When to say "No more buying/spending on toys/hobbies"?

[Prototype007]

At what point in life does one say that you've got enough toys/hobbies or have spent enough on them, that you can no longer justify to continue what you're doing?

Is this decision effected by your other half? Do children play a role? Maybe your income has reduced or is no longer secure? Maybe your lifestyle just doesn't allow you to continue on this path? Now let me ask, whatever you answered to those questions if the circumstances changed and became the opposite, do you feel that your final answer would still be the same?

So many variables can effect this and that's why I ask you all, because this forum brings people from all sides of the spectrum together. And I find many opinions in other threads very interesting, regardless if I agree or not!

Toys/Hobby can be anything in this life that brings a form of enjoyment, but is not necessary at all for you to have in order to carry on. Cars, trucks, electronics, decor, landscaping, gym equipment, and so on.


I'll use myself for example:

Cars are my main hobby/toys. I've owned several vehicles from sports cars to trucks to econo boxes. Many of them I have modified in some form, shape, or fashion. I've had payments of several cars at the same time before and never missed one. I've not actually sold, traded, or junked many of the cars I've purchased. I just keep them until they're trashed, broken, or I get burnt out on them, or what have you.

I have however cut other enjoyments/luxuries out to keep that lifestyle going. I don't have kids and don't want any. I've been single since 2012 and obviously have no plans of marriage since I've had no form of a serious relationship since then. I do not own a home and I'm actually back at my dad's home for now. I help cover bills and invest a little here and there into his property, projects, groceries, and so on. It's not like I'm living Scott free and being a leach lol! I've been at the same job since I was 15, been full time for 8 years now at the age of 26.

I currently own 13 vehicles and I want to point out some quick facts about those:
2003 IS300 - My daily driver that is not modified at all. Just gets routine maintenance and driven.
1995 Z28 - Street/Strip Weekend Warrior that I can DD anytime I please, but don't to keep the miles down.
1997 Cobra - Just got it last year and will pretty much make it into the same purpose as the Z28.
1979 Malibu - A car that was given to me by my father which I will be redoing the majority of. Dad's never really gave me much and this car was originally purchased by his father new, so it will probably stay with me until the end.
1986 C10 - All the men in my family had these trucks at one point or another and I always wanted one. Finally gave up searching for one that wasn't eaten up with rust and then an opportunity arose for me to trade off a vehicle I had that I hated for it and I gladly done so. I use it for light duty hauling and cruising.
1997 Tercel - My first Tercel was a 5th gen (95-98) which I destroyed in a wreck and longed for another one for years until I found this one for a reasonable price. It had a 4efte swap (little hotrod turbo 1.3 engine vs. the factory 1.5 N/A engine) that had been torn apart and left that way. It's something ill be completing soon.
1993 Tercel - This car got the 4efte drivetrain out of my first Tercel that I trashed. This car just sucked compared to my old one. I didn't care much for the body style and interior was even more crappy from my Gen 5, so I just drove this until it got stuck in third gear & dropped compression on a cylinder until I got my IS300. Kept it around for parts and then decided to put it all back together, repair what was needed, and strip whatever to make it a more "track only" oriented car.
1993 Volvo - it's a single axle truck that's just for work related purposes.
The rest = parts cars or preparing to be hauled off to scrap metal.

Only the IS300, Z28, Cobra, and C10 are insured and licensed at this moment. And I sure don't complain about my insurance because it's extemely reasonable and my driving record is clean. Never had to file an accident claim either.

I seriously thought about adding a C5 or Terminator to my pack and saved money to do so, but I feel that I have more than enough for one man now. If I was to do away with a few rides, I'm sure the itch for more would hit again and I'd invest in one of the two... Or both.


So let's hear your stories and thoughts on this matter!




TL;DR Cliff notes:
When have you gone too far with toys
What's your reason to stop or continue
Excuses, excuses
I own too many vehicles
The End

 

[VenomousDSG]

When you don't have the money and are just creating debt for yourself, that goes for buying anything, other than the essentials and necessities.

If money is no issue, i'd say there's never a stopping point, as long as it's something that makes you happy.

 

[sonicblew]

obviously it varies from one to another greatly.
For me, could i sell my car for what id love? a GTR! Yes i could, it would become an expensive toy and hobby that my wife would have to make some sacrifices for me to have. The little getaways, out to eat, etc might get cut back and to me thats not fair so i don't and won't. if i was single and could do it thats totally different.

