I made the mistake of having a cost column in my gear spreadsheet. I highly recommend against this.

Ugh.

Just like restoring a car, keep all your receipts but never add them up.

How about always buying your gear on sale and then only keeping track of how much you saved?

Pretty soon you'll be able to show that you make more than you spend. I believe this is called creative accounting and is practiced throughout the world in public and private organizations.

Or do the same but make your own gear. I made what is essentially a JRB Hudson River quilt about a year ago and the total cost was $111.00. Compare that to the $219.95 you would pay for it at JRB and I know it put a smile on my face.

Adam

The hardest part is keeping the $ amount hidden from my wife.

Tony

To me, the real scare is the price tag on ALL THE GEAR that we've ever purchased -- but don't really use!

yeah, when I make my own gear, I consider myself "paid" for the savings off the retail version. for example, my 15 deg down quilt: about $160 in materials, plus labor, or the Nunatak version for about $360... I just earned $200!! add up all my DIY projects, plus backpacking guiding pay (which is quite small...) and there is a hope that my "income" from backpacking might not be too much below my expenses. But not knowing is for the better. Whatever it costs, it's worth it for the experience of the wilderness.

>>> "plus labor" ... for DIY

How much are we worth for an hour of DIY labor? Does it vary? Sewing fabric versus punching holes in cans or designing new gear. Also would it be a different labor rate based on country of origin.

Jeremy you earned more than $200 since the extra $200 to buy the Nunatak would have been after tax dollars.

Probably closer to a $300 pre-tax bonus since the $200 would be after fed withholding + state withholding + social security + medicare was taken out.

Good job earning the bonus ;-)

If your hiding things from your wife, you got a bigger problem than how much money you spend.

Save up for what you want and pay cash.

Spending more than $100 becomes an emotional experience when you actually have to reach in your pocket and hand someone large numbers of green rectangles. It really makes you think twice, do the research and ensure you are getting the right product before you buy.

Too easy to make quick descisions, pay with plastic and then find out that you have four sleeping bags hanging, three of which you wish you had never purchased.

-Tim-

Steve, excellent point. the savings certainly should be considered non-taxable income! Same with buying used and on sales or other deals, the savings is all considered non taxable income to help me feel better about my minimally paying job...

"If your hiding things from your wife, you got a bigger problem than how much money you spend."

I have been happily married for nearly 27 years and I can tell you Tim amongst other things a good sense of humour is important.

Tony

In a marriage agree to not talk about certain things. Hence, if he wants something and we can afford it, then that is fine. Same with me.
If I tell him I "need" a new pack then he sees what he can do. Just like how he "needs" a new computer, laptop, etc.

We don't often fight over that side of money. And yes, getting a good deal is part of our deal - never pay retail if we don't have to!

Tom,
Just remember that most don't get the Aussie sense of humor.

To the non Aussie.
That quip from Tom is not meant to state a fact, it just sounds funny and that is why we say things like that...
Franco

Edited by Franco on 01/17/2008 03:41:36 MST.

I vividly recall in my early school years in the US, trembling as my teacher warned of about "a continent down under with strange flora and fauna" and "an escaping Papillon". We learned that it was a land of many evil things, but it was never funny. In later years, there was talk of a preemptive strike, however, our geography skills were not keen enough to find the continent. A recent poll showed that in the US, 68% claim it does not really exist and 89% do not believe in kangaroos. This poll was taken at Outback Steakhouse.

Regional differences aside, funny things are often funny because they are delivered with facial expressions, intonations, etc. Obviously, we don't have that on a forum, which is why most all forums compensate by offering a small collection of icons. But BPL falls short here as well. Indeed, the lack of icons is the ONLY reason why I haven't re-upped my subscription!

>>> But BPL falls short here as well. Indeed, the lack of icons is the ONLY reason why I haven't re-upped my subscription!

A recent study showed that clowns are not funny, but are actually scary to kids. Google it if you doubt it.

Following this lead, I suspect that the lack of icons on BPL is to reduce our anxiety. What anxiety?

While backpacking:

Getting wet when it's cold
Waking up due to a strange noise
Thinking too much about the water you've drank
Seeing a really large mass of bear p00p
and/or bear tracks
Miles later realizing you've left or lost one or more gloves, poles, etc

What else cause anxiety on the trail?

Other sources of anxiety on the trail?

How about anxiety "off" the trail, as in:

"Now, where did that darn trail disappear to? I know it was here the last time I looked."

JRS