so I've been noticing a lot of you gentleman have multiple, if not 5+ bows, and these are upwards of $800 bows..
being 24, still haven't chosen a career path - what do all of you do for a living to be able to afford such a hobby??
:)
Many of us have bought these bows used. If you cruise the classifieds, you can get one at almost 1/2 the cost. I also pay for my hunting gear by selling the replica 18th c powder horns that I make. I have more bows than what I have listed, only the PCH was bought new in 2010.
By day retail executive
By night ,male escort :thumbsup:
all kidding aside
Most of us have shoes older than you.
Your day will come ,when we are all just "dust in the wind"
Enjoy your youth and check yard sales and good will stores.
When I was your age I had just graduated college (Purdue) and was an assistant manager of a state forest. Most of my career was spent as a wildlife biologist.
My goal in those days was to have at least $20 by the time my next paycheck arrived. Sometimes I didn't. I moved 14 times over 4 states before I concluded my wildlife career after 28 years as Deputy Commissioner of KY's wildlife agency.
Determine what you like to do and try to do that for a living. Then determine to be the best there has ever been in that job. If you can do that the money will be secondary (as long as you can survive).
Oh, I've been blessed with one wife over 35 years, from what I can tell from the world, that has saved me a lot of money!
Ive only had one custom bow made for me. It cost $500 shipped to me. the rest I bought used. Most of my bows are Bear recurves.
I have not bought a bow in 2 years. I prefer to spend my money on hunting adventures. I used to make extra money by mowing some lawns at 10 bucks an hour. Usually I had an extra 500 or so by the end of the year. This didn't cut into my normal budget so I didn't feel the pinch.
I also pick up every penny I walk past and put it in a jar. I return as many cans as I can pick up for the 5 cent deposit. It all adds up if you don't spend it.
As far as a career? I never even imagined I would be doing what I am doing now. I say do whatever you want and be as good as possible at it.
29 years in the Army which is not a particularly lucrative career (not a complaint, I loved my time in the Army). However, remember that having money is as much about how you spend your money as it is about how much money you make.
Additionally, while it may seem that this is an expensive hobby where you're sitting, it really isn't. There are a lot of more expensive hobbies out there.
Bowwild writes
"Determine what you like to do and try to do that for a living. Then determine to be the best there has ever been in that job. If you can do that the money will be secondary (as long as you can survive)."
x2, do what you love and it is not 'work'
Agree it takes time to accumulate a plump bow rack and yes I have boots older than you. :biglaugh:
He is how it went:
Grad from high school, raised hell and had a choice, Marines or jail. Went into the Marines, got out at 20 went to college, got married become a Police Officer, /Detective and retired at 51 with a pension and insurance. My wife still works and has 41 years in as a nurse.
I have owned only two new bows in my lifetime. My dad saved me a new Bear Kodiak Hunter (68) for me when I got out of the service(he owned an archery shop) and my wife bought me a new Northern Mist Baraga for one of my anniversary gifts. All other bows that I have are used from yard sales.
Best way to have money is get the kids out of the house... Really, if you settle down, over time bills get paid and when the family grow up, there is a little more money left over.
Or as I do/did, throw all ideas of retirement out the window and work about 100 hours a week. Helps to have a "somewhat" understanding wife.
BigJIm
Let me think: at age 24, I had done 4 years in the military, and was a cop, working on my college degree while off duty, and spending time in the active Reserves. Married to a wonderful woman who understood my passion for the outdoors. I had a Bear bow that probably cost about $40 or $50 new.
Now, 40 plus years later, I have retired from 2 different careers, the kid is long gone, along with the expenses entailed with raising a child, and we are far from rich, but have budgeted well over the years.
Get educated, get into a career path that is stable, budget wisely, and good things will happen.
I'm a retired Technical Writer and spent most of my career working for start-ups and small companies without 401(k)s and retirement funds.
These days I live on Social Insecurity aboard a sailboat that I bought outright 12th-hand, for $500.. Even so, I pay $300 a month rent for the hole in the water at the marina where I'm docked. Still not much left at the end of the month.
When I've bought bows it has been a matter of intense research both on brand/type and price. That and saving a bit each month towards my "prize". I have one Hungarian-made Scythian bow, and two PVC recurves each of which cost me under $100 each and perform perfectly for me.
I'm not sure that $800 worth of bow shoots any better than $200 or $300 worth of bow. Might be prettier; but "pretty" never put dinner in the pot, IMHO.
Firefighter/ Outfitter. You see...the FF job has a pension and benefits with lots of time off. It also allows me to be an outfitter and accumulate hunting toys.
Whatever you choose, do so with your passions in mind. Whatever you are passionate about your career should allow you to do. At the same time, be careful not to turn a passion into work and lose focus on how much you love it!
Just the fact you're asking makes me think you'll do fine!
Great advice from these guys! I grew up dirt floor poor but worked hard in school. Got a basketball scholarship and went to college, then grad school. Decided to follow Bowwild's advice and become the best I could at my profession. Made some good business decisions and at 43 am able to do a few things.
At 24 I was working in ICU as a RN. I lived in a small house on the edge of 3000 public acres with a John boat and a 25hp motor to take me up and down the river to access a lot of public ground. I owned one bow and killed a dump truck full of critters with it. I met my wife, went to grad school and now we own a business that does well. I own 4 bows, 2 old bears and 2 customs. It isn't about what you got, it's about how happy you are. Find something you love and a way to make a living. We all get buried in the same dirt.
I teach HS English, but there is a story....
I originally went to college to teach, but by the time I had finished my undergrad in English, I was ready to make money...or so I thought.
So, after 10 years of hating corporate America, having my job eliminated and getting bored.....I decided that God had been pushing me back to my calling, teaching.
Hey, I'm slow.....but better late than never!
So, 5 years ago, I went back to get my Master's in Teaching....took a 20K a year pay cut....and have NEVER been happier IN MY LIFE!
My wife works and I only hunt with mine own homemade eq.
Do want you want, save your pennies and don't expect to have 3-4 $500 plus bows in the next 10 years!
I love those bows, but now a days my HBI bows (total coast $40) that I make with mine own hands does it for me...and kills 'em just as dead as my Damon Howats....
wow guys :D thanks for the quick and fantastic replies ^_^
got a good laugh about the wife comment and such haha.
Been giving it a lot of thought tonight at work, and what I'd really love is to be an outfitter, taking people hunting (after learning it first myself ^_^) , with a log cabin in the woods, family, friends, and food on the table. Growing up in Idaho I've always loved being outdoors. Love the idea of disappearing into the mountains for a few weeks, living off the land - warrior mindset, not depending on any government or 'big brother' to take care of me.
Much love and respect, thank you again :)
-Nalder
HS, U of WISC, Marines. Retired , as bartcanoe says, service is fun, but not lucrative. Now in airport management. Yard sales fill the stable and helps your. Knowledge of history of the sport.
Education or job skill is key tobuilding in some flexibilty into your life. I have never worked as a geologist, but it taught me different ways of looking at things, and map reading!
In life, Hope is not strategy, build in some credentials so you have flexibility.
Live debt free! No matter what you wind up doing for a job/career if you can't buy it with cash, don't buy it! You'll never have money in your pocket if you owe someone else.
-Jeremy :coffee:
Find something you love to do then find someone to pay you for it . And you'll never work a day of your life.
And you only need one bow. You can only shoot one at a time and hunt with one at a time. That and you won't have to sit and waffle which bow to you should hunt with tomorrow.
Thank you for the advice guys...its all really good. Im 23 living with my wife, coming up on our second aniversary, with a kid on the way (first one) and i am currently working two jobs...one is my pay the bills job, the other is my fill in the gaps job while we pow down some medical bills. I have only one bow that my wife bought me when she was able to work and am totally happy/ content with where im at currently in life. sure some weeks there are more downs than ups, but other weeks there are more ups than down. Where i am is were God has placed me, and its my responsibility to do the best i can with what i have. Its not about money as it will come and go, its about being yourself, and being around friends and family and doing what you love to do so long as you can survive. Hope this helps and thanks again guys for all the great advice.
When I need a new bow, I ask my wife to get a 2nd job so I can have it. I'm still waiting for that to happen.
All kidding aside, if I want something bad enough, I look at my expendatures and find where I can make cuts to afford it. Back on January 1st, 2012 I quit drinking (except for victory toasts). Allowed me to save $100 a month. 13 years ago I quit smoking. $5 a pack and 3 packs a day adds up REALLY quick. Being a Carpenter by trade, if I want extra money, I contact friends in the business and see who needs help. I don't care what the job is and my employers know this. I usually get the worst jobs possible (Mike Rowe has nothing on me). They know I'm dependable and a good worker. It takes years to develope those qualities and have people notice them, but when they do, you will be in demand.
All you gotta do is think a little. If you look at yourself and not at what others have, you will be a MUCH happier individual.
Oh , I forgot to mention that I would have been a millionaire by now if I would have bought land at 1970 prices
38 years in various roles as a commercial banker, and I still buy used bows. ;-)
You have received some great advice so far. As for me, I worked my way through engineering school with no student loans or family assistance. My career was spent in the engineering consulting business where I started out at the bottom and retired as president of the company. Hard work, good luck and a loving and understanding wife were the keys for me. I saved money beginning very early by using restraint in my spending habits. Through regular and consistent saving and investing, I was able to retire early and afford those things that bring me pleasure. My Daddy always said "Good things come to those who waiteth, as long as they worketh like hell while they waiteth."
--Mike
Worked extra, saved money, Paid school loans off ASAP lean times now and then with that,, while my wife is not an archery or bowhunting person, she knows that I am and its all part of the give and live of married life. Have enjoyed the bows I do have, paid anywhere from $3 to over $1000, have sold 4 bows through the years own 4 right now, while I like to look a lot I don't buy a lot, tend to find what I like and stick with it. Work started in fisheries, did a little park ranger work, gravitated towards kids, education outdoors and now in classroom, with time off along the way to stay home with kids, when I have the money I do spend when I don't I don't, wait till yea have to get kids geared up for archery/hunting....
Spend less than you make, take care of the important stuff first, pay with cash. And over time you'll scrounge up enough cash to buy yourself a goodie or two. Acquiring "stuff" like those that's been in the game for a long time isn't a sprint. A very good friend of mine once said that old guys have all the stuff because they're the only ones that can afford it. And that's because they've been working/saving longer. If you keep yourself out of debt it'll come faster than you think no matter what you do.
Good post, refreshing topic. Good that you are asking. It's something most of us ponder throughout our working life.
To answer your question, I work in Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering and have a BS from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Currently I am home with our children 5 and 2 years of age. My wife has a MA in Business also from Wisconsin and works for herself from home as a Business Development Professional and is an excellent bread winner. None of which entitles me to, or is necessary to own an appealing bow. Heck...make a selfbow, that's the greatest journey of all.
You will obtain the things you want in life, it is just a matter of time; you have that on your side. It's often better to want than to have anyway...I know that might be hard to understand now but in short, stay hungry. You don't need a $1000 plus bow to enjoy Trad archery...that's the beauty of it. I've gotten rid of my $1000 bows for various reasons. Buy used and work up to what you want. It'll always be changing anyway.
Be diligent, do the right thing and you'll come out shining. Just the fact that you are asking this question tells me you're on the right track.
All the best to you!
Kind regards -
Kris
I am a little ahead of you, at 29. Let me echo what other guys have said and hopefully save you some heartache. Do what you like. I put myself through college, and upon graduation immediately got myself into the high pressure golf industry as a superintendent. Money is great, hours are awful. In five years I was so burned out that I hated dragging myself out of bed. I am out of that business now and a property manager at a large Indian casino. The pay is less, but I spend nearly two whole months in the deer woods every year. I have never regretted the career change for a minute. If you want a $1000 custom bow, save your money and buy one. When you do get it it will mean that much more. Two cents from another young-ish guy that would have done it differently, looking back.
I'm independantly wealthy. I don't depend on spending any more than I earn.
Do what you love, love what you do. Myself, I'm a certificated aircraft mechanic. These days I teach aviation maintenance for the local community college. I'm training my replacements.
Power plant industry. Really good money and excellent benefits !
QuoteOriginally posted by fdlz58:
Live debt free! No matter what you wind up doing for a job/career if you can't buy it with cash, don't buy it! You'll never have money in your pocket if you owe someone else.
-Jeremy :coffee:
Probably some of the best advice you can get to live your life. As long as you are debt free, it opens up a lot of opportunities not otherwise avaialable to you.
City Comptroller. (Accounting/Finance/Economics)
And I too buy used bows.
It's all about priorities. My wife and I bought a new 34 foot sailboat that would have funded a LOT of bows. Tooled around for 10 years and then sold it to help finance a rural house on 20 wooded acres - so now I have a place to rove and hunt that's all my own. THAT is a treasure.
House is paid for, two cars are paid for, no credit card debt. So now I can play more than I used to be able to. Socking away a nest-egg so, hopefully, I can retire while I can still get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Early on I noticed my $60 and $100 used bows shot as well as my $600 semi-custom (back in the 80'/90's), were every bit as fun, so now I look for used bows. Save enough to burn through five or six dozen wood arrows out stumping and roving. Luxury is shrugging off and walking away from a lost arrow after a minute or two of searching. This time of year I enjoy making wood arrows - and happily those go very well with vintage recurves.
I shoot every day and could justify some nice bows but I enjoy keeping the old bows in play.
Marines, then college, then 40+ years as a CPA. Generally, if you find a career you like and stick with it and don't go head over heels in debt, you will find that as time goes on things become easier financially (which is a good thing, because things don't generally become easier physically). Houses have a way of getting paid off, you eventually have enough money to pay cash for your new car, and when you don't have those monthly payments hanging over your head, there is extra money for things like bows that you want but don't really need. Granted, some disaster could come along and wipe you out, but if it doesn't, then financial independence is something to look forward to in your old age.
As far as work is concerned, there are two ways of looking at it: you can either do something you love, like be an outfitter, and not get paid very much for doing it, or do something that you may not love, but at least hopefully don't hate, and make enough money to hire your own outfitters. Generally, in life, the best paying jobs are either the jobs that few people are qualified to do, like brain surgeons, or jobs that few people want to do, like being a CPA. If you can find a job that pays well because few people want to do it, but you happen to be the kind of oddball that enjoys it, then you've got yourself a win/win situation.
Just remember, it's not how much you make, but how much you keep, find something you really enjoy doing, and as stated above, try to be the best at it and if your successful along the, all the better.
Good luck !
QuoteOriginally posted by njloco:
Just remember, it's not how much you make, but how much you keep
My theory on that statement...I have never seen a Hearse with a luggage rack. (In other words, you can't take it with you).
U.S. Army Infantry for 9 years then law enforcement for the last 5 years. 32 with wife, two kids, and a giant dog. Still live in the "starter home" we bought ten years ago. 8 years till it is paid off. Owe nothing except for the house.
Do not borrow money! Get a 15 year mortgage. Do not buy new or expensive cars. Don't borrow for the cars.
Marry a good woman. Don't get divorced.
Sold things to buy other things. I buy quality over quantity.
If you like to go hunting be aware that guiding may not be for you. Hard to hunt while you are taking care of clients.
The best way to have money to play with is to not be in debt. Some things may be inevitable like a home loan and school loans but don't get wrapped up in debt, don't spend more than you have and you will always have a little play money.
I see you want to be an outfitter. My guess is there are a few in your state. I recommend working for one for a year or more, you will see exactly what its entails.
You will work long, hard hours and not always for the most appreciative people.
On the flip side you will make great connections and be in Gods country! Try it, it just may be what you are looking for, If not you can move on with no real investment other than time.
Retired Marine, 10 yrs as plumber/steamfitter, semi-retired now (still do sidework for family and friends). Have a 14 yr old truck, a 20$ go phone, no tv- have library card, no debts, buy used bows,shafts,arrows,guns,wool gear, grow a garden and can every year, live simple, etc..........its pretty amazing how much cash you can stash this way........
Self employed long time. Get a really good education or trade. Work hard and try to be the best at something lucrative. Health care will be hot for years to come. Us old guys are nor dying.
When I need a new truck I make my wife take the street car to her second job. :goldtooth:
We all love the idea of being an outfitter. Still, I wonder if that would ever take the love of the game out of the outdoor experience. Wouldn't we all love to conduct that experiment and find out though? I also wonder how often you'd be spending mandatory time in the woods with some jackass (hopefully that would be seldom). Don't give up that dream if it's your calling. I'm a financial advisor and what I can tell you for sure is that money isn't important. Having enough does however make the important things easier to concentrate on. Love the simple things: used bows, good dogs, May mornings in the turkey woods, October sunrises in a deer stand, and in moderation a good sippin' whiskey in front of a roaring fire to give you some down time to remember it all and look forward to the next.
Drain surgeon.
35 years in the Natural Gas industry. Started out in the ditch at 24 years old. Passed the welders test quickly and welded pipeline for 14 years, then supervised operations for 8 years. Now in engineering. I've had a ball wearin' all those different caps. All that aside this level of success would not have been the same or even possible without my wife with me all these years. Not saying you need to get married but 2 incomes are better than one these days.
I am surprised no one said sales, I was a chef for almost 20 years making very little money. I am now in sales and make very good money. I work as much or as little as I want and my pay checks show that. Even at my busiest times I can still find time to hunt and I am not tied down by a schedule or by a set amount of money that I can make per hour. The freedom of setting my own hours and paycheck is very liberating.
QuoteOriginally posted by glenbo:
Drain surgeon.
. :biglaugh: that's awesome. Never heard that one.
I'm a personal trainer
Not rich never will be unless I hit the lottery.
My secret to buying bows...
Don't have kids. I can't afford kids. But I can afford a bow every year
Internal Auditor (Accounting/Fraud Risk Management) for County government, and Spanish pastor at a great church. Don't make as much money as a lot of others do.
Don't drink, smoke, do drugs, or spend money on cable TV. Wife is a stay-at-home mom, doesn't bring in any money to speak of. But we have always put God first, tithing on income and trying to be wise spenders. My BW bows were expensive, but God gave me one, and gave me the funds for the other.
I think that if a guy were to spend a load of money on a fantastic bow, and only do it ONCE, he'd save a lot of money. I did.
Gentle-Savage,
you don't have to be rich to enjoy traditional archery. I am a surgeon, but I didn't get into Trad until several years ago. You can find a good used bow that is very affordable and then I would recommend you learn how to make your own wood arrows. I only own three bows, one for me and my son, and my first bow which I will eventually pass on to my son. Save your money, and find a job you enjoy and love, happiness is much more important and energizing than a big paycheck. Don't think about having five bow, but finding that one sweet one that fits you like a glove. Good luck in your endeavors...
Retired from one job, started another 4 years ago. I have bought three brand new bows in 24 years, the rest have all been previously owned. My favorite is one of the used bows.
Very good advice has been offered to you in the previous posts.
Man I'm humbled by the responses here but shouldn't be. Just responses from good old fashioned honest hard working folks here.
Lots of great advice here as well. Just a dumb ol electrician here. It's kept butter on my biscuits and funded some incredible hunting. There will
ALWAYS be a demand for GOOD electricians. Actually it's opened a lot of doors hunting wise. Do a little electrical work for a farmer and you quickly become best buds!
I've only owned two custom made bows in my life. Been doing this trad thing way before it was called that. I presently have neither but use my own homemade glass bows that I've been using for the last 15 years and will put them up against any bow on the market! But yes I have about 10 of my own bows on the rack in my man cave garage! lol
With all that said I designed and hand built my own house and put two daughters through college and am basically debt free. Like I always told my twin daughters I hope you find your dream job but IF NOT atleast get educated and or trained to do a job that lets you afford to do your dream things!
I've lived my life by two sayings:
That man is richest who's pleasures are the cheapest.( Picture a man in a canoe vs a $30 thousand bass boat)
And the second is my tag line below!
And a wise fortune cookie once said: "Happiness is not to have all that you want but to want all that you have."
Maintenance Tech and retired military plus I pay cash for cheap good running beater cars and other things so I don't have a lot of bills. I brown bag it at work instead of eating out etc etc etc and I do like one of the other guys said and buy used bows cheap lol! Now the wife on the other hand gets the new bows! Harder to find what we want for her used, bows in my range are a dime a dozen!
Two kids in college and I can hunt out of state? We live in a wonderful country! :archer2:
thanks for the advice gentleman :)
I worked for 38 years as a toolmaker for a large company. I'm now retired with a pension. I started with old Bear and Browning bows and most of the bows I have now I bought used or traded up to get. I have been very fortunate to have made some great trades and now have a good selection of very nice bows. I also have made a few self bows. I have purchased a few customs new, but only because there was something special I wanted. Used stuff works just fine for 1/3-1/2 the cash.
As long as there is electricity, we will need Engineers.....Electrical Engineers [EE] are in high demand, with excellent pay!
I went straight from high school in 1972 to working in the oilfield. It always provided me with a pretty good paying job. But like has been said try to live as debt free as you can no matter what you choose as a career and you will be alright.
I tell guys that I work with sometimes it just as important what you have going out as much as what what you have coming in. I work an occaisional side job but I don't drink,(single malt doesn't count) smoke and I carry my lunch to work everyday. All our vehicles are paid for, except the tractor. I am in construction sales.
I started out as a "Turd Herder" (nother name for plumber) :rolleyes: then worked for a major tool company an back as a "T.H" Again for several more years...
Now I'm a maintenance man and still a part time T.H. that take's care of turning over 93 apartments and do daily work orders as need be...
Like many have said and wished I took that advise years ago "pay cash" and stay away from dept...
I have had several nice bows custom made but find that here lately the older bows from the 60's and 70's really are just as good and have much life left in them...