Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Whip on January 09, 2012, 08:34:00 PM
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There is a thread going about the cost of guided versus non-guided hunts. I thought it might be interesting to start a seperate thread about the things you do to save up for a special hunting trip (or new bow if that's what you need)
I'll bet there are a bunch of different ways of finagling the family budget to pay for the things we want to do without hurting the ones we love. Let's hear yours.
I'll start with an old standby, tried and true:
At the end of each day clean out the pockets of your pants and toss any loose change in a jar.
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OVERTIME!!!
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Sell bows that are collecting dust on the rack.
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****, ****, then.. more ****. I sell stuff for friends, stuff I never use anymore, pretty much everything I can find. My dad has alot of junk in his basement he has wanted gone for awhile so I just pick and choose from there.
Also, my father in law bought land this year with an old broken down house on it.. time to strip copper wiring and pipes!!
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I don't eat lunch out and go to the gym starting every Jan. It sounds silly but I have an office job and get an hour for lunch. I allow myself 40 dollars a week and after 34 weeks I have some saved. My wife is on board as she likes me less portly and ususally doesn't protest too much come Sept :)
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Copied from the other thread...
Just a few of the things I do to save money that allows me to travel and hunt...
Pick up a side job or 2, get some overtime at work, pack a lunch everyday, eat dinner out as few times as possible. I won an eating contest last month and now receive a free pizza, order of breadsticks and pitcher of pop once a month for a year (now that is the way to save some big coin there). We actually had that for dinner tonight, plus it makes it real easy on my wife (she does most of the cooking, except the grill)
Buy everything on sale. Buy good used equipment. It is still good stuff. Drink more water and less beer, make your own coffee. Pay off your truck, and keep it. Turn the heat down at the house to 69* or less, and use a blanket. Buy store brand groceries when possible.
If flying, use travel websites (Expedia rocks),Don't carry money on you and have 1 credit card that has a low limit. if you do feel the need to buy something then go to a thrift store. Charge your kids .10 for each time they leave the lights on (they will stop within the first 2 days), Wash the dog yourself instead of the $35 every couple months they want. Go out and collect firewood and split it yourself, don't buy it.
Learn to enjoy making things you use by yourself or with your kids (saves money and you get quality time with the kids).
Mow the lawn yourself, and get rid of the lawn service. (just can't bring myself to do this one yet)
Want to read something, don't buy it. Either go to the Library (you already paid for it with your taxes) or do what I do and go to Bass Pro grab a magazine, then go sit on a pontoon boat to read it.
Research everything online as much as you can before you buy it. Either you will decide you really don't need it, or you will find the best deal for it available.
When it comes to living frugal, I feel that I'm the king. Hell, my wife and I invented copper wire fighting over a penny.
After all of that saving, spend it like it going out of style when the time comes, because I have never seen a Hearse with luggage racks.
Doing all of this, plus a few others, is what allwed me to take the family (4 of us) to Kauai, Hawaii for 2 weeks later this year. There will be tons of hunting, and deep sea fishing during that time as well.
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Set up home networks, configure internet filtering systems for parents looking to protect their kids from the internet, Virus and Malware removal for individuals and a couple small businesses.
Also purchase vintage audiphile grade speakers from yard sales, and craigslist that are in need of repair. Usually just dry-rotting of the speaker surrounds. Repair them and resale. Is relaxing and I usually make a decent profit.
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I keep my wife working........I retired so I could hunt more. I wish that was the case..... :biglaugh:
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Make the wife quit spending money.,
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Set a goal! Once I have an Idea what a hunt will cost, open up a savings account that cannot be touched. Every penny you pick up, loose change, returned aluminum cans and anything else, place in that account.
Maybe mow a lawn for someone like Mike Vines. An hour or two a week and you have a large bulk of the hunt paid for.
Every time I worked OT I would stick an extra 20 or 50 in the account. You would be surprised how much money you could come up with in a years time.
