How did you manage?

**ellipsis** · 5th November 2010, 13:16

....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** · 5th November 2010, 13:22

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** · 5th November 2010, 13:48

Originally Posted by 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".

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** · 5th November 2010, 14:06

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** · 5th November 2010, 16:35

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.

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** · 5th November 2010, 18:45

Originally Posted by 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.

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 ...

Originally Posted by slofox

...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

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** · 5th November 2010, 20:01

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** · 5th November 2010, 20:15

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

**Jantar** · 5th November 2010, 22:16

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.

**willytheekid** · 6th November 2010, 00:02

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

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

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** · 6th November 2010, 06:13

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** · 6th November 2010, 07:00

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

How? Why?

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** · 6th November 2010, 07:42

Originally Posted by hellokitty

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** · 6th November 2010, 07:56

Originally Posted by hellokitty

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

Originally Posted by hellokitty

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

How? Why?

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?

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.