How Much Do You Spend?

Not sure I understand your post.   You spend $350 a month, a year?   But you are not counting product purchases?

Spend what I want. It's always my decision.

Why bother?  This hobby doesn't cost anymore than other hobbies.  Think of the expense of golf for clubs, green fees, balls, etc.   Try the cost for skiing for lodging, lift tickets, hotels, meals, bar bills, etc.  How about car collecting and restoration?  How about gardening with the cost for plants, fertilizer, lawn mowers, etc.  I would guess that compared to many other hobbies, model railroading is relatively inexpensive.     

All hobbies cost a lot to people who seriously pursue them.  The fun, friendships, and the mental health that model railroading gives its members is worth more than the dollar cost in my opinion.    

Joe 

I keep finding these "deals" that are too good to pass up.  Yeah, I've spent money this year, but I've saved a lot over retail.  And, you'd be amazed at what I've bought for 40-50% of retail on highly desirable items.  FEFs, Challengers, and even a Big Boy.

I don't remember the last time I bought a new engine.  I did order a VL Big Boy though.  It looks like to much fun to miss out on.

No train clubs here, I limit the magazines, and I have been focusing on the train collection and buying track for the layout.  Cost do add up quickly, but for the money involved, I am happy with all of my purchases this year.  Buying used items has advantages.

And, coming from the car collector world, the train hobby is relatively inexpensive overall. Try buying a 'fuelie' set up for a second generation Corvette.  A lot more than a Vision Line Big Boy will cost you....

Hobbies can be expensive.  I am a runner; the cost of shoes and race fees can add up.  For me, the benefits of my hobbies far outweigh the costs.  I have done Civil War reenacting in the past.  The initial outlay for uniforms, rifle, etc. was expensive, but once I had my  gear the cost was not too bad.  Our CW group was organized as a 501(c)(3) educational foundation so travel expenses were tax deductible. If one can be content with what he has and not have to have the latest and greatest of everything, this does not have to be an expensive hobby.  I only answer to me, so I spend what I want.  People I work with spend $8 -$10 per day on lunch.  I bring something from home and rarely go out for lunch; that saves me a few thousand dollars per year.  I know guys who spend more at the bar in a year than I spend on hobbies.

Jeff Davis

I spend more than I want to sometimes, but not more than I can afford.

It varies from month to month. Sometimes I have enough for my magazines and nothing else. Then one month I buy a MTH J1a DAP set.....

But how much does 'the hobby' cost?? Again varies. Two years ago my sister bought me a 1980's era Lionel starter set for $5 at a yard sale that works perfect.....so $5???

My other main hobbies are long distance trail running and stand-up paddleboarding and both of those are dirt cheap compared to trains. Running only cost me a new pair of shoes every 4 months or so. Stand-up paddleboarding is free once you own the equipment. I built my paddleboard from marine graded plywood and epoxy which wound up costing about $1100 (about the same as a fiberglass off the shelf model but not nearly as nice looking!) Add to that a paddle, wetsuit for winter and a PFD to keep the Coast Gaurd happy and you're still looking at well under $2000 and none of the gear wears out so it's a one time cost. That's still less than a decent sized layout, especially if you want TMCC or DCS. 

When my wife does start to question my train spending habits I just remind her that as mid-life crises go trains are pretty cheap and they don't require a helmet, can't be crashed into a tree or require moorage fees! Plus it gets the kids out of her hair. At that point she realizes things could be a lot worse and let's it go. 

Spend what you want and enjoy yourself.  If your bills are paid and you have it to spend, enjoy yourself.  Yes trains can be an expensive hobby.  Life has many other vices that can suck you dry of money but you might not have as much fun. 

It does add up to a surprising amount. A little here and a little there multiplied over weeks, weeks into months into years. I wish I had a lifetime sum to ponder if I had been adding it up all along. Ive gotten to a point and I think most hobbyists do that after decades of this, a great deal of the stuff in magazines and books, I have encountered already and so it becomes variations on a fixed theme of "been there, done that"

No pressing desire to change scales to begin all over again.I have all the engines and cars to have a variety to run, the layout is done..some stuff is always on a shelf...so where do you go from here? 

I do think that there's sort of an arc in this..pre-layout..building one....collecting..and for me to think it would go on forever, when I look back on it is silly and could have gotten to be a joke I played on myself. 

So expenditures are down to a trickle, mostly attrition stuff..and I enjoy what I have.

Now the thought is sort of the aftermath..what do I do with all this stuff when it comes time to downsize, or worse, what does my wife and daughter do if I kick off? 

Sometimes it seems like a hangover and some days it's great to have a collection...but more money to create a bigger pile of stuff? Nah...thanks but no thanks.

You can't take it with you.  So after housing, food, clothing, retirement savings, saving for your kids' education (if any), charitable contributions, indulge yourself if you can. If you find yourself regretting the expenses, you know you are spending too much. If you run out of space before you run out of money, you can consider a bigger apartment or house .

I agree, it's only money and with the rules of the FED, you can't send it ahead.

