Ok so I gotta change my panties after reading this thread...
So as a newb can you guys elaborate one where the $ went? This just sounds insane to me... are u spending it on life or equipment??? What would you say is the ratio of equipment to life spending? R u including the enclosures? Food? What is included in your numbers? I think I need three more jobs lol
I view this hobby like most things in life - there is a huge range of prices on equipment and livestock, and many different ways to acquire things cheaper. And similarly, like other things in life, the ways to get the price lower typically require more "effort"
Many people have already mentioned it here in terms of how to save money:
- Buy used equipment
- Buy new equipment or livestock on sale / negotiate prices down
- Trade with other hobbyists or your LFS
- Grow coral and sell it or trade
- You can choose to not automate things or choose non "smart" or non "programmable devices
- You can do a lot of DIY (stands, tools, sumps, etc..)
- You can grow/culture/make your own items to dose or feed. For example culture your own pods or own food for your fish.
- You don't have to buy the "best" of everything
- You can buy smaller frags instead of colonies or corals with fewer heads/polyps.
Arguably for me, I didn't do a lot of these things, which I think is one of the reasons my first year spending was quite high:
- I tended to buy much larger colonies.
- Being in Canada, prices are generally higher.
- I'm not a 'handy' person
- I tend to value high quality and service, and I am willing to pay for it
I think the split between equipment and livestock though is probably around 50/50.
