BOY AM I IN TROUBLE!!

Ouch! I found a solution in selling my scale modeling time and work, allowing me to buy lots of new tools and more models and reference material without having Mrs Dj to kill me... However, I then did not find the time to build those models I bought... Hence an ever-growing loft insulation consisting of over 250 kits...

It's a no-win situation!

(Having said that, things are better now, with fewer customers and fewer projects, giving me time to build some for pleasure..)

Yeah, the other day my wife asked me to move my finished model boxes to the garage. I proudly informed her that the finished models boxes WERE arlready in the garage. Then she asked what were those model boxes doing on the floor next to my model desk and on top of the stand where I keep my supplies and I happily (at the time) told her the ones on top of the stand were the models I was working on and the ones stacked on the floor was overflow because the closet was to full with unbuilt ones. Because most men myself included arent so bright I proudly showed her my unbuilt collection and took the advantage of the situation and asked her which I should start next, thinking she was interested! Oops boy was I wrong, I had to spend this weeks model fund taking her to a nice dinner, a movie and a new aquarium stand for her fish tank :( Hmm now how can I hide those models a little better!

QUOTE: Hmm now how can I hide those models a little better!

How about in the new fish-tank base?

Hmmm dont think that would work, she takes pretty good care of those fish!

You guys are rookies!
I have been married to the same woman for 22 years and usually have no problems with my hobby. You have to show her how much you save by NOT buying liquor, cigarettes, going to bars with the guys. It is a reality check, she ain't starving, the bills are paid and I am a happy guy!

Okay, that stuff didn't work for me either. But, in order to get to MY hobby room, we have to walk past HER hobby junk! You'd be surprised how quickly the sewing machine gets piled up with clothes being made, repaired, or just fabric. Same goes with the THOUSANDS of dollars of ceramic paints and stuff, needle point accessories and jusk plain craft equipment! After telling me, ONCE, I didn't NEED another model, I pointed out she most likely didn't NEED another ten skiens of red for a picture she was working on, or the new frame she bought for it either.
A truce was declared and has held for over 20 years. . .
but I would like that Studio 27 kit.

Don

Don't have this problem.

Both of us have a hobby budget, which is allocated each month when I get paid, anything over and above that is reviewed in light of all the other things demanding money each month.

So far no problems.

By the way, bad luck Nick!!!!

Karl

Not as bad as yours but my girlfriend put a stop to mine for a while till i can get caught up on all the unfinished models. Which is going to be forever since i have about 110 uncompleted kits in storage totes out in the garage.

I practice the fine art of redirection myself. My wife slammed me with the "Do you know how much ...." thing and I immediately countered with "You know, those dining room curtains are getting old" (she has a curtain thing). Worked like a charm, next thing out of her mouth was "What do you think of this material?" I'm thinking 'looks like RLM64 to me'

I'm Jeffs wife, so I can tell you a thing or two about this topic!!!

First Nick...a model for christmas??? Only if it has a diamond ring in it!!!

Don...that is figuring your wife has a hobby...other than pampering you, lol

Karl...you are so smart! Now thats a way!

Swanny...pretty smart, until she realizes what you are doing...then you will come to my solution anyhow!

Okay, here it is, the only way to solve the problem, are you sure you are ready??? You can move the stuff, hide the stuff, but if you all are like my husband (and I know you are) you will run out of whatever room you find to cram it in! So there is only one solution...maybe two...

Buy her a huge house!! See,I knew you would like it! I am sure she would understand if your only requirement is that you have one room all to yourself (and not the living room!!! so get over it jeff, lol) Then again, the only other solution is...get yourself another house because your hobby is taking up all the living space in our already too small house...not that I am talking to anyone in particular... hint hint

Well when we first bought our house the den was supposed to be my room to decorate and the rest of the house was hers to decorate. Only took her 2 years to take over the den!

Willuride I think your right even if I used the attic for storage it would get full and Id get caught again!

QUOTE: Originally posted by willuride Swanny...pretty smart, until she realizes what you are doing...then you will come to my solution anyhow!

Too late, she already came to that solution about 12 years ago. Me, her and my daughter (who builds Sci-Fi) rattling around in a huge centurion house. At least we each get our own rooms for our hobbies although mine is filling up quite rapidly.

Hey Falcon, 110 kits? That's nothing, you can keep buying - tell her I said it was okay.

Good Lord, I must be a lucky boy! Last night, after looking at the two Roden WWI planes my wife bought me for my birthday (12/29), I told her that I was debating whether or not to get the Part photoetch sets to go with them.

She said, "Photo...what?"

So I showed her the issue of FSM with the F-15 on the cover and the feature article on using photoetch details. I then told her that the photoetch sets are about $14 each (the models were around $8 each).

And she says, "Well, if you're worried about the money, don't be. Just get the photoetch sets."



Regards,

-Drew

Just remember, when she says "You can't buy anymore models! When are you going to build all the one's you already have?"

Say "You don't need anymore shoes! When are you going to wear all the ones in the closet?"

Be carefull on the shoe thing, its their birth right to have a closet full of shoes. Id use purses instead or play dumb like nmay (or in my case Im very good at it just ask my wife) , or redirect like swanny. But I wouldnt recommend saying anything about shoes.

hi guys,
the responses have been very funny!!
but i must say that i didn't mean to paint my girlfriend in a bad light at all, firstly because i love her to bits and she is without doubt the best thing in my life, and secondly, there is a small chance she may read my original post!!
regards,
nick

Because of our "booming" economy, we too have to cut back. Every month, we seem to have to give up something and every month, the "model" budget gets put on the chopping block. However, I have been able to save my $20 allowance by giving up other things. This month - cable TV for my Arizona PE set. Good trade eh?

