break that cycle.

 

   Absolutely true.     jj

[Spankey]

Use but don’t abuse is sort of my mentality. I’m a heavy industrial equipment repair guy. Tools of one sort or another is my day every day. My rods and reels are tools. My hunting and clay guns are tools. They are very well maintained and they don’t appear to be used very hard but they have. 
 

I understand the way you grew up. I went through that. I never dwell on it because I’ve been a black sheep as long as I can remember. But remember you want to enjoy the stuff you have acquired. Use it, don’t abuse it, if it wears out replace it. By then it owes you nothing. Live, don’t hold yourself back. Seems like you are holding yourself back some. Can’t take that crap with you when you check out off of Gods green earth. 

[WRB]

One day you want to retire debt free.

Just take good care things, no reason to waste money buying things you don’t use.

Tom

[Randy Price]

Thanks guys for all the replies.  I guess since I have worked since 16 (I'm 55 now) and had to pay my own way I baby things too much.  I'm going to really try to enjoy all my stuff.  Like others have said I can't take it with me and my kids might not even like it after I'm gone.  Best Wishes to all.  Randy

[lo n slo]

my grandmother had a living room that us kids were banned from. couldn’t even open the door, she’d stripe you with the Hickory. all the furniture was covered in plastic. that was the good stuff.

 

 

[Jaderose]

I use my stuff well and take care of it.  At 52, I'm starting into the "get rid of things you don't use" phase of life.  I shot the bait monkey years ago.  I couldn't tell you the last time I bought something that didn't get immediately put to use or is just waiting until I run out of something.  Don't have top of the line gear but it's very good for me and taken care of will last a long time

[Tizi]

I don't buy super high end gear ($300 max combo retail typically).  What I do buy gets used since I am only going to live once, might as well enjoy the stuff.  I take religious care of my stuff so it will last into retirement.  I am 5 years away from that goal and hopefully made most of my expensive purchases now.  I have spent thousands over the last 3 years on fishing gear/tackle/kayaks/small boat/motor, but I expect them to last a long long time.  I have no debt except my houses, those will be consolidated to one and that one will be paid off.

[DitchPanda]

I to am like many above...didn't grow up poor but didn't grow up rich. Parents both worked..dad worked alot...both taught me the value of hard work at a young age. Been basically working full time since I was a senior in high school...I've has a few small short things but since I was 18 I've only had 3 jobs. So I work now making decent money...and while I don't buy top end gear I have a lot of nice stuff that I take care of but I use it. I believe that if I have the money to spend on it I should be ok with what happens if I'm using it and something goes wrong.

[haggard]

2 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I shot the bait monkey years ago.

Problem with that primate is it's got nine lives. Like the cats. Keep a spare magazine handy.

 

[the reel ess]

2 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I use my stuff well and take care of it.  At 52, I'm starting into the "get rid of things you don't use" phase of life.  I shot the bait monkey years ago.  I couldn't tell you the last time I bought something that didn't get immediately put to use or is just waiting until I run out of something.  Don't have top of the line gear but it's very good for me and taken care of will last a long time

Same here. I'm 50. I had 20 some odd combos for different species. My dad died and he had bass stuff that I needed to make room for. I wasn't ready to part with his stuff yet. I gave my crappie stuff to my buddy when I sold my boat because I still crappie fish with him. I gave some stuff to a neighborhood kid. And I donated some to our local charity thrift store. They love getting guy stuff. I decided to concentrate on bass and occasionally panfish.

[Bankbeater]

When I was growing up we were going from paycheck to paycheck also. My parents grew up during the Great Depression so they didn’t waste anything.

When I buy something new it’s because I need it, or to replace something that is on it’s last leg. 

[RoLo]

 

Well, if I'm not goofy like you, it's because I'm goofy like me            

Roger

[bigfishnfreak]

You and I sound like twins. I to didnt have tons of money growing up, I have worked hard ,never missed work. But never want overtime, that was for things I liked to do. I have bought very nice things and were afraid ,they would be damaged ,so I use middle of the road things. 

Now I'm retired, very comfortable. But still dont waste money .

Point is if it's to good to use, I dont buy it anymore, I know my self, I use it and dont look back, I wanted a yeti cooler, so I bought one. Took it dove hunting in yuma,az and someone stole it out of the shell in the truck, so now I'm ticked and say to my self , if you had a Coleman it would still be there. People steal expensive things too.

Try to enjoy things ,

Tight lines

[Jaderose]

21 hours ago, the reel ess said:

My dad died and he had bass stuff that I needed to make room for. I wasn't ready to part with his stuff yet.

 

21 hours ago, the reel ess said:

And I donated some to our local charity thrift store. They love getting guy stuff.

I totally get the first part.  The second part is a great idea that I never considered.  THANKS!