Shoes vs Koi

[CometKeith]

Does anyone else ever have a hard time explaining the cost of their Koi to their spouse? My wife never really asks about the cost of my fish. She knows they are mostly inexpensive goldfish, but I have tried keeping Koi a few times and she knows they cost more. We had company over last week and I showed them my latest two fish that are Koi. They were pretty cheap by Koi standards and were only $100 each. Even though for Koi that is very little to pay, I know for my wife she would have a hard time understanding why I would pay 10 to 20 times more for a Koi over the goldfish we already have. I had actually given this some thought how to explain. I know she has a lot of shoes. I never see the bills, but somehow it slipped when we were building closets in our new home last year that the cheapest one cost over $200. So now I have my ammunition ready if the cost of the Koi ever comes up. I guess I could lie about the cost, but figured the cost was so reasonable in the Koi world ...why lie? (I know she has about her shoes in the past. She actually fudged the cost of her boots today. Her $500 Frye boots suddenly came down $150 in price today as we started discussing how well she maintains them) .... So two days ago she asked me about the cost of my new Koi. I had the perfect answer ready. "The two of them cost less than one of your shoes" She gave it some thought and admitted her shoes start around $250........then she quickly calculated that I paid $100 for each fish and asked if that was true. I said yes and figured now we were done. I could get more Koi in the future and she could never complain. Then she quickly answered back "yeah but my shoes don't die!"

 

[Lisak1]

Then she quickly answered back "yeah but my shoes don't die!"

I would have been ready with the same answer! And she doesn't leave them outdoors where some random animal can come along and snack on them! haha!

For me it's books - I'm sure I have several thousand that I have collected over the years. My husband cannot understand why a person would want or need to A. buy a book (after all, I'm a librarian and can read anything I want for free!) or 2. keep a book once you've already read it. But he knows that's just who I am and he doesn't even question it any more. Only took him 40 years!

 

[sissy]

nope mine were 2 and 3 dollar mutts ,but I did buy a new pair of sneakers at the flea market for 5 dollars .The were new balance and lucky me they were size 5 1/2 which is a hard size to find .Seems most shoes start at size 7 and go up .I have a hard time and have to buy in the children's department

 

[gliebig]

I collect pinball machines and play golf. She has a horse. We both have the feeling that life is short, do what makes you happy.

 

[Telion]

My wife and I began the hobby together and so fortunately she learned about the cost and consequences at the same or similar time as myself. Now I have to keep her from buying fish or tell her if you want one you have to give up one, which really translates to a bigger pond in time. I think the key is getting her to enjoy the hobby and finding fish that she sees appealing. But we too each have our thing. Mine is pool cues and hers is purses we are both guilty in the shoe category and anything that moves the look of our house in the direction we want to go with it.

 

[JamieB]

I’m so blessed! My hubby is encouraging me to do my pond hobby, and he’s good about my books too! Of course there is a reason to own the books, so you can read and re read, till the book falls apart! I’ve gone through a few like that!
The only thing he pushes back on is me bringing more cats home! And the kittens coming in. We have too many cats, and when the little ones are big enough, I like to bring them in to socialize. But he hates the kitty chaos, and rapid fill litter box!

 

[Tara]

yeah but my shoes don't die!"

Very clever. I'm lucky my husband hates the outdoors, mud in particular. Anything to do with my pond or gardening he leaves well enough alone as it may lead to been asked outside. We all have our vices I guess, he collects puzzles and I don't want to help with a 10,000 piece puzzle he builds, some puzzles do run up in price too. I collect records and speakers, and yes I am guilty of downplaying the price a couple of times. As for Koi fish I can see the allure in spending, as they can be beautiful. A pet shop a few miles away sell imported Koi for a good price. Tiny ones are $5.99. Next size up are 3 for $24.99. Larger single Koi are $100. The more fancy koi are $24.99 each and are 6" to 7", so I will not have to justify the cost of one.