I also sold the extra bows I had laying around. I never was good at double fisted shooting anyhow.
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I grab the thigh high zipper boots and fish net stockings........wait a minute i wasn't supposed to tell!!!! :knothead: :goldtooth:
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My savings goal this year is to help my wife find that second job! :laughing: :laughing:
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Originally posted by Mike Vines:
Wash the dog yourself instead of the $35 every couple months they want.
Hey!! :( That's MY hunting money you ain't spending!
Support your local dog groomer (And get me some more hunting trips!)
:biglaugh:
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My wife has been doing the extreme coupon thing and it has seriously lowered our grocery bills. It takes a little time with the Sunday paper (we buy 4 or 5 for the coupons) and at the grocery store itself. But last week we went to the store, spent 3 hours shopping, and walked out the door with over $1,000 worth of groceries and household supplies and paid $115 out of pocket. No kidding.
We almost never pay money any more for things like laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo etc. About the only thing you end up putting out cash for are things like fresh produce and some meats. But even those things can be bought right if you buy what's in season and or on sale.
People will say they don't have the patience or time for this. We probably spent 5 hours total between clipping coupons and shopping. That resulted in over $900 in savings. Any of you fellas make $100 an hour?
There are some tricks and tips you need to know but it works for real and you don't have to end up with a bunch of stuff you don't want or can't use.
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Originally posted by robtattoo:
Originally posted by Mike Vines:
Wash the dog yourself instead of the $35 every couple months they want.
Hey!! :( That's MY hunting money you ain't spending!
Support your local dog groomer (And get me some more hunting trips!)
:biglaugh: [/b]
Every battle has a winner and a loser Rob! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
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Get an Alaska Airline VISA card for $75 or $100 buck per year fee. Cancel the card (or not) right before the end of the first year. You will get 20,000 or is it 25,000 air miles which IF you do it right, is enough miles for some free round trip tickets.
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If you want Rob, your more than welcome to come be my lawn guy.
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I met a guy who makes about 3 g's a year trapping.
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I work a 7-on 7-off job. I am fortunate enough to be able to pick up a shift or two on my "off week".
This week is my off week. I am working 5 extra shifts - 43 hours. This will pay for my trip to Kzoo at the end of the month (and I aint talking about just buying gas to get there). :)
In Decemeber I worked 65 "extra" hours. Last week I bought two bows off of the classifieds and paid off christmas.
I have two more months to work off my spring bear hunt.
I learned long ago I am no good at selling stuff I bought. I want to keep it all. So off to work I go, high-ho, high-ho.
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Marry a great girl who makes a lot of money, so your paycheck is for fun stuff!
No, really. We live pretty simply day to day. We buy used vehicles and drive them until they literally can't be driven anymore. Any toys like snowmobiles or quads are only bought when we come across a VERY good deal, usually on an older less popular model that needs some work, which we do ourselves. We rarely eat out or go to movies and such. We'll make dinner and watch netflix for what it would cost us in gas to get to and from the movie theater! I buy most of my hunting stuff used and get most of my wool sweaters from goodwill, she buys most of here horse stuff used from tack shops. I can work a lot of overtime at my job and will if there is something I am saving for. We both work in schools so on snowdays we have off. Instead of staying home we both have plow routes. She has the summers off but likes to stay busy with odd jobs and helping her sisters boyfriend with tree removal( he runs a family tree business). We get all the firewood we can handle for free and all we have to do is split it, so we use less than 200 gallons of oil every 12 months.
It's all the little things that let us save money, not just one thing. So when we want something new or want to go on a trip, we have the $$ and don't think twice about it. By doing all of these things we get to "treat" ourselves to fun stuff and still save money.
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Years back when a coworker/hunting partner asked if I wanted to go to Alaska for moose and caribou the answer was yes. Next question was how much money? I went down to credit union and borrowed it all. I spent the next several years paying for it. I never regreted that decision. Go when you have the chance, it might not come again!!!!!
