How did you manage?

[nudemetalz]

Okay let me explain...

Now that we've just been told my wife is pregnant again for the second time :yes: :) our budget has come under close scrutiny (namely by her :facepalm: )

I'm thinking, next year when she goes off work again and then no.2 sprog is born, I may have to make the ultimate sacrifice - sell the beloved Guzzi.
It's not what I want but it really isn't a cheap machine to operate.

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

[wysper]

I did for a little while

I was without a bike for a couple of years after number 2.

But back on the ride again, probably on reflection, I didn't really have to sell it. It is not like we bought another vehicle, I ride my pushbike to work and stuff, trying to save money. And we did, saving on rego, gas, repairs etc.

Had another bike before number 2 turned 3 LOL

Glad I have a motorbike now again though.

[jim.cox]

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

Sold the adnoH (it was well and truly worn out) but did not sell the Ducati

Pushed the bike to the back of the garage, covered her up, and sat for three or four years.

Suggest avoid selling if you can - you never get what the bike is worth to you, or what it would cost to replace - but do stop any outgoings like fuel, tyres, rego and wof.

BTW - babies are cheap - its when they become teenagers that budget really gets hit. DAMHIK

[GOONR]

Okay let me explain...

Now that we've just been told my wife is pregnant again for the second time :yes: :) our budget has come under close scrutiny (namely by her :facepalm: )

I'm thinking, next year when she goes off work again and then no.2 sprog is born, I may have to make the ultimate sacrifice - sell the beloved Guzzi.
It's not what I want but it really isn't a cheap machine to operate.

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

I've got a 2.5 year old and a 3 month old :woohoo:.. Do not sell the bike, it's your escape to sanity. If you really have to sell it try to get a cheaper bike to replace it with.

My bike doesn't cost that much to run and I use it as my every day transport so it wouldn't be worth getting rid if it.

We have been on one income for coming up to 2 years. It's not too much more expensive if number two sprog is the same flavour as number one sprog. If our second had been a boy it would have cost us loads more in cloths etc but we had all the gear for a girl.

[AllanB]

Kept the bike, recommend you keep yours too!

No discussion at all about getting rid of it, and to be honest any injection of immediate funds from a sale are quickly spent and generally nowhere near the value of the bike.

You can always put the rego on hold and chat to the insurance company about a reduction in cost if you do not ride it (I don't know if they actually do this, yonks ago it was a 'fire or theft' policy). This will eliminate the rather pricey costs associated with the physical running of a bike until you can afford it again. The risk is of course that you then have $XXX just sitting in your shed gathering dust .....

At the end of the day it purely relates to your personal $ situation - if the bike is no longer an affordable option then it has to go and something inside you that was fun and exciting will wither up and die.

Regarding the cost of running number 2 child - we found, other than income loss, number 2 did not become expensive until he got to school and you start sports, swimming etc etc etc

[slofox]

Went without owning a bike for quite a few years...until I got rid of the kids and divorced the wife...NOW I can do what the @#%! I like. And do.

Which basically, involves fanging round the counrtyside as much as possible...

[nudemetalz]

Interesting responses. Thanks for sharing.

We do have the Kwaka EX-4 which she won't be able to ride when she gets too big (assuming all goes well to the 12 week stage of course), so I wouldn't be bikeless.
Plus the DR-250 I guess would be there for the off-road insanity escapes.

But yes, I did think about putting her (the Guzzi) on-hold and cover her up.
Insurances, fuel, oil, 120/180 tyres etc do add up. I might propose that to the boss-lady.

[mashman]

We've been on a single income for the last 8 years :yes:, should change in the next year though :woohoo:. I have 3 girls, 7, 5, 2.5... My wife talked me out of selling the Prila. Came pretty feckin close during that last round of ACC shit. She explained it to me in terms of false economy. Bought For - Sold For doesn't make sense if you really don't have to and if all else fails the asset is still there to be sold (if it's an asset) :).

Congratumulations on the news :)

[Mully]

Not to try to scare you, but my brother-in-law decided (*ahem*) to sell his bike when they had their second sprog.

16 years on and he still hasn't been allowed to replace it.

Just putting that out there.

Best bit of advice I ever heard was: make sure you keep a bike - it might not be the flashest, but upgrading a cheap bike is easier to negotiate than buying a bike.

Or discuss with the missus - including a timeline for when you can get another bike (barring twins or some other horrible outcome). She might not want you to be without a bike in any case.

