Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Makumba wrote:
No but I have two types of friends those that play w40k and those that play WFB. I could of course not play , but then I would have no friends at all . Did that for 6 years in middle school , isnt something what I would like to do again .

And as for my army goes I have 50 IG man 6 hvy weapon teams . 4 vet squads 3 Lemman russes 4 vendettas 4 officers 1 commissar 1 marbo 2 chimeras 1 aegis gunline plasma guns for vet squads and for the IG squads. bought pice by pice last and this year . The cost is almost 2 salaries of my mom who is a math teacher in a highschool.

That's rough, man (or... girl? I don't know, I think I'd call you a dude either way). Teachers, especially those in K-12 that teach required classes, should be paid significantly better.

Or someone needs a new source for models

I simply reply, "to each their own." Most people understand after that

One time, this guy was like 'How can you spend so much money on something so stupid?'

I simply replied that I had spent less on warhammer in my entire life than he had on booze in the past year.

Otherwise I'm just like it's my money, if I want to waste it on overpriced plastic toys then I bloody well will waste it on overpriced plastic toys.

Stay at home dad? ....yea he seriously has nothing to complain about. If he wants more money, get a damn job.
Being a stay at home dad/mom isnt easy dont get me wrong but its a good sacrifice to lose a bit more money to properly raise your kids. If i can afford it i'd be doing it too (or if my wife could afford it, either or) because i dont trust daycares. I firmly believe they are a big reason todays kids are stupid as hell.

People around me constantly bash me for the cost of my "toys" and ignore how much they spend on bar hopping every day off (mind you, we work panama hours so we work 15 days a month 12hr shifts....15 days theyre out boozing it up spending 50-80dollars each time EASILY)
And they still ask me why i never go out with them lol. 50-80 dollars for a few hours entertainment i probably wont remember anyway isnt very cool in my books.

To be fair, there are many reasons a man could be a SAHD. Laziness and an unwillingness to work aren't necessarily the reasons. I was one up until recently, despite trying daily to find a job. Those descriptors may fit, but it's not our place to judge him on that. It doesn't help the OP either. It's that knee jerk reaction that gives a guy the guilt I dealt with, even knowing I wasn't lazy or unwilling to work. Still, it by no means justifies the cousin's actions.

He is a SAHD because his wife makes more money.

As far as justifying our purchases, someone who doesn't share our hobby or appreciation for it will never see the value in it. It is only over priced if you think it is. Value and expense are two different things. These models are expensive, though not any more than scale models. However the enjoyment we get out of painting, building, and playing them gives them value. I don't think they're overpriced, but can be expensive. The outlet they give me is worth it. I don't expect others to put the same value or worth on them as I do.

My wife isn't interested in them. She enjoys the ones I do up and thinks they're great, she doesn't value the models as I do. She does understand what they mean to me and do for me, so understands my attribution of worth to them. She supports that whole heartedly. If someone doesn't think they're worth it, oh well. It is nice if they can at least understand why I think they are even if they personally don't. Thankfully that's the primary reaction I get.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
He is a SAHD because his wife makes more money.

Hey, if my family could afford it, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Kids and family mean more than anything. Still wouldn't be a douche though. Hopefully you've found some support and good advice!

 Fifty wrote:
Really?! He is a stay at home dad, and wants to tell you how to spend you'd money? He also said he saves $100 per month? Does he mean his wife saves $100 and he doesn't get a say? Maybe he is just resentful that he can't choose what to spend money on?

Personally, one of my best friends takes the piss out of me for 40k. She keeps trying to get me to eBay it. She is very anti, but I do not know why, as she is fine about most things.

(btw, you don't have your FLGS owner as a Facebook friend do you? ;-) )

No, it doesnt matter, he got no less then 4 riptides. And i have to wait till wednesday to get mine, he would be laughing at me.

40k is for winners......enough said lol

I can't say that I've ever been ashamed of my hobby, though I have met alot of people who didn't understand it, or why I spend so much time and money on it. I think the secret is in line with what others have been saying so far. You have to keep it in perspective. Buying a reasonably sized army is a fairly good investment as far as entertainment goes in building/painting time alone (if you even bother with it that is), and compared to most other hobbies is actually not too expensive. Certainly less than the sports fans that buy big expensive t.vs and home theatres, golfers, car enthusiasts, model trains, and even P.C gamers, depending on how often they update their software and/or buy new games.

Of course the main thing is that it's something that I enjoy and is important to me. Luckily my friends and family accept and respect that, and so I don't get more than the passing good-natured jibe for participating in my hobby.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
"y'know my girls will never be able to afford this"

Ok everything he said is kinda bull but this takes the top spot, how the hell does he know what they'll be able to afford in the future, and how they'll choose to spend their income.
I suggest you start shaming him for underestimating his own children's abilities to get a nice job in the future.

In my experience it hasn't been shame as much as it's been "wth?"

Case in point: my old theatre instructor saw one of my miniatures, Kharne, and the detail that went into the model's paint job. he commented how well it was painted and asked me how I did all the tiny details. I also showed him a woodelf I'd done and he was equally surprised. I was the one that vonlunteered how much the things cost and then he was taken aback by what I'd invested in my Chaos army (the woodelf I got in a bargain bin and seemed like an interesting piece to do). I had around 1500 pts of Chaos Marines and 1000 of Space Wolves. Now my family wasn't rich per se so I had to do a lot of mowing yards, selling cords of wood, pumpkins, and watermelons with my brothers. Over several Christmases and birthdays I got both armies together as that was what I wanted and my brothers knew that.

Now I have been chided for spending so much money on them, but not to the degree your speaking of.

I can't say I've ever really had anyone try to shame me over the expense of the hobby. That said, I personally am a little embarrassed when I think of how much I've spent simply because of all the unpainted and painted-but-unwanted miniatures I own. That's all self-inflicted though and I'm (trying) to stick to a budget to make myself feel better about it.

My wife's opinion? As long as I'm paying the bills and having fun, she's happy.

I think about all the money I've spend on toy soldiers, then I consider that my girlfriend buys a tiny make-up bottle for $40. Then I care quite a large amount less. My friends buy cigarettes for like $10 for a tiny pack, or alcohol for $3.50 a pint. Again, makes me care a lot less about the amount I spend on my hobbies.
At least you can re-sell warhammer, you can't resell beer.

I make no bones about it, everyone I know understands that it is in my blood, its part of me, and it will be in my life long after they no longer are.

You don't live your life by other people standards, if your hobbies bring you joy and do not cause harm or endanger you lifestyle, or financial obligations, then it is nobodies business what you spend your money on, be it family, friends, coworkers.

Do what makes you happy and enjoy what you can.

I am the sole income provider for my family and have purchased two warhound titans, own a huge apocalypse space marine army, and am currently building a tyranid army.

I have a job that supports my family, allows us to pay our bills, save, and do fun things....it also allows for me to continue to take part in this hobby.

Tell your cousin to get a better job and stop being jealous just because he has lingering regret over his life decisions

We all work to enjoy life! and for some of us that enjoyment is all about our hobby, I have made some of my best friends and talk to the most amazingly witty and charismatic people right here on Dakka! I do not smoke, drink or do drugs so that's usually my response if anyone questions my frivolity in spending on these plastic toys! I choose to spend the money I save when I have enough to buy models without putting myself or partner in financial trouble.

Never mind the buzzcocks.

In response to him if it were me I'd send the SAHD a nice frilly pink and white apron with a note saying, "I wanted to make sure you had a new one since you might not be able to afford it. Love ya Bro."

But I guess it depends on the kind of relationship you have with your brother. Hehe!

Griddlelol wrote:I think about all the money I've spend on toy soldiers, then I consider that my girlfriend buys a tiny make-up bottle for $40. Then I care quite a large amount less. My friends buy cigarettes for like $10 for a tiny pack, or alcohol for $3.50 a pint. Again, makes me care a lot less about the amount I spend on my hobbies.
At least you can re-sell warhammer, you can't resell beer.

Cant resell makeup either, and it expires fairly quickly.
Part of the reason i dislike girls that wear excessive makeup. A little is fine but usually they dont need it anyway (and if they do, makeup wont help at that point lol).

Gotta love how "cheap" this hobby feels when you think about these other "cheap" purchases lol.

 nerdfest09 wrote:
We all work to enjoy life! and for some of us that enjoyment is all about our hobby, I have made some of my best friends and talk to the most amazingly witty and charismatic people right here on Dakka! I do not smoke, drink or do drugs so that's usually my response if anyone questions my frivolity in spending on these plastic toys! I choose to spend the money I save when I have enough to buy models without putting myself or partner in financial trouble.

I always wondered how you people do it . How is it possible to earn enough money for one parent to not work at all and have enough cash to spend on non daily need things. I understand that you earn a lot more , but wouldnt that automaticly mean that the up keep cost of a family is bigger too as are the taxs ? When I was in UK last summer visiting my aunt , I saw how much stuff like sneekers or jeans cost there , I would have to run around in a plastic bag If I wanted to live there . As an example good new shoes or brand jeans cost 3-4 times less here and that is for the guys versions . When I saw jeans for 400 pounds my first thought was , how much gold thread used for it .

Makumba wrote:
. When I saw jeans for 400 pounds my first thought was , how much gold thread used for it .

Believe it or not, but not all people buy such things. I'm quite happy with my 20 pound jeans from the discount store.

Although i refuse to buy from a thrift store(Im sorry, somoone else wore those clothes) I still shop cheap.
And i look great in most of the clothes I wear.

Well, We have no kids, only dogs which helps! and my partner works full time too, our purpose is to look after ourselves financially and sensibly so that we can pay off the mortgage in another 10-15 years and then use our savings and any disposable income on helping others when we can by donating regularly to charity or doing volunteer work around the globe! but until such time arises, we still use our earnings to enjoy life, and for me that enjoyment is collecting 40k! :-)

My Dad, as mechanic and someone that worked his ass off for everything he has now, never really understood the whole 40K thing. I understand it though, as he is a very practically minded person who had to make do with very little for a long time.

Over time hes gotten better, and now that im 20 and still playing and painting I believe he gets it, but still screws with me or gives me a hard time to keep up appearences lol.

Its all about the math, you pay for 60 dollars for a model, and get if you want 10+ hours painting it and an infinite amount of time playing it. Its an investment that is worth it because of the level of use that is taken from it.

I feel you though, alot of my "stoner buddies" dont get it at all, and wonder why i just wouldnt buy more weed with the money I spend on Warhammer. Some people though. Its all about perspective.

People will happily go out and spend money on booze, eating at restaurants, movie theaters, renting movies, cable telivision, video games, dvd boxed sets, current fashionable cloths, a new cell phone, electronic gadgets, pets, landscaping, sports tickets, lottery tickets, big screen tv's, satalite radio for their cars, netflix, magazine subscriptions, cigerettes, etc

I don't spend money on any of that stuff, (well I do buy a some videogames every now and then), I buy little plastic space men, brushes and paint.

Which I pay for exclusively with plasma donations.

It makes me happy and anyone who gives me gak for it will get pelted with bits of old spru and empty paint bottles while I sing the praises of a bloody fisted god.

I am fairly young and my family and i aren't in the best financial situation but i really got into this hobby so i did what i had to to make it possible. Its not like you cant budget out a couple bucks here and there to spend on the hobby instead of a latte or something. Plus I managed to find a network of friends who i can trade with to keep costs down.

Sometimes i do feel kind of guilty but then i just have to remind myself that people waste their money on all kinds of crap i just choose to waste mine on painting plastic dudes.

Makumba wrote:
I always wondered how you people do it . How is it possible to earn enough money for one parent to not work at all and have enough cash to spend on non daily need things. I understand that you earn a lot more , but wouldnt that automaticly mean that the up keep cost of a family is bigger too as are the taxs ? When I was in UK last summer visiting my aunt , I saw how much stuff like sneekers or jeans cost there , I would have to run around in a plastic bag If I wanted to live there . As an example good new shoes or brand jeans cost 3-4 times less here and that is for the guys versions . When I saw jeans for 400 pounds my first thought was , how much gold thread used for it .

I'm stateside, so I don't deal with EU costs, but I'm supporting a family of 3 on a little under $40k a year. We're debt free, except our house; we cook at home as much as possible; we don't have cable (we do have Netflix, though); and we save for things we can't afford. It's not always easy, but it's doable.

Hi all.
The table top minature wargame hobby , is a massively positive experience for many people.
It helps people develop creative artistic and social skills.

It has been my hobby for the past 3 decades, and I loved every second of it...And can defend this great hobby any time any place any where ,to anyone!

However , the problem lies with GW pricing policy IMO.
Currently GW retail prices are at least DOUBLE , what they should be charging, if they did not have to prop up their retail chain of B&M stores.

All the great stuff, the background and asthetic of 40k, was developed years ago.

I built up 3 (SM, Orks and CSM.) armies for 40k simply from buying up unwanted minis from children dumping 40k after a few months!Then cleaning and selling them on with 'decent table top standard' paint jobs!
The most I spent on an army was £100.(For Orks.)
I played 40k from 1989 to 2010.

But the excessive use of special rules to pimp the latest releases, just detracted from the the game play too much for me.

Mr T Kirby has changed my favorite game setting in to his personal pension fund.

I can totally understand how the 40k background and artistry inspires lots of people.

But GWs miss management of its products and customer base is simply undefendable,Even GW plc corperate don't bother anymore!