In these hard times it gets a bit hard to justify the outlay of a huge chunk of cash for the luxury of a new custom bow.  However, I ain't gonna let no stinkin' recession keep me from supporting an independent bowyer!  Here's my strategy, every time I fill up my pickup with gas I pretend that gas prices are what they were not so long ago at $ 4.00 a gallon.  I split the difference between what I actually paid and what I would have done if gas were at $ 4.00 and put the chunk into savings.

so today I put 16 gallons in my tank at 1.77/gallon for a total of $ 28.32.  If gas were at $ 4.00 (which brothers and sisters it will surely go eventually) that same 16 gallons would have cost me $ 64.00 (ugh      After a short while I should have enough to either invest in real estate derivatives or buy a modest custom bow.

It keeps me used to those awful prices, encourages me not to be a gas guzzler and will eventually help keep a bowyer in business in these hard times.  Obviously, it's not a feasible strategy for everyone... but hey I'm going to give it a try.

I woulda thought you'd wanna fill up as much as possible!!!

If you smoke. Buy one less pack a day or two and keep the savings. That's how I'm going to start my fund and quit smoking at the same time. I spend $300 a MONTH on c-grits.    :(

thats it fido, i quit chewing 3 weeks ago so i can get a new  custom in a year.  with the cheap stuff i bought one can a day would be near 1,500 dollars in a year, heck i can buy two bows, you guys that use a can of cope a day thats three a year, kinda stagering, thats the first time i actualy added it up,

i should see if ron can get a 60 inch super shrew ready in about a year.

I have an envelope of cash stashed in my library (in a very specific and secret book).  When I visit the ATM I get an extra 20 or 40 out.  When I am loafing around the house (and my wife is not around) I stash a little in my Bow Fund envelope.  Over several months it really adds up.  

She is fully aware of my stash.  It's called my "fun money" for fishing and hunting and custom bows every now and then.

Brett

For some reason when the new $5 bills came out early last year (the one's with the big purple 5) I thought they were cool.  So I stuck one in my wallet (usually only receipts in there since I almost always us my ATM) and a couple of days later I got another.  Well about a week later I go a third and decided that I should put them somewhere to keep.  I only took the fresh pristine bills to do this...about 15 bills into it I though what an idiot I should be doing it with the new $10 dollar bills (tan looking ones)...it would add up quicker.  Well I got a new ten that week and I put it a couple pages down from the fives.  

I put the latest $10 in the book last night ($240) and I have 22 $5's so it has added up nicely over the last year.  I have $350 saved and it didn't hurt to do it.  

For the record my wife is aware I have money stashed but doesn't have any idea where to look...keep your hiding spot messy, they're less likely to look if it is!    

Only down side is I like them so much I don't want to spend them!    

Josh

Good on ya, Fido and JR! Good luck to you both!

thp,i think your idea is great, even though im not in a position to put it into practice.ive been outa work since oct. 2008.im not a supporter of the corperate machine.ive always been a beleiver in small business, where craftsmanship and pride still thrive,not highest  profit margin for medeocrityis priority. if more people thought this way where would our country be today

When I want a new bow, I sell one or two and get the one I have my eye on.

Bill

Josh, that's an awesome method of saving cash.  These custom bows look so incredibly expensive.  However, tweaking our habits a little bit can net a large return with enough time.  cool stuff.

Don`t worry you will be paying $4 for gas again

Tim if it helps you meet your goal sooner you can fill up for me too  

I almost always pay with my debt card any where I go so what I do is add $5 to the transaction when I balance my check book and then I make a little note to the side like a plus 5 or something so I can keep track of how much I have saved.

Todd, I'll get right on that as long as you drive a Geo Metro!

Divorced my second deadbeat wife...even paying alimoney I have money to play with, bought 3 bows,some new wool and about 14 dozen shafts. After a year and a half I'll finance a trip to africa on what I'll no longer have to pay the ex.

I have an idea.  How about making due with your last "had to have" bow and save the money all together.  That way, during the next economic downturn, you won't have to worry about making ends meet.

Lenny

I'm in the process of selling off some of my collection of bamboo fly rods that I never fish.Just keeping the one's I use and really like.The funds from the sales should at least cover a bow,but no idea what I want now since I just received my new Schafer Silvertip Longbow back around Christmas.Unfortunately it'll probably end up going to bills that I kinda got alittle behind on after supporting my brother in law who's been laid off and out of work for close to 8 months.He hasn't even looked for a job,so has been cut off from any further help from myself.............I ain't made of money.

I've went to the oldies and can usually by a very nice bow for less than $200.00.  Anyway, this recession isn't over, I hope your jobs stay safe for you.

what i usually do is get a crazy look in my eye after seeing or shooting some ohmygoshihavetohaveit bow, scrap up a down payment of some kind and spend the next couple of months working overtime to pay for it, anyway i should get to bed, got to get up early for work tomorrow, aprils coming up fast.