Spending too much money on special interests?

[Lydia Z]

Is it just me or does everyone spend more money than usual on their special interests? for example, a couple of years ago, I bought a guitar and a big box of art supplies for painting. I don't know how to play the guitar or have much experience with painting. It took the items about a week to get to me and by that time the obsession has decreased and didn't use any of the stuff to its full extent. Just recently, I've been obsessing about reading books and so I have been going to second hand stores and buying books a lot. Can any of you relate to this kind of behavior?

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

I have a rule that I must wait 30 days before making non-essential purchases. It stops impulse buys in their tracks. Stops most purchases actually, as by the time the 30 days is up I've completely forgotten what I wanted to begin with.

 

[Iamnotarabot]

I impulsively buy stuff sometimes aswell, video games especially.

 

[Mia]

Definitely, I'm an artist. When I was at school and afterwards, bought everything that I could possibly use for art. Own every type of oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, pastels, inks that I can use to paint with. Own every type of brush, colouring pencils, (hundred's of types) markers, chalk, pencils (every grade), charcoal (willow, compressed, vine) graphite, erasers (gum, rubber, kneaded, pencil, vinyl).

The list goes on and on, every square, every metal ruler, compass, and I won't even go into types of paper that I've used, the canvases, the illustration boards, or the airbrush. As that could take too long.

Still use some of the paints I bought many years ago, that haven't dried up and the watercolour lasts for an incredible amount of time as does the ink, gouache and pastels. Don't think I can ever use it all, in my lifetime. On the positive side it's likely I'll never have to buy anything but replacements ever again.

 

[Judge]

Good question, yet a relative one. Relative to the disposable income one has, as opposed to that they don't actually have or cannot budget for.

That if in fact you can afford it, then it's not a negative thing. Whatever makes you happy. Conversely if you really can't afford it, you're doing something ill advised.

The one exception perhaps being when your special interest transcends into being your job.

 

[Pats]

I go through long periods of interests. Some things I can't do anymore because the strain on my neck. I made jewelry for a while and now trying to figure out what to do with all the supplies I accumulated. I have a big box of paints. A big box of stuff for my fairy garden. A big box of soap making supplies. Box of stuff for dreamcatchers. I could go on - some I still get into on occasion, others I'm waiting to find someone who might want them. I'm currently into crocheting and always picking up yarns that I think is pretty and soft, etc. And I do keep my sewing supplies because, though I don't like to sew, I still sew when there's something I want but can't find exactly what I want so I'll just make it instead, but I do need to condense on the leftover fabrics that I probably won't use.
Guess my answer is yes.

 

[OlLiE]

i've been on a bit of a headphone binge...

 

[clg114]

Tools. Over the years I have bought thousands and thousands of dollars worth of tools. I always told myself it was OK because I made my living with my tools. The truth is, I probably could have done my job with half of what I have. I just like tools. The Snap On man knew that. Whenever I got close to getting my tool bill paid off, he would come up with something that I just had to have. It is still going on too, last week I bought a set of coil spring compressors. I think that I am hooked.

 

[George Newman]

Is it just me or does everyone spend more money than usual on their special interests? for example, a couple of years ago, I bought a guitar and a big box of art supplies for painting. I don't know how to play the guitar or have much experience with painting. It took the items about a week to get to me and by that time the obsession has decreased and didn't use any of the stuff to its full extent. Just recently, I've been obsessing about reading books and so I have been going to second hand stores and buying books a lot. Can any of you relate to this kind of behavior?

I can relate.

 

[Kirsty]

Definitely I'm an artist. When I was at school and afterwards, bought everything that I could possibly use for art. Own every type of oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, pastels, inks that I can use to paint with. Own every type of brush, colouring pencils, (hundred's of types) markers, chalk, pencils (every grade), charcoal (willow, compressed, vine) graphite, erasers (gum, rubber, kneaded, pencil, vinyl).

The list goes on and on, every square, every metal ruler, compass, and I won't even go into types of paper that I've used, the canvases, the illustration boards, or the airbrush. As that could take too long.

Still use some of the paints I bought many years ago, that haven't dried up and the watercolour lasts for an incredible amount of time as does the ink, gouache, pastels. I don't think I can ever use it all, in my lifetime. On the positive side it's likely I'll never have to buy anything but replacements ever again.