If i could do it without affecting our lifestyle then absolutely i would. I guess to answer the question..i personally wouldn't do anything at this point as far as car purchases or other hobbies if it cut into our lifestyle dramatically. Im focused on finishing my basement because that "hobby" is an investment and something my family can benefit from on a daily basis.

I also hate having any debt outside of either a house or a car. If i do have a payment i make sure I'm not even close to upside down on it. If i gotta sell it i want to know if push comes to shove i can sell it fast. hope for the best prepare for the worst ....thats how i like to think

 

[Kevins89notch]

To me it sounds like you already spent too much if you're still living at home.

Last night at some FB foxbody group, someone was asking if they should buy a 03-04 cobra or a new 5.0. They already have a modded fox, and a DD. Come to find out, dude is 18. My comment was the most liked. I told him to save the funds for college if not a house. He ignored me and said he would be getting one or the other while keeping his fox.

 

[Sladester2]

You are living with your dad? If its not to help take care of him because he is sick or very elderly please.. sell cars and get priorities straight.

 

[Jcobra03]

never die broke

 

[siLversLeigh]

"When to say no more spending on toys?" When you're living at home and not in school anymore.

 

[TK Doom]

Unique situation is unique...probably not a lot of people that have your options.

Especially on where you could possibly keep all those cars in the real world!

 

[jenkins_1120]

Id sell some if i had that many pick the ones you would like to keep and get rid of the rest.

 

[FIVEHOE]

I may have missed the part where you explained where you store all those cars, but god damn dude 13??? I can only picture your house/yard like a hoarder scrap yard.

 

[Niks97cobra]

Move out, get laid.

 

[Machdup1]

When your hobbies negatively affect other areas of your life it is time to evaluate what is important.

 

[Deceptive]

When you don't have the money and are just creating debt for yourself, that goes for buying anything, other than the essentials and necessities.

If money is no issue, i'd say there's never a stopping point, as long as it's something that makes you happy.

This is spot on.

Is the money you are spending supposed to be bill money or is it just play money? Are you neglecting your family? What does the wife say? Do you feel guilty?

 

[Crimson2v]

In the process of selling my toy now. It is due to the stroke my wife had after having our son. She cannot work like she use to so we took a pretty big hit in income. We are also expecting our second in the spring. I want to have some emergency funds besides what we already have, last year she could not work for six months. Everyone's situation is different.

 

[Prototype007]

I think a few might have it twisted that I've spent so much on cars that I can't afford my own place, so these post will probably clear that up some.

I'm still interested to hear about some of the things you all have going on in this field and what you're doing or have done.

When you don't have the money and are just creating debt for yourself, that goes for buying anything, other than the essentials and necessities.

If money is no issue, i'd say there's never a stopping point, as long as it's something that makes you happy.

Wise words I can agree with.

To me it sounds like you already spent too much if you're still living at home.

You are living with your dad? If its not to help take care of him because he is sick or very elderly please.. sell cars and get priorities straight.

Moved in with Dad in 2003 at age 15 and moved out in 2010 at the age of 22 was gone for five months. To stay out of the personal side of things, it was in my best interest to get out of where I was. My car fund went to zero on extra spendings, but never missed any form of a payment or bill on anything. So I returned to my dads.

2012 New Years Day I moved into my apartment right beside work. Very small, was just me living there full time, ex lived with her parents, and talking about saving a ton of money in fuel just walking across a parking lot to work, and my insurance went way down due to the great reduction in daily driving distance.

Halfway threw the year some things occurred and I had the opportunity to move back to my hometown and I did. Driving distance went from under a mile both ways to roughly 42-43 miles both ways. I didn't care, was good to be back home. Still have residence there and always will since I'm on the Rescue Squad in that county.

Now back to me staying at Dads in the present. Dad has no full time job. He has been unemployeed and working side jobs or temp stuff since. He does everything from working on a farm to covering for people driving a semi since he kept his CDL's all these years. So I just stay with him during the week to reduce my drive, most of my vehicles are at his residence, and obviously he lets me use his garage/tools to work on stuff. Like I said, I just pay some bills here and there to help him out, go back to the hometown on weekends or days off, and I've got too much pride to be a leach.

I am still on the fence about buying or building a large garage. I've been offered land at my dads place to build a garage which would be handy since the majority of stuff is already there and he'd be around for the most part to keep a watchful eye on the place. Or if I'd like to build it in my home county.

never die broke

Wise words my man and thankfully I don't have that problem. I've always had a full time job and build/repair seemless gutters as a second job for cash.

