Family is mad of my expensive knife purchases

[M80]

Me and my family like to buy quality over quantity when it comes to stuff like knives so they're all pretty understanding when i spend allot on a knife

 

[jmclfrsh]

At work I let my buddies know what they cost.

At home my girlfriend has no idea. She thinks they all cost about $50, and that works for me.

Path of least resistance, at least at my house with knives.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

As long as the money you're spending on knives does not affect your other bills and your family's well-being, I'll just quote my dad on this one - "Well, they got the same clothes to get glad in that they got mad in."

 

[The_Knife_Man]

What can I say to my family and make them understand?

You grab her by the shoulders and say "Look, woman! I'll spend my money as I wish! If I want to blow my whole paycheck at the strip club; than d*** it woman I will!"

But in all seriousness the whole "you spent how much on a knife" gets old. But after awhile it gets accepted. I like the previous suggestion of getting a shun kitchen knife to win em over.

As for other people besides family I usually ask: why did you spend $1500 on the apple commuter? You spent how much on those shoes, purse, watch, etc
At the end of the day, to each their own.

Also if their are understanding and really want to know why so much. It's because of materials used (handle and blade), craftsmanship, and of course name brand.

 

[n7titan]

It's funny how my wife can justify a 250$ purse, but she thinks buying an expensive knife is stupid.

I find it funny that very few women when asked why their name brand purse is so expensive, most can't give an answer past "it's good quality, feel the leather"
I don't care what your hobby is, If you spend a big amount of cash on something you should be able to give me a good minute or two on why you bought it. It doesn't even have to be the best quality.

Sometimes we buy for sentiment and honestly those are the best stories.

"Grandfather had this crappy knife in Vietnam that my future grandmother gave to him for good luck, worked like crap but it stayed with him anyways through the whole thing" or something iono, stories are the best part of any collection.

 

[dasknife]

At least it's not going to booze, dope or other unmentionable things. That's the way I look at it. Moneys is made to be spent, so at least it's going to a non harmful cause.

 

[Craig083]

It's not about paying the bills whatsoever, I cover the expense of my knife obsession by making money on the side. I.e I got scrap gold cheap and traded lesser knives to get a new benchmade, and to pay for the gas to go to my dealer. It's just Her and it's just her and my parents simply not understand knives.

 

[Trabireiter]

There is no point in arguing with anybody. We all don't need knives for several hundred dollars a piece. But we want them. We want them for our hobby and in a way we need them to satisfy our addiction. Whetever we try to make up for explaining why we cannot go ahead with a cheaper knives are just excuses.

Especially when we haveway more than we could possibly use a discussion is becoming pointless.

So as lot's of guys said, as long as there is enough play money, where spending does not hurt the family, everything is fine.

I don' try to justify buying new knives, flashlights and so on. I tell my wife that I know I do not need another knife, but I still want it. End of story.

 

[james terrio]

We all know at least one dude who re-financed everything he "owns" to buy a sports car or giant motorcycle he'll never really wind out to its full potential. So just use that as an example... buying a few awesome knives is a much better deal than a new Corvette or custom Harley

What can I say to my family and make them understand?

Probably nothing... people either get it or they don't. The best thing to try is carbonsteel928's advice about getting your wife her very own quality edged tool.... other than that, fuggetaboutit.

Definitely never lie to your wife about money. That would only lead to heartache, tears and anger. And lawyers and court dates and hard feelings and complete financial ruin and... :thumbdn:

Perhaps you could agree to certain limits with your wife like other guys said; she gets a certain amount every month for cool things that she enjoys, and you get a certain amount for cool things you enjoy. That seems fair.

I had the same issue with my wife then I bought her a kitchen knife and she came around to being ok with it. A few months later I got her a quality folder and she is now almost as nuts as I am. Win them over a little at a time.

That's super reasonable, and really quite wise. If she uses any kind of cutting implement for anything she does on a regular basis, spend some of "your" money and get her a really good one that's her very own. Wives typically like to be included in their hubby's interests at least a little bit, and everybody likes to have their very own favorite scissors or chef's knife or pocketknife or whatever. A little "common ground" never hurts.

I don't really know the answer to this conundrum, because my wife doesn't give a fat flying leap at a rolling donut about designer shoes or handbags or fancy cars, but she loves camping and fishing as much as I do and she supports my knife addiction - as long as we pay the bills first - plus, my knifemaking helps pay our mortgage and put beans in the cupboard, so... nyahhh nah nah, I win

Other family members and friends... screw 'em. As long as you're not letting your kids go hungry or losing the ranch because you bought a knife you can't afford, it's none of their beeswax

It's not like you're pissing away the rent and electric bill on hookers and blow, FFS. That would be a serious problem.

 

[davek14]

As long as the money you're spending on knives does not affect your other bills and your family's well-being, I'll just quote my dad on this one - "Well, they got the same clothes to get glad in that they got mad in."

Howbout...

"They'll get over it... or die thinking about it."

 

[leghog]

Can't say I've heard such comments, and I've been married a month shy of 30 years. My wife says nothing about my guns, knives, vintage wristwatches, or anything else really, but I've also paid the bills, ensured we have a house and eat well, put her and our three kids through college, and assure we're set for retirement. First things first. She always knew those were my first priorities, so she wasn't worried about the other stuff. If she was worried, I'd have backed off, but as is stands I rarely pay more than $20 or $30 for a vintage knife to begin with. Of course, I didn't acquire several guns, watches, or knives until well into our marriage when we were in a much more secure financial situation. Early on I had hobbies but collecting (of anything, really) wasn't among them.

 

[Blade Junky]

Buy them a super cheap piece of crap knife and when the lock fails and they cut a finger off make sure you're the one that drives them to the hospital. It probably still won't change their minds but will be worth a chuckle whenever you see the stub.

 

[donzaucher]

If I buy a $500 knife, I tell to my wife, "sweety do you like my 100$ knife?" End of the story

 

[Gehazi]

pretty sure we all go through this on a pretty regular basis, if we have anyone around that is

something I learned when investing in antiques and guns -- Never ask permission, only ask for forgiveness, this way you only ask once, and you only fight about it once-- if you ask first you fight then, then you fight when you buy it, then you fight later when she brings it up that you bought it-- so if you want something just get it and ask for forgiveness so much easier than asking permission.

 

[22-rimfire]

Since it is not an issue of using family funds for your hobbies, it would seem to me to be a deeper issue of understanding. You wife needs to understand that buying knives or buying toys in general is part of YOU and it comes with the package. This will not change. The toys will change over time, but the basic tendancy and interest to acquire those toys will not change.

As far as the cost of knives or the variances is quality to justify the cost, this is a loosing battle. Even "knife nuts" often do not understand. How can you expect your wife or the families to understand? They see steel with a sharp edge, and that is about it..... handle material, close tolerances in manufacture, custom vs factory, blade steel, and so forth is way way above their understanding or acceptance. Steel is steel. Some people like to complain and talk about each other's interests and you had just better get used to it.

My sister spent years putting down and suppressing her husband's knife interests. She could not understand. My only thought is that, she needs to understand that the occasional buying of man toys is part of what makes her husband HIM and what attacted her to him in the first place. There is no point in making the other person's life a living hell because of toys if they have no impact on family resources.

My suggestion is that you keep and maintain a fund for your interests. I wouldn't even tell her when you acquire something new or what you did to get it. I would have the toys shipped to your place of work and not home.

 

[leghog]

If I buy a $500 knife, I tell to my wife, "sweety do you like my 100$ knife?" End of the story

I'd just say nothing rather than lie about it. A solid marriage is built on trust, first and foremost. Why ever lie about a knife, but especially to your wife? No knife or lie about a knife is worth me losing that trust.

Trust is like a bank account and a fine china plate.
Bank Account - you can withdraw or you can deposit. You can also find yourself overdrawn with a single withdrawal.
Fine China Plate - chips can be repaired, but you're still left with a chipped plate. Keep chipping away at it, and you're left with a piece of junk.

In a marriage each lie is just a turd on a pile of dung. If you let that pile grow, the dung takes over all of one's senses.

 

[thefirstsuspect]

I tell people it's like buying a Malibu over a BMW. They both drive but one costs more than another do to materials, construction and exclusivity of the car.

 

[22-rimfire]

We all have our little idiosyncrasies about money and value. For example, I try to buy gasoline at the least expensive places where as my wife generally just buys it at the closest place regardless of the price. I don't make special trips for gas purchases, but I always pay attention and buy when I go by one of the less expensive places. I never could tell the difference between BP or Shell and no-name gasoline contrary to knives.... Years ago I only purchased Exxon gasoline. My Dad asked me why I do this and I really had no response other than I use the same brand and consistancy when changing my oil. I think he is correct about gasoline. Oil.... not so much. But the difference probably makes ZERO difference in reality.

 

[leghog]

Years ago I only purchased Exxon gasoline. My Dad asked me why I do this and I really had no response...

Yup, all one has to do is learn a modicum of info about gasoline distribution in the USA. The tweaks from the huge storage tanks to the tankers delivering to the branded retail points at the end of the distribution chain are pretty much meaningless.

 

[Tasmaniac]

You might just be fighting a losing battle. My lady has as much chance of understanding why I need more than One knife, as I have of figuring out why she requires the same pair of shoes in three different colors.

Just saying.

I've used the shoe analogy many times to absolutely no avail.