Little bit of a tiff... "why do you do tris?"

Most people in the 21-25 age group spend far more than this at the bar. Don't sweat it.

P.S. By jumping on all of the early registration discounts and getting some races free in exchange for volunteer work, I've signed up for 4 sprints, 1 oly, 1 half mary, a 5 k, a 5 miler, two 10ks, a 12k, an Xterra, and 3 6k adventure runs for $391 this year.

So I know "every little bit counts" when saving up for something...

1) but $400-500/year in terms of housing really isn't much (at least not where I live.... wouldn't even get you a room in a shared apt for 1 month!)

2) in terms of how $$$$ tris can be, that's really not that much (between tris and running, I'm guessing I'll have spent triple that by years end on race fees alone)

3) I view the money I spend on this sport as an investment in my health

4) It's your money... spend it how you want

Ok... there's my 2 cents.

I started doing this for heart and overall health, so any amount is an investment in my longevity. 

Daremo - 2009-07-09 9:02 AM

I am a Ravens fan but was a Redskins one in the past (until Snyder bought the team and F'ed everything up - I can't stand him).  CJ and I live right in that no man's land between DC and Baltimore, so it really depends on who you grew up cheering for (Colts or Skins).

/end hijack

I agree on this one.  Those bird fans over there are nutzo.

Exactly.

I'm 27 and I'm in the best shape of my life.  I'm watching my friends smoke and drink their lungs/livers/hearts and money away.

I do tri's because I enjoy kicking my own a$$ .

Yep, (not that I have first hand experience with this...)

I think you're doing pretty well.  I'm over a grand for entry fees this year, (includes an IM).  It sounds like you're doing well managing your $$ while still getting to enjoy tris

This was another comment that came up about how fast I was now compared to high school.  High school I was a lacrosse athlete and now I'm a triathlete.  Little different but in much better shape now.

Thanks for all the comments and situations guys/gals

gearboy - 2009-07-09 5:46 PM

Fielding - 2009-07-09 4:36 PM

KSH - 2009-07-09 7:51 AM Here are the facts.. some people raise an eyebrow at people who live at home with their parents and who are stashing their money away so they can buy a place. I know I sure do. If you can save money to buy a place, you can move out on your own. No one HAS to OWN property or a house. Americans got it in their head it's a right or something. (That's another rant that deals with all the foreclosures.) So... anyways... your friend probably doesn't really "approve" of your lifestyle in general... and is just finding a way to point that out through asking about the registration fees. If you bought new clothes, he/she would have probably said the same thing. If that makes any sense. And yes, I know probably opened up the hornets nest with my comments... but each person has their own views on life and all that jazz. Hey, if your parents are OK with you saving up tons of money and living off them... that's their deal.

I don't agree with the sentiment (mostly -- I think it's great he's trying to save money to buy a house, as long as his parents are cool with it), but I do agree this is probably what was motivating your friend to say what he did. He doesn't approve of the choices you've made and is picking on your tri expenses to make a point. Which is dumb, since it's really none of his business at all. (If you were borrowing money from him all the time, well, that'd be another story.) Ignore him, he's just being an a$$.

I sort of agree with the sentiment.  I have one daughter who is going into college, and another who just finished.  She is doing a year of Americorps before going to grad school.  If she told me that wanted to move back home after grad school to save money to BUY a house, I would have her calculate her mortgage payments, and start to pay me that in rent.  I would stick the money in safe investments and return it for her downpayment, but she would also be expected to contribute to the monthly bills that increase as a result of another person using electricity, water, groceries, etc.  I'm not saying that spending a grand or less in a year for leisure pursuits couldn't happen, but if you expect to boomerang back home just to save cash, that's not really viable. (Moving back home because you can't find a job - maybe...)

IMHO, part of being a grown up is sacrifice.  There's plenty of things I haven't done that I wanted to do because I had obligations to meet. If where you live is too expensive, there are always less expensive places in the country.  Or smaller homes.

But maybe I'm just old. You kids these days...

I'm savign to buy a house( aka town house) and also paying a rent to live at home.  I help out a lot at home to compensate for alot of everything else.