Everyone has good replies to such a simple question. My dollar total is just for the odds-n-ends such as subscriptions, books, club memberships and so on. This amount is shocking at times.....

This isn't a test run. You only go this way once. Enjoy the hobby. If you can afford it buy it.

Learn how to invest.

You'll never get ahead with the money parked in a safe haven.

Happy Pappy Don!

Tried to send you an email but what is in your email bounced!

Hugh Laubis

Basically, I buy everything I want.  It's still cheaper than owning a big boat, and I can use it all nearly every day, not just on weekends in good weather.

I did a value analysis, so my dues outlay has been significantly reduced:

> OGR Premium Membership has more value than a magazine subscription;

> If you do not go to York, drop your $50 TCA membership;

> Cancel all memberships in out of town clubs and associations that have no value to you. Many of us join clubs because it is a trendy thing to do;

> Cancel your other magazine subscriptions. Go to Barnes & Noble, scan the issues and only buy those that have articles worth $6 to you.

Buy more trains with the money you save!

Guys,

After reading and rereading all of your posts here, the post I most agree with belongs to Joe Barker . I agree wholeheartedly! I would add one more thing though, the original poster should trim his expenses, if he so chooses, commensurate with the value he gets from the active pursuit of this grand and glorious hobby, which I might add has led each of us (or should actually) to a greater understanding of what fellowship means!

nuff said!

Mike

Guns,boats,trains,trapping,fishing,bow and arrows,straight razors,ice fishing equip,black powder guns.....off to work !!!!

to MUCH!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

had to quit the local train club,

couldn't afford the $120 a yr dues.

and they are HO scale anyway. My wifie calls those

trains, "little crap trains" HA!

I laugh when she says that.

Every month I have a mortgage payment, and then a train payment. 

-Eric Siegel

I think you first have to ask yourself why am I in this hobby in the first place. If $ 350.00 is your annual train related expenditures, I would say this is very modest in terms of probably other non-essential expenses in your budget.  What does it cost to go out to dinner or take in a movie, etc? You have to establish your priorities.

Last year, I bought a Lionel 783 -- a locomotive I've always wanted -- for $450.  And yeah, I'm sure someone out there knows someplace I could have gotten it cheaper, but I wasn't there.

Then I spent maybe another $100 for the parts necessary to convert it to full 700E valve gear and for a Williams whistle to replace the miserable Lionel whistle.  All of that is the most I've ever spent on a single locomotive.

Along the way, I've picked up some Lionel Standard O freight cars from the "used" section of the train store, and I really splurged when I mail-ordered a nice Lionel scale Reading caboose.  Just yesterday, I paid all of $18 for a Weaver RDG hopper at a train show.

I get all the high-ticket items (like the 783 above) by saving up for them, every week, so none of them has any impact on daily living expenses.

You don't have to have money to burn to be part of the hobby.

Dinner for two at a reasonably-priced chain restaurant, with a glass of wine, plus dessert, is easily $100.  Do that every Saturday night and that's $5200 per year.

Your 350 number sounds like a bargain to me.

ALAP (as little as possible).  I dropped out of two tinplate clubs and let at least one subscription lapse.  But, you only go around once, and my philosophy has been to try

to get as much out of life on a shoestring as I can.  Luckily, I have narrow and demanding interests, so, usually, there is nothing major I can spend money on.

$350 sounds like a lot at first, but as others have stated, many hobbies are much more expensive. Besides trains, my other passion is fishing. A Calif fishing license is $60 a year. Add in gas for the boat, entrance and launch fees, fuel for the truck, and replacing fluorocarbon line and lures, etc. My opinion is do what makes you happy. For so long my trains were boxed up in the garage......along with my boat. New Wife, better Life! She loves trains and fishing. I belonged to AGTTA in San Diego. Great group of people, but very difficult to get there. I finally let my membership lapse. I do plan on joining again in the future. Do what makes you happy and have no regrets.

Bob

What does gas and wear & tear cost round trip to B&N?  And I'll bet you land up getting a coffee also! <G>

The cost in dollars for this hobby? Who knows? The value of the friends and enjoyment? Piceless!!

Ray Marion

Ray, nobody could put it better.  Well done.

Ray....the best answer yet!!  The friendships that I have made in this hobby are worth millions of times more than all the money I have spent....as a matter of fact, I am with you, those friendships are most certainly priceless!! 

Alan

Ray, so well put. True friends are wonderful, and this hobby is a great place to make them.

Gerry

Quadruple DITTO Ray! Well said indeed!

Mike

I made the mistake of putting monetary values on my rolling stock inventory spreadsheet. I probably should to a locomotive inventory too, but at $1K+ a pop, I don't know if I really want a total.

Honestly, in my world $350 is statistically a mathmatical rounding error.

Gilly

NOTHING THESE DAYS!

In fact I am selling off quantities of low end stuff.

WHY! For us it is time to downsize and move on!

AS a result You can buy my entire train layout and collection of state of the art trains for $375K. This is all DCS & TMCC ready.

It's my business, my hobby, I am single, happy and enjoy what I spend my money on.

Steve, Lady and Tex