Pocket bling

M

Matthew Lytle

Joined
Jul 31, 2019
Messages
16
Some quick background before I ask my question: I've been interested in knives pretty much all my life, and I've been pretty deep for the past 6 years. I'm 18 years old and living at home (we have a rent agreement, I'm not a freeloader). My parents have never understood my obsession with knives, and they hate how much money I'm willing to spend on them.

I own a Benchmade bugout, and I absolutely love it. I'd like to get some titanium scales for it. I don't want to disrespect my parents and go "wasting" money, but I also think it's reasonable to spend my money how I want. Is there a good way to help them understand why I'd want to spend even more money on an already expensive knife?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated
 
I assume you have your own money, as in a job, since you have a rental agreement. So as long as you can pay your bills first, what you do with you money is your business. Why do you feel you have to justify this to your parents?
 
Well I'm 38 years old and still have to answer for what I spend on knives...but it's to my wife instead of my folks;) However, I get it. I wish I had a magical turn of phrase that would make them go, "Ohhh, ah-ha, I get it!". That's not gonna happen. Welcome to the world of...well, any hobby. You can go as deep down the rabbit hole as you want and spend obscene amounts of cash...if you want:)

We all have our line in the sand. Some folks have knife collections they are beaming proud of where not a single one of them cost over $40. Some folks think nothing about plunking down 3K+ for a handcrafted custom they will use to open mail at their office. Both are totally justified.

My advice, respect your parents in all ways that you can, keep paying rent (that's admirable), make sure you are looking toward the future and budgeting your money as such (no one wants to be a knife collector in their 30s living at home with their folks). Other than that, you do you. If TI scales are something you can afford and it sparks joy, we all have our thing.

Welcome to the board.
 
The term "expensive" is relative. I would venture that most guys on this forum would not consider the bugout to be "expensive". The Bugout is a phenomenal blade for around a $100.00 and I own one as well. In the realm of mid tech knives, $100.00 is the low end for quality materials, and more importantly, quality steels.
Most good quality mid-techs will start between the $100 and $200.00 mark. Think Spyderco, ZT, Benchmade, Emerson, etc. and go up from there into the $300.00+ for a Chris Reeve. Beyond that you are starting to get into another level of knives.
As far as the parents go, my advice would be to listen to them yet balance respect with your semi-independence since you are still under their roof (all landlords have rules but none involve money as long as the bills are paid on time). There is a reason the Bugout costs more than the $20.00 - $40.00 big box store knife. Quality of materials and workmanship. Better steel. Lifesharp service. Warranty.

I t seems you have some really great parents who are looking out for you. Chances are they're only thinking of your best interest.

Just my $.02
 
i know you dont want to here it, and I'm not trying to poop on your parade - but as a parent of a 20 year old - you likely can't really justify it in their eyes.

even though you have a rental agreement, I'm gonna guess that it is at least a little generous.
my advice is get your schooling or career in order, work towards you own place and full independence and then spend your money as you see fit.

possibly relatable story - she got a tattoo in the last year. she got her Mom's okay to do it, but I wasn't too thrilled. it was her money, and I have no problem with the (or any) tattoo - but the fact that we are paying her cell phone, insurance, provide the car, help with tuition, and give her room and board during the summer, I thought it was a poor decision to spend that money on a tattoo.
 
Well, if you can get them to understand why the Bugout costs more then a "cheapo" knife at any big box store;
Made in the USA
Harder Blade steel (takes more to grind)
Warranty and a company that stands behind it.
Craftsmanship
Etc.

Then maybe you can also get them to understand that it is not necessarily an "expensive" knife either, because many out there are $200-300-500+ and the grivory scales are one of the driving forces behind helping to keep that production price down. So new Ti scales would make an already solidly built knife even stronger and more durable by upgrading it's "weakest" link if you will...

I remember some folks even making their own upgraded omega springs to replace the factory ones after some premature failures occured. Might want to search the threads for those options as well if you actually replace the scales, upgrading the springs seems more practical when it's already being taken apart.
 
Your parents are probably frustrated because they want you to save your money and move out, not blow it on knives. If that's your only knife, then maybe you can argue that you want to customize this one and leave it at that.
 
If you want them, you want them. I've bought 3 sets of Flytanium scales now. No complaints would do so again.
78598270_565146970937800_1538960612644618240_n.jpg
 
You can buy a lot of "exciting stuff" without getting into "stupidly overpriced man jewelry" (just my opinion). Explore the knife diversity horizontally rather than vertically...
 
l1ranger said:
i know you dont want to here it, and I'm not trying to poop on your parade - but as a parent of a 20 year old - you likely can't really justify it in their eyes.

even though you have a rental agreement, I'm gonna guess that it is at least a little generous.
my advice is get your schooling or career in order, work towards you own place and full independence and then spend your money as you see fit.

possibly relatable story - she got a tattoo in the last year. she got her Mom's okay to do it, but I wasn't too thrilled. it was her money, and I have no problem with the (or any) tattoo - but the fact that we are paying her cell phone, insurance, provide the car, help with tuition, and give her room and board during the summer, I thought it was a poor decision to spend that money on a tattoo.
Click to expand...

Some words of wisdom right there.

I’ll add this: is it really your money? If you are renting from your parents my assumption is you can’t afford a place on your own (nothing wrong with that at your age) which means you only have extra money for knives because of the discounted rate they give you on rent. Anyway, I am not judging you and I will openly admit to making many, many, many, foolish mistakes. I chose to learn the hard way and I think your parents are trying to help steer you away from that.
 
Good advice here from some of the other guys:) As long as you're not blowing your money left and right, indulging in a spurge or two isn't a bad thing, IMHO. I try to remind myself to be a little openminded when a young adult talks about spending their cash. There is a fine balance between learned advice from age and experience and "old man yelling at a cloud", especially when the younger person isn't yours or related to you.

Still, it can be frustrating for some of us, so take any criticism with a grain of salt. Take my brother for example. God, I love him so much. He's 20 years younger than i am, though. He'll be 19 next month, and our age difference is huge at times. He's joining the family business when he graduates high school in May. He's got a pretty good head on his shoulders. My dad was just as tough on him as he was on me...mostly;) I was going over what I do in the business: sales, pricing, job costing, opportunity costs, etc. He's a hand's on guy with our construction, but I want him to understand why we charge what we charge and what we need to clear to make ends meet. He gets it.

We start on the topic of him moving out of the house and getting an apartment with his friend. Makes sense. His buddy co-owns a small business, they should both be good on cashflow as long as they are smart. He talked about having a budget together and living at means supported by a 40 hour work week despite working quite a bit of overtime most of the year. He wants to save up about $3,000 before he moves out. Smart kid.

Then he starts flipping through pictures on his phone, "Hey what do you think of this jacket?" I tell him that its a cool looking jacket. Double lapel biker style. Nice looking, well made coat. I wouldn't buy it for the sticker price of $500 though. He corrects me, "Ummm, it's Five THOUSAND":eek: He quickly follows with, "I'd never buy it!"
Now, I'm a dad. My daughter is only 9, but I know the look of a backtracker. He saw the look of our dad's flabbergasted revulsion to spending 5 grand on a jacket flash across my face.

Maybe he doesnt have it together just yet;)
 
When you're a dad, your program changes drastically....Not always a bad thing.
 
The best way to convince them is to sell a knife or two from your collection and thereby demonstrate to them that knife collecting is not a bad way of spending money, since you can sell this stuff and get money back. Tell them a knife collection is a fun hobby but it's also like a savings account, it may be a pretty bad savings account but at least it's not a cocaine habit. Or, you could buy your mom a bouquet of flowers that costs more than the bugout, take your parents out to a fancy dinner, something like that, then you can feel morally justified in spending some money on yourself.
 
I'm 39, new parent also, and NONE understand how I can spend a lot of money on a knife, my wife gets its my thing, but people won't understand what it is to us. I dont get how my wife loves some christian louboutin, but hey, if its her thing, I happily buy them. If you are responsible with your money, and have your priorities set, then dont worry about justifying your expenses, you earned it
 
Spend as much as you think sensible on knives-- but start contributing weekly as much as possible to an investment account -- preferably in low-cost, balanced and diversified ETFs (do not go to a bank for advice or invest in mutual funds as their MERs (Management Expense Ratio) will rip you off). Just $100 a week (sounds like a lot) invested over your lifetime to retirement will amount to a very tidy sum. The sooner you start, the better.
 
Just wait until you are out of their house on your own and you can spend what you want. Start saving up for things now and you'll be all set when you are more independent.
 
Hi OP! I am an older guy...I started my family very late. I have 16 and 11 year old
daughters. I tend to spoil them. That being said...I was the oldest of 3 children and my
father in particular took a very dim view of me buying "toys". Nothing I could have
said to him would have helped. I was self sufficient from 18 on and scrimped and
saved to buy the things I wanted...and dad still thought I was throwing my money away!
We became very close in the 3 years before he died and...he still did not approve.
But that was fine. I teased him about it sometimes too...because he had his toys too.
But of course...he "needed" them.

It is a parent thing. Get a good job, succeed wildly...and do not be surprised if they
still question your taste in what you spend your money on. But that is actually a good thing.

It is because they love and care about you. Never forget that. Being a parent means always
fearing the 3am phone call...and praying your children will be happy and healthy.

Sometimes...it comes off as being harsh. But it is rooted in their love for you.

Good luck and enjoy the knife hobby!
 
Mikarta said:
If you want them, you want them. I've bought 3 sets of Flytanium scales now. No complaints would do so again.
78598270_565146970937800_1538960612644618240_n.jpg
Click to expand...
What is the traction like the flytanium g-10 bugout scale? I've been interested in getting g-10 scales, but I want them to have good/high traction which is hard to tell often from online pictures.
 
Parents can be well meaning, but if they charge rent, they have no say where your money goes. They really can't say even if you don't pay rent. I learned years ago to let kids do what they want with their own money, just don't give them much or make them earn it. Spending their limited funds teaches responsibility in the long run. If you take money from them then they can complain.

Don't try to make your parents understand, just don't show them your new toy. Don't display your growing collection in your room. What parents don't know can't hurt them. :)

If asked, lie and say you got it used on Bladeforums. If pushed for price, tell them 50% lower than actual. Those kinds of lies are harmless and better than arguing over what's not really their concern. Just keep it simple or they'll catch you in a lie.
 
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