I dont smoke, dont drink and dont screw around on my wife ..... so she is OK with the car stuff since that is my only "vice". Its a two way street, I overlook her watercolor supplies purchases.
Met my wife about 40 years ago. I had a Corvette, a bike and a race car. We started dating and I told her that I work hard and play hard. I've got to have my toys. Well, 40 years later, we're still happily married, have good health and we're still playing with the toys. Have our home, toys, and no debt. So life is good here.
My wife is supportive of the hobby, it's something we both enjoy. She's helped me pull engines many times, loves coming to the drags, etc. I keep my car funds seperate, lesson learned from first wife. I don't take anything from my regular pay, there's just not enough there. If I make bonus at work, I take 10% for myself. Beyond that, it's scrounging, dealing and rebuilding old junk. The hardest thing is trying to find the time in the garage. We have 5 kids, oldest is 12, youngest is 7 months. I'm needed in the house nights and weekends. It will get better when the youngest is a little older. When I do buy something she's aware of it without a problem. I've given up my car funds when we needed something that we didn't have money for otherwise. Devin
well we worked out a deal, if I spend $1000 she get $1000 so with that said I just spent $200 on parts and got... cap, rotor, plugs, wires, brake booster, mc, gauges, tail lights, headlights, remote oil filter, fuel line/filter, a carb, and some other odds and ends. do the math
We got in a bind big time the first of this month so I put the 66 f100, the 64 ranchero and the 41 on CL. My wife got pissed. She deleted the ad for the 41 and left a note on the computer for me to take the other two off as soon as I got home or there was going to be more problems than we had then.
Although my wife knows of my car nuttery, and is always on the lookout for cars for me to check out, I've not had a project car of my own since we've been married. On the other hand, she has always been very supportive of my rather expensive model railroad hobby, so I think she would be OK with a car project, as long as the bills and such are paid. For both of us, our policy has always been not caring what gets done with any money left once the bills and necessities are covered. Of course that seldom happens, but it's still the policy.
Now that the kid's are grown and out of school,only 2 live at home but they both have jobs,we have some extra play money,I do a lot of side work on bike's it's easy for me to make an extra $200.00 to $500.00 a week that usualy went to help pay tuition,but with them out of school and we both work,I decided to build another car for us, she has her holiday decoration's and I mean every holiday,every room gets decorated,and don't dare touch her stuff but that's what she likes to do with her money,and it's never been a problem with any of my bike projects she has always been supportive of them,because when I sold them she had some of the profit's to spend on trip's to see her mother with the kid's. So when I told her about the 55 chevy she was all for it,she even helped me pull the motor and tran's out,she told me that she's looking forward to building this with me.
I guess I am a lucky guy. My wive has no problem with my hobby. She know's where I am spending the money and she knows where I am during the nighst when I am not at home. She also drives a 65 VW wagon daly and has no problems riding cars without safetybelts. We are together now for 20 years.
Been married for 16 years now. The wife HATES my car hobby. I don't know why it wasn't an issue before we got hitched, I guess she figger'ed I would change. NOT! With the exception of my Dad's old F 100 that my parents gave me for Christmas in '09, I have had my hobby cars longer than she has been around. And I told her the other day that the cars would still be here when she was gone! I do everything possible to take care of the bills and raise the Kids, etc., and have put most of my hobby stuff on hold for several years. The house is close to paid off, and we don't have much debt. My daily driver is a 96 Cherokee that I bought used and have been driving for 10 years, It has 270K miles, so I don't waste any money on car payments! But, if I spend a few bucks on a hobby car, it pisses her off. The Kids are in their teens, and I am anticipating being able to do more in the next few years. I decided recently that I am not telling her anything about what I do with my cars anymore. She can be miserable on her own! Rant over.....
I've got a 1955 Ford Country Sedan wagon and she has a 1991 Mazda Miata. When she gets in that thing she goes like a bat out of hell. I am so glad she bought that car!
Jalopy Showdown last year... She wanted to get married there, but only if I built something "Mudworthy" --- No Face full of mud, No Wedding !!! She is one awesome wack-a-doo
I am 100% transparent with my expenses. When I started the madness that has become the Scout I made my wife the following promises. I'm honest and upfront about it all Needs of the house outwiegh the wants for the truck Credit cards will not carry a balance more than a month (without her knowing) I take her somewhere warm every year So far I have kept my word and has has been supportive.
I sold my hot rod to buy her a Harley. I sold another to buy her engagement ring. I went without a toy for a couple of years, then bought my 53 Effie. She's had no complaints. If I thought she would, I never would have let those cars go in the first place. It's all good.
Nope, I don't hide a damned thing, I just make sure mine knows how much I need to get her done. If it were not for her I wouldn't have a dime to spend on cars these days. I really feel for you fellas that have to hide shit from the missus. I'm afraid it would really wear on me.
Mines good! As a matter of fact I have to throttle her back from buying every old car she sees! She's still working on what is what, being from Hong Kong and all, so she doesn't quite get that not everything older than 30 years old is desirable. Now, all this did take some reminding at the very begining that most of my cars are a hell of allot more rare than women...
Well said. If you're doing what you should be doing, like taking care of her needs and wants, I think you'd have little problem. If you are taking care of business and still think you should hide stuff, then I'd suggest you sack up and and get some clarity going in your marriage.
Never heard a peep out of mine except the time we had a wedding to go too and I wanted to stay home and assemble a 302 shortblock... We didn't talk to each other for a week...
I worked my ass off all my life. My wife always has a new car. As a matter of fact, she gets anything she wants, including an anual trip to Japan to visit her friends and family. For that she doesn't bitch and looks on with amusement. I don't drink, smoke or run with wild women anymore. If she wants me I'm thrashing on the 35 coupe out in the shop. There was a day when I pissed away all my money on booze and whores. AND then there is the story of the 327 block which spent the winter under the kitchen table way back when we were first hitched.......
Sounds like a hen pecked husband to me that is scared to stand up to his wife ! How would you like her hiding expenses from you ? Sounds like the recipe for divorce !!
mine contributes to the build. be it wrenching with me. helping with inspiration. hell, she even asked for some "scrap parts" for HER to build me a christmas gift. she's the best. I knew she was a keeper when she with out any guff. helped me with a transmission filter change at midnight after she just got out of the shower and she was in her pj's. she's the best! shes realy been bugging me to build a tear drop camper to pull behind the ford
The Jalopy Journal
