By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. -- Socrates I guess we all have our own personal take on relationships!
There are a few good ones out there. My wife supports my hobby 100% - she even wants me to quit my job and open my own shop, but I'm really nervous about doing that. We went to the Lonestar Round Up this past spring - She encouraged that one. We went to the HAMB Drags last month (we drove from CT - a whole bunch of miles). It was her idea to go - she wanted to see what all the fuss was about, and she got to see Nashville. I decided that I wasn't going to waste a trip to the midwest without buying some parts - ended up with a whole bunch of junk to return home with. She didn't really say much of anything about it other than "woah" oh by the way we have seperate bank accounts - seems to work well for me, uhh I mean us.
I have a seperate bank account too. It's called the stash I keep in the ol' wallet. Build up a chunk of change and buy and sell parts you don't need but you know have some decent value to somebody. You can make some decent coin by making even $20 a part or whatever. I try to be fair on what I sell, because I expect the same treatment. Do unto others, you know. I go to auctions too, where there are some car parts listed. I bought a whole bunch of 60s Ford NOS trim plus two pickup loads of parts, lumber, shelves, scrap steel etc. for $7.00. I don't know how much I've made on all that stuff plus I've used a ton of it too. I bought a 350 Chevy at a different auction for $2.00 and sold the heads for $50 and the short block for $135.00. I am in no way trying to brag cause I am not rich by any means, but it is a way to finance your projects or buy project cars, plus it's a heck of a lot of fun in both the horse trading part and meeting the guys you sell stuff too.
I know married couple that does exactly the same. They pay 50/50 for everything (groceries, mortgage, cable, kids clothing) and whatever money is left over is for them to spend on whatever they want. They even make their own vehicles payments. Funny thing is she always drives a new car (with new car payment) and he drives a banged up Dodge truck (paid for), but has two high-dollar custom choppers and a dresser in the garage! I always thought that it was an odd arangement but they never argue about money.
I just got home from work and my wife says...what is this and points to two boxes in the front room (gas tank and install kit). I say oh it is nothing...you were supposed to be at work this afternoon and not see it. she just replies 'whatever'. EDIT...however a guy just came over to measure our windows and master bathroom. He is going to put in all new windows, tile the bathroom and build a shower. She set it up and after he left she told me what she wants done. I just replied 'whatever'. hehehe
do a direct deposit and an auto 10% to savings. i wish i did 40 yrs. ago. u won't miss it and when u'r 65 u'll be glad u did!
smart move. And by all means if you work at a place that has a 401k and your company does some sort of matching use it. Where I work if I put in 2% of my paycheck the company matches 8%. However, there are still people that do not put the 2% in.
Yeah, right........ I don't want her to get away, 'cause it took me 29 years to find one like her!...........and the fact that she says we have to find a house with a garage that's bigger than the house!
The Jalopy Journal
