Financially where do you draw the line?

revhtree · Apr 30, 2019

We’ve all done it! Overspent, spent beyond our means at some point in our life and people are still doing it when it comes to reeefing. As much as I want to help keep the aquarium hobby economy “stimulated” I would much rather you and I be healthy when it comes to spending money. So help me out here and let’s discuss this!

Where do you draw the line when spending your hard earned money on saltwater reef aquarium “stuff?”

Waters · Apr 30, 2019

The line is drawn when I can no longer pay the bills

Mr Fishface · Apr 30, 2019

I agree with Waters!

I am also very transparent with my wife when it comes to the cost of things. She helps me from spending too much

NinnJinn · Apr 30, 2019

Not sure if this would be classified as spending beyond my means or not. But when I was first getting into this Hobby, I had to take my lunch to work instead of eating out everyday and cook meals at home and basically be a little hermit crab inside my home for about 2 months straight.

Yet. Some may say for two months I had to change my lifestyle.

High ICP · Apr 30, 2019

When the cost of a coral approaches my car payment

I get skittish

Oscaror · Apr 30, 2019

Im saving my money so currently I draw the line at zero lol, any new corals are stuff my dad buys (aquarium is family tank)

scriptmonkey · Apr 30, 2019

Not yet....but I am working on it

saintsreturn · Apr 30, 2019

I went cheap and fought issues with poor equipment and insufficient needs for the system. I went high end and broke the budget. Now, its about timing and funding. I set a budget and stay within it. I dont exceed the budget (super low at this point) and will not unless the unexpected causes me to. I did a lot to ensure lower end costs, to include dry rock and a return pump i hate so that one day i can just swap out and build up. Keeps me involved in cleaning the equipment too.

I guess it depends on how we set our expectations more than anything else. Did you enter the hobby planning on doing everything for a couple hundred and realized thats not even a light in most cases...? Research, plan, execute, have a backup budget.

Lukas75 · Apr 30, 2019

I'm glad I'm not the only one, not by a long shot. I too tried cheap and failed due to issues. I stayed in budget on my current build, but my budget had us scaping by for a bit and drained the coffers. Really I overspent. I am confident though that I won't be chasing issues with my equipment or replacing cheap equipment constantly. That having been said my coral budget is meager and will be building up over time. A long, stable cycle is not the only reason I've planned for a 6 month plus cycle

The line is drawn when the bills start getting delayed a paycheck. Build budgets are ranked on what kind of car I could buy.

Islandreeftank · Apr 30, 2019

My problem is I need to learn what the line is. Trying to put the system together and every turn is more money. Not my first rodeo, trying to do it right and a little on the larger side. Working with some new, some used equipment I have been putting together for a while.

andrewkw · Apr 30, 2019

I spend what I can and maybe if it's something I really want a little more. All my bills are paid on time, after all no point blowing your money on a rainbow coral then not paying the electric bill for the blue lights

tautog83 · Apr 30, 2019

I draw the line at not spending over 250 on a fish and over 75 for a sps frag. Sadly I cant buy from many vendors anymore lol

Jay Norris · Apr 30, 2019

I draw the line when I need a bigger water front house for my aquarium upgrade.

W1ngz · Apr 30, 2019

I stretch my line over time. There's no hard dollar amount, it's based on the need, desire and value. Whatever is left in the checking account at the end of the month gets split between various other priorities (savings, debts, spending money, projects) I put some money aside. If the 'thing' I want is 400$, and this month I only have 200$, I re-evaluate the need, and next month if I still want/need it, hopefully I have the rest of the money.

Spending on credit is a no-no for tank stuff.

If I know I'm looking at a specific acquisition, then I stay far away from the pretty coral tanks at the LFS

dputt88 · Apr 30, 2019

I haven't spent beyond my means, but there have been times where the items that were needed, yes needed, were not doable and at time my tank may have suffered until could spare the cash.

CindyKz · Apr 30, 2019

I've come back from a frag swap or two and said "honey I screwed up a little". Usually I do pretty well staying in budget. I prefer to spend my money well when it comes to equipment - I buy quality so I only have to buy once. On livestock I'm a bit of a cheapskate though. I stay away from high priced, popular "named" corals and go for things that I like but won't be financially crushed if they die.

As a previous poster said, credit spending for the tank is pretty much no go.

WVNed · Apr 30, 2019

He who dies with the most toys, wins.

BestMomEver · Apr 30, 2019

I spend what hubby will let me spend. And then some.

But I won’t pay more than about $80 for a single fish or coral. Not counting the WWC auction last year. I got carried away!

TheHarold · Apr 30, 2019

I hated when I saw that certain online retailers were offering financing. If you have to finance a non-essential hobby purchase..... should not be buying it.