How do you budget for this hobby?

[evox]

So the other day I broke my rule because this provider was visiting NYC and would be leaving soon before my next paycheck. I ended up taking some money out of my savings account. Although the money was about equal to my accrued interest for the year and I didn't touch the principal.

Normally I set aside 5% of my paycheck and have a separate brokerage account that's mostly bluechip dividend dogs I bought during the covid late-winter 2020 crash. I use the dividends (after setting aside money for Uncle Sam)

My post nut clarity made me feel bad that I broke my rule and feel like I'm on a slippery slope here.

What are some habits and rules you set to keep yourself from that slippery slope where this hobby becomes an addiction? Any lucrative side hustles to recommend for some extra play money?

 

[MongerL]

Seems like you put too much thought into it. As long as the mortgage, electric, gas, (you get it) are paid I enjoy my self with the leftover discretionary income. It’s never ever been a problem.
I probably drop $200 a week on avg. Never missed a bill in over 35 years.

 

[Retired061423-2]

I’ll usually put a few hundo aside when I get paid as long as everything else I need to live is settled. If I can make some overtime then I’ll set extra aside as well. I average between 1000 to 1500 per month.

 

[AutomaticSlim]

What are some habits and rules you set to keep yourself from that slippery slope where this hobby becomes an addiction?

To not spend more in a month than I net/2 in that same month. When I say "net" I do not include what I put in my retirement accounts.

Any lucrative side hustles to recommend for some extra play money?

I may be mistaken but I seem to remember a thread where a bunch of us were joking around about programming languages/terminologies and you were on it. If so, and you work in IT, then part time consulting is a great side hustle.

 

[kcdark]

I can't say what my budget truly is because some months I hobby more than others. However, like Monger L, I make sure ALL of my bills are paid first, retirement fund....funded and then I determine what I will spend after. If I was to put a number on it I'd say anywhere from $200 - $500 per month on average.

 

[mortensen]

Hey! I can totally relate to the temptation of breaking those budget rules for something you enjoy. But hey, we're only human! It's good to see you're conscious of staying on top of your finances and not letting things spiral out of control. Personally, I like to separate my hobby and essential expenses by setting some strict spending limits. I also try to keep myself busy with other interests so I don't overindulge in just one hobby. When it comes to side hustles, there are tons of options out there like freelance work, tutoring, or selling handmade items on Etsy. Funny enough, I heard about a site the other day where you can play solitaire for money. Seems unexpected, but hey, whatever floats your boat, right? Good luck and stay disciplined, my friend!

 

[MKNJ]

I budget badly...

But what I do is make sure all bills are paid first. Other play money is what I tap into.

I consider any money from outside my main salary as play money. For this year, so far, I've only had to tap into tax refund money.

Side hustle... I have a couple of websites that do okay, that money goes into the hobby too

 

[manfrenjentsen]

part time consulting is a great side hustle.

I need a side hustle. Gotta pay for this habit/hobby.

 

[BarryAllen]

Sports gambling lol

Jk (sorta). Once all bills are paid and savings is set up, I have a slush fund that I’ll put money into. This is for all hobbies (gamblings, AMPs, etc).

 

[cutterman]

Easy, whatever’s in my pocket, they get.

 

[Beacon]

I’m somewhat a spur of the moment monger, so if I have extra money I’ll decide where I’m going and if I’m looking for any extra upgrades once I’m there. If I set up an appointment ahead of time it’s because I’ve already allocated the funds necessary for the journey.

 

[Dynaguy]

Easy, whatever’s in my pocket, they get.

Similar, whatever I can withdraw from the ATM

 

[AxelzH95]

just telling myself to never spend more than 150 every two weeks on this hobby, 100 if feeling weekly. worked out fine also i have a bit of income to myself after bills to enjoy myself a bit

 

[Norm75]

I am very inconsistent
There would be months in between... then sometimes I would hit it 2 or 3x a week
If there is an itch... it has to be scratched.
The itch usually comes when I get bored and it doesn't happen too often so no need for a budget.

 

[markkennedy]

For me, I set a strict rule, is my monthly net from my owner draw (my "paycheck") ONLY, divided by 6, and direct deposited into hobby account. As an operations guy, I keep meticulous records of visits and excel yells at me if I get too far into the money too soon in the month. If in a month the account somehow has money left in it, well that's extra for another time.

Sometimes you hear about a new place, or something comes up where the budget needs to be broken, and this is where your self-control comes in. Ok, one extra this month means one less next month.

As others said, make sure everything is paid and retirement is funded first. Hobby and addiction are two different things, and if you don't know the difference, you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Last, know who you are. If you're not a guy who can afford to drop a grand in one time ever, then you just aren't that guy and you set those things aside as either you just can't do them or you have to sock away for them. For me, I have a strict limit that ejaculating is not worth for me more than 400 bucks. Period. So anything, an experience, a provider, a double, a special service, a fetische provider, the limit is 400 bucks. Not that I can't afford it, just that for me, cumming or the experience has a limit and for me it's 400 US dollars. Even if I had a canvas sack with a dollar sign on it, which had ten million dollars in it, my limit is 400 US dollars. Set a realistic limit for your lifestyle and your expectations, and it really shouldn't be hard to play within your guardrails.

 

[Elf98]

For me, I set a strict rule, is my monthly net from my owner draw (my "paycheck") ONLY, divided by 6, and direct deposited into hobby account. As an operations guy, I keep meticulous records of visits and excel yells at me if I get too far into the money too soon in the month. If in a month the account somehow has money left in it, well that's extra for another time.

Sometimes you hear about a new place, or something comes up where the budget needs to be broken, and this is where your self-control comes in. Ok, one extra this month means one less next month.

As others said, make sure everything is paid and retirement is funded first. Hobby and addiction are two different things, and if you don't know the difference, you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Last, know who you are. If you're not a guy who can afford to drop a grand in one time ever, then you just aren't that guy and you set those things aside as either you just can't do them or you have to sock away for them. For me, I have a strict limit that ejaculating is not worth for me more than 400 bucks. Period. So anything, an experience, a provider, a double, a special service, a fetische provider, the limit is 400 bucks. Not that I can't afford it, just that for me, cumming or the experience has a limit and for me it's 400 US dollars. Even if I had a canvas sack with a dollar sign on it, which had ten million dollars in it, my limit is 400 US dollars. Set a realistic limit for your lifestyle and your expectations, and it really shouldn't be hard to play within your guardrails.

This needs to be published in the Wall St Journal or Harvard Business Review. Well done. Also, my nut limit was 300 a year and a half ago and is also now 400. Inflation affects everything. and every nut.

 

[markkennedy]

This needs to be published in the Wall St Journal or Harvard Business Review. Well done. Also, my nut limit was 300 a year and a half ago and is also now 400. Inflation affects everything. and every nut.

Not kidding, I read an article about expensive hobbies in the WSJ sometime during the late 80s (when I was a young teen) which had mostly the same advice. My mentor at the time and I had a chat about this topic, at the time regarding his hobby for expensive cars. Today I act according to this specific plan in everything I do, including my business. Would be a blast from the past if I can locate this article.