When obsessions get expensive

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Fortunately, it's not like there's a lot you can "buy" for oncology. Except textbooks...

However, there *is* the small matter of cycling and triathlon. I daren't even add that up. WHY must there be SO MANY TOYS?

Thats a nice setup you have there polarity. My big interest is computers too, and I have probably spent as much as what you have, but I haven't been able to upgrade for a while. My parents never understood my obsession with needing to constantly upgrade/tweak/fix my computer. I am on my third box right now, and I am saving up as much as I can to go all out on this next upgrade. But for now I just keep tabs on the latest releases of hardware, software, and games.

I used to have an obsession with Hot Wheels when I was little. I still have some that I have kept in the packages. My favorite was the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. I think I have like 6 or 7 somewhere in storage.

I buy gourmet perfume from an online company. I haven't spent a TON of money on it, but it's getting close to $200 since October. Way more than I've spent on anything else except food.

I want my newest shipment... gah!

Traveling doesn't always require that much money, but I guess it depends on what level of comfort you want, how you fell about handling new people, hitching and such.. :s

I have to be very careful about visiting Collectible shops. My neighbor got several thousand vinyl albums at an auction. He gave me a boxful to take to a small shop to sell. While the owner was appraising the boxful, I almost gave in to buy two Syd Barrett albums ! ! I also do the same thing in antique shops, I see something and get obssessed about owning it.

Hitching is dangerous so I don't do it. It also depends on what's available. For example the options are VERY limited to Perth from Melbourne (air - which I hate - and rail, and with rail the company that runs it refuses to carry me because of my Aspie needs unless I purchase a full blown sleeping berth which is why they are on my Wiki as Aspie Enemies).

Ahhh..

What are your needs?

It's insanely easy to spend a small fortune in both of my main obsessions: vintage audio and photography.

Photography-wise, a '60s or '70s vintage manual camera body in good physical shape and working order, plus 28 mm wide angle, 50 mm normal, 105 mm short telephoto/portraiture, and 400 mm or so long telephoto lens can easily set you back US$2000 or so, not counting front and rear lens caps, a body cap for the camera, and a case or two to store it all.

And my obsession with cameras (particularly Pentax, both screw mount and K-mount) means that I want to have at least one example of each Pentax body in working order, and an example of each lens.

And I'm also starting to get interested in the Canon and Nikon manual-focus systems as well, with similar aims.

That's not counting darkroom costs either, for those of us who prefer the art of film photography. Decent enlargers are quite pricey. Then there's the developing reel for the film, and the film itself. A siphon wash for washing newly developed film. Ideally, a drying cabinet to hang film to dry so it isn't scratched and doesn't get dusty. Chemistry for developing film and prints (it's different.) Photographic paper for the prints. A safelight. Ideally, a spare room for a permanent darkroom that incorporates good ventilation, running water, and plenty of space. Trays for developing prints.

Photography is really expensive. But it's just as enjoyable.

Vintage audio, not so much. But still easy. For example, a good tube receiver (like a Fisher) can easily sell for more than $400. High-end solid state sells for about half that much. But what I really want is a reel-to-reel tape deck, specifically the Technics RS-1500US (or similar). They routinely go for in excess of US$1500.

Fortunately, though, I think I have at least some self-control, so I won't spend my way to bankruptcy. I hope.

see, I was gonna put something similar to what freak_audio had written, then I did think about it and realised people can't us often can't go for the very cheap options due to various issues.

For instance, we definately need to have our own space so we can be alone.
Long journeys on public transport are bad enough as it is, so whatever we use it can't be too noisy or chaotic.
I would never transfer this onto others on the forum, but I know that I personally am just slightly too naive and too trusting of people to go hitch hiking.

One cheap thing I think most of us could do is hiking/camping, buy a cheap tent and get out in the wilderness!

As I said, It most likely depends on the person, but it's bound to be rather difficult.

