Loving Where I'm At

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Originally Posted by MikePal

We've lived like that most of our lives because we choose to have my wife stay home and raise the kids....it became an art form, a way of life :)

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I'll tell you... shopping for a used vehicle is a WHOLE LOT less stressful because you're able to look back on 3-7 yrs of consumer and ownership reports to find out exactly which ones last and which ones don't. lol

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Originally Posted by welsh

I have pretty much the same experience in any big box hunting store.

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I've stopped by quite a few small shops and gun shows recently too... I'd be lying if i said their stock selection was any better or more enticing.

Its been more than once when I left the house with just the bare minimum and been successful too..... Lots of nice accessories out there but they aren't always needed....

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Originally Posted by Oddmott

I've stopped by quite a few small shops and gun shows recently too... I'd be lying if i said their stock selection was any better or more enticing.

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Yeah, that's true. It's just that you somehow perversely expect the big box store to have something that you absolutely and completely need, just because they have so much stuff. :)

To pass the time when I travel I visit these places. Anchorage has Cabela's, Bass Pro, and a Sportsman's Warehouse, and really, they have not one thing that I need between them.

we live the same way ..the wife and I have been married for 19 years this april 26th ,and the day before we got married we both cut up are credit cards and saved up for what we wanted or needed ,got the house ^payed for and got two kids one in collage and one just about done high school ..if you shop around most times you can find a deal,heck I bought one new gun in my life a rem 870 express at bass pro on sale for 289$ plus a 20$ rebate .heck you cannot find a used one on gun nutzs for that money .lol .I buy my trucks after thy are three years old ,and can find what I need for hunting used most times ,,it is all in how you live and spend ,I cannot understand how so many people can spend so much at places like boston pizza or other places like that .50$ will not get a family of 4 a meal ....Dutch

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Originally Posted by MikePal

We've lived like that most of our lives because we choose to have my wife stay home and raise the kids....it became an art form, a way of life :)

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We did the same. My wife quit to stay home to raise our son . Had to pare back our lifestyle a bit but it was amazing how much money we frittered away without thinking about it before that. Best thing we ever did. As for hunting I've always been a minimalist hunter when it comes to gear. I've been a bushcraft guy most of my life and always lived by the motto, "the more you know the less you have to carry".

My problem is not that I'm a minimalist but that I have been at this long enough to have both wasted money and invested well in hunting gear. Im now at the point where I have what I need and what I buy is to replace what has worn out. I learned a long time ago that buying junk is never economical in the long run. We also made the decision to have my wife stay home to raise our kids and she walked away from excellent money but don't regret it at all. She drives a used car and we have a modest home but we also paid it off years ago. I don't smoke and rarely drink so get no grief from the commander in chief when I do spend on hunting stuff. Besides, a good shotgun is only worth $150 used right? :ninja:

Good for you in showing some restraint, me on the other hand, I love all outdoors stores, bps, sail, lebaron, al Flarhetys, shooters choice, Cabelas, Dicks.. ect... I grew up where these stores didnt exist in Canada, and you only heard about them on the TV or in magazines... I'll admit it, I'm a gear junkie, not like I go without food or dipping into savings, but I love new gear - keep in mind I sell what I dont use or upgrade from)

My view is, you only got one go around, and when you go you can't take any money with you, so live it up while you can.

There's a point where you realize you've spent enough money on what you need, there is no advantage to buying additional toys that won't add to the effectiveness of the hunt and when you walk thru Bass Pro, Cabelas and Sail you really don't need anything. I think that's an awesome point to be at, I can now actually "window shop", kid in a candy store mentality.

You see it a lot when people start out: they buy stuff not just because they don't know what's important, but also because they are trying to buy success. I've seen this a lot in photography and music as well as hunting. People buy gear because buying gear is easier than the long slow road of learning. With experience you learn just how little you really need. The essentials turn out to be boots. :)