Due to the economy???

[Pinkheine]

The less we spend, the more it hurts. I try and spend every bit I can on my tank even if it means sacraficing on a different purchase or trying to find another odd job to do for someone.

Why? Simply because I don't want those stores that we have been frequenting for the past 8+ years to shut their doors.

This hobby is a big part of our life. We were without a tank for about 6 months once and we were climbing the walls looking for things to do around here. So rather than go out to eat or do something outside of our home like movies or grabbing a drink someplace, we keep the tank up and running the way we like it.

Everyone sacrafices their spending how they see fit even when times are good because there is always something they may want more than this or that.

May everyone have times soon to be able to splurge again.

 

[RaSooch]

the economy has halted all progress on my 120G setup. I have the tank in my basement along woth a brand new Iwaki pump and about 150lbs of rock all waiting to be cycled. Still need to decide on and purchase Sump, Protein skimmer, buy heaters, powerheads, and ligthing. Oh and buy materials to build stand. So I'd say it is probably another 6 months away from even starting the process.

 

[marki24]

The less we spend, the more it hurts. I try and spend every bit I can on my tank even if it means sacraficing on a different purchase

then your hurting the enconomy for not purchasing the other thing, would that be correct?:splitspin

 

[Pinkheine]

then your hurting the enconomy for not purchasing the other thing, would that be correct?:splitspin

We all make sacrafices daily in every aspect of the things we do. From spending to doing this over that etc. Spending or not there are still people out of work, things are still very bad right now. One purchase or another really isn't going to have that great of an impact on one industry vs another. Though I'd hate to see everyone having to cut everything out that isn't a neccessity.

I just do what works for me and the things that we enjoy. Like everyone always will do and has done. Sometimes we are afforded more things because we have some extra cash to splurge, other times not so much.

I have seen a direct impact on the things people can cut out working for a chocolatier. Candy is an "extra" that most will do without when budgets are tight. Business is much slower than it ever was. This holiday season didn't bring in nearly as much as years past. The ceramics place down the road from my home closed it's doors after over 15 years in business. People don't need to take time out to create something, that is not a neccessity. When budget restrictions happen people cut out extras.

I understand that this hobby is an extra. For myself I would like to have something in my own home that can be interactive for the whole family, luckily myself, hubby and lil' man all love the tank and tinkering with it. So it is a win win for all of us in our home. Things aren't at a point here where we have to limit ourselves too much, thankfully. I have friends that put in pools last summer because they were unable to take as many family vacations and trips as they would normally do.. now they have something that added value to their home as well as something to pass time for the family to enjoy in down time.

There is no right and wrong in these times, we all have to decide what is best on an individual basis, the only difference now is that there are a lot more people having to sacrafice one thing for another. For myself it is beneficial to spend at my LFS when I can. Just like for others their spending will go elsewhere. Noone(or most people) ever has enough money to do everything they'd like to do... bad economy or not. I just think it comes to a point where we do what we have to do to make things work for our individual situations.

My dogs used to get fed premium food that cost $50 for 25lbs. Now they get fed a lesser quality food with a smaller price tag. They are still well fed and cared for but with budget restraints that is a sacrafice we can make that is not going to carry with it ill effects for the time being. I was laid off for 3 months prior to Christmas, we didn't have that many gifts under the tree. Even though C pulled as much overtime as he could. Though we had a wonderful holiday season all the same.

My point was not that we all don't have an impact but the little impact we do actually have isn't going to make or break this economy.

 

[boozeman]

Due to the economy I have been postponing setting up my larger tank for over a year now.

 

[Keith P]

Due to the economy I have been postponing setting up my larger tank for over a year now.

Boozeman, I can't feel bad for you. I saw that pic of the automatic skimmer cleaner. (just playing!)

It sucks to plan big and get part way there just to run into economic woes.

I've been really "soul searching". Sacrificing other hobbies and luxuries to make my reef dream a possibility.