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Not have children. This has allowed/keeps allowing us to do what we want, when we want. I also have a direct deposit from my paycheck to a "hunting"savings account that takes out a c-note every paycheck. I don't touch it unless a hunt that I want to go on, or gear that is a good deal that I want pops up. But not having kids is the key thing to having lots of extra play money lol
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I just gave up all of my vices and its going to turn into over 4k a year that can go else where.
I've decided I've spent long enough enjoying an un-healthy lifestyle I might try the other way for a while and enjoy a healthy life. No more booze and tobacco...
I think I'm going to get a metal detector and see how much change and gold I can find this summer.
Todd
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Great responses so far - the possibilities are endless!
The main point of this thread is that I have heard people say so often "I sure wish I could afford a trip like that" The reality is that for the most part, the people doing all the fun trips have made lifestyle choices that enable then to do the things they do.
If you have always dreamed of an out of state trip, figure out your own formula to make it happen. Life is short, and for the most part, hunting trips are not something to put off to do in your old age.
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I put back between 75 and a 100 dollars out of my retirment check each month just like a bill I am going to pay put it in a small savaing account and keeping adding to it til hunting season. I usual have enough to go to Grayling,Mi for a two week hunting including my deer tag.
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I quit smoking in 2005 and have not touched any cig.,dip.or cigar since.Save a ton of money and feel and smell better.Kip
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Airmiles are great if you travel for work and get to keep them yourself.
Carpool with friends and family whenever possible.
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I do sme things that have already been mentioned and some that werent:
Walking, going by bycicle r havin a carpool saves alot on gas money.
Knowing how to fix things in the house and how to make some things youreself saves some too.
Because of my job and my studies i use alot of paper sheets, using them both sided helps save money (first side for official print, when print isnt needed anymore other side for notes etc.
One thing that literally puts alot of money in the garbage bag ive seen often is people not planning and utilizing their food properly. So much food gets thrown away because it was bought though it wasnt really needed or for any other reason. It is very rare that i have to throw any info food into the garbage, if you now how to cook a bit, you can utilise it.
Staying with food, most regional and seasonal fresh foods dont only taste better but are alot cheaper then convenience products wich involve less work.
This lsit could go on and on, ist all just small savings, but they add up over time…..
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I design websites.
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Originally posted by Kip:
I quit smoking in 2005 and have not touched any cig.,dip.or cigar since.Save a ton of money and feel and smell better.Kip
2006 for me. Way to go Kip!
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Yeah, that smoking thing is huge for those that are smokers! I quit so long ago I can't even remember anymore. I did it primarily so that I could physically go on some of the hunts I wanted to do. Not only does it allow me to still climb mountains, not smoking literally pays for the trip with the savings!
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Another is go with an antenna to watch TV instead of cable or dish. When we had cable it was hitting us for nearly $100 a month.
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Here are some planning needs...Once you retire and go on a fixed income you have less money for the things that support a hunt. Things like a good tent, sleeping bags, cooking stuff, etc, etc.
So, before that time comes buy good stuff (as much as you can American made) and you'll limit your expenses to the costs of travel, guides, food and the like.
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If my boss ever gives me my raise I'm going to start doing european skull mounts....
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It's a lot easier to stay home complain about all the hunts you wish you could afford :laughing:
I will have to admit, starting a saving process is hard to do.
Once you start and make the effort, it not only becomes easy but also fun.
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Avoid debt, the less debt you have, the more disposable income you have. sounds simple but its true. Our grandparents considered debt a serious evil, but now most of us feel its just a part of life.
Avoid buying something only because its the newest latest greatest thing. A good example of this is TVs. I still have my old style 27" tube tv because it works fine and flat screen prices are coming down every day
Like alot a others have said, make your own lunch and limit trips to restaurants and coffee shops
Finally keep your eyes on the target. Tape a picture of an elk, moose or bear on your bathroom mirror so you remind yourself every morning what you are working towards.A word of warning though dont neglect the things that really matter, God, your family and your friends.
no hunt is worth that.
