Expensive Hobbies

[Out of the Flames]

Ho-lee Cow.

I just went over to Sport Chalet at lunch to look into getting my PADI recertification in openwater scuba diving. I was first certified by NAUI when I was 12 and I logged about 25 dives from the time I was 12 until my last dive 8 years ago when I was 15.

I've always wanted to get back into it, but never did because the ex isn't an active person and I think is secretly afraid of water, and I lived in a landlocked state for 3 years so there wasn't much opportunity besides.

I just found out yesterday that my boss is PADI certified and looking for a dive partner, so she's jumping up and down for joy that I'm going to go get recertified so she has a buddy.

My classes run from July 21 - August 8 and price wise, the cost isn't too bad. It's $145 for the tuition and $20 for the certification fee. Then, add the book at $45, the gear rental ($45+ $100 deposit for the whole class), and the boat fare for the boat dives at $75-$110 and class just picked up a $475 price tag.

But that's not all, Folks! In addition to the various class related fees, you will also be required to complete a physical exam by a doctor at a copay cost of $20.

You'll also be required to purchase the basic equipment: Mask, snorkel, gloves, fins, boots, gauge clips, whistle, dive knife, and gear bag to the tune of about $250.

Add up the total cost and one of my favorite hobbies is going to cost me $750 over the course of about 3 weeks. Yikes. Can I get government grants for scuba diving?

 

[pgmike]

man try having a car hobby, so much more expensive. it just eats a hole in your wallet.

 

[Out of the Flames]

man try having a car hobby, so much more expensive. it just eats a hole in your wallet.

Just having a car eats a hole in your wallet. Especially when you live in Southern California and pay $2.32 a gallon for gas.

 

[marduke]

i agree with pgmike... modifying cars is expensive... and more you spend on modifying it the more you have to spend on fuel, as your fuel economy decreases... lol its a never ending cycle..

 

[CaptainMatt]

Try Flying.. it seems everytime I go up it cost me over 200 bucks. I've spent about a grand and I'm not even close to getting my license.. about 6 thousand more bones and I should have a piece of plastic that says I'm a pilot..

 

[CDN Red Raider]

Try Flying.. it seems everytime I go up it cost me over 200 bucks. I've spent about a grand and I'm not even close to getting my license.. about 6 thousand more bones and I should have a piece of plastic that says I'm a pilot..

definantly got to agree with the flying. costs me about $115 per hour and i have almost 27 hours and still need about 12 more.

 

[pgmike]

Just having a car eats a hole in your wallet. Especially when you live in Southern California and pay $2.32 a gallon for gas.

yeah im paying 2.22 in north florida.

 

[CaptainMatt]

yeah im paying 2.22 in north florida.

HA!.. I paid 2.59 today

 

[Out of the Flames]

Try Flying.. it seems everytime I go up it cost me over 200 bucks. I've spent about a grand and I'm not even close to getting my license.. about 6 thousand more bones and I should have a piece of plastic that says I'm a pilot..

Ding Ding Ding! We Have a Winner!

You definitely have me beat on cost. I'm not a huge fan of flying so being a pilot is not high on my list of to dos. That is a great hobby though. I admire that you pursue something that you love even if it is costly.

 

[CaptainMatt]

Ding Ding Ding! We Have a Winner!

You definitely have me beat on cost. I'm not a huge fan of flying so being a pilot is not high on my list of to dos. That is a great hobby though. I admire that you pursue something that you love even if it is costly.

I think scuba diving is more scary than flying.... going deep in the ocean with endless darkness infront of you.. gives me the chills

 

[H2o]

I want to scuba dive some day it sounds like fun

 

[Out of the Flames]

I want to scuba dive some day it sounds like fun

It's a blast! There are a lot of interesting creatures under the sea. With fun names like "nudibranch", "Urchin", and "anemone".

As far as the darkness thing goes, I don't dive at night, I usually hover at around 30-60 feet where light does still filter through, and a dive light is a very valuable dive tool!

 

[SAPguy]

Yeah .... cars become an expensive hobby.....

But I need something to haul my golf clubs around in Steer clear of golf if you don't want to spend money on a hobby. Always something new to get and of course green fees every time you play.

 

[stormgade4]

I was a speculator during the stack market boom of 1999-2000. An expensive hobby is when you lost $13,000 in the span of two hours. That's called paying your tuition to the market. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

 

[Tuffguy]

I'm totally into sportbikes and in the next yr i will start racing. My last bike ran about 7500, that was stolen but i got another good deal on the same bike for 6500. Add in gear, thats about 1000. Add in insurace. So in the last yr i'm at about 15000 plus insurance,,thats about 1000,,, So make that 16000.
Ok,,to get into racing i'll need,
Cheap truck to haul bike
4000
Track bike
5000 + about 3,000 in mods
+tire 250/set
+trailer 500
+random tools 300-600.

It adds up. I'm sure in the next yr i'll be out about 20k for motorcycle related stuff. I love it though,,,its worth every penny.

 

[lilray]

I thought about getting certified but I have too many hobbies as it is... mountain biking, surfing, snowboarding. I'm too poor for another one!...

Where do you dive? A friend of mine just got back from Belize and said it was awesome!

 

[lilray]

Just having a car eats a hole in your wallet. Especially when you live in Southern California and pay $2.32 a gallon for gas.

ha!ha! I'm in SoCal too and just paid somewhere around 2.50/gal.. I think it was 2.57. Can you believe it!!?!?!?!

 

[Out of the Flames]

It adds up. I'm sure in the next yr i'll be out about 20k for motorcycle related stuff. I love it though,,,its worth every penny.

I think it's very admirable that everyone is willing to spend money on the hobby they love regardless of the cost.

I'm a lucky one when you consider that I can rent my scuba gear for $35-$50 a day, so the only expenses I really need to worry about are the initial startup costs and then maintenance on whatever EQ I do purchase.

I plan on spending my money on chartered dive trips to exotic locations. I've always wanted to dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and anywhere in Belize.

I'd even settle for low budget Hawaii at this point. I just want to go!

 

[Tuffguy]

I think it's very admirable that everyone is willing to spend money on the hobby they love regardless of the cost.

I'm a lucky one when you consider that I can rent my scuba gear for $35-$50 a day, so the only expenses I really need to worry about are the initial startup costs and then maintenance on whatever EQ I do purchase.

I plan on spending my money on chartered dive trips to exotic locations. I've always wanted to dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and anywhere in Belize.

I'd even settle for low budget Hawaii at this point. I just want to go!

Well,,thanks.. I get the how can you afford it all the time,,,,from my dad. LOL
Hes good a looking out for me.

Snorkeling in hawii is really really good,,,so i'm sure the scuba is also good.

 

[Sketcher]

Computers are another good one. It can be cheaper if you build your own but now they have mod kits so you can trick your system out like a sports car. And that's just the case, not the important parts! The best processors cost over $900 a pop, then there's the $500 gamer graphics cards. But what can really drive up the cost is if you're into custom cooling. I was at CompUSA asking about water cooling and the salesman told me about a friend of his who uses liquid nitrogen to cool his system down. $20,000.