Has building car's desensitized you to $$$$$$

[rocketman]

You know with the amount of money,some of us have in our car's.Are you desnsitizied to money.like when ordering wheels and there 5g or 10g for a killer paint job.

I know I don't think much about it when buying car parts.Now the wife goes shopping it does.:pat:

[Steve1968LS2]

What's funny is that I will put off buying some jeans for $20 or hesitate about spending $100 on some cool gadget or item I like.

BUT, I have zero problem dropping $2k on seats or $3000 on some paint work..

My wife finds it sorta odd.

[JoshStratton]

What's funny is that I will put off buying some jeans for $20 or hesitate about spending $100 on some cool gadget or item I like.

BUT, I have zero problem dropping $2k on seats or $3000 on some paint work..

My wife finds it sorta odd.

I was going to let this post pass and not reply, thinking I dont do that at all, but then I realized I do the exact same thing. Hm. Maybe it is time for a self-help section in PHR?

[Jagarang]

Fiscal responsibility....BAH HUMBUG!!

But seriously..

I have the same take on it that Steve does except I look at it this way....

I forgo the pants, iPod(recently), laptop(currently), etc so I can afford the this and that for my project. I've been a slave to my project for years now. In fact I've been working two jobs for more than ten years just to pay for the who-er! :banghead: I know it's dumb, but I'm a stubborn hard head, and I LOVE THE HOBBY!

So my project has made me MUCH more sensitive to money, and how hard it is to make enough of it. It's made me very frugal and I tend not to spend money on myself if I don't have to, except for car related stuff, which is a BUNCH(don't ask my wife please)!

[syborg tt]

My wife finds it sorta odd.

The scary part is the fact that you tell your wife how much money you spend on your car.

[JoshStratton]

Its kinda hard not to when she controls everything, including keeping your 'junk' in her purse and not letting you have it until she needs it.

Oh wait, we are talking about Steve.

[Steve1968LS2]

The scary part is the fact that you tell your wife how much money you spend on your car.

Sorta.. you would have to do a seach on the "Enron Gambit" to fully understand..

lol

[Rick Dorion]

My credit limit is like a rev limiter.

[ilovefirstgens]

My line is "Is it a car? ...Then im not spending money on it!" the girlfriends looove that one......

[syborg tt]

I just totaled up my build cost to date and i'm a little over 80 grand and over the weekend i had an argument with my wife over yet another one of those silly purses she just had to have.

[kennyd]

I just totaled up my build cost to date and i'm a little over 80 grand and over the weekend i had an argument with my wife over yet another one of those silly purses she just had to have.

we have a 90/10 rule. i spend 90 she spends 10. i am very lucky with that .
i was in vegas for sema , went to the socal speed shop they had a purse there so i bought it for my wife( along with 200 worth of tee shirts ) . i scored so many brownie points that day ! and it kept her from getting the new $300.00 purse she wanted .

[CAMAROBOY69]

Heather and I wont buy a pair of $5.00 socks or new furniture, but we have noo problem spending hundreds of dollars on our cars. Actually any extra penny we get goes into our cars. Oh and video games. :)

[wantahertzdonut]

Same here. I've withheld buying "extra" furnature for my place. I'm perfectly happy using the boxes that large car parts have arrived in for a coffee table!

[6'9"Witha69]

I just went out at lunch to buy some more dress shirts for work and put some back since I figured the money would be better spent on the car. Dear God I have it bad.

The Enron Gambit works well. You can also call it "dealing from the bottom".

[vanzuuk1]

Explain the enron gambit, please.I know the enron story, just not how it relates to spending habits and the wife.

The other day I looked at the pile of suspension parts in my garage , I realized I worked thre hundred hours to pay for the parts. It freaked me out, I had to think about something else to make the nausea stop.

[rocketrod]

My car has deifinitely changed my view about $$$$. When I first got my car I always struggled with how much everything cost. :crying: I discussed it with the wife and she said I had one of two choices. Get rid of the car, not really an option, OR just get over it and buy what you want or you'll never be happy.

Needless to say now I have no problems dropping $$$ on the car, or anything else for that matter, and the best part is the wife could care less how much I spend! :bananna2: It also alleviates any tension :enguard: between us when she goes shopping, since its an unwritten rule not to discuss how much we spend as long as the bills are paid.

[Hrod382]

So true. I didn't flinch really throwing down $700 on quarters or buying another car yet I hate to throw down $5 for a combo meal and McDonalds or spend $5 to get in a gym for basketball.

We're all screwed up in the head... there's really no way around it.

[Patrick]

My wife has been extremely cool!! She has yet to say anything negative about my spending habits. She does however refer to everything in the garage as ''her jewelry''.

