How do you afford it all?

[WuGod]

I have a good day job, so does the wife, but two kids in daycare a car note and mortgage mean I need a little more so I drive for Uber on the nights I can't sleep. Keep my knife purchases to awesome but thirfty choices (Rat1 for example, couple of badass customs at the right prices, etc).
Went from smoking to vaping too, cheaper enough to afford some cool knives.

 

[Ironbut]

I'm retired & on a fixed income. With SS, my state pension, some 401k's, I actually make out better now than when I did when I was working. That said, I'm really glad that I had all of my grail guns already purchased before I retired.

My focus now is more on knives, which are generally less pricey to collect than say, my Wilson Combat 1911's. I still don't spend a lot of money on custom knives, because the offerings nowdays from companies like Spyderco, etc, far exceed what I used to expect from a knife, as far as materials & workmanship; and I've had a knife in my pocket daily since I was six or seven. Previously my knife purchases were limited to the $40 range, but now my focus is on what I consider the "must have" ZT's, Spyderco's, Benchmades, etc; and I do a lot of research on forums like this one & on the error-net before spending my money.

Whenever the guy in the brown truck leaves a small box on the porch, my wife always says, "'Nother knife, huh?"

 

[HDCutlery]

My addition to this conversation will be primarily (but not limited to) for those living in timber country away from the hustle and bustle of cities and suburbia. It's very easy when you go old school, if I can make it vs. buying it I go that route. Punches, hammers, chisels are all semi time consuming but very cool to make. Heck if you have some cheap 3/8" weld rod and some wide flat or angle stock you can fully forge a built to last paper towel holder for 2-3 bucks. I'm spoiled in the way I have natural resources all around me and in being frugal I work with the local private sawmills as well as the Amish in the area. I've always been a grunt so doing the majority of material prep to ensure highest payout has never been an issue to me(My wife and lower back may argue), because lets face it the more you can do before the sale is the difference in what you will get back. If you have a green thumb maintaining a say 30'x30' food plot can shave hundreds of dollars off your annual grocery cost and it sure is it's own version of mental therapy. All of these organic methods can open you up to a vast world of bartering as well, I can be more profitable with an oak log and a handshake vs. having hundreds in my wallet. I don't recommend jumping into this lifestyle headfirst as it is not for the impatient or those who rely on technology to stay entertained. Live simple, live clean and rolling up your sleeves is the ticket to a manageable lifestyle.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Fixed income here as well. Car was a hand me down. Downpayment on house, Rolex Deepsea, and some of my machinery was from a small inheritance. I live off my VA service connected disability compensation. Bills, knifemaking, and knives. That's where my money goes.