My wife goes through in three months what it takes me a year to spend on my hobby, except that her expenses are for medications and therapy of the physical kind to keep her healthy, pain-free and mobile. Her hair appointments average something like $60 every two months. I like the arrangement because she is important to me, and she understands that I have to spend a bit to keep myself healthy, too. It just happens to be in the odd locomotive or two per year. Thankfully, I can see the end coming because I have limited myself to four main roads, I have the rolling stock (mostly), and now just want a few select engines to fill out the stables for each of the four roads.
-Crandell
don7 Not an issue, she has her trust account and I make no inquiries about her purchases. In return she makes no inquiries about my purchases.
Not an issue, she has her trust account and I make no inquiries about her purchases. In return she makes no inquiries about my purchases.
Same as the above.
I think that trying to 'hide' hobby expenditures is a big mistake, especially if the lady has no comparable money sinkhole costly pastime. If you're up front about what you want and why, she may not agree but at least she'll give you points for your honesty.
My wife breaks approximately even at the casinos and spends money on golf - her money from her personal account, fed by its own, "Strictly for her," income stream. I have always been supportive of that. On the other side of the coin, when she was my girlfriend she knew I was a model railroader, so she gave me a brass locomotive kit for my birthday. (Yes, it was possible to buy inexpensive brass locomotive kits in Japan at that time.) That Japanese-style tank loco (of no particular prototype) changed my modeling emphasis away from NYC, never to return to U.S. prototype modeling.
Something must be working. Our next anniversary will be our 49th.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Just the other day my wife and I were talking the other day and she said " As long as the bills are paid I don't care how much money you spend on your trains or any other hobbies" Same goes for me when it comes to what she likes. She doesn't ask for much and the term high maintenance can never be applied to her. It's not that were financially independent but life is too short, you have to enjoy it while your here, it's too precious not to. So if spending a few bucks on trains makes you happy she has no right to deprive you of your happiness.
My wife is very supportive of the hobby - especially now that I have started working on some scenery. As far as what I (we?) spend on it... her position, apparently is, "Don't ask! Don't tell!"
-Kosmo
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Mine is very supportive, I guess after 31 years she has given up. However, she also helps with the layout and is quite adept at making trees, certain scenery pieces, and such.
Bob
My wife doesn't nag me per se, but she will needle me in front of friends how much this or that costs, especially a loco or a brass piece. However, in the end she is supportive from a distance, the only thing she likes about trains is riding them so that is a big plus on vacations!
Ricky
TruckDo your wives ever nag you about how much you spend on trains? No matter how hard I try to hide stuff I buy She still finds out.
No. I would not have married a woman who didn't understand how important this hobby is to me.
Do your wives ever nag you about how much you spend on trains? No matter how hard I try to hide stuff I buy She still finds out.