May God Bless
Buck
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Overtime. I get 10 hours a month, plus i get double time and a half if i work the holidays and we get 14 holidays a year. Plus i am 100% debt free and that helps out the most.
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I have a separste savings acct in a bank that is not my regular bank (so it is more out of the way) that I put a little money in each payday. After a while, it adds up and I can go on a hunt somewhere. I started this as an acct to save for my first Africa trip and just kept doing it. It has worked well enough to send me back to Africa a second time.....and who knows where next?
Bisch
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I rebuild a wrecked car or two in the offseason and all profits go into my hunting ministry account. It is kept completely separate from the family budget. My home church has also helped in the past because I do a camp/hunting/cowboy ministry and I schedule preaching appointments in the area that I will be hunting in. It's a great way to meet new brothers in the local church and share the gospel in a hunting camp as well.
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I only buy street clothes when my current 2 pair of jeans fall to pieces and leave portions of my junk exposed or when my shirts start smelling like old dish rags.. Id keep styling em after that if the wife would let me, hey the kids get away with it.
Pocket that loose change, sell all of the extra junk that you have been saving for a rainy day that you know will never come, cut down on beer and buy domestic beer, itll cost you 1/3 of what an import would.
Other than for my family I really dont spend money unless its for hunting or fishing gear.
Its a state of mind. I work with guys who ask"How do you get the money to go on hunting trips, my wife would kill me?" (Get rid of her or you shouldnt have married her in the first place.) They make the same money as I do and will make 2 or 3 trips to Vegas and a cruise or 2 a year, $500.00 away game sporting events weekends are crazy to me but these fellas do it all of the time. Guess its about choices and values.
Look at your savings accounts or checking accounts and as long as your not draining it take some for a hunt. It might be scary at first but chances are, youll make more money and replace it in a little bit but you aint ever gonna get last years hunt back.
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Everyone, please send Izzy a dollar so he can buy some new britches. He can't walk in public with the ones he's got.
CJ
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Mike vines,
"my wife and I invented copper wire fighting over a penny."
I just spit water all over my computer when I read what is quoted above. I needed a good laugh, thanks
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staying married
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Sorry folks my wife was trying to make a smart *** post about me hunting too much already while I was away from the computer and I tried to delete it all but I accidentally sent the above message. But now that she wants to get involved I am sure I can make some extra hunting money off of her seamingly endless supply of shoes.
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Going on hunts of a life time with a "team" of partners. Cheaper buying foods in bulk,splitting gas if you drive,if its a guided hunt perhaps you get a deal w/more men :archer2:
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I have a "Hog Heaven" can in my bow room. Any spare twentys, work bonus, birthday money, etc goes into the can.
I might not have the money to take the wife to the beach but by golly I have enough to spend a weekend at Ray's with my buds!
A man's got to get his priorities straight!
How's that go again? God, Ray Hammond, family, then work?
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Long before I retired I started a " hunting " savings account seperate from all other accounts. When I got a raise I increased my savings a small amount each time. Now many years later I am retired and enjoying those hard earned $$ doing what I love to do .... hunting.
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i cut up the credit cards and pay cash for everything. my wife always thinks its free money! i make coffee instead of buying. i eat more venison than store bought meat. don't buy what you don't need. make a hunting budget and put yourself on a payment plan. these are some things i do that help me enjoy what i love every year.
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Started a gigolo service. So far I have not earned enough to hunt moles in the front yard.
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Sold My Harley. Not that it wasn't fun But I'd rather hunt and fish. I should be able to put $200-$300 a month in a hunting fund now.
I'm looking to get a small camper to hunt and fish out of now. We have lots of Core of Engineers lakes in this area that have great camping, hunting and fishing.
bretto
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Onestringer,
I would make even less than that. I have thought about a male stripper service, the flip side. I would start out naked and I'm sure I could get lots of money to put my clothes back on.
We already do a lot of the ideas that are suggested here and it works very well.
