So, how do you pay for your hobby of guns?

[DeepSouth]

I work overtime. Last year over a third of my income was OT, so far this year I've worked 335 hrs of OT. That"s how I pay for my "toys" as well as the wife's, I pay the bills with 40 hrs, and save/splurge with the extra. That said I didn't get a gun hobby until I was making a great deal over 30K.

 

[clutch]

There were times I didn't make enough money and worked two jobs, there were times I made barely enough money working one job, then as my skills and education grew, I made more money doing a different job and now I get paid okay but I work a lot of overtime.

I'm at the point in life where time off is more important to me than money but if I just have to work the OT to make the employer happy, I'll put some of that money towards shooting stuff.

Oh yes, I don't have kids and have been happily divorced for many years.

Clutch

 

[sirgilligan]

I don't have any guns. I download pictures of other people's guns and then post on forums and say "Look what I just got."

Truthfully, being frugal, only buying what I can afford, buying quality to that it lasts, taking care of things so they retain value, a slow and steady pace.

Last year I decided to see if I could do something to specifically fund firearm related purchases and costs, so I spent a pretty good sum of money to get everything needed to do iPhone / iOS development. So, you should know that the proceeds of Gun Log and Gun Log +P go directly to this so-called hobby.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Plasma in the forty weight range.

 

[snake eater 332]

I'm a LEO and work extra duty/OT (construction, bar jobs, HS ball games, etc) to fund my 'habit.' I'll usually buy 2-3 big ticket items a year, whether that be a new firearm or accessories, like an optic or suppressor, and I'll also take 2-3 tactical training classes a year (like Larry Vickers, Kyle Lamb/VTAC, Kyle Defoor, Rob Pincus/CFS, Jason Falla/RB1, etc.) out of my own pocket to keep my skills honed.

 

[FROGO207]

Me I just do what I want/buy what I want all the time. Firefighter/Plumber/Electrician are the things that make me money. Oh yeah I am still single, and presently drive a 25 year old truck and own my own home. I remember actually buying 2 new firearms in the last 30 years, all the others have been used deals when I had a little spare cash.

 

[Nauga]

I reckon guns have a better roi than a bank account.

 

[Capybara]

Full time corporate professional, I make very good money but unfortunately wife and kids spend most of it. I have a side gig, I write for a couple of magazines, make about 12k per year with that gig, that is gun/hobby money.

Just found out I may get laid off in October though so I think my gun buying is over until I either secure another job or keep the one I have. I bought a lot of guns and ammo this year though, glad I did, plenty to keep me shooting for the next couple of years.

 

[Ky Larry]

I'm 58, wife unit has good paying job, son grown and doing well, no bills except taxes, utilities, insurance, and food. I have a good union job with benefits and work all the overtime I want. I split my overtime with the wife unit. Idon't have time to shoot the guns I have so most $ gets spent on reloading supply's and accessories.

 

[claiborne]

keep selling or trading for guns that I will sell or trade away some day. My wife thinks I am cuckoo.

 

[MBane666]

I parlayed a short-term consulting gig for a tiny television network devoted to gold prospectors and an abysmal lack of knowledge about television into 12 seasons of SHOOTING GALLERY, not to mention THE BEST DEFENSE, COWBOYS, TBD/SURVIVAL and now RAPID FIRE and GUN STORIES. Ten years ago I couldn't spell "television producer"...now I are one, sort of...

Michael B

 

[frankmako]

take lunch to work instead of buying it. saves lots of $$$$ to buy guns, ammo, and reloading items.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Kids are out of the house.
Don't play the lotteries or go to bars, and eat at restaurants rarely.
Reloading helps a lot also.
And don't have cable either.

 

[treg]

drive paid for trucks

don't buy nutin new

seldom go out to eat

no bars

no casinos

no church

no social life

grow and raise most of my own food

ride "junk" horses (until recently)

buy hay out of the field

reload all ammo 'cept .22's

shoot lots of .22's

Next step - live in a paid for house!

People wonder how I do it.

ETA:
Heat my house 100% with wood (I'm in a top tier state)

No garbage service-
-biodegradables go in the garden
-burnables get burnt
-nonburnables go in a feed bag and get stored in a box in the barn until township dump day.

Don't smoke

 

[CDR_Glock]

take lunch to work instead of buying it. saves lots of $$$$ to buy guns, ammo, and reloading items.

You aren't kidding! Very smart.

I'm going to start taking lunch to work, also. As well as BRING my coffee or tea to work. I think I can save $3k/year just doing that. That is like a free FN Scar 17 per year.

 

[shiftyer1]

I really don't have a clue how I support my habit, and to be honest I really don't want to ponder it. Mostly if I see something I just have to have I do without In another area until I get it or do some sellin and swappin. I guess I just find a way.

 

[mljdeckard]

1. Handloading

2. Using AR pattern rifles with multiple uppers

3. Using .22 conversion kits. (I've been shooting them so much lately, I might need to recalculate that one,)

4. Russian ammo in Russian guns

5. I get incentive pay, usually about $2-300 a month. That's my money.

 

[tarosean]

ride "junk" horses

that one made me laugh...
However, maintenance is about the same for a "expensive" one as it is a "junk" one....

 

[Steve Raacke]

I work nights and weekends, 40 hours a week, as a hospital security officer making about 28K a year. That pays my bills and leaves a tiny bit left for my ham radio and gun hobbies.

 

[SimplyChad]

Deployment... 11 grand on guns in the last 9 months. No debt other then my bike and the wifes car that we could pay off at anytime.

 

[sirgilligan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankmako View Post
take lunch to work instead of buying it. saves lots of $$$$ to buy guns, ammo, and reloading items.

You aren't kidding! Very smart.

I either take my lunch or go home and eat and do some exercise while at home.
Over the last 20 years that conservatively adds up to over $30,000.00.

 

[Coyote3855]

I've worked for wages for over 50 years. I get a retirement check from a job I held for 31 years. I choose to work after "retirement" and am fortunate to make an excellent income from what started out as a part-time jog. We have no debt of any kind. Cars, house, tractor, land: all paid. Credit cards used mostly for gasoline, paid every month. I have no other expensive hobbies. Well, there's fly fishing...

 

[MarkDido]

Serenity Said:

I spend a very minimal amount of money on clothes, makeup, bi annual haircuts, don't wear jewelry, own only 10 pairs of footwear INCLUDING work boots (that sounds like a lot but start counting your wife's shoes; on second thought--don't) and drive a '98 Rav4. So when I want to spend money on shooting, hubby tends to just roll his eyes and consider himself lucky that I don't collect handbags or perfume.

Dang!

You had me right up until that "husband" thing!

 

[kimberkid]

Besides the fact I have or have had just about every firearm that interests me, I'm 55, dual good incomes (I'm in technology and the wife is in medicin) and house & cars paid for, zero debt, even our funerals, headstones & plots are paid for ... only one kid left at home and barring a catastrophic event or unless she goes to Yale, Harvard, Juliard ...

 

[treg]

Quote:
ride "junk" horses
that one made me laugh...
However, maintenance is about the same for a "expensive" one as it is a "junk" one....

Ah, but I train the vets horse. Helps cut the maintenance $ which leaves more for guns.

And BTW, I traded my last "junk" horse (got him free, +15 months) for a well built, well bred, registered Polish Arabian. So I am not riding a "junk" horse now.