[tommygun]

If you cant ride the Guzzi now, store it and later when the money thing comes right bring it back to life! Selling your "passion" or "dream" is often IMO regretted later.

[XxKiTtiExX]

Can't comment because I'm a mum not a bad. But congrats!!! lol

[FROSTY]

Ya might wanna concider a downvalue rather than a full on sale. Get something a bit cheaper so you still have A bike

[White trash]

We BOTH got out of bikes completely for a while and didn't miss it too much. Just starting to get bitten by the bug again but unfortunately, as a single income family earning slightly less than the average salary in NZ, I find myself riding 50 dollar bikes.

It is good fun filling the garage with cheap shit bikes that you can work on with the kids though.

[Juzz976]

Your entitlements for Working for Families Tax Credits accommodation supplement will most likely cover the cost of the new baby.

If renting you might need an extra room, sweet spend $20 more and they give you $10 of it.

Don't sell the bike until you've worked out your budget and got an estimate from IRD and WINZ for your entitlements.

Congrats BTW

I managed fine on apprentice wages and have a 4.5 y/o and a 2.8 y/o. Just upgraded to a TL1000R this week.

[aprilia_RS250]

Think of the bike as an option (in financial terms). Only sell it if you need the dough. Keep it for as long as you can.

[ellipsis]

....Ive never regretted losing my way..my keys..my innocence..my money...my first wife...every argument Ive ever had with the second...my mind...the big picture....the World Cup...my trucks...my cars....but I regret every single time I think of the loss of a couple of my bikes...to this sort of bullshit feeling....would you cut off your toe to save a few bucks...

[nudemetalz]

Thanks again, everyone, for your input :)

No, we're on the dreaded mortgage, with rates, insurance, maintenance etc
Absorbs the $$$ very easily.

We've looked into our entitlements from the gubbermint. Not too bad, not heaps.

It's funny, talking to people at work, the overwhelming opinion is .."you just find a way to manage".

[Edbear]

Thanks again, everyone, for your input :)

No, we're on the dreaded mortgage, with rates, insurance, maintenance etc
Absorbs the $$$ very easily.

We've looked into our entitlements from the gubbermint. Not too bad, not heaps.

It's funny, talking to people at work, the overwhelming opinion is .."you just find a way to manage".

They're right, somehow you just do. We brought up 3 kids on a single income, I don't think I ever earned more than $25k per annum while they were growing up. We had old bombs to drive and lived very cheaply, but the upside is we spent all our time with them, bushwalking, beachcombing/swimming, visiting museums, lots of visiting with friends for outings and BBQ's. The kids didn't give a fig that we were on the bones of our bums, they just loved having Mum and Dad home and involved.

So a lot depends on how expensive your tastes are and the standard of living you want as to whether you cope well or not. My daughters, (or more so the sons-in-law), want nothing but the best for their kids and that costs.

We went to their schools, on camps with them, they wore hand-me-downs and had second hand toys and bikes. Kids just don't care if you treat them right and even as they got older, they understood and weren't demanding to keep up with the richer kids at College. Now they're all growed up and getting kids of their own and we are one of the closest families I know.

Now, Mrs. Bear and I are on two incomes, (well ACC for me at present), and enjoying a higher living standard. If you don't HAVE to sell the Guzzi, don't, as you will regret it as much as I regretted selling the T500 when we got married. At the moment my C50T is in the back of the garage, rego on hold and Insurance dropped to Third Party and Theft at a considerable saving.

[Milts]

The advice seems to be to put rego on hold etc but keep the bike, which makes sense to me. If you have several, you could look at selling one of the others and keeping your pride and joy?

The other option would be to put rego on hold, no WOF etc, but then re-register it just for three months over summer - suddenly you save about 3/4 the cost of owning it but you still get to ride for some of the better months, and never have to face the prospect of being bikeless.

There's (nearly) always space to cut spending elsewhere. Personally I try to avoid being a big spender anyway, because I'd be happier working a 25 or 30 hour week and living on less than working full time and spending more on 'luxury' items; instead I'd be happier spending an extra few hours a week hanging out with friends at the beach, picnics, or riding every chance I get. Obviously this doesn't necessarily apply to you, but I think the mindset of "I really don't need the best, I can make cheaper food taste good, it's about enjoying life rather than enjoying luxuries" may still be helpful. If that makes sense.