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Trap lines and wildlife control!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/T4-4.jpg)
I work a full time job and still find time to trap and take care of my furs instead of watching TV.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/T3-5.jpg)
My kids grew up learning how to bowhunt and trap and now there running there own lines. Makes a dad proud :D
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/T1-5.jpg)
We are putting money away for several hunts this spring and fall from trapping this year.
Tracy
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Originally posted by Onestringer:
Started a gigolo service. So far I have not earned enough to hunt moles in the front yard.
:biglaugh:
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I have an out of state savings account in a credit union...I have money taken out of my paycheck each week that gets direct deposited into this account, its a pain in the ass to get money from it, a check needs to be mailed to me which takes a bit so the spur of the moment bow buys etc... are usually given a second thought...usually....LOL! The money adds up quick!
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Well let me see. With two kids in private school. The youngest in three sports and about to start driving ( which means car, gas, insurance and lets not forget dating money) the oldest is in her last year of high school and headed off to college. I am fairly confident I won't have two nickles to rub together for a l-o-n-g time. I go on 2-3 trips a year and spend about $750.00 total. Most of which is gas, food and license, with just enough left over to keep arrows in my quiver.
Is it too late for the no kids thing? :dunno:
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Live long enough and let Anti hunters pay for it.
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quote:
Originally posted by Encino Man:
Well let me see. With two kids in private school. The youngest in three sports and about to start driving ( which means car, gas, insurance and lets not forget dating money) the oldest is in her last year of high school and headed off to college. I am fairly confident I won't have two nickles to rub together for a l-o-n-g time. I go on 2-3 trips a year and spend about $750.00 total. Most of which is gas, food and license, with just enough left over to keep arrows in my quiver.
Is it too late for the no kids thing? :readit:
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Actually Onestringer was started to provide a little extra hunting money.
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I sold my right kidney last year. J/K...saving a$100/month helps alot.
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Originally posted by Onestringer:
Actually Onestringer was started to provide a little extra hunting money.
I remember that day Scott.
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Good answers.
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I have a full time job I buy 10 cattle every year then sell them when they are prime I also run a trap line which I am due to start in two weeks all trapping money goes into my hunting fund and a very small portion of the cattle money goes in as well so thats my hunting money for the year. Hint that's why I'm trapping in two weeks.
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Tracy, can you you still make money from trapping? (sounds like it)
Use to dabble in it back in my High School days long ago with a buddy, mostly muskrat. Back then a couple guys could hit it hard for a few weeks and get a couple hundred rats. You could get $8 to $10 for large ones. Throw a few fox and coon in and it was pretty good money for some kids back then. I haven't kept track of prices for over 25 years, but I know they bottomed out to almost nothing, could hardly give them away. Are prices back to make it worth someones time with time, gas and equipment??
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Lol I try to use my tax returns. If I get one. But my wife and I quite buying laundry soap years ago for 2bucks we make our own it has saved a lot
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PM sent Troy :wavey: :D
Tracy
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I haven't used it for a hunting trip yet (catching up from some financial challenges), but I am hoping if the economy improves that the art work I do as a sideline will take off allowing us to catch up and then afford some hunting trips.
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I have a woodworking shop that was a hobby (out of control) and a full time job, Hobby pays the way
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sold some hunting clothes, old BH's,feathers,odds n ends,etc back in the fall that i havent worn/used in a while.. that money completely paid for my upcoming TX trad archery turkey trip coming up in April..... i also have cut many-a-grass to help pay for many-a-thing hunting
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Izzy has it right. Worn will suck you dry. I know. They spend and waste a lot of money. Kick em to the curb. I got divorced 6 years ago and thank god my daughter was grown . It was the best thing that ever appended to me
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I meant women.
