Lack of overtime = less firearms purchases?

[DRYHUMOR]

Just curious how it is out there. I used to make on avg 300 hours of overtime a year. We've been cut to 40 hrs, 32 hrs may be in the near future, a layoff occurred yesterday where I work.

My OT money used to be some of my walking around money (WAM) for the occasional good gun deal, ammo, range trip, etc. I still find myself looking- (heavy sigh). But just looking. I grew up poor, so I know how to hold on tight to a dollar (I can hear George Washington screaming even now). I have done a bit of trading lately, with happy results. I do have assorted bits and pieces, parts and stocks, and whatnot that could finance a good deal, if I come across one.

Do you guys feel that you used to have more WAM last year or the year before than now? How about the local economies here and there, I know there have got to good gun deals out there. Are you still buying or passing? I mean in general pretty much, not the EBR and ammo stockpiling.

I still try to buy ammo every payday, mostly .22 right now. I find that's the cheapest pistol to shoot.

 

[Kragax]

Brother I hear ya, I went from 60 - 65 hrs a week to 32.
There is a gun show this weekend, Im going, but just for cheap entertainment. I am grateful to still have a job when so many are losing theirs, but I wish things would pick up again. Im in the heavy duty over-road deisel engine business, but sales are way down compared to last year

 

[TAB]

This time last year, I did not have time to sleep, let alone post on the net. Now I'm lucky if I work 3 days a week.

Never fails...

I have all the money I want and no time. Or, all the time I want and no money.

 

[1-cavediver]

Based on how many firearms and how much ammunition is being sold now it's hard to believe there are any economical problems. Maybe the fear of losing some of our Second Amendment rights from the new administration is overriding the lack of "walking around money".

 

[mm1ut1]

Doing more trading than buying. Got my ot cut since November, but at least still have a job.

 

[John828]

I have less "WAM" too, dryhumor. I was averaging about 45 hours in the first half of 2008, but since then Schedules are set to 38. A nice raise compensated a little, but nothing compares to OT.

My gun purchases of late have been "necessities."

 

[CoRoMo]

I don't work by the hour. I'm salaried, and I'm blessed to be making more than I ever have. If there is a recession, I haven't experienced it with regards to income, but my business is definitely not hitting the numbers we used to. Eventually that could affect my bonus checks.
I recycle scrap metals for my gun money, and can average $700 - $1,000+ a year doing so. That usually means I buy one or two guns per year.

 

[Landric]

I don't get overtime very often, they would much rather give me comp time. Days off are nice, but having some money to spend on those days off would be nice too.

I have a part-time job also, and I have seen hours there cut back, but thankfully not off. It provides my fun/gun money.

 

[Zundfolge]

I have the opposite problem ... we had two employees leave (one moved away, the other had a baby) and we're not replacing them right now. Instead I and another guy are working copious amounts of OT.

 

[hankdatank1362]

I work for tips.

Bad part: I work in Myrtle Beach, a big tourist town. Winters are always slow, but this one is the worst in recent memory, with the economic downturn and all.

Good part: I work in a fine-dining establishment, and we are always running some kind of promotion to get people in the door. Right now, it's buy-one, get-one free (BOGO).

Better part: Lots of people come in for the BOGO. A couple can get a $150 meal for $75. What's not to love?

Best part: With the BOGO, I get to add on a 20% gratuity BEFORE the discount is taken, to make sure I'm not doing twice the work for half the tip. (people usually tip on the amount they actually have to pay, regardless of what they got for free:banghead

So, even though that couple only spent $75 on their dinner, I still get 20% of the $150...which is $30. Total cost for the customer= $105, plus tax. Still a great deal, for all parties concerned.

And we're absolutely slammed, especially on the weekends.

http://legrandsprime.com/

 

[Cliff47]

I have learned to live on less than my takehome from the paycheck. I put $X into the working balance of the checking account, and the balance into the "recreation fund". When I write a check, I always subtract more than the check amount from the working balance, and drop the difference into the "recreation fund". Should I get a refund check (electric or utility, whatever), the whole amount goes into the "rec fund". I have yet to bounce a check, or have a shortage of WAM for a gun show (sometimes a shortage of things to lust over, but that is another problem).

 

[LJH]

In my company sales are down about 50%, this equates to my paycheck being down 50%.
What galls me is I am working twice as much for half the money that I was making six months ago. The half that I get now is dedicated to mortgage, car payments, and food. I am afraid that there is just no extra cash for purchases anymore. On a lighter note, I now have a wish list, I get to look at what I think I want, and now can change my mind and add or remove items without suffering from buyer’s remorse.

 

[Lumpy76]

I'm trying to do more trading. I work in construction and it is slow. Our crook governor stole all the road money over the last few years. Illinois.

 

[Grassman]

Well, I am self employed. I am really worried for the coming year, not to mention the new administration........It has been a little tight around here.

 

[Red Eye Fred]

I have been unemployed for the past six months. I will be doing good if I can keep my house from being taken and keep food on the table. I would love to buy a couple of guns and plenty of ammo - but not now.

Fred

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Yeah, kind of what I figured. I've seen a lot of people bringing stuff to the last 2 gunshows I've been to to sell.

+1 on all of the trading though. I think it works out good for both parties.

Unless you run out of trading stock...

Then ya got to re evaluate the "keepers".

I have worked a couple of good trades on ammo though, stuff I didn't need/use for ammo I could.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I'm ecstatic at the first of the year I went from 832+ hrs OT a year to what should be 260

Despite the reduced income I'm happy to now have the energy and time to actually get to go to the range.

And to top it all off in the past year thanks to all that OT I've started managing my finances as Dave Ramsey suggests. I sold a $8k car I didn't need and owed $$ on. Me and wifey now drive a pair of $900 vans and we're on a budget. Even at reduced income I have more blow money than ever as well as being well on our way to becoming debt free and thus recession resistant.

My collection itself has also done it's part in that it finally reached that critical mass where it can practically sustain and expend itself through selling or trading in a controlled manner.

Life is good.

 

[MikePGS]

Very good to hear that Krochus. I'm thinking of using that method to, so hopefully I can save up enough in order to enact it. I actually was unemployed for something like 4 months or so (moved out of state then back, old job was gone) and just recently got a new job. I work overtime, but get paid for 40 right now (i got hired through a staffing company and if i go over 40 there are ridiculous penalties). After 90 they said that we'll try to negotiate some kind of salary with possible commision involved. Sounds like a good deal, so hopefully it'll work out. Obviously while i wasn't working there was no money for guns (i actually don't own a gun yet, but have spent the past 2 or so years narrowing down the "Perfect gun" which i think I have done now). When I get my income tax, and profit sharing check from my old job I'm going to buy at least one, if not two (with the gf's blessing, she actually suggested I get two).

 

[cracked butt]

Worrying about whether me and my wife will still be gainfully employed at the end of 2009 has pretty much put buying gun and gun accessories on hold. Wife works at a place where they just announced that 1000 or so employees will be let go.

 

[ultradoc]

I work more this year than last. I get 12-15 hours a day now for the last two months but I don't know how long this will last. Last year I was getting 10 hours a day. So with this O.T. I am able to buy some goodies.

 

[Kat144]

I don't work overtime and haven't had hours cut, but BS like my insurance company rejecting some doctor bills and "everyday" stuff like the cat being due at the vet and the microwave dying and needing to be replaced have pretty much put my plans to take a CCW class and buy my first gun on hold...I'm not happy, but new tires are probably more important right now. *sigh*

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Red Eye Fred, hang in there.

I keep hearing It'll get worse before it gets better, I don't think I buy into that. I think the worse is here- it's just going to continue for awhile longer.

I can sit tight and hunker down, I think we all can.

Now... about that tax refund... Hmmm. Needs and wants, I think I need money in the bank. And maybe want just a little WAM.

 

[TAB]

Its getting worse here, every week you hear of a decent sized employer( 25+) laying off or closing.

 

[John828]

And we're absolutely slammed, especially on the weekends.

hankdatank,

When I was in the restaurant biz we were slammed or we were "in the weeds." I always liked "in the weeds," it made me feel like I was out hunting rather than trying to hustle a dish from the cook that I either neglected to order or needed right then.

Back on topic (sort of,) MikePGS, I have a question. How in the world do you post almost 1,800 times; but, in your own words:

(i actually don't own a gun yet, but have spent the past 2 or so years narrowing down the "Perfect gun" which i think I have done now). [sic]

Seriously? Poop or get off the pot. Sorry to be straightforward, but it is time to throw some lead.

 

[MikePGS]

Seriously? Poop or get off the pot. Sorry to be straightforward, but it is time to throw some lead.

Haha I've had a very long (almost obsessive) search to find the perfect carrying pistol. I used to have a shotgun but sold it a few months ago so i haven't been gunless the entire time i've been on here, just pistolless.