Today I went to the train store and binged. Yesterday I got a fairly nice windfall from my previous employer for underpayment. Well, I have to say I have become so frugal that my binge will be mild by most peoples standards. I spent quite a bit of time oggling everything in Caboose Hobbies. I really wish I had one of those RS11's, but it stayed in the case. I really could use about four decoders, but they stayed in the case. The Pasch air brush set is firmly lodged in my mind for future weathering needs, but it stayed in it's case for now too. By the time I came to my final decision, it was paired down to an ICG caboose, a hundred box of Atlas low profs for my MT's that can't run on my layout, and a bottle of Light oil for all my locos that are badly in need of time in the shop. I probably could have spent more, but I'm finding my train buying habits to be very focused now that I have a layout. No more engine collecting for me, it's all about getting those things that will help my layout come to full operating condition. Anyone else doing the same?
LOL, even with layout I'm still binge-buying engines.. Yesterday I browsed through the M.B. woo woo woo website and saw they were selling some really good HO stuff for cheap-- Athearn RTR Geeps for $40 apiece, Atlas B40-8's for $60 (!).. mg: It was just too good to pass up. Picked up 2 B40-8's in Conrail colors (ought to look good in a consist with the Susquehanna B40-8 I bought in January for $85, and I thought THAT was a good deal), plus a few Athearn Geeps... $250 for 5 more (good quality!) engines... Now my engines outnumber my rolling stock 2:1..
Good for you. That's called LBYM (Living Below Your Means). Also getting maximum enjoyment time from hobby shop browsing at fairly low cost. Yeah, having a layout, and a definitive era, will definitely help (in most cases) reign in uncontrolled binge buying. Regards Ed
Been there, done that, many times over. I used to drop $200-$400 without thinking about it. Times have changed, as I'm starting a new venture. So now my binges are: 1 set of MT screws = $2.25 1 magazine = $4.00 1 railroad car = $11.00 That means I can't have my Saturday sushi lunch. Ah, the choices I have to make!
The LHS owner knows I'll be in on a regular basis to spend my monthly allowance on trains...Anything that I can't cover one month goes into a box behind his counter until the next month. Monday I finally had enough to cover 2 decoder-equipped GP40s patiently waiting in the box since before summer because I kept spending my allowance on other goodies. Another factor that keeps me honest: the LHS owner only takes cash and personal checks, no credit cards...so if I haven't got it, I can't spend it.:angel:
I finally got some money from a recent home sell and the LHS happens to be near my bank. I kept $100 out for petty cash and figured that would be a dangerous thing. I ended up buying three packs of brass wire for $2.36 each. I visited my primary pusher at a train show recently and spent $6.99 on an Athearn billboard. I am paring down my collection, my spending, and my involvement in the hobby due to some major life changes recently. I have a pretty specific set of guidelines now that limit my spending...things like only one of each road number for any particular release, etc. I also have a very specific era and locale that I model, which is the main savior. My only major spending in the near future will likely be DCC components plus a set of IM 5161's and probably the next 12 UFIX coalveyors, maybe. But most of those three will be funded by the sale of existing items.
LI tom, I did a head count a while back of all my rolling stock. Roughly 120 Freight cars, 20 pass cars, about 30 locos. Then I did a count of exactly how many cars can fit in my yard, staging tracks and industrial trackage. I have way more than I need. Now I'm just refining what I have, I just don't need anything more. Also my income can't handle a loco habit a wife and a kid. Ed, LBYM is my way of living. Before I got married I could live way below my means. I never balanced my check book, I just assumed I was always fairly broke and it worked. Pete, I am sure you have stockpiled enough stuff to keep you busy for a while. Just tweaking things on your layout should keep you busy. In my layout free years I loaded up on structure kits and details and scenery. It's all in tubs waiting to go. Ppuin, They have help groups for people like you. Boxcab, It took me about three years to buy a DCC system. LOL Kept shopping and chatting on here about though. My wife doesn't understand how I can go to the train store and keep looking at the same thing over and over for months. I figure half of the game is in the wanting and waiting. Doug, I'm with you all the way. Less is more. I forgot to mention that my buying trip took about two hours. I really enjoyrf my LHS visit today. When I told my wife I had splurged, she was expecting to hear that I had bought a new engine or something more pricey, but I really do enjoy limiting myself. Besides, I still have to build those switchstands and fill in all those car cards. I'll be busy as is.
Been there and about to do it again as well... Just going over the latest Walters Catalog with a 15% discount in hand and making a list and checking it twice. mg: mg: mg: mg:
I'm not sure what hurts more, getting the Visa bill after visiting the local train store or getting hit by an actual train!!! Binge buying is a sure sign of addiction. I've just found another hobby store in the opposite direction of my steadfast haunt. Now I can't leave the house in either direction without coming within 3 miles of a train store. You know what that means... I'm a train addict in deep trouble!! "Uh, honey, can I borrow your credit card??" LOL!!