[hellokitty]

Get a vasectomy and sell your wife's bike. Tell her she will be too busy raising the kids to have time to ride anyway. :yes:

Seriously, don't sell your bike - put the rego on hold and put it away for a little while. My husband wanted to sell his bike last year when he lost his job - I wouldn't let him. I don't know what you would get for it if you sold it but it would be very hard to replace later, if in fact "later" ever came. There is always going to be some child related expense in the future that will stop you replacing the bike.

[far queue]

Not to try to scare you, but my brother-in-law decided (*ahem*) to sell his bike when they had their second sprog.

16 years on and he still hasn't been allowed to replace it.

Just putting that out there.

Best bit of advice I ever heard was: make sure you keep a bike - it might not be the flashest, but upgrading a cheap bike is easier to negotiate than buying a bike.

Or discuss with the missus - including a timeline for when you can get another bike (barring twins or some other horrible outcome). She might not want you to be without a bike in any case.That's why I never got rid of mine!

A number of years ago now when I had 2 small kids, a large'ish mortgage, a wife, and only 1 income, money was very tight. The bike broke down and I couldn't afford to fix it, so it sat in the garage unused for a year and a half or so. The wife wanted me to sell it, but I said no, because I knew that once I had no bike then she'd never let me get another one, and I knew that in time things would improve and I'd get the bike fixed and be riding again. As things turned out, the money situation improved in time and I got the bike fixed. Then a few years later she did a runner on me, and I was so pleased I still had the bike, as it was time spent out on the bike that allowed me to get my head around what was going on and I ended up buying the bigger bike that I'd always wanted. Now the kids are pretty much independent and these days ...



...until I got rid of the kids and divorced the wife...NOW I can do what the @#%! I like. And do... ... I do this too :D

So, in short. Keep the bike! Park it up for a while if you have to, but keep it, or you'll regret it in time.

[Motu]

I've had 4 kids and lived on a single income for 30 years (still on single income) - and I have never stopped owning and riding bikes.At one stage I had 10 bikes,all running and usable....but the most I paid for one was $200.If owning a bike means it must be late model and fast and bweautiful...you'd better sell it now because you really aren't dedicated enough.

[Pussy]

I'd hit the father up for some support, Nudemetalz! :)

[Jantar]

Before our first child I only had one bike. Each time a child was born I bought another one. After our 3rd child I had an RE5, a wire wheel Katana, a PE250 and an RM125. My wife gave up on any idea of more children. :innocent:

[willytheekid]

Congrats!

Charlotte and I have just had our first kid (Ryder) and as some of you know I nearly sold "PhatGirl" as a result of the one income problem.
After doing a budget and looking closely at the running cost of the Big Guzzi...and having lots! of you members YELLING at me not to sell her...I kept the bike :wings:
The Rego costs are now halfed, as I only pay for 6 months (screw ACC!!)
The insurance is now only fire & thieft
The bikes maintained in the back shed by me alone.
I hunt for "bargin" parts when ever possible (even if i don't need them)
The car is now the one on the "chopping block" to be replaced :woohoo:
And the budget was rechecked, chopped and MADE to fit our meger lifestyle.
...it worked!, were ALL still here, happy and in daily use....and as you once said to me nude

!!!!!!DONT SELL THE GUZZI!!!!!
I have learnt budgets can be changed......But a sold bike/love cannot!

[munster]

I was 15 years between owning bikes. Got rid of my previous one just after #2 was born. Though while I was a driver in the TF, I used to ride the XL200's as often as I could.

Parenthood does change a few things, but I like where I am now.

[hellokitty]

I don't understand how there are guys saying that their wife wouldn't let them buy another motorbike?

How? Why? :confused: My husband never tells me what to do and I would never tell him what to do...... we are in a partnership, we work together.

[wysper]

I don't understand how there are guys saying that their wife wouldn't let them buy another motorbike?



I use the above excuse when I don't really want to do/buy something, or if I feel that it is an unjustified expense. I know my wife would not stop me doing/buying something I REALLY wanted.
But if it is a luxury purchase or and upgrade I don't really need to do, I sometimes trot out the old "her indoors won't let me" line. Saves trying to explain my decision to others.

Like I am looking at the moment to change rides, we will talk about what we can afford and then from there it is my decision on what I buy and when. But if she was really opposed, I would seriously consider her opinion too. As you say kitty, it is a partnership.