These projects do warp your sense of reality. The other day I was at Home Depot having an internal conflict on spending $4 on some washers. But then I can turn around and drop a BIG $ without thinking too much about it. I think I need help.

[zbugger]

I can't comment on my money spending habits. I have a couple other loves that take a chunk out of my car funds, and I'd rather not talk about them here....

[Nine Ball]

I don't think in dollars. I think in terms of what parts or cars I could buy with said dollars. The addiction is hopeless!

Tony

[datsbad]

I am in the process of redoing a kitchen. I wanted to keep it under 10 grand , funny thing is my wheels and brakes went over that !

the best thing is I did some of the work in the kitchen and did it for 7,000. More money for the car !!!!

[woody80z28]

I'm a cheap SOB. Big-time.

I only make $390 take home per week, but I dropped $1500 this winter to get my car out of the mid 14s and into the 12s. Muhahahhaa

[corys69ss]

How about dropping a grand in expensives to travel across three states to go to a swap meet, so you can find that killer deal. I do that about three times a year.

[Bob Johnson]

I was going to let this post pass and not reply, thinking I dont do that at all, but then I realized I do the exact same thing. Hm. Maybe it is time for a self-help section in PHR?
I don't know what you guys are talking about..I'm in denial

[OHCbird]

The next best thing to buying coool new (or used) parts is... what were we talking about?

(In your best Homer Simpson voice) "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh.....new parts"

...OK, has anyone figured out how to explain why you've changed plans midway through project?

[indyjps]

g/f told me if i get her a diamond i can buy the vette im looking @ and anything else i want, yes but the vette $ is the diamond $. guess ill have to get the diamond and make some more $. luckily the parts for the 69 camaro have been purchased slowly so the boxes show up @ the front door and go to the garage. I used to keep a set of freshly machined 1970 ls6 heads and crank boxed up and under the bed in the spare bedroom, she made me move them to the garage when we got into the new house. when i sold them recently she about **** and said she realized now why i kept them inside, then thought about it and looked @ the shelves full of parts and started pointing, how much is that? and that?

[*i2ayman*]

i have no one to answer to now, and it's great. I buy what i want, when i want.

My obsession made me get a weekend job at an auto parts store, just to get cost price, and some store credit.

[Steve1968LS2]

The Enron Gambit works well. You can also call it "dealing from the bottom".

Yes, you just adjust the cost of parts.. it's like converting dog years into people years but the opposite.. lol

Oh, and whenever you buy a part try and incorporate the "Pavlov Tactic" where you buy the significant other some nice item when you buy something expensive (expensive ever after application of the Enron Gambit) for the car. For Example.. you buy $2000 Recaro seats, they are reported as $900 seats (the Enron Gambit) then the wife gets a shopping trip and gift of at least $90 (the Pavlov Tactic). Eventually any wife will become excited at the prospect of you buying a part for the car.

These are very scientific and proven concepts.. :look:

[hotrodgary]

Just like everyone already said!

I hate to spend money on clothes and house stuff, but when I need a tool, or wanna buy car parts...I DONT EVEN HESITATE!!! LOL!

I will shop around for clothes on sale and still not get em, but for the car...call up and get it ordered, no shoppin around lol.

I'm destined for bankruptcy haha

Later,
Gary

[syborg tt]

I don't know what you guys are talking about..I'm in denial

is that what they call it

[AAW]

Yes, you just adjust the cost of parts.. it's like converting dog years into people years but the opposite.. lol

Oh, and whenever you buy a part try and incorporate the "Pavlov Tactic" where you buy the significant other some nice item when you buy something expensive (expensive ever after application of the Enron Gambit) for the car. For Example.. you buy $2000 Recaro seats, they are reported as $900 seats (the Enron Gambit) then the wife gets a shopping trip and gift of at least $90 (the Pavlov Tactic). Eventually any wife will become excited at the prospect of you buying a part for the car.

These are very scientific and proven concepts.. :look:

OH MY GOD! I had NO idea that's why I get the occassional gifts! I am getting such an education here... :hand:

[BonzoHansen]

My credit limit is like a rev limiter.Ha ha. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/02/forum_new-1.gif



Damn cars are costing me a new couch this week. :pat:

[speedster]

Naw, it hasn't affected me at all...so, does anybody have any ideas of something I can buy for the car ?? :hammer:

[6'9"Witha69]

My Camaro cost me a billet Grille for my wife's Equinox yesterday. The last time was jewelry. I was asked the other day how much I have spent on my Camaro in the last 9 years. I just told her it has been a lot. If she ever wants me to do her '71 forget about it. Even then I still run the Enron gambit or Deal from the bottom.

