Explaining To The Girlfriend!

[psuangler91]

How do you convince your wife/girlfriend that tackle and equipment are not a waste of money? My girlfriend recently brought up the fact that I spent around $700 on tackle this summer and said I shouldn't be wasting my money! Can you believe that!

First of all That's not even that much, but since I'm only in college that's a little less than 20 percent of my total income for the year.

Also, I picked up at least twice that amount and set it down because I fought off the bait monkey and walked out of the store empty handed... ok actually one empty hand the other was full of senkos!

I'm thinking that if I make a spreadsheet comparing the amount of money i spend on her and the amount I spend on fishing she'll understand that she's probably the larger source of my financial woes. lol Probably not though.

Any ideas? I already take her fishing at a local pond and she enjoys that. Now if only i could convince her that me spending more time on the water is good for our relationship I'll be set!

[Lund Explorer]

There is NO explanation that's going to work. The only thing left to do is to post her vital statistics along with her picture, and leave it up to the rest of us as to whether you should give up fishing or take it on full time!!!

Just kidding....

Seriously speaking, 20% of your income? Financial woes? While $700 doesn't sound like very much to me, I haven't used either of those previous terms with what I spend each year. If you keep complaining to your girlfriend that the electric company wants to put you in the dark, or if your cellphone has been shut off recently, she might be on to something. Maybe the ultimate judge to all of this should be the one woman who you will always have to respect. What does Mom think? What does your father think about what she would say about it? She's the lady you really need to worry about right now, because she's the one that should be your bailout option if it ever gets to that point.

[0119]

Wait till you get married and she throws in the honey do list ...

[clayton86]

They will never understand the only way my wife does is if the stuff was on sale I dont understand it she's fine with spending $100 if I got it out of a clearance bin but gives me he'll if I spend $20 on full price items? Gets me but I have it figured out when we walk in I go to the kids section look at clothes for the boys then shoes and clothes for her then lay onthe honey can we go to the fishing section real quick. Works every time especially with our oldest he gets as exited as me grabbing lures and sponge bob poles asking for them.

[Fishing Rhino]

Don't expect her to change, unless you are willing to change. This is what courtship is all about, determining compatibility. It seems your fishing expenditures are a thorn in her side. Unless you can reach some sort of understanding, it will only get worse. Some people get married hoping to change the other person. That's a bad gamble that rarely pays off.

There is only one person you can change, and that's you.

[slonezp]

If a woman can spend that kind of money on a purse(not saying yours does) she will use for 6 months until it's out of fashion, than no explanation is needed

[Greed]

My wife enjoys going Bass fishing with me so it's a win-win situation.

[RyneB]

My wife is very understanding. She always says she wish she had a hobby that she loved as much as i love fishing. The only thing she does that bothers me is when im bait shopping she always says "dont you already have that?" The only time she ever put her foot down was when i came in ad told her I was going to buy a Ranger for $28,000. I personally couldnt be with someone who got mad at me for buying fishing gear or going fishing. When me and my wife were having the marriage conversation i told her, "There are 4 things that are non negotiable; the Bulls, the Bears, my GTO, and fishing." Luckily i have a wife that hasnt tried to interrupt those 4 things for me.

[grimlin]

How do you convince your wife/girlfriend that tackle and equipment are not a waste of money? My girlfriend recently brought up the fact that I spent around $700 on tackle this summer and said I shouldn't be wasting my money! Can you believe that!

First of all That's not even that much, but since I'm only in college that's a little less than 20 percent of my total income for the year.

Also, I picked up at least twice that amount and set it down because I fought off the bait monkey and walked out of the store empty handed... ok actually one empty hand the other was full of senkos!

I'm thinking that if I make a spreadsheet comparing the amount of money i spend on her and the amount I spend on fishing she'll understand that she's probably the larger source of my financial woes. lol Probably not though.

Any ideas? I already take her fishing at a local pond and she enjoys that. Now if only i could convince her that me spending more time on the water is good for our relationship I'll be set!

Could be worst,you could have given $700 to hookers and strippers.......What would she rather have you do? All kidding aside.

Honestly she is right,but everybody needs a hobby. It's one thing if you can afford the fishing stuff,another if you cannot.

No joke,My buddy @ work is 37 years old with no girlfriend or wife. He told this straight to my face "I rather spend it on things I enjoy,than a person who nags me about the things I love to do." He hunts,fish and parties almost 24/7.......he financed a $50,000 boat for over 15 years...and still tells me it's cheaper than a wife or girlfriend. Trust me,this guy could easily have women falling for him....so it's not like he can't get a woman.

[NBR]

If you have financial woes then $700.00 is a huge amount. If you are in school $700.00 is still a huge amount without financial woes.

[CSimon2]

If your girlfriend is like this now, she will be worse when you are married. My wife used to fish with me when we were dating. She also used to go to Cubs games with me. We have been married for 10 years and she tells me how much she hated doing those things with me. She has this fear of fish, you know people have the fear of spiders. She also finds baseball to be boring. I say I was taken while we were dating, thinking I found someone who enjoys doing the things I enjoy. Boy was I wrong. She complains about all of the money I spend on fishing too. She tells me that if I stopped buying fishing stuff, I could fish for the rest of my life with all of the things I have. She does not get it because she does not have a hobby. You need to sit down and have a talk with your girlfriend and tell her this is your hobby and your spending is going to continue and she can either deal with it or get out. I have pretty much told my wife the same thing. She is still around, but still likes to complain. She cannot find any other fault in me, so she needs something to complain about.