BTW, When a new model shows up on the doorstep, I always convince my wife that I sell one on ebay to pay for it. Well, she checked my PayPal account last night and saw that I've been buying much more than selling. Oops!

I dont think anyone is painting their mates here in a bad light myself included, my wife is one of my best friends if not my best friend. Its all in fun.

9x19mm, Seal the kits in freezer bags & build an artificial reef in the tank!

Ah, the joys of being a lifetime Bachelor. I was wondering if not being married was a bad thing until I read through here!

Then again, I probably should get Quicken so I can keep track of how deap a hole this hobby is digging for me! :)

QUOTE: Originally posted by scottrc However, I have been able to save my $20 allowance by giving up other things. This month - cable TV for my Arizona PE set. Good trade eh?

Absolutely! I haven't had cable for more than seven years, and I don't miss it at all. My wife went through a very difficult adjustment period when she moved in with me, but now even she is looking at most of the dreck on T.V. and is glad we're missing it.

My in-laws have digital cable, so I got excited to see the Discovery Wings channel the last time we were there -- until I actually saw the programming. On Christmas day, they ran an hour-long show on fighters (not bad, at that), and one on simulators (which I didn't see much of because my father-in-law kept channel surfing). Then, next up. . .was the same two freaking shows! They pay all that money to see the same things run back to back????

Anyway, if one month of cable equals two PE sets, or one (or more) kit(s), or paints, or more tools, or, well. . .you get the idea. My money is going to this hobby.

Regards,

-Drew

Hi everyone!

This is a topic near and dear to my heart. I can't imagine anyone ever NOT going through this scenario. I feel like a pooper when I say this but it's something I tend to think about. I've seen the pie charts produced by our Quicken home finance program and they were very scary. My models were making up a good piece of the pie chart. It really got me to thinking about the serious nature of finances. Now my wife and I are not hurting. We pay all our bills on time and we've never been strapped for cash. However, I don't feel that gives me license to run amok with my model spending. I figure I have about 20 models kits yet to build under my workbench. Lately when there's been a newly released model which has come out I really "search my soul" and ask myself do I really need one more model box gathering dust under my bench? Will it seriously harm me if I don't get it? The answer to both questions is "no". Then I'll tell myself that when the time comes where I can get another model or two then by that time who knows what the new sweet "kit of the day" is. Maybe I'll want that one more than the one I'm currently drooling over.

I think it also has something to do with a guilt factor. Not that my wife imposes it on me at all! That's not the case! But rather, I feel like what kind of husband would I be if I had no qualms about dropping $60 on a kit for myself when I could be spending a fraction of that to get something thoughtful and nice for my wonderful wife. She's the one who deserves to be showered with gifts and other lovely things. If it weren't for her in my life I don't know where I'd be. She's the one who makes my life worth living, not the model kits.

Please don't get me wrong. I love my models and there are soooo many out there that I want but then I think I try to have some sense of what is reasonable. I tend to take a serious look at my "wants" vs my "needs" and vs my "should do's". But in the way one might tell a spoiled child that they simply cannot have everything they see, I tell myself that I don't need to buy every desireable kit that appears on the shelf. Would I like to? Absolutely. But do I? No. I guess I try to maintain some semblance of self-discipline.

Okay I'm done with my diatribe. Sorry if I blathered on but I think I needed a forum to express my thoughts on the matter. I know everyone is different so I'm not trying to judge anyone. Please don't take it that way.

Eric

Hey Eric,

You've got a pretty cool attitude on the issue. It's good to keep things in perspective.

Regards,

-Drew

Drew,
THAT is a big reason why I'm dropping it. I have Direct TV and every channel will have 18 hrs of the same stupid show back to back. Last night, TLC was nothing but "Trading Spaces", History was "Infamous Murders", Law and Order is on about 7 different channels for the whole night. They took a lot of good programs like Junkyard Wars and stuck them on channels that are not available in my program area. Now that Discovery Wings has not had a new program on in 6 months, I have decided to go back to the ol VCR and put the money towards new reference books and videos.
My wife hates TV, but she has been hooked on HGTV and "Clean Sweep". If your spouse EVER see's this show, beware and guard your hobby space or have some guy tell you that you can only keep three models and the rest will go the charity.
Scott

Thanks Drew.

I recall reading your comments on many other topics and I do agree with a whole lot of the stuff you have to say too.

Best wishes,

Eric

I had the models for over 50 years. I had the wife for over 30 years. I still have the models!

Yeah I think everyone has this problem...I like the "Turn it around on her" method. I just stack her tote full of unfinished quilts on top of my unbuilt pile, then I have a "visual aid" for my arguement. Besides if she asks me about them I just pick one up and start talking about it... her eyes quickly glaze over and she can't wait to get out of the room!

QUOTE: it turns out that i have been spending equivalent to 1/3 of my monthly mortgage repayments each month, and boy did i get it!!

Easy fix, get a bigger mortgage so your expenses look smaller.
:)

Good grief! I think we all married the same woman. rangerj

QUOTE: rangerj Posted: Today, 17:59:58 Good grief! I think we all married the same woman. rangerj

then she shouldn't be complaining...but seriously folks
this topic is funny b cos its true! hahahaha wah waaaa sob sob sniff sniff