Let me explain dealing from the bottom. If your paycheck is direct deposited, or if you cash it yourself, route a certain amount to another account the wife doesn't know about. This money is used to subsidize your part buying activity. So when you draw $1500 for wheel and tires, your wife thinks you got a great deal on what is a $3,000 package! This is a way of performing the 'Enron gambit' and having the books cooked to make it match.

[Steve1968LS2]

OH MY GOD! I had NO idea that's why I get the occassional gifts! I am getting such an education here... :hand:

I'm sorry.. but we must ban you from these private "manly" threads.. we can have our stategies going to the enemy..

Some men in suits will be showing up to your location soon.. just go with them..

[BonzoHansen]

Naw, it hasn't affected me at all...so, does anybody have any ideas of something I can buy for the car ?? :hammer:
I got some $1000 hood hinges for you. And some billet hood iinsulation. Free shipping.

[formula]

I actually cut back on eating to pay for more parts. I also switched to drinking nothing but water out of water fountains, both to save more money for car parts.

I'm even thinking about switching to....bleh....natural light....just because it's cheaper by the case than coors light.

That, my friends, is an obsession.

[vanzuuk1]

Thanks for the explanation, sort of what i figured.

The worst habit I have is paying to next day parts that I dont need the next day, just impatient.

[AAW]

I'm sorry.. but we must ban you from these private "manly" threads.. we can have our stategies going to the enemy..

Some men in suits will be showing up to your location soon.. just go with them..
I tested your theory yesterday! My husband said he's having the Chopper repainted. So I asked him "What do I get?" He looked at me kind of funny until I explained that you taught me to expect something (preferrably shiny-I added that part) when a big "toy" purchase is about to be made.
I didn't get a response... but I think I may be onto something here!!!

[Jagarang]

LOOK WHAT WE'VE DONE!!

We've condemed our fellow man to a life a bribery at the hands of his loved one!

OHHHhhhhh the horror and guilt! Along with a bit of relief since my loving wife doesn't read the board! :woot:

I guess some need to be sacrificed for the greater need!!!

[syborg tt]

well yesterday my wife told me she was going to have her hair cut and dyed again. Here hair grows about 3/4" a month so this has become a very expensive problem. Her last cut and color cost $275.00 yep i think it's time to shave her head it would save us a bunch of money. She also needs to find a cheaper salon in my opinion.

btw - did i mention she has a lot of hair and i'm losing mine

[6'9"Witha69]

btw - did i mention she has a lot of hair and i'm losing mineStory of my life.

[rocketman]

when it come's to my wife's hair and thing's i just shut up and don't say athing.it open's a very big can of worm's.

[steemin]

Story of my life.

At 6' 9" who the hell is going to see a bald spot on you! :rotfl:
Scott

[gsxrken]

My wife handles all the books so I can't even try to scam. But she is kind of like a fish; anything that glints in the sun or looks like it will improve the nesting site for her offspring will draw her attention and permit me certain liberties.
I just did my taxes and declared that the refund is hers to spend no questions asked. That and buy one get free on Wednesdays at Carvel and I should be able to finish my car this spring. ;-)

[6'9"Witha69]

My wife handles all the books so I can't even try to scam. But she is kind of like a fish; anything that glints in the sun or looks like it will improve the nesting site for her offspring will draw her attention and permit me certain liberties.
I just did my taxes and declared that the refund is hers to spend no questions asked. That and buy one get free on Wednesdays at Carvel and I should be able to finish my car this spring. ;-)Yeah, I handed the tax return over to the wife too. That means I keep all my annual bonus. She doesn't know, but that means I come out way on top! Summit and Classic Industries here I come!

[BonzoHansen]

...That and buy one get free on Wednesdays at Carvel and I should be able to finish my car this spring. ;-)Ha. I just had to agree to at least one ice cream related cruise a week, with the likely usual target being Rita's Ice. Not that I mind.

[trapin]

I think it's done the opposite to me. Although I don't want to become a frugal old man some day.

[Fluid Power]

I don't think in dollars. I think in terms of what parts or cars I could buy with said dollars. The addiction is hopeless!

Tony


I agree with Tony 100%. Went to Vegas with some buddies, lost $300 first day and said screw this, that was 1/3 the cost of my Ron Davis radiator!

I also work my butt off so that my wife's standard of living is not affected by my spendng habits!

Darren

[Stud1y]

another trick to the enron gambit..

before you get married move all your money to a different bank account.

that way you start out at 0 and then spliffer the cash as it comes in.

so far it's working fantastically.

[Neil B]

If you want to feel better about the money you spend on your pro-touring car, go road racing for a season. Buying a $1,000 set of tires will become like popping quarters in a soda machine. At least the pro-touring cars give you a nice return when it's time to sell.

[vanzuuk1]

The joke was that roadracing motorcycles is similar to ripping up hundred dollar bills while someone struck you repeatedly with an aluminum bat.