[bassmanET]

Just do what this guy did!!

[psuangler91]

haha if she was like that I would! I've realized that girlfriends are always going to complain but they do it just because that's how their programmed. I don't think they actually even care about what they whine about because she complains for five minutes I say ok you're right and she shuts up. Then I go out and buy more fishing stuff, if she really had a problem with it I guess I'd be single right now. But I'm not so she must not really care.

[A-Jay]

haha if she was like that I would! I've realized that girlfriends are always going to complain but they do it just because that's how their programmed. I don't think they actually even care about what they whine about because she complains for five minutes I say ok you're right and she shuts up. Then I go out and buy more fishing stuff, if she really had a problem with it I guess I'd be single right now. But I'm not so she must not really care.

This particular statement is debatable.

It may be an indication that you are not with the right person or perhaps she's a bit more mature than you're giving her credit for.

Also if you've expended a nice chunk of change on something for you and the last thing you got her was a Tootsie Pop 6 months ago, this could cause a bit of a problem, especially for a girlfriend. If she's simply the flavor of the month, then you may not really care. If this woman is someone you really care for, you better figure it out and get your priorities in line.

These are the "good old days" how are you spending them ?

A-Jay

[Grey Wolf]

She's just a girlfriend not a wife. She does not have a say in what you spend your money on. Wise up before it bites you in the ***.

[zip pow]

I'd tell her what I told my wife well ex wife I work to fish you buy what you want and i'll buy my fishing stuff as long as your not taking food off the table there isn't anything wrong with a fishing supplys . I also told her there were three things I was going to do in life fishing working and another word that starts with an f and fishing comes first.

[shootermcbob]

She's just a girlfriend not a wife. She does not have a say in what you spend your money on. Wise up before it bites you in the ***.

Profound.

[Fishing Rhino]

I'd tell her what I told my wife well ex wife I work to fish you buy what you want and i'll buy my fishing stuff as long as your not taking food off the table there isn't anything wrong with a fishing supplys . I also told her there were three things I was going to do in life fishing working and another word that starts with an f and fishing comes first.

That's fine that fishing comes first. You're being honest about it. Now, having said that do not get into any type of serious relationship. It will not work. Not if you truly mean your fishing comes first.

Your wife is seriously injured. You have a fishing date with a buddy. What are you going to do, go fishing, or be with your wife? You can substitute child or other immediate family member in the place of wife.

[zip pow]

That's fine that fishing comes first. You're being honest about it. Now, having said that do not get into any type of serious relationship. It will not work. Not if you truly mean your fishing comes first.

Your wife is seriously injured. You have a fishing date with a buddy. What are you going to do, go fishing, or be with your wife? You can substitute child or other immediate family member in the place of wife.

my son never complains he goes nearly everyday

[Geoff Sandvik]

You don't shop where I do, that $700 worth of tackle would have been on sale for $200!...

[quanjig]

Find someone that is happy that you fish. Also, a lesson I learned the hard way, if you truly care for this girl, pick your battles! Spread your tackle purchases out over a wider spread of time. Works every time. $700 worth of tackle in one fell swoop. I'm sure you could have gone without some of what you purchased!

[scrutch]

If your girlfriend is like this now, she will be worse when you are married. My wife used to fish with me when we were dating. She also used to go to Cubs games with me. We have been married for 10 years and she tells me how much she hated doing those things with me. She has this fear of fish, you know people have the fear of spiders. She also finds baseball to be boring. I say I was taken while we were dating, thinking I found someone who enjoys doing the things I enjoy. Boy was I wrong. She complains about all of the money I spend on fishing too. She tells me that if I stopped buying fishing stuff, I could fish for the rest of my life with all of the things I have. She does not get it because she does not have a hobby. You need to sit down and have a talk with your girlfriend and tell her this is your hobby and your spending is going to continue and she can either deal with it or get out. I have pretty much told my wife the same thing. She is still around, but still likes to complain. She cannot find any other fault in me, so she needs something to complain about.

I think we married the SAME woman! I knew it!

Grey Wolf speaks with great wisdom.

[scbassin]

Move on!

[psuangler91]

. $700 worth of tackle in one fell swoop. I'm sure you could have gone without some of what you purchased!

This was over an entire summer. Probably should've mentioned that. Maybe I made her sound worse than she is. We've been together for 5 years, and I definitely spend more money on her than I ever have on fishing. I just was wondering if there's a way to legitimize buying tackle even though i don't really need it.

[NCLifetimer]

If she only made a comment then don't worry about it. If she takes your fishing expenses personally and is trying to control you, then that is another story. You be the judge.

I'm in college too, and a girlfriend would be nice, but I think I've subconsciously put that on hold until i save enough for a bass boat haha.

As far as justifying expenses, well you aren't married so I won't worry about that. If you want to humor her or feel the need to, I think the spreadsheet is a good idea. If you spend more on her then fishing stuff then you can mathematically prove she's #1 and make her feel special. If you spend more on fishing stuff, then find a different approach haha.