[Goblin]

My husband wanted to sell his bike last year when he lost his job - I wouldn't let him. .


I don't understand how there are guys saying that their wife wouldn't let them buy another motorbike?

How? Why? :confused: My husband never tells me what to do and I would never tell him what to do...... we are in a partnership, we work together.Oh really?:blink:

Dont sell the bike! Just having your pride and joy in the shed will be a sanity saver. As others have said, if you cant afford to ride it, just park it up and keep it.

Oh and the secret to a happy marriage...budget the luxuries first. :yes:

[Katman]

How did you fathers manage?


I've steadfastly avoided becoming a father.

[far queue]

I don't understand how there are guys saying that their wife wouldn't let them buy another motorbike? How? Why? :confused:Surely you must know that there are lots of both women and men out there that are controlling and manipulative of their partners. But often the partner goes along with it to keep the peace and to try and make the relationship work especially if there are kids involved. Sometimes this continues for the rest of their lives, sometimes it ends in divorce or even murder, and sometimes they get help and sort themselves out.


My husband never tells me what to do and I would never tell him what to do...... we are in a partnership, we work together.I would like to think that majority of couples fit into this category, but that may be a bit naive of me. Certainly this is how it should be.


I've steadfastly avoided becoming a father.All those years of wanking have worked for you then?

[Katman]

All those years of wanking have worked for you then?

Well, I wouldn't say "worked for me" but it has certainly filled in the quiet spells.

[hellokitty]

Surely you must know that there are lots of both women and men out there that are controlling and manipulative of their partners. But often the partner goes along with it to keep the peace and to try and make the relationship work especially if there are kids involved. Sometimes this continues for the rest of their lives, sometimes it ends in divorce or even murder, and sometimes they get help and sort themselves out.

I would like to think that majority of couples fit into this category, but that may be a bit naive of me. Certainly this is how it should be.

Yes, I wasted years being with control freaks and being told what to do. Now that I am with someone who respects my opinions and ideas, I can't see how I ever put up with that crap. I know having kids complicates things too.

[hellokitty]

I use the above excuse when I don't really want to do/buy something, or if I feel that it is an unjustified expense. I know my wife would not stop me doing/buying something I REALLY wanted.
But if it is a luxury purchase or and upgrade I don't really need to do, I sometimes trot out the old "her indoors won't let me" line. Saves trying to explain my decision to others.

Like I am looking at the moment to change rides, we will talk about what we can afford and then from there it is my decision on what I buy and when. But if she was really opposed, I would seriously consider her opinion too. As you say kitty, it is a partnership.

I use the excuse of "my husband won't let me" if there is something I don't want to do. People seem to buy it even though he has never told me what to do before.

And I have heard him say the same thing about me "Cat says I can't do it/have it" Yeah Right!

[Edbear]

I use the excuse of "my husband won't let me" if there is something I don't want to do. People seem to buy it even though he has never told me what to do before.

And I have heard him say the same thing about me "Cat says I can't do it/have it" Yeah Right!

Hey, isn't that one of the advantages of marriage..? :yes:

[marty]

Okay let me explain...

Now that we've just been told my wife is pregnant again for the second time :yes: :) our budget has come under close scrutiny (namely by her :facepalm: )

I'm thinking, next year when she goes off work again and then no.2 sprog is born, I may have to make the ultimate sacrifice - sell the beloved Guzzi.
It's not what I want but it really isn't a cheap machine to operate.

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

i had to stop visiting hookers

[mashman]

I use the above excuse when I don't really want to do/buy something, or if I feel that it is an unjustified expense. I know my wife would not stop me doing/buying something I REALLY wanted.
But if it is a luxury purchase or and upgrade I don't really need to do, I sometimes trot out the old "her indoors won't let me" line. Saves trying to explain my decision to others.

Like I am looking at the moment to change rides, we will talk about what we can afford and then from there it is my decision on what I buy and when. But if she was really opposed, I would seriously consider her opinion too. As you say kitty, it is a partnership.

VERY guilty....

bang on...

[Kickaha]

I've steadfastly avoided becoming a father.

Yeah I can see your personality would make a pretty fucking effective contraceptive

[slofox]

I've steadfastly avoided becoming a father.

Probably just as well...:whistle:

[tigertim20]

Okay let me explain...

