I ask first.  Keeps me from having to remember anything.  If I bring something home without asking she knows that I would have asked first if time permitted.  Never have I heard, "NO".  I have heard, "how many bows, guns, etc can you shoot at one time?"
As far as the question. "Who's the Boss?"  I learned from my Dad, "I wear the pants in this house...but your mom irons them out every morning!"

Theres no place to hide any thing in my house. And thetres no reason too.Been that way for 33 years. + 3 with stone knife and Jeff.

I don't hide anything from my wife.  I'd rake ALL my hunting gear into a pile and burn it before I would let it damage my marriage.  

But she and I know that we each like different things, and that we each have weaknesses for spending too much money on those different things.  We help each other NOT blow money on unnecessary things, but we often look the other way, too.  I'm the boss, the king, but she's the queen, and we share the kingdom.  She's the perfect help for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Archie,
Well put and even though I asked the question that's pretty much how I do everything but on occasion a pretty bow might pop up and if I can trade it I do and I don't go dipping out of our bank account to pay for something I don't need...I do swap or sell off some of my archery gear and take that money to buy the next trad. related thing if it be arrows, bow, or leather goods..

I've got a good woman, bless her heart. I work hard and I trade and swap toys alot, usually at very little real expense. I may kick in a $20 here and there in an upgrade but as long as all the bills are paid and there's a little something put away in the coffee can, she may roll her eyes but usually doesn't say a word about my hunting or my toys.

I had "the conversation" with her before we ever got married. I told her I don't chase women no more, don't hang out in bars, go to church pretty regular, and work my tail off on every opportunity. My vice? I hunt. That doesn't mean I hunt every once in awhile....that means if there's something to hunt or get ready to hunt or a foodplot to put in or practicing to hunt....anything "hunt"....that's probably what I'm doin'. And she's welcome to go anytime.  

I think the words I ended that conversation with were, "The truck's got two doors, pick one! Heck, you can even drive! But the truck's leaving either way...."  

Shes sitting right next to me right now and has no clue two strings, predator camo jacket, and new broadheads are going to get to our house Monday... Better to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission.. right?

I don't hide anything , but nor do I ask. But then I don't spend that we can't afford and I spend my weeks working out of a motel room eating off of a George Foreman grill.
So spending a few bucks here and there is a non issue.
I do more trading these days on bows. Well other than than the one I'm waiting for LOL

I too will try to beat my wife home when I am expecting a "package"    She knows I am addicted and am helpless to control myself,   When she asked me "How many Bows do you have"   I am pretty sure I looked like a deer in the headlights, stammering and really didnt have the answer without stopping to make a mental count.  So I just replied,  ummm  a couple????

I tried hiding it one time. I asked and was told no. I waited a couple months and ordered me a Air Arms S410 PCP. One day she was pulling out of the drive and as luck would have it, the UPS man pulled up before she left. Her: "What is that?" Me: "Oh nothing, he's just dropping off a thousand dollar air gun. Tell your mama I said hey." I think my down playing it helped. She got a chuckle out of my "kid caught with his hands in the cookie jar" look too. I believe the humor really reduced the severity of the repercussions.  

Now a days I just tell her I'm fixin' to buy whatever. I think she is finally starting to realize that she shouldn't bother me about what I buy cause I pay my half of the bills, I'm never late and I keep her credit cards zeroed so she can buy herself whatever she wants. I haven't gotten too much hassle for the two bows I bought recently. Hell, she was actually excited for me when I bought a brand new TL, on a whim, cause my truck was in the shop. Then again she just told me she is thinking about selling her car which means I will probably be driving the truck again soon. Oh well, a month in the acura was nice. She can't take those memories away from me        

Seriously though, I'm the man of this house (i.e. I buy what I want then I take my beatings like a man). Naw really, I wear the pants in my house. As soon as I'm done doing the laundry    :cool:   .

"That bow? Oh I've had that one for quite a while..."

 

I buy what I can afford and I let her down easy when I am going to make a major purchase. All I have to do if she gives me any static is remind her of her shoe closet. Ha.