Where are y'all getting your money from?

[cancun]

Like I said several pages back, this hobby is meant to be fun and enjoyable for yourself first and foremost. Do what you love when it comes to your tank. Don't go into debt to do it though. Like everything in the hobby take it slow, and save up for what you want. TruTrust me you will enjoy it more!

 

[Dabcrusher]

I work my tail off at algaebarn but I love it.

 

[stephj03]

A lot of times what you're seeing is ppl splurging on a tank with an unexpected windfall.

Tax refund
Inheritance
Insurance settlement
Work bonus
Unexpected side work (very common in the trades IMO).

There's also a lot of ppl that house the hobby within the LLC their small biz runs from. In that case the cost of the tank was going to be spent on taxes anyway and cash has to be set aside for that.

You have to remember, you're making significantly less than the avg US household income in an HCOL mkt.

Take your 40k, double it via a strong trade job with overtime in Ohio that is house within an LLC and it becomes very doable.

Ppl also make trades offs. Buy a tank instead of a car, or larger house, or vacay etc.

 

[PeterB113]

SHIBA!

 

[Gtinnel]

Here is how I make my money

 

[aws2266]

I'm donating plasma to fund my addiction. I'm in Ohio and while things are cheaper out here the jobs aren't always there. Looked into something outside my IT 9-5 but found I could make more money and spend less time by donating plasma. Takes about 2hrs each visit and you can donate twice a week. Get between $60-$75 each visit. Get paid and help people

 

[Gtinnel]

I'm donating plasma to fund my addiction. I'm in Ohio and while things are cheaper out here the jobs aren't always there. Looked into something outside my IT 9-5 but found I could make more money and spend less time by donating plasma. Takes about 2hrs each visit and you can donate twice a week. Get between $60-$75 each visit. Get paid and help people

Hahaha I used to do that in my younger days. I had to stop when my girlfriend ( I don't think we were married yet) got mad because I'd talk to the nurse while laying there.

 

[VermontReefs]

Invest in Real Estate

 

[Lyss]

A lot of times what you're seeing is ppl splurging on a tank with an unexpected windfall.

Tax refund
Inheritance
Insurance settlement
Work bonus
Unexpected side work (very common in the trades IMO).

There's also a lot of ppl that house the hobby within the LLC their small biz runs from. In that case the cost of the tank was going to be spent on taxes anyway and cash has to be set aside for that.

You have to remember, you're making significantly less than the avg US household income in an HCOL mkt.

Take your 40k, double it via a strong trade job with overtime in Ohio that is house within an LLC and it becomes very doable.

Ppl also make trades offs. Buy a tank instead of a car, or larger house, or vacay etc.

This. I got a nice bonus last year and used that for the tank and initial setup and stocking, then calculated my monthly costs to run it to fit w/in my regular salary.

 

[pseudorand]

Ok, I get it. Be a doctor/lawyer/engineer/software engineer, and make the big bucks to be able to send your kids to Ivy Leagues, have a nice car, AND get an awesome fish tank or 10 out of it.

I do have a decent paying job in tech, and my kids aren't going it IV leagues (at least not on my dime), I drive a 2nd hand 2005 Honda and I have only 1 tank, which I bought 2nd hand and built my own stand for. Life is expensive and getting more so.

Financial lessons I learned about reefing over the past two years:
- It will cost twice what you budget.
- 2nd hand is great. Lots of folks out there who are learning #1 the hard way.
- Get the basics right consistently before buying a bunch of extra products
- Buy Coral form local folks. LFS have to charge a tone to stay in business. Online "sales" are lots of fun...and that's what you'll pay for.
- DIY is great for stands if you have the time. Don't bother with DIY lights.

 

[b breef]

Ok, I get it. Be a doctor/lawyer/engineer/software engineer, and make the big bucks to be able to send your kids to Ivy Leagues, have a nice car, AND get an awesome fish tank or 10 out of it.

But for the all of the 5 figure and under people (let's say the cutoff is 85K), how are you doing it? Do you just like...not have kids or something? Is there a trick to all the splurging you're able to do? Are there a bunch of low cost of living areas that I'm just not aware of/don't want to move to?

I keep seeing "I just bought this 200/300/1600 gallon [RedSea/Waterbox/expensive brand] aquarium and what do I do with it" posts, and I'm just...confused...do you just have this money lying around??

I guess I'm mostly just asking because my estimated yearly earnings is currently somewhere at around 40K in a high cost of living area once the job hiring starts again. Which means very little disposable income (bye bye avocado toast, I'll miss you, but aquariums gotta aquarium).

Not sure but what helps me is not eating anymore. And I plan to wear the clothes, shoes and jackets I currently have forever.
I get you pal.

 

[DavidinGA]

Tons of good deals when buying used.

Recently I put this together and only some of it was used, but still saved a ton of $:

90g tank, stand, canopy $300 (used)
29g sump $10 (used)
Mag7 return pump $68 (new on sale)
2 bb led panels (new off eBay, $60/ea) $120
DIY ATS setup w/ leds ~ $30
Salt - $50
Sand - $40
80lbs LR - $80 (massive savings over lfs prices)
Misc plumbing - $40
ATO & pump $50

Total up and running cost for 90g reef: $788

A lot of people spend way more than that on JUST THE TANK!


I also pay for reef stuff with crypto profits fwiw

 

[Nick Steele]

Sadly if I didn’t have my wife I would be in a worse spot as far as spendable income. We are still under the 80k threshold but not by much.

Although she’ll be able to support my aquarium hobby I try to not be unreasonable, for one I probably will never have a new car in my life but will take hand me downs from my wife whenever she wants a new car. I also have other hobby’s that can be expensive such as fishing and diving which I need to get back into soon.

And above all else family and our lives come first. We have a good retirement account going and have plans for a house next year as well.

 

[WVNed]

We worked a long time and managed to save money. The last 18 years driving a truck around and fixing things for the phone compony. My wife also worked. Our house is paid for. Our 3 kids education is paid for without loans. My car is paid for. We still owe a little on my wife's Rav 4. She if getting ready to retire in 2 months. What we have is ours.

I guess no one will believe that.....

I kidnap people and sell their organs on the dark web.

 

[Coxey81]

Ok, I get it. Be a doctor/lawyer/engineer/software engineer, and make the big bucks to be able to send your kids to Ivy Leagues, have a nice car, AND get an awesome fish tank or 10 out of it.

But for the all of the 5 figure and under people (let's say the cutoff is 85K), how are you doing it? Do you just like...not have kids or something? Is there a trick to all the splurging you're able to do? Are there a bunch of low cost of living areas that I'm just not aware of/don't want to move to?

I keep seeing "I just bought this 200/300/1600 gallon [RedSea/Waterbox/expensive brand] aquarium and what do I do with it" posts, and I'm just...confused...do you just have this money lying around??

I guess I'm mostly just asking because my estimated yearly earnings is currently somewhere at around 40K in a high cost of living area once the job hiring starts again. Which means very little disposable income (bye bye avocado toast, I'll miss you, but aquariums gotta aquarium).

I got used my 4 month old used setup for 800 dollars... so???