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Izzy has it right. Worn will suck you dry. I know. They spend and waste a lot of money. Kick em to the curb. I got divorced 6 years ago and thank god my daughter was grown . It was the best thing that ever appended to me
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I dont smoke, and drink only occaisionally. Dont spend money on clothes,cell phones, cable TV, satelites. We eat out rarely. Raise a big garden and put up food to eat all year. Process my own deer and any other game or fish. I raise a few chickens and sell eggs. I installed a wood boiler so now it heats my home, and hotwater, my last elec bill was $76 for all electric home. I hang laundry out vs dryer. I am the "light nazi" at my home, leave a light on and i'll get on you're ass ! I wear my work uniforms all the time, they are provided free and laundered free. When I do utilize a cell phone its a trac phone, total cost $100 a year! Right now I am without one, and enjoying it! With the exception of 3 elk hunts to CO, all my hunting is public land here in my state. I have never paid to hunt, or paid a guide. I like to camp on these trips,free of course. Most of my gear is homemade or bought discounted or millitary surplus. I could hunt just fine for the rest of my life with the gear I have, in any climate or area.I will occaisionally buy a bow and resell, but only if I can come out on top.I have an F-250 I bought new, that will be paid for in 10 more payments, I plan to drive it untill my 4 yr old grandson is 16, than give it to him, the next one will be cash,and used. My hunting doesn't require much money. I take pride in a cheap hunt more than I would a fully guided Africa hunt, even when I dont bring home meat. Just think Like 100 years ago, Do I need anything more than what they used? Or do I jusdt want it? I would rather be sitting on a debt free farm house, and transportation than have all that junk.
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I have to trade with my wife. Take her on a vacation, then I can do a hunting trip. She's pretty easy going on me as far as hunting expenditures go. But, she likes to buy herself shoes and clothes, so perhaps we are even.
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My husband is the bomb!!! He farms on the side and we finally had a decent year. He paid off all of my debt but one really major one. Now I'm free (financially) to do more bowhunting related things. It's getting him to let me go that's the thing.
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Up until last year I always bought a house, fixed it up and sold it for a profit. But that was back when Whip was a banker and money was easy to get.
I bought 2 last year cause I planned on taking some big trips but got stuck with them when the easy money dried up. Now I bank the rent and "take a salary" whenever I need it.
Start small and gradually move up. But START.
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the day I pick up my first trad bow I owned 15 rifles 20 years later I own 2. Happy hunting....
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Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
Up until last year I always bought a house, fixed it up and sold it for a profit. But that was back when Whip was a banker and money was easy to get.
Yeah, the banking industry went right down the toilet the minute I got out.
Coincidence?? :saywhat:
Biggie's right though. If you dream of doing hunting trips you need to start - somewhere. Don't set the bar so high that you get discouraged and never get past the dreaming stage. It's a matter of setting goals and then making a plan to achieve them.
Maybe you can't realistically do Africa. But there are lots of very inexpensive hunts that could be taken by virtually anyone who puts some effort into it as suggested with so many ideas contained right within this thread.
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I built custom cabinets. Went to Africa and Alaska. The downturn in the economy has really dried this up for me. I'm blessed to have done it while I could.
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The best thing I can think of to improve every TRADGANG member's chances of being able to afford a traditional bowhunting trip is to start in Nov. and put 537 new faces in Washington,DC and be sure they can add and subtract. I'm kinda like Biggie, the things that worked for me in the 80's and 90's just won't work anymore due to being thrown back into the dark ages.
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I CAN NOT tell you how many smart arse comments I've heard from aquaintances like "I wish I could afford to go bear hunting in Canada, or elk hunting in Colorado, etc.... The odd thing is most of these guys are driving $30,000 trucks with $8,000 four wheelers in the back of them! I hanven't had a truck payment for nearly 8 years, and my wife and kids and I are into things like hiking, canoeing, hunting, gardening. Things like that are cheap and are tons more fun than spending money in town!
If you really want to do it you can find a way to make it happen.
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Charles nailed it. If my money wasnt going to pay for slackers and welfare brats to have cell phones, and everything else on our dime, Id be float hunting alaska.
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Good interesting thread :coffee: