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Anyone here a gun enthusiast and NOT a materialistic and/or competetive person?

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I count myself as a "gun enthusiast"!

I don't make a lot of money. Our family of six lives in a 1,250 sq.ft. home. Our "new" truck is a year 2000 F150. I don't eat breakfast on weekdays and often skip lunch as well, or if I do have lunch it's ramen noodles (best lunch a guy can have for 20 cents!).

I generally enjoy things being simple, but also enjoy true quality. I have a nice (but a bit dated) home stereo system (Kenwood & Polk Audio). Our kitchen knives are Gerber and I would really like to replace them with Wusthof (our kids and grandkids would end up with those).

My firearms range from Remington and Ruger to HK, Browning, CZ, Kimber, and Dan Wesson (others too). I do not tolerate junk. I take good care of the things I own, not because I'm materialistic, but because I want them to last. I don't want to needlessly abuse something only to have to replace it. Take care of your stuff and use the right tool for the job.

I know people that just don't take care of their stuff and just don't care about quality. I'd rather not be that way. Does that make me materialistic? It makes a lot more sense to give things proper respect than to just plan on always being able to buy a replacement.
 
I'm a freakin' Children's Librarian in the poorest municipality in the U S of A. I live in a thirty-year-old trailer and drive a ten-year-old van. The last brand new gun I bought was in 1973, and that one was an RG. Never had a new car and don't plan to get one.

Yep, I'm sure materialistic. And competitive.





(Oops. I forgot about the '58 Remington .44 c&b that I bought in late '73. My mistake.)
 
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Anyone here a gun enthusiast and NOT a materialistic and/or competetive person?
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Why would "gun enthusiast" and "materialistic and/or competetive" necessarily go hand-in-hand? I own/shoot several dozen firearms and don't even think in those terms.
Jack
 
I'm not particularly materialistic (I like books mostly, but have recently been hitting the library up for them, drive a 10 year old car that is completely paid off and intend to drive it until it is no longer capable of being drive) but I'm definitely competitive.
 
I used to be that way. I had nice new sports cars like 3000 GT's and Mustangs but I got over it pretty quick. I hated to watch a 30K car lose value and be worth 6K within a matter of a couple year period. I also did not like living in cheap apartments so I could have nicer things.

I now drive a 2003 Tacoma that will be paid for in July. I bought it used with 11K on it for $8,000 It only has 46K on it now and I plan to drive it for 5 more years if I can. I do not buy the latest and greatest electronics because I know they will be 4 times cheaper within a year or so. My wife's aunt bought a brand new plasma TV when they first hit the market and she paid $4500 for it. We have 3 flat panels in our home and we paid 1/2 that price for all 3 and the technology is superior to hers so I think we benefitted from waiting the extra 2 years til the prices bottomed out.

I value my firearms and try to buy the best quality I can, they will not lose lose money since I usually buy used ones and only the ones that are good deals. I'm the same way with my tools and guitars, I have 3 excellent quality deluxe model American guitars that will not lose value either so I also consider those to be wise investments that I enjoy using. I have about 1/2 the investment in my firearms than I do in my home but I got my home for a very cheap price and remodeled it myself. The value of our home has gone up 2.5 times since I updated every square inch of it myself for an out of pocket cost of 20K or so.

I make really good money but I save back a crapload of it. I throw about $800 a month into my 401K and investments so that cripples my purchasing power a bit but I don't mind since (hopefully) it will pay off in the long run and I can retire @ 53 or so like my father did.
 
Armed Bear said:
"Debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid-off home mortgage has replaced the BMW as the status symbol of choice."
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That's a good way to say it.

Personally, I consider myself very frugal... some of my friends might even go so far as to call me "cheap".

I live in a modest house, I drive an older car that I bought with cash, I don't have cable tv, I don't eat out much, I still use a couch that I bought from Goodwill when I was in college (hey, it's comfortable, and a slip cover made it look like new), a television that my wife's parents no longer needed, and a garage sale kitchen table, etc.

I put most of my resources towards paying down my mortgage, as it is my only debt. At the rate I'm going I'll have the home paid off by age 35. I still try to have some luxuries in my life, but they mostly involve my hobbies:

-I like guns, and own more than a couple. There are probably a dozen guns that I'd love to buy right now that I haven't, just because it isn't in the budget. In fact, I have the cash for a lot of these firearms, but I've held off because of my other financial goals. Still, I do buy guns, ammo, etc. For me, I usually think about my purchases long and hard before I throw down the cash. As an example, I wanted my AR-15 for about five years before I finally bought it (back then I was more poor than I am now, and I don't typically need to wait that long before making a purchase these days).

-The other place where I spend money is on outdoor equipment. I live in CO, and I love the mountains. Bikes, climbing equipment, tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, filters, and other toys all cost money too.

Between the guns and outdoor toys, most of my budgeted "leisure" money is already accounted for :)

Wealth is a matter of perspective. I'm happy, and I enjoy my lifestyle. I'm not trying to impress anyone, but I can certainly occcupy myself for every waking hour of the day! My decisions are moving me towards long-term financial security, which is important to me! I do get hassled by my friends from time-to-time, who firmly believe that I should spend my money on material possessions. But, at the end of the day I know that I'm much more financially secure than they are, which in turn will lead to more physical security in these uncertain times!
 
"Wealth is a matter of perspective."

I agree with Sophie Tucker...

"I've been rich and I've been poor. Believe me, honey, rich is better."


"She starred on Broadway, in vaudeville, cabaret, burlesque, motion pictures, television, and was an important recording artist from the days of primitive Edison cylinder recordings to Decca and Mercury Lp’s of the early 50s, and into the “Rock era.” She appeared on Ed Sullivan’s December 6, 1964, CBS television broadcast"
 
Money doesn't buy happiness is said to be told by people who don't have any. I personally disagree with that. I drive a 95 dodge neon. It has 300,254 miles on it. I call it my little half a hemi. I would drive that car any wear any time. I purchased a new motorcycle and most of my guns are new. I like the thought of a good retirement with no bills.Being rich and bragging about it is for shallow people. I have good rich friends that you you would think didn't have a pot to pee in.
 
At the age of 25 I have almost 10k worth of guns and equipment.

......................And no car. :)

I have hobbies, expensive ones, but other than that the luxuries in life don't really concern me.

My cloaths are clean, but cheap. My apt is in a 'poor' part of town, but that allows me an extra bedroom for hobbies.

I am very willing to let my percieved social status slip in favor of supplying my hobbies with adequate funds.
 
When I first got out of school, my wife and I were living a little high on the hog - felt we "deserved" it since we had 14 years of higher education between us - nice house, not over the top but nice, very nice cars with the accompanying "nice" payments - and when certain things transpired to where our household income decreased for a certain amount of time, we realized that all of the cr@p didn't mean anything. Luckily we figured that out pretty quick and were able to liquidate the unnecessary stuff we could no longer afford.

ArmedBear said it - Dave Ramsey - went through it a couple of years ago, and though we don't follow it to the T, our definition of affordable has changed drastically. We are happier now with no credit card debt and no car payments than we ever were with them.

I wouldn't say that I'm not materialistic - I like what I like and want what I want, but I stopped caring what the other guy has a long time ago - because there will ALWAYS be someone with more, so why compete?
 
I drive an old Jeep and live in a small home (paid off). So materialistic, not so much! Competetive...in a very friendly way.

My idea of fun is getting the family together and pulling out one of any number of .22's and challenging each other to be a better shot than the other. No one gets hurt with ammo cost and we ALWAYS have a great time.
 
.

I'm not materialistic or competitive, but I like guns as much as anyone I've
ever met. I am satisfied with my firearms. I will say that there are a
couple things on my wish list (.308 AR, Security Six, BPS), I just can't
afford/don't need them right now!

I do believe there is wisdom in the old saying "Beware the man with one gun."
 
Am compititive...
Not materialistic.
As long as we(family) have our needs taken care off, and a few wants... I am happy.
Unfortunately right now we are unhappy to an extent. ;)
 
It's hard for me to answer that question. I have to say yes and no. I am not materialistic. I am competitive, but only in competitions. I don't compare my belongings to what somebody else owns, and vice versa.

But I do buy quality (within means), on certain objects. I buy the best guns, that I can afford, and I buy the best tools. But for two completely different reasons.

The guns that I generally buy now are more of the collectible types. I have my hunting guns and other "work" guns. The guns that I've been buying over the last several years are the older collectibles. In those, if I want a particular model, I buy the most pristine example that I can find and afford.

The tools that I buy are for work (remodeling/framing&trim subcontractor), so I use (and abuse) the tools pretty hard. I want a tool that will last me. I will buy one brand of tool "X" for $200 over another brand (of same tool) for $80. If it lasts twice as long it saves me money once you figure in my time to replace the cheaper tool. And usually if you double the price of a tool, dependability and "toughness" increase tenfold. As an example I've owned 3 hammer drills since I started on my own. The first was a $69 B&D it lasted about 8-10 months. The second was a $99 DeW, it is still going (3 years later), but it's on it's last leg. And been relegated to standard wood drilling only. The third was a $249 Bosch. I've owned it for 2 years now, it'll drill a hole on concrete faster than either of the other two could've dreamed, and will probably outlast me.

After all of that off topic hogwash, to answer the OP question, no. But I'm going to spend the money to buy quality for an item my life depends on. Both literally and figuratively.

Wyman
 
I drive a 250,000 mile beater and don't really care what anyone else has.:D I like bang for the buck, when it comes to guns. Give me an XD, a Ruger 22/45, an SKS, a Mossy 12 gauge, Marlin 22 mag, Taurus 357 mag, and I'm good to go.:) Oh wait, that is what I have.:D As far as other people and thier $1400 Kimber 1911's, like one of my co-workers has, I could care less. If they can afford it, then more power to them. I have no use for guns like that.
 
Old "down East" aphorism (must be read aloud with a slightly nasal New England twang):

Buy it cheap.

Make it do.

Use it up.

Do without.

Ayup.
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Yes, it is posted on my wall. Well, I'm not married to the concept, but I find it amusing that some things will trigger spasms of frugality. Two years ago I noticed a particulary low number of kWh on my electric bill. (The other utilities are paid by the Senior Citizens' building.) So, without "doing without," I've been trying to see how low I can get. Wait, I'll open this month's bill.... letter opener.... where's the bill?.... ah, there. Slit, slip out....

211 kWh.

Drat! Well, actually, I hit 143 kWh one month in early summer during Daylight Savings Time when it was light out late and I didn't need the air conditioner.

Oh, I got guns... I got guns I haven't even really wrung out yet, although most of them have at least been fired at the 25 yd indoor range. My carry piece, a 1911, has never been fired in daylight, just at the indoor ranges.

Frankly, I've bought more guns in the last three years than I have in the previous 15.

And Spring is coming in two months. I wonder if I can beat that record of 143kWh.

Shooting competion? I've competed in high power long range matches, but found it was too much of a pain in the tuchas to really get good at it, although during a fortuitous string, I did get 5 (or was it six?) Vs at 1000 yards. Not bad, but it was an armory-accurized M1 with a star gauged NM barrel. But really, I'm more of a field shot.

I did enjoy handgun metallic silhouette competition, but I found I could only compete against myself. My idea of silhouette shooting was to simulate game shooting, but with clangy targets. So I entered the Factory class with my field gun, a Model 19 in 6" barrel, and found these other guys also shooting factory class, but with Buck Roger guns you couldn't buy a holster for if you wanted to. But they were "factory" guns from "factories" where they only made a couple of guns a year, all specialized and doohickied up especially for Handgun Metallic Silhouette shooting in this here now so-called "factory" class.

I would never buy a gun I could not use in the field, you know, with sight extensions and thumbhole pistol grips, my competitive spirit notwithstanding. So I could never "compete" equipment-wise with those Zoomar Rayguns. Not with just my normal field piece, the Model 19 Smith.

But I did that for a while anyhow, competing only with myself, then finally decided it was more fun (and cheaper) to just wander around the mountains and Grasslands plinking at stumps and stones and abandoned beer cans at various unknown ranges.

And winning.

Because of my unlimited practice at range estimation with my micrometer-click precision rangefinding baby blue eyeballs and the practical knowledge of my trajectories.

Terry, 230RN
 
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I'm 59. My truck is 10 yrs old. None of my guns are new. Even my pocket knife is over 10 yrs old. In fact, newest thing is my wallet...had to replace the lod one...it was falling apart.

I don't try to keep up with anyone. When I spend money, I try to buy quality,( mid range price). I want it to work and last so I don't have to replace it too soon.

Biggest, newest, fastest. coolest, slickest...so not me.

Mark.

my chain saw is 30 yrs old. $50...second hand. :D
 
I agree with hso

the original poster relates best to a group of like-minded people who are 'keep up with the jones's' extra competitive, bordering on show-off types.

From that subset he draws his firearms friends
 
There are several reasons I have gun money.

1. I think I live pretty modestly, I save cash usually for most of my purchases and I always keep my frivolous debt to 10% of my net income per year and I generally spread that out over 12 months. So thats roughly about 5500 bucks per year to spend on guns and gun stuff.

2. I keep a GUN ONLY piggy bank which is actually a beer jug and I collect cans and bottles from work and around the neighborhood and friends and family that I can recycle regularly to put money into the gun piggy bank that yearly comes to around 1000 bucks just from the recycling yearly.

3. I also do odd job computer work and I charge $65 per hour for my services and that goes into the gun piggy bank. Thats somewhere around 2500 bucks a year.

4. I work for a gun dealer/gun smith, I don't get a discount but I get to see a lot of guns that come through the shop and I save money by getting to demo them and fondling them.

5. Birthdays and Christmas, I give family a shopping list and its always comprised of stuff that is gun related, I told them I don't want anything else.

6. I spend 5 bucks per week on 1 lunch outside of bringing food from home. Believe me that is tough to get a decent lunch for 5 bucks but VONS and Albertsons are making it easier.

7. I have an old car 2001 Honda Civic EX. That and I get to take my work truck home so I only put about 7500 miles a year on the car and I drive slow so I dont burn gas to fast.

8. I keep the going out to once a month friends don't like it but honestly I really don't care, most of the time they just want to go out and get drunk or go to dinner and that just seems like such a waste to me (I think I got past that stage a couple of years ago).

9. I shop at the dollar stores and wal mart and I always try and use coupons for stuff. I dress modestly and I have a lot of things that are older than they could be.

10. I don't worry much about what others have. I like to compare sometimes but I dont think that spurs me into a buying spree of any sort.

If something breaks that is not a critical item it might get fixed it might not. I stay up on the maintenance for my car and my house and I always budget it for emergency car repairs and other emergencies.

Its all about budgeting and saving your money and being frugal in 90% of your life so that 10% that makes you the happiest does not have to suffer.
 
Folks who link their self-worth to things are very prone to showing off their things. It puffs them up. Maybe that's why a casual observer would think that gun enthusiasts might be generally more materialistic than other groups. Materialistic people want you admire their stuff so they make sure you see it/them.

Lots of us like firearms but don't flaunt our guns and a casual observer wouldn't really see that because it's not in their face. I don't see any corollary relationship.

Materialistic folks show off cars, houses, etc. It's not only a gun thing.
 
Guns are like tatoos, You get one you will get another one, As for keeping up with the fools that are in debt, Whatever, I live in a remodled 1980 double wide, on my own land, I drive a 1987 F-3504x4crewcab, I bought for 3200 cash when the gas prices went up, I own my boat, I own my vw camper, I own my 99 ford ranger xlt, My lady owns her 1998 subby legacy.
Keep it small and Keep it all!
Pay cash!! What is Happiness
I reply A Belt fed weapon!
 
I’m not that competitive, the main thing is I want to do as good as my expectations, and if I don’t I’m disappointed.

I like good stuff, but I’d rather have less stuff and not work as hard.

As far as the keep up with the Joan’s thing, no I really don’t care what other people think of me and I don’t care what they have.
 
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