 

[j.w]

That's too funny @CometKeith !
My fish were all cheap or free from pet stores and people giving them away.
I collect rocks................they are free,lol! I am very frugal, pretty much. Actually I collect anything free I find on the road or in the free box at a garage sale. I only take what I will use tho. Did you know you could furnish a whole house w/good furniture and accessories from stuff found on the highways? Never tried that but my sister and bro in law rode their bicycle's across country and saw it all laying on the sides of the roads.
Oh and I'm not even a socialist..................far from it, lol!

 

[Somethin' Fishy]

Our pond sits in the location where we used to feed wild birds. With the feeders gone we save over $20 a month on seed!

Can't see spending big bucks on fish... We love our handful of beautiful cheapies, and bought plants that will come back.

I may be female, but I have never understood the shoe/purse thing. I carry a wallet in my pocket. I have one pair of expensive hiking boots because they've paid themselves off in miles and miles of backpacking without pain. Got an old pair of hikers as work boots, plain cheap hikers for every day, a pair of kayak shoes, and one pair of inexpensive dress up shoes to wear to funerals or weddings.

My husband and I sold off our collections of junk years ago, sold our horses, and bought a camper. He hardly plays golf anymore, and I gave up my motorcycles a long time ago... And for the past 20+ years we haven't bothered with presents for x-mas, birthdays, or anniversaries. We use the money to travel instead. Usually take 3 vacations a year. I can't tell you what trinket I received on my 25th. birthday, but I can remember everything about our snowmobile trip in Yellowstone!

 

[Tara]

I have to say @Somethin' Fishy I go hiking a lot, the only expensive footwear I own are my hiking shoes. I will not give up my records though. Mostly you can find them in yard sales etc, but a few I did have to buy. @j.w people do get rid of things all the time, my sound system in the kitchen was a few dollars, I just converted it to Bluetooth and the speakers it came with are top of the line. As of now I'm refurbishing an old vintage magnavox record player with a radio and build in speakers. I will most likely take out the radio and replace it with blue tooth, add in extra speakers and refinish the cabinet. I may keep it when I'm finished, if not and I will sell it, I'll receive a lot more than the $7 I paid for it and parts I put in. In other words my hobby pays for itself. I always have music or the radio on, that's what I like. My sister on the other hand loves fashion and shoes not to mention handbags, that's what she likes and I will never understand. It's whatever floats your own boat. I work hard, so does my husband, I deserve my records and good music, and my husband deserves his puzzles. @CometKeith if you want a $100 fish, then you get one, yes it may die or it may live, but one thing I know from my sister is, those fancy shoes will go out of fashion, you can't stare down at your shoes as you walk and enjoy looking at them. So you sit by your pond and look at the beautiful fish, if you earn it then enjoy it.

 

[addy1]

Great reveal on our addictions!

Me shoes are flip flops, think most expensive pair I have, of shoes, was 22 bucks.
Purse tiny little thing that carries a wallet and phone, have had it for around 20 years now.
Clothes, wearing stuff I bought around 15 - 20 years ago, jeans just don't wear out, neither do t-shirts...........lol
Hubby has more new clothes than me, but he lost 75 lbs so needed them.

He collects cars, I am happy with my yorkie and the tractor he bought me.

I do have a bunch of books, do reread, just can't throw them out or give away.

do like updated phones and computers. I let 2-3 yrs go before I update.

 

[JamieB]

I do like shoes, but comfy ones that last! Earth spirit is a comfy brand. Books are my big splurge, and occasionally art supplies. And now fish!

 

[CometKeith]

Great reveal on our addictions!

Okay well I started this so I need to reveal mine too! None of them are really expensive. Obviously I enjoy my pond. I love chess, but don't even own a chess set. At one time I had a pretty high ranking so that has been a lifelong addiction. I bike a lot and have a decent bike, but it's not too expensive. I play tennis a lot and the club activities can get a little costly, but my racquet is more than 10 years old and I don't spend money on equipment, and I really enjoy tasting and learning about craft beer. So most of these addictions are really not too expensive.... Oh and my wife and I like to travel to foreign countries and see interesting places. That can get expensive, but we try to use miles and other ways to keep the costs reasonable.

 

[Gemma]

I choose koi over shoes any day!

 

[Mmathis]

@Somethin' Fishy My purse is a backpack, LOL!