Been Down This Road? Advice?

[mrpenguin]

Thanks everyone for the advice... Tater John, I think you hit it right... drive the beaters, don't shoot/hunt as much as I would like, work 2 jobs plus extra work whenever possible and focus on paying stuff off!  So, yeah, you lived it and are certainly a kind of inspiration that it can be done.

The general consensus here seems to be "keep the compound" because I do enjoy it at times and it was a big investment.  Thanks to the generosity of a few tradgangers, I will have a nice loaner trad bow to shoot for the season as well.

You are all such great, honest people.  That is why I love spending time here chatting with you...

God Bless you all and thank you!

[Zbearclaw]

Only you can answer, but I did just this last year to get my Black Widow PSA.

I sold all kinds of other stuff to offload my compound package, apex 7 with top notch everything worth $1800 for $450 on the big auction site.  I sold extra bike cassettes for my tri bike, hiking gear, etc to get enough to buy some arrows, my PSA, and quiver.

I know Black Widow will work with you on payment options if you talk with them first.  

But unlike you I grew tired of compounds and had no use for mine anymore.  I am a recurve hunter, period...

[Tater John]

Thanks Erik yea,'it can be done'

God Bless You and your family

Rusty

[bushytail]

If you and your better half    go to the yard sales this summer to look for baby clothes,keep an eye out for used bows for sale.I bought a old Wing bow for $25 one time.Check the flea markets out.You can find good deals there too.

[Apex Predator]

If you have any plans to sell the compound, do it quickly.  They lose their value very fast.  You will be losing good money by keeping it for a year or two.  That $1200 will be $600 after a year.  Give it a couple more and it will be worth about $200.

[Tom Leemans]

Who said you need to make a decision right now?

[mrpenguin]

Originally posted by Zbearclaw:
I sold extra bike cassettes for my tri bike,

Ha! I do triathlons too!!  Planing on a half iron in Sept and maybe the Hartford Marathon this year!  Always wanted to do the marathon... it pretty expensive though... so I may only do the half cause its cheaper...

Thanks for the advice and tip on BW.  That is good to know cause I am pretty likely to get a PCH in Autumn Oak or talk with Dick about a Robertson in a year, once we have some debt under control.  

Overall, I think I will keep the compound kicking around.  If I ever want to get rid of it, I'll sell it to a friend or pass it on to someone in need.  Who knows, maybe it will be my son's first compound!  although I intend to teach him instinctive shooting first.

Best of luck and God bless!

[Uncle Buck]

sell the compound and use the money to catch up financilly. graciously accept the use of a loaner bow until you can afford to buy one. Its just "stuff" and stuff can always be replaced. Its time in the outdoors and with your family that cant be replaced. As for whether or not to ever use a compound again, do what feels good to you. there are people in this world who have a natural fondess for mechanical and technical stuff. the compound appeals to guys like this. I am not one of them but there is room for all of us in this world. I am also financially challenged at this time. I would suggest going to your local library and get Dave Ramsey's book "the Total Money Makeover. Its not a get rich quick book. Just advice on getting financilly healthy whatever your income is.

[Zbearclaw]

I have done a few half irons, actually two and have only done two tris in my life.

I sold extra broadheads, shafts, extra handgun mags, hunting packs, etc to get a BW.  I lost a ton of money in the depreciation of my compound, but ended up way ahead with what I got in return.

Races are very expensive for sure, I am skipping this tri season for financial sake too.  I may do a marathon in June if I can commit the wife to that being a family vacation, but otherwise trail running is how I am getting ready for hunting season.

One half iron and the cost to get there and back, plus a month of supplements and such are about what a BW is...

[mrpenguin]

Tell me about it... I had to search and research for an affordable race.  Turns out FIRMMAN in RI is still 'affordable'.  I bought into the race several months ago under the illusion of a big tax return with the birth of my little boy... but that didn't happen.  It is close enough to actually drive to the day of if needed... and it gives my family a day at the beach while daddy has his butt kicked.  I had aspirations of racing more, but no way... $100 bucks for a sprint is crazy.  This will probably be the only half I do... if I train again it will be the full thing and then I'm done with long distance tris... too much money.

My plan is to begin putting away a little bit each week and selling extra clothing, packs (I have one up on the classifieds now), etc... to pay for a good bow in about year.  Until then, the generosity of my brothers on tradgang have provided me with something to shoot and hunt with this coming season... and I am so grateful.  Later on if I find I am really not using my compound at all, I will likely lend it to a good friend of mine who hunts compounds but doesn't currently own one and work out a reasonable price to sell it to him.  He is newly wed and saving to pay off debt (like me) to build a house on the land he and his wife were given for their wedding.

God bless and good luck racing... hope to bump into you there!

[mrpenguin]

Originally posted by Uncle Buck:
sell the compound and use the money to catch up financilly. graciously accept the use of a loaner bow until you can afford to buy one. Its just "stuff" and stuff can always be replaced. Its time in the outdoors and with your family that cant be replaced. As for whether or not to ever use a compound again, do what feels good to you. there are people in this world who have a natural fondess for mechanical and technical stuff. the compound appeals to guys like this. I am not one of them but there is room for all of us in this world. I am also financially challenged at this time. I would suggest going to your local library and get Dave Ramsey's book "the Total Money Makeover. Its not a get rich quick book. Just advice on getting financilly healthy whatever your income is.

Thanks Uncle Buck.  I actually have the book!!  It was given to me a while ago. Read it but never took it seriously... until now.  I am taking his advice VERY seriously now and my wife and I are working to get out of debt in the next couple of years.

Thanks again and God bless.

[xtrema312]

If you like it and shoot it well I would keep it.  You never know when you will need it particularly with not having a lot of time on your hands.  I would much rather hunt with a compound than a gun if time didn't allow me to keep my proficiency up.  If you get to the point you never shoot it and don't care for it then sell it.  Trad bows are not that much that you can't save up a little and get another soon enough.  You can find a nice bow right now for $250 or so.  Hard to get a compound you really love for that.  I still have my switchback in the case collecting dust.  It is my favorite ever compound so I can't part with it for now.  I may have to drop the weight on it someday when the arms start to give out.  I just sold some guns when I needed to prop up the trad bow fund.

[jason1040]

I compliment you on the move to sacrifice for your wife to stay home. I am currently under the same situation of a young family and it sometimes is hard to justify the expense of some of our outdoor hobbies.

I know that money has been tight for my uncle but he had been able to outfit his teenagers with recurves and longbows from **** auctions. I have been on there a few times and have found some in the heavier hunting weights (+60lbs). I have even seen some used Great Northern and Selaway quivers. Keep your eyes open to some of these options and I'm sure that you will be able to continue shooting your traditional gear.

Best of Luck,
Jason