I've often considered taveling by walking/hitching/trainhopping/any means nessecary but I think being overly trusting might well be my downfall there too..

Then again, I've heard so many good stories from people about how many great and trustworthy people they've encountered.

I've camped - but there are two things wrong with it. One - it means travelling heavy and that's a pest. Two (and this is the biggest problem) - more and more transport providers, especially the buses, get antsy about lots of luggage for one passenger.

When I travel I carry what a call my "entertainment case". It carries everything I need for the long journey to keep me occupied such as the old walkman, or the newer CD player. If I'm on a train my laptop comes in handy as well - as long as there's a power point handy! The battery only lasts a little over an hour before it needs to be recharged.

But you get the idea, Sarah! The worst kind of travel when it comes to personal space is by air - aside from my own issues with the take off and the landing. Bus isn't much better but I know when to travel and where so I can all but guarentee two seats to myself. Train's the best.

That sure is true--- I wouldn't spend myself into homelessness--- but so long as the bills are all paid and I have something set aside for a rainy day ( ie: sick, can't work and must take a few days off), then I feel it's ok to enjoy things now, before I'm too old to enjoy them and before I die.

One other thing you can do is travel at a time when no one else would think to - ie. do the long haul coach trip overnight on a wednesday. This means there will be less people and no one is likely to make such a fuss about you carrying lots of luggage.

No that won't work - unless the bus arrives at it's destination early enough for me to get some shut eye at the camp or wherever. I can't sleep sitting up. For example, I've been using a trick like that for Adelaide because it arrives at 5.20am (4.40am on the return home). But that's the only destination it works for - the others arrive too late.

Not only that, the problem is with the driver, not the passengers - because we have rules here in Australia and one of them is a limit on luggage. Sometimes drivers will be nice and be flexible with said rules, but that is so unpredictable it can't be relied upon. That's why I bought a strong trolley and strapped stuff onto it. But the trolley didn't last very long!

I haven't spent much on interests. Then again I don't really collect tangible things more bits information. I spent a little on programing books. However much of the programing stuff is 'open source' or otherwise available for free. Going to do some accreditation, which has fees. I spend some money on art equipment. That's all I can think of.

Some ideas that you may have already thought of:

If you are shopping a lot at a particular record store it might be an idea to ask for a substantial discount, given that you spend a lot in a month. You never know it might work. Have you still got old receipts?

I know you would have researched what you want thoroughly. So try to keep 'window shopping' to a minimum. Otherwise try listen to it before you take it home.

Check charity shops, second hand shops, record exchanges, ebay and other auction sites.

Only spend in cash. Just take out what you intend to spend and stick to it.

Don't bother with credit cards. I've never had one. You don't even need them nowadays, everywhere takes debit cards even abroad. They are the biggest con along with using the credit on store cards which is something like 20% interest on average.

...Kind of .
In the past , I bought WAAYY too many records .
Now , I feel so out of touch with music , sometimes , like I'm outside of a plastic wall ! !! !! !! !!
When you say " records " , since you're 21 , do you actually mean vinyl records ?
If so...can we get married ?????????
I really over-buy comic books - meaning American-style Superman/Spider-Man/Archie type things , which are magazines , really , not " books " , and it occurs to me that a younger ( From the UK , too . ) person might not define the phrase in the same manner .
Of course , I've lost SO many things over the years , I have had EVERYTHING that I had in my earlier years , as far as " stuff " goes , gonne from me , as of now...( I am 48 . )
Partly , that's my justification/reason...
( Also , incidentally , the same goes for my fami8ly memorbilia/pictures , I have NOTHING . ( I could - with some effort - maybe track down a few - a few - things , granted . I wouldn't even have any place to put them , though !
I don't even have pictures of my mother ( dead about 20 years ) or father ( about 9 ) . I'm sorry , in a sense , to be so " misery guts " upon you...I have only read the 1st post here , incidentally , I haveno time to read 5 pages...)