Wife Couldn't Understand

[T-Billy]

6 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

My wife and I (second marriage for both), have separate bank accounts. We each have our share of the monthly bill responsibilities...what is left over can be spent however we want. Note: we have no payments / loans other than our mortgage...which should be paid off shortly before I retire. If we can't pay cash, we don't get it. 

 

Large purchases are talked about, and planned out. She wanted to get a 5th wheel and explore/camp...and had the $$ in her budget...researched and found used for a good deal. Paid cash. We pulled that 5th wheel to Montana this summer...brother and I pulled to deer hunt in November.

 

New fishing rod-and-reel wouldn't even be a blip on her radar...but if I brought home a new boat, well, that would be a problem : ) 

 

My brother's wife holds a tight rein over their finances and bank accounts. He works his ass off in the summers (the are both teachers) and she takes the summers off. Honestly, it ticks me off that she barks when he spends even a little $$ on new lures...and could never bring home a new rod/reel. 

 

So of course, I rib her whenever I can about giving brother some grace. She's a good wife, and good mom to their children...and good Aunt to my kiddos. 

 

Enough about that...in all, life is good! Good luck picking out a new rod-reel combo!!

My wife and I handle our finances the same as you and your Mrs. Good way to go about it IMO.

[Trox]

My wife would ask those types of questions as well, and I've actually had the same conversation... It wasn't to plead my case for a purchase though, she was just really curious and didn't understand.

I still don't think that she understands... but whatever.

[Holetail]

  I typically get an eye roll or “you’ve got another giant tube in the garage that was delivered today”, but I don’t get a ton of grief thankfully. She honestly has no idea about what fishing gear costs and I have no idea what she likes to buy costs. Like to keep it that way as long as the bills are paid and our kids have what they need. My kayak purchase did require a discussion though…
  I know she thinks my fishing is silly and that I spend too much time on it. She saw me entering trip data in my log the other day and has picked on me relentlessly since but it’s all in fun. I told her I don’t fish as much as some people so it’s all relative. She squashed that saying I cannot compare my fishing time to someone who is retired! Haha. She got me there.

  At the end of the day it’s about balancing responsibilities. She knows I bust I disagree at work and I provide a good life for us as well as spend time with the family. She’s just a Jersey girl and cannot help “busting my shoes” when she can. 

[Darth-Baiter]

I allow my wife full veto power over my purchases.  Honestly she’s usually right. I might be salivating over some gear, she tightens the reigns and it ends up being something I wouldn’t use or need.  After a short time the urge goes away. 
 

we are doing well in life because of her money habits.  Ironically she said I could buy a bass boat!   I scaled down and got a fishing kayak instead.  She was shocked!!!

 

im saving for a good life during retirement.  Eye on the prize.   I am going to buy a BFS setup after the holidays tho.  That’s small potatoes but I’m careful not to let it all snowball. 

[Columbia Craw]

My wife doesn’t wear make up.

[fishhugger]

naw... she's a woman... she'll forget about it by tomorrow....... and you're back in the dawg house... or fish hawse...  oh, i ain't never been married..wonder why, lol.....

 

happy new year though!

[Hammer 4]

My wife of 50 years is really good about what I buy, as I am when she buys stuff. She asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I have enough fishing stuff, but I needed 2 golf clubs to replace a couple that are wearing out. 

She didn't bother to ask how much they would cost, or even which clubs I wanted,she just handed me $ 600.00 and said get what you want, oh, and is that enough $$. 

I said yup, gave her a kiss and said thanks.

We don't even try  to hide purchases from each other, never have. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

I'm kinda the opposite of the OP. My wife often pressures me into getting gear simply because I mention I like it or want it not really intending to actually buy it ?. 

She watches what plastics I usually throw in the cart while we're grocery shopping and will get them for me when she goes alone. 

She always recommends I get what I REALLY want the first time and avoid back tracking. 

[Jaderose]

19 hours ago, fishhugger said:

naw... she's a woman... she'll forget about it by tomorrow....... 

 

I have never read a less true statement.

[NYWayfarer]

20 years married and my wife stopped asking a long time ago why I need another rod or reel.

 

These days she is glad I never got into golf.

 

 

[cyclops2]

I have only questioned & had her cut back on spending to much on casual friends. Who spend nothing in return.  When I pay for open bar & food for holidays. I want to know the person by name.  

[Bankc]

One of the secrets to a good marriage is communication.  And it's not just what we communicate, but how.  A good analogy like that can show respect for her attention span while engaging her in the conversation with something she is familiar with and can contribute to.  Just imagine if the opposite conversation had occurred, and your wife wanted to talk to you about makeup.  How long could you last before zoning out?  Now she's using a fishing rod analogy.  Are you back in?  Exactly.  A conversation in which both parties contribute equally is almost always more effective at persuasion than a lecture, no matter how well the evidence is presented.  

[N Florida Mike]

I work nearly 7 days a week and still just barely make it, but when we have money she doesn’t complain if I buy fishing / hunting related items. She even bought me a 5 year hunting liscense once, and I liked the thought but told her “ What if I died before the 5 years is up? “ She hasnt done it since… shot myself in the foot there…

I get nice bonuses and gift cards at work, and thats the main way I get my fishing stuff. She wanted me to spend some of the 250.00 one on food, but I drew the line there. We already have more food than we could eat up in 2-3 weeks, just not what she wanted, lol.

So I got my 100.00 rod instead… and she didn’t bring it up again…

Hopefully it wont resurface if we ever have another argument…? 

 

[Gera]

On 12/19/2021 at 5:41 PM, JoeDeal55 said:

Laying in bed last night talking to my lovely wife about my passion for fishing. (She generally supports my interest in fishing. Somedays she will go with me but most of the time lets me go solo.) I mentioned that I would like to buy another rod and reel and some more tackle before spring. She was so confused! She said "You have 2 poles and a whole tacklebag already, why do you need more?" Then I proceed to spend almost an hour trying to explain rod power and action, their differences, and which ones to use for specific techniques. That conversation got me nowhere. So, then I thought of a decent analogy that she might comprehend. (She has thousands of $$ in makeup/cosmetic products) I pointed out that she has like 50 different makeup brushes. All different shapes and angles and sizes. I said, "Imagine if you only had 2 brushes to do your entire face." She goes, "That makes sense, I'm picking up what your putting down." I did it boys! I got my wife on board with me spending money every year on fishing gear with one stupid little analogy! Now the fun begins!

 

You are an example to us all.  (I really mean it!!)