Now that we've just been told my wife is pregnant again for the second time :yes: :) our budget has come under close scrutiny (namely by her :facepalm: )

I'm thinking, next year when she goes off work again and then no.2 sprog is born, I may have to make the ultimate sacrifice - sell the beloved Guzzi.
of course the other option, is to sell one of the kids, I mean we can always make more later when we have more money, and the bonuses to this are that I
a) keep the Guzzi
b) can keep working at my technique and get it perfect
c) ditto the above but on the bike
d) practicing with the missus on cold rainy days is a suitable way of passing the time untill the next sunshine.

It's not what I want but wives really isn't a cheap accessory to maintain.

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

Seems to me that youve answered your own question mate

[marty]

I've steadfastly avoided becoming a father.

admit it - you just avoid vagainas

[Storm]

Interesting responses. Thanks for sharing.

We do have the Kwaka EX-4 which she won't be able to ride when she gets too big (assuming all goes well to the 12 week stage of course), so I wouldn't be bikeless.
Plus the DR-250 I guess would be there for the off-road insanity escapes.

But yes, I did think about putting her (the Guzzi) on-hold and cover her up.
Insurances, fuel, oil, 120/180 tyres etc do add up. I might propose that to the boss-lady.

Dont want to sound a prick, but seeing as you have the abovementioned other bike to ride, wheres the problem?
Plus a dirt bike! You aren't exactly suffering from where I sit
(dont mind me, I'm just jealous as buggery as I dont have a bike in the shed at the moment :) )

Oh, and congratualtions on number 2 :)

[Katman]

admit it - you just avoid vagainas

What the fuck are they???

[munster]

I've steadfastly avoided becoming a father.
Proof that Darwin's theory was right.

[nudemetalz]

Made my decision...my Guzzi stays put. Her indoors told me that :yes:
(so that makes it her decision really)
So I apologise if I've sounded like a whining prick, guess I'm just quite attached to the big twin.

Been really interesting reading about other people situations at that point, yes even Katmans !! :drinkup:

[riffer]

How do we manage Chris?

Well, we have four kids; two come and go, two are here all the time. We also pay child support on the two that come and go.

We live on one income - mine, which is about the annual household income (which is usually two people's incomes).

We also don't have any HPs, and the only debt we have is $130K of mortgage.

My wife has a 1995 Honda Odyssey which has done 175,000kms which she uses to ferry the kids around in and I have the RF900 which has done 153,000kms. It had 43,000 on the clock when I got it.

So we buy decent stuff and we keep it until it dies. We grow our own veges, and we live pretty average lives - nothing flash.

I don't tend to go out riding much in the weekends, and I don't get a new bike every year or two.

But our bills are ALWAYS paid on time, and the kids get everything they NEED. Just not everything they want. Just like me.

It's a matter of making do with what you need Chris. And we couldn't be happier. It's a good honest life, devoid of bullshit and pretense.

[nudemetalz]

How do we manage Chris?

Well, we have four kids; two come and go, two are here all the time. We also pay child support on the two that come and go.

We live on one income - mine, which is about the annual household income (which is usually two people's incomes).

We also don't have any HPs, and the only debt we have is $130K of mortgage.

My wife has a 1995 Honda Odyssey which has done 175,000kms which she uses to ferry the kids around in and I have the RF900 which has done 153,000kms. It had 43,000 on the clock when I got it.

So we buy decent stuff and we keep it until it dies. We grow our own veges, and we live pretty average lives - nothing flash.

I don't tend to go out riding much in the weekends, and I don't get a new bike every year or two.

But our bills are ALWAYS paid on time, and the kids get everything they NEED. Just not everything they want. Just like me.

It's a matter of making do with what you need Chris. And we couldn't be happier. It's a good honest life, devoid of bullshit and pretense.

You are an inspiration, Simon :)

[Paul in NZ]

Erm! You can manage if you both want to keep it but if it causes friction of the family is suffering, sell the bloody thing. Family comes first!

I sold a valuable bike to fund an engagement ring and then made do with piles of crap for ages (the $75 TS250 was the best of em) and eventually, when the kids were a little older I got it back in spades. We had out 30th anniversary last week!

Its different for everyone but its a motorcycle - your kids are flesh and blood!

Sell it - buy a project and a few tools...

[Botany Honda]

I have 5 kids...I 100% refused to sell any of my toys at all.
I did however choose to create more income and refine my spending in other areas in order to make things flow.
It did create some financial hard times for ME...not the family.

Dumpty