racing budget (Page 2)

I don't know what my tri expenses were for 2005 (maybe a lot!) but I do know one thing... I rather be spending a big chunk of my money on training, racing, traveling and equipment as for me that means I am leaving a MUCH healthier lifestyle... in other words I don't see it as an expense but as an investment...

Thank you Bear...after thinking about this subject I REALLY needed that little bit of sanity.

We are in the "plastic" category, and whenever I think about it my stomach knots up.  so I try not to think about it.  Thankfully we have pretty much all of our gear now....only a trainer and/or rollers left on the list.  And we have already decided to make it all last until  I'm out of school and working. And we're only thinking of one race that requires travel...and that is just a maybe, based on budget. 

Besides, what the hell....you go into debt, you die, and life insurance pays for it.  The American way!

I think that trying to break it out this way is sort've silly.  Like the way they break out how much it costs to have kids.  If you really looked at that, you'd never have a child.  It's about choices and what you choose to do.  If you have a kid, maybe your choice is to eat hamburger instead of steak, so you can afford the other things your kid needs.

If you're a triathlete, maybe you choose to enter a race instead of going out to dinner and a movie.

As someone else said, it's a lifestyle choice.  Heck, I could (and do) spend the same amount in gas, entertainment, food, fees in say going to the beach, or going to the theater, or going snowboarding, as I do in going to a race.  The point is, most everybody has some amount of money that they spend on their hobbies or entertainment.  I just choose to spend some of mine on triathlons or other events.  If I go up to Napa and spend the day on a supported bicycle ride vs. going up to Napa and spending some time shopping, wine tasting and eating - I can guarantee that the bicycle ride was the cheaper of the two options.

Also, some of the money is money I'd spend anyway.  So, do I include my master's swim fees of $55 a month in my triathlon expenses?  Cause if I didn't do triathlons, I'd still swim.  I don't have a gym membership right now, cause I dropped that expense in favor of race entry fees. I'd really like to be able to do strength training at a gym, but right now, I can't afford both.

The only really big expense for triathlon I can think of is the bike.  Everything else can be worked around and/or used for multiple purposes.  Yeah, if you've got the funds, getting all the really nice expensive stuff is great, but it's not NECESSARY.  I mean, the athletic clothing you can buy at an off-price retailer (like Ross, Marshalls, or heck, even ebay) is just as good as the stuff that you buy at the sports store.