The frugal gardener

16 years ago

So it's 1:30am and im stuck in the bsl3 lab so what better thnan to do some online shopping! (no food or drink allowed..that would have been my pass time of choice).

I've finally decided to make the plunge for t5HO lights for my new orchidarium setup...and then I started calculating the money I've spent on this hobby alone in the past few months and I grew a little depressed...there's the 100dollar + order from H&R, the 75$ haul from the local orchid society show...and then of course, there's the $80 for the glass tank that I hope to house my new acquisitions in...and the computer fans and mister and adaptors I bought...WOW...and I'm supposed to be living as a poor student (I'm better off than the others..I get paid to study...below-the-poverty-line paid, but paid nonetheless)

I started thinking about my lifestyle and realized that most of the time, I actively try to compensate for my relentless sspending by cutting back in other parts of my life..ie I'll walk the 30 minutes to school instead of taking the subway which saves me a whopping 2 dollars (10 trips walked = 20 dollars more to spend on plants!)...I walk further just to go to the cheaper grocery store (and then I die hauling the cans back to my house but all the way I'm thinking - it's worth it!)

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not dirt poor...realistically all these little cut backs probably don't have much of an effect anyway, but somehow my self-imposed suffering seems to lessen the guilt of spending money on something as frivilous as plants.

and then I thought...holy cr** am I really that massochistic?

So from now on, I'm going rationalize it all to myself in another way: Hey this is only thing in my life besides rent, food, and the occasional boozing that I really spend money on. I don't really care about expensive cars, nor do I participate in any expensive sports...so why not enjoy myself before I'm burdened with things like family and kids (although with luck I'll part of one of those DINK families, not that I don't like children :)).

Do you ever find yourself cutting back in little meaningless things, actively thinking: aha more money for plants! I know most of you aren't in the same income bracket as me, but I feel like I'm going to be doing this even in 20 years (I think it's just in my nature!)

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Comments (6)

arthurm
16 years ago
There are some "poor" pensioners around these parts who actually make a little money out of the orchid growing hobby. They would be horrified if i gave them a cheque rather than cash for orchid sales. Not that the tax department is going to worry about stuff like that.
I know that you have more expenses in the frozen north for lighting and such but at least the orchid hobby is not all outgo, there should be some income from selling divisions and seedlings that do not come up to scratch.
Good luck with the DINK thing. That won't last, sooner or later your chosen lady will get scratchy and you will end up changing nappies etc. etc.
me_171
16 years ago
I am finding more and more students, when I first started in on orchids and started growing orchids I was the youngest grower as far as I knew.

This being said I completely understand where you are coming from, I would buy orchids and say well I will eat cheap this week I don't really care about good food for a week ect.

Now I am a Graduate Assistant and I have another job at one of the public schools so I have some extra mad money, kinda.

I just try to limit my spending now to purchasing at shows and have backed off from random online buying. I actually have a want list instead of just impulse buying.

I do however go to the sites and pick out several plants go look in the check out and then think of my want list and how much I would rather have them. Then I go and put all of them in the basket and then the price scares me and I am able to dodge yet again an impulse buy.

Anyway it is interesting to have comments and solutions offered by fellow students living in smaller apartments who can not have MH lamps or a greenhouse.

I also rationalize because think about how much it would cost to buy blooming plants from a florist , I have had about 14 plants bloom for me this winter. As a low figure say each would cost $30 in bloom at a florist that is $420 and that happens each year.
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sambac
16 years ago
It is funny that you brought this up- you are spending $$ no matter what, so there is nothing wrong in some indulgence. If I have blown up 200 dollars in an Orchid show, I don't mind cleaning my house for a couple of weeks - save $( not really) and get a good work out at the same time- feel rewarded with lotsa orchids and a clean house. How about that for justification? Now that I stopped buying on ebay, hope to have less cleaning chores!!
I know of an Orchidophile who skips dining out during his moments of orchid splurge!
toadlilly
16 years ago
I don't by sodas. Hubby is a diet A&W addict, and when we go out he spends his money on sodas, I spend mine on plants-and at the end of the day he wonders where his money went. I know where mine did:) CJ
albertan
16 years ago
Many frugal years preceded my retirement and introduction to growing orchids. To help keep the economy going, what better way to spend the monthly social security check than buying orchids? The old grey matter was kept stimulated by all the learning necessary to succeed in the hobby. and sooner or later you will encounter a stressful situation that will show you just how therapeutic this hobby can be. Just walking instead of riding to school is already therapeutic! The sight of a beautiful orchid coming into bloom for you will will diminish any sense of deprival in record time! Go, Boy, Go!!!
xmpraedicta
Original Author
16 years ago
Arthur - actually I was also thinking of how I could sell divisions to help balance the books a little. No nappies for me! I'll be the uncle who spoils his nieces and nephews rotten though - I'm all for the borrow and return idea with kids :D

Me_117 - I am getting more selective too, which is a good thing...but the problem is all the things I want are more expensive which is a bad thing. Funny you mention the florist rationalization thing because I do that ALL the time...esp. with phals. I think - ooh this could be sold in a nice florist for 50 bucks easy! And then I gleefully water it and don't sell it.

Sambac - thanks for the reassurance! I feel comforted. I am skipping out on 2 weeks of boozing and clubbing in order to make up for the dent in the bank account...can't do without food though :)

CJ - :)

Albertan - you're right - and I find that being frugal is fostering many good habits in me. For instance, I now eat and cook at home much more often than eating out which is so much more expensive and unhealthy. It's actually quite outrageous the amount of money that's saved by eating at home! With walking, I get my exercise too!

The frugal gardener

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arthurm

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The frugal gardener

Comments (6)

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