Omg this is very exciting to read! I’ve been this way all my life, but ever since I started going to college to study art, I got the best box of supplies for FREE that came from my bursary. It was just like Christmas all over again and there’s nothing that I don’t have so it’s only replacements I’ll buy, too, unless a sudden urge of a self ‘treat’ would come over me and purchase say, a fancy notebook or I may receive something arty as a gift.

 

[Mia]

I’ve been this way all my life,

Me too Kirsty. When I went to school they handed out an art supplies list. Was so excited to have gotten in, I bought everything on the list. Thought you were supposed to. That it was like a list of textbooks you had to have.

 

[Progster]

In the past I have spent huge sums of money on audio equipment and music, now my stuff is outdated but I can't afford to replace it. I do spend quite a lot of money on music. I collect albums and it frustrates me that I can't afford to buy more. If I had free rein on it I would buy literally hundreds per month, but as it is, I have to be selective and only buy what I can afford, four or five albums per month usually. But I can justify it - I have no debt, I run my budget tightly and strictly, I don't overspend and don't buy on credit. I don't spend money on things like cosmetics, socialising, mobile phone and rarely buy clothes. So why not? Why shouldn't I have some pleasure in life - life is for living and I have no reason to feel bad about it. EDIT: just got some money come in, so off to Discogs for a bit of shopping

 

[Kirsty]

Thought I’d add that today I bought a packet of three canvas boards and a clear A2 project bag/portfolio case from The Works shop. Happy to say I got discount too! I already have two black leather portfolio cases plus an old clear one, but the clear one got a bit dirty from charcoal and it won’t come off completely. It’s a good excuse to buy a ‘replacement’ while keeping the old one with the charcoal drawings separate.

 

[texkag]

Is it just me or does everyone spend more money than usual on their special interests? for example, a couple of years ago, I bought a guitar and a big box of art supplies for painting. I don't know how to play the guitar or have much experience with painting. It took the items about a week to get to me and by that time the obsession has decreased and didn't use any of the stuff to its full extent. Just recently, I've been obsessing about reading books and so I have been going to second hand stores and buying books a lot. Can any of you relate to this kind of behavior?

I have done the same my entire life. I can't tell you how many musical instruments, hobby supplies, tools, books etc I've sold at a loss over the years. As others have mentioned, I force myself to wait now if I get gripped by the idea of embarking on another hobby/obsession. Sadly, I haven't been gripped in this way for over a year. I have been annoyed with myself about the expense in the past but I have to acknowledge that it's cheaper than paying privately to see a psychologist. If I had something to focus on now I would not care about the cost.

 

[Adora]

I do like to spend money on my interests like my dolls,books,makeup and some art supplies but I will never spend money that is meant for the rent or bills they always come first.

 

[tlc]

I do, but I also have good self control and keep myself in check. I dream about it a lot though. Like wanting to collect cars, keyboards, expensive and space taking things. So I just go on craigslist and dream for awhile, then realize my space and money is better spent elsewhere. Small cheap things I do go on splurges sometimes, but only if it's dirt cheap. Like used books and music from the resale, often they're 50 cents each. Music I get when I see it and I don't have it and I've been wanting it. Books sometimes I'll grab a bunch on a certain genre, but I keep my trips infrequent. I'm ok going home emptyhanded. Because space is limited there too, and more than anything I don't want my house to end up a hoard like my ex had it. In the garage, for awhile I was collecting toolboxes, and haven't put anything in them yet. But that day is coming, now I've got the garage to myself I'll continue getting a shop set up when I get feeling better again. I've been waiting a lot of years for this.

 

[Moomin]

Unfortunately yes. It doesn’t help that in the last two years I’ve developed another *more expensive hobby. I have ideas that I’d love to see to fulfillment but that also comes in conflict with adulting things like bills, medical insurance etc. but the problem with the need to over spend does and has happened before, even on projects that were a good idea in concept but once in the progress i lose interest.

 

[joe2006]

I seem to be spending a lot of money on video games and other things of interest. Last year I bought several different types of gaming consoles so I could play a wider variety of games. Later I took an interest in board games and got several of those. Then I decided I wanted to learn how to play a piano and bought an electric piano.

 

[Pink Jazz]

The past few years I have been buying a lot of IZOD shirts for myself, friends, and family. I think next year I will slow down a little. I stocked up on all the Fairy Tale pink shirts (and shorts) from their Spring 2017 and Spring 2018 collections.

 

[hiraeth]

The one exception perhaps being when your special interest transcends into being your job.

That's a way of engaging with unique opportunities and challenges that I'll always be fascinated about.

Some way of making "income generation" and "engaging with special interest" happen simultaneously.