I ain't no Scrooge McDuck

On a more serious note.

After my wifes incident (for lack of a better word) a lot of help has arrived for her and for us. One of them dropped in today to look at our financial planning (to prevent somebody asking for welfare, they send these guys over to make families financially healthy and steer them in the right direction....if possible, before they request welfare). My wife passed the test with flying colours, our mutual account just passed it but I failed it miserably. :(

As of today, my hobby budget is 0. Anything I sell will go into the bank account. I will not spend any money on the hobby for the next 2 months for starters, I'm not even allowed to trade bits (cause that would cost postage). I've already started a online cash registry to see what comes in and what comes out, and I've been shocked to see what I have been spending on the hobby for the last 6 months alone. The gentleman told me I have all of the characteristics of an addict as I refuse any help with clearing out my storage unit and downplay my expenses. On the other side he did praise me for being open about it and wanting change and told my wife to stop pushing me so much to sell, sell, sell as this clearly is a major issue between us.

In short:

• Don't buy anything like miniatures, snacks or other crap (would make me healthier too)
• Don't swap, only sell, ask full postage, no more discounts
• Clean out the storage unit. Visit it weekly, sell what you can, throw out low value stuff and stop paying rent for it as soon as possible.
• Clean out the attic. Visit it weekly, sell what you can, throw out low value stuff and sell all of those fancy high end storage containers you have that are surplus (around 40 of em eventually)

I've asked my mates to check on me, to see that I don't spend any money, and to keep enquiring about running projects so I keep at it. I got two thumbs up on that one, so I want to keep making drones for the next 2 months :)

I'm also told to have fun. Don't be selling all week, do that 2 nights a week and continue the hobby for the other 3. Go out to the club, after you drop by the storage unit. They are not teling me to quit the hobby, but to be more financially responsible with it.

And I agree completely.

Being in debt and buying models has caused stress and grief with my wife that we both can do without. If I keep at it till the end of the year and keep selling stuff I should be able to be debt free to the bank, but I know it will cost me considerable effort to keep my focus (again, that's where my mates come in) but if the end result is a happier wife, I'm all for it.

On a funnier note, the man handling the finances knew exactly what my hobby was about as he has had more clients with the same hobby, and the same problem! I feel I am in good hands, and he's coming over in the evening next week to further discuss steps that need to be taken, so I don't have to use holiday time to leave work earlier to get help. Cause right now, every single euro is needed.

And I'm sure I'll manage just fine.