A hobby is not a business. You dont have to justify anything, as long as you can pay your other bills.


Now if really is about lowering your food bill or making money then you can look at the cost the new equipment and how good you really are at your pursuits.

Grew up with little money, the old man experienced the depression, to say we were frugal is an understatement, I'm still that way , make stuff, do without, buy only what I need, do as much home improvements and repairs myself. It's a hard habit to break. Heck, I'm eating chicken and pork cause I won't bring myself to buy steak.

So....this is my advice, buy what you NEED, and only some of what you WANT... put the rest away for a rainy day...Too many people can't lay their hands on a thousand bucks for emergencies.
and everyone will have emergencies.

TYT I know you already bout one, but a good option for a bait cooler is those one gallon water jugs they sell. They are insulated and the lid seals so no big deal if it tips over. That’s all my crew runs when we get a chance to get on the ice of Saginaw Bay. Sometimes we’re running 10-15 miles across rough ice. Never had one fail me. Sometimes the lid may freeze up, but I keep mine wiped down with a towel so never really have an issue. If it does freeze just hold it by the heater for minute and you’re good to go.

I've been very frugal my whole life. I reuse disposable nitrile gloves until they get a hole in them. I save paper towels that I have just dried my hands on to reuse when skinning and fleshing furs. I buy most of my shirts at second hand stores.

But I don't hesitate to buy quality fishing, hunting or trapping supplies that I "need". And I don't regret those purchases. I'm retired and derive a lot of enjoyment from my hobbies. It gets me out of the recliner and gives my body the exercise I need and keeps my mind active. I hunt for meat. I release a lot of bigger fish but I usually keep some filleters for the table. The furs I sell cover my trapping expenses (I'd hate to calculate my hourly wage from trapping though).

Paying once for quality gear that you'll enjoy for many years is smarter than trying to get by with inferior stuff that causes frustrations and limits your effectiveness. After replacing the cheap stuff multiple times you would be money ahead to buy quality to start with anyway.

Don't feel guilty about the quality gear - enjoy it.

I buy what I need as I need it.

I try to plan ahead for it and buy during the off season when things are on clearance or catch others upgrading their equipment. And keep your eyes and ears open for guys that are selling out of needing money. Watch yard sales, auctions, etc. Barter for stuff also. Work it off in trade if you want to.

One big thing for me is to buy the best equipment that I can afford, even if it's not the best there is.

Buy once cry once.
Most of the time the old saying that you get what you pay for holds true.
But that don't mean it has to be brand new

Money is no fun until you spend it.And people that say money cant buy happiness,,,dont know where to shop!

If you afford it then buy it. Ive tried being cheap in the past and i dont like it. Imagine saving the cost of an extra 5 gallons of gas when heading out on the land. Does the paper money in your pocket have more value at that point than the extra gas?
Pay bills and save what you can but of course buy things that can make life easier/more enjoyable.

some things like warm cloths are worth the investment if they will last.

I tend to have a hard time justifying some things as well.

things that last are worth more than cheap junk that won't so you have to try and figure that out.

If you take care of the 3 items you just bought they should last many years.

Me and my wife came out to South Dakota ice fishing last year and I can tell you that if I lived out there I would have a nice pull behind ice hut.You guys get lots of ice and its a blast.We used a pop up and it worked great except for the day it was blowing 40 mph and like 5 degrees out.Next thing you need is a live scope.

I bought a panoptic a couple of years ago when a guy had one for sale for $600. For what it was, it was cheap. It's a game changer for sure, but a livescope would be nice, just not in the budget right now.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I brought out my gear today and had a blast. I didn't catch any fish but just using the new gear that I bought was fun to set up and use all of it.

Ice shack????? I always just sat out in the wind!

Always been interested in ice fishing but I’ve never had the time to do it. I’m always busy with trapping prep.