I used to do this... It is so easy to binge-buy when online. All you gotta do, is surf your favorite dealer's site, send an email with some part numbers to that dealer, and viola! When the stuff comes in a box shows up in the mail. Then the real sticker shock hits. I remember a time int he not too distant past, that I ordered a ton of stuff from my favorite dealer. A pair of these,a pair of those, a half-dozen of that, 3 of those, 1 of those, Oh, and must have one of those, and on and on..... All of the sudden, the tab came to over $500. My wife nearly had a coronary, as did I. I have pared down my reservations, and spending considerably less now. While my next major purchase will be more than that (Athearn Challengers), I try to stick to the budget a bit more.
I know what you mean geeky. The last loco I bought was a used Atlas RS1 for 30 bucks at the N Scale Convention. For some reason, I just love those things - must be the cuteness factor. Mostly the things I buy now are detail parts that I can't make on my own. I have all the structures I need, save one that I need to scratch. I have all the locos I can handle. I have more cars than I can fit in my yard, ect... Of course, going back to school really drains the finances so I'm kinda lucky I don't need anything else. But if somebody finally comes out with a 10 wheeler, I'm in trouble. Eric
Gotta a house, lovely wife and son, 2 dogs, a cat and good paying gov't job. I have tons of railroad equipment (an 'in between' temporary layout) - but I stand guilty of buying what I want to have now. This is due to the fact that when I do retire - these items will not be available - let alone 2 weeks after they are released to my LHS. So when I do retire I can spend more time and cash on the layout as opposed to buying locos and such at over inflated 'collector' prices. Buy now - save the headache later.
I lucked out as I was visiting my Father last week and we went to the annual Chicago Woodworking show. My dad's the woodworker, I just putter around the house, but he LOVES to buy me things from the show, even now that I'm 31. Sometimes I feel guilty, then I get over it, because it makes him happy and me happy and therefore, it's a good thing. Anyway, initially I was thinking a forrest blade for my miter box and circular saw, because they're leaps and bounds above anything Loews and HD sells, but then I saw the GREX display and received a brand new Grex XT airbrush. My old badger was in sad sad shape......also, it was lost somewhere in my parent's basement and has been for about 6-7 years, so it was worth it. Wasn't too familiar with the company, but played with the brush and I really liked the trigger handle. I didn't get the vacuum feed cup attachment, but I may after I play with it a little. Everything else, I'm waiting on the sale of my N-Scale stuff which requires me first to GET all my N-scale stuff together and write out some descriptions. All of that money is going right back in to HO. Mostly in to Track, but still... Also, I kinda binged in my Parent's basement, since that's where all my HO was in storage. I rooted through everything and had to pick and choose what I wanted to bring out. It was tough, mainly because I had so many engines and I know this layout won't justify them all. So I picked 7-8 which is still too many, but they're not all in a "finished state," so they'll provide some hobby time. I have 20-25 engines total, so I think I was successful. I also ripped up every switch, every piece of cork roadbed and flex track, all of the rolling stock that was modernish, I grabbed rock molds, some actual plaster rocks I had made and installed previously, some paint, all my old scenery material a power pack and a few small structures. Plus, I found a couple N-scale items that I could include in the sale for a few more dollars. Basically, at least $1000-$1500 worth of hobby stuff that was mine already, but not out here. It was fun, all the joy of shopping, none of the bill paying.
At last weekends train show. I got three magazines,two videos, a book and a couple of cds for my MSTS game. In all I spent around one hundred and ten which was what had alotted to spend to spend. Alan
I like that philosophy--I seem to operate similar. I used to wait for a while till I bought an item I wanted, hoping they'd make it to the LHS, or elsewhere. After being burned by the 'sold-out' noticies a few times, I just bite the bullet, and buy when I see it. Now, I have a respectable fleet, and when I start layout construction, I'll just need to buy scenery materials. I have track, turnouts, etc. already on hand. All I really need to sink some serious cash into is a stack of decoders..... Only about 30 or so...mg:
I'm still buying more than I should - less than I want to. There has been a change of direction though.
My binge will come this weekend at the train show in Indianapolis. I just moved from Texas, so all new dealers, all new show! I'm hoping to limit myself to 2 new engines and decoders to go with them. Oh, and some intermodal containers. And come covered hoppers. and a couple new magazines. and... and... and.....
You were buying practically, getting what you needed for the layout instead of what you think you wanted. When Caboose had the LL Proto2000 SD45s on sale for 65 bucks apiece, I hightailed it down from Cheyenne and bought two- at that price, they were still cheaper than the MSRP at the time. My next time down, I restricted myself to detail parts I needed for my Frisco and MP diesels. I wound up leaving a C-note & some change, but I got beaucoup detail parts, and still have quite a few for a while. In a well-stocked place like Caboose Hobbies, it's hard to keep focused on what we really need to get (kid-in-a-candy-store mentality). It may be best to just write a list of items needed right then for layout projects, and stick to them when you get there. Sounds like you did just that- at least the lo-pro wheels will allow you to run more cars that had those MT sets on code 55.