"When to say no more spending on toys?" When you're living at home and not in school anymore.

So you moved out the day after you graduated? Or did you manage to move out before hand?

Unique situation is unique...probably not a lot of people that have your options.

Especially on where you could possibly keep all those cars in the real world!

At this point all is paid for except the IS300 and Cobra. IS300 will be paid off in March and I'll probably knock the Cobra out as well with the money I've saved back. I'm blessed to be able to do what I have done.

Id sell some if i had that many pick the ones you would like to keep and get rid of the rest.

Doing that.

I may have missed the part where you explained where you store all those cars, but god damn dude 13??? I can only picture your house/yard like a hoarder scrap yard.

Hahaha! This is where it gets a little interesting. 12 of the 13 cars are at my fathers place. When at my dads place, you can easily define what is mine. My stuff is organized or hidden out of sight. The parts cars fit the bill though. Straight up junk in plain view in the back yard that we're slowly shipping off to scrap as we pick them dry of parts. Great and easy money in that stuff!

My dad? Yup he is a hoarder. Old Chevy trucks and heavy duty 4x4 stuff is his forte. I have convinced him a few times to sell some parts off and scrap a few things since he doesn't currently have a full time job.

Move out, get laid.

I was hoping for something funnier. I'll give you a waiver this time.

When your hobbies negatively affect other areas of your life it is time to evaluate what is important.

I don't feel it has.

This is spot on.

Is the money you are spending supposed to be bill money or is it just play money? Are you neglecting your family? What does the wife say? Do you feel guilty?

Never once missed a bill or payment in my life. I refuse to let that happen. That's why I'm always seeking opportunities to make more money because I've learned to it's always handy to have money stored back for a rainy day. Helped family if anything. No wife. No guilt.

I also hate having any debt outside of either a house or a car. If i do have a payment i make sure I'm not even close to upside down on it. If i gotta sell it i want to know if push comes to shove i can sell it fast. hope for the best prepare for the worst ....thats how i like to think

Only debts I've had are cars. Everything else (including most of my cars) was paid up front in cash.

In the process of selling my toy now. It is due to the stroke my wife had after having our son. She cannot work like she use to so we took a pretty big hit in income. We are also expecting our second in the spring. I want to have some emergency funds besides what we already have, last year she could not work for six months. Everyone's situation is different.

That is absolutely terrible to hear. Hope she made a great recovery.

 

[skwerl]

Sounds like your dad never grew up either. Do you plan on living with him permanently? I understand how this type of situation can become very comfortable because I have a friend or two who are in similar situations.

 

[Zemedici]

Early Volvos and a bunch of Tercels, and you live at home?

Why not get rid of all the junky cars, and move out. Come on man, youre 26. You admit yourself you're beeing a leech. Yeesh.

 

[Blk04L]

Why don't you sell 11-12 cars, then get the C5/Terminator?

Lot of cars just sitting there.

 

[Camaro_94]

If you can afford them, and enjoy it, I say go for it. When you come to that point in your life where the hobbies are no longer fun, thats when you stop.

Im willing to finance the toys, but I wont ever borrow money to mod them. And I usually wont mod until theyre paid off either.

 

[Prototype007]

Sounds like your dad never grew up either. Do you plan on living with him permanently? I understand how this type of situation can become very comfortable because I have a friend or two who are in similar situations.

Haha Dad is like an overgrown child at times, but I won't knock the guy. He really did sacrifice a lot of things when he got full custody of me and saved me from possibly growing up to be a criminal and/or welfare warrior. Definitely tip my hat to the man in that area.

I do not plan on staying with dad much longer and he's fine whether I stay forever or move out tomorrow. I've thought about purchasing a small home near my place of employement, and the one I'd been eyeballing I was too slow on the draw and a friend purchased it. It was a rental property that I lived in during 2010 and was in a very handy location. I had actually planned on using the money I reserved for a C5/Terminator as a healthy down payment, but like I said it's already signed and sold. If I did purchase that property, I would have built a garage on dads land due to the place I was looking at didn't have enough property for me to build the type of garage I wanted. Not to mention it would have probably become a target of theft for the area.

Now if plans had went threw in my home town and my job would have been transferred as promised (I got played by politics. No I'm not in an elective position), then I'd be residing at my other residence full time. That's just not how things panned out.