discussion Is scale modelling a cheap or expensive hobby?

[LeytonO]

Many thanks sir

Well doing the basic calculations of adding my teachers pension to the state, deducting the tax allowance, then taking off 20% tax the remains . I should be about £800 a month better off?? I'll know in less than a yr!

That sounds about right judging from what I got extra after paying tax.

 

[BattleshipBob]

That sounds about right judging from what I got extra after paying tax.

Thankfully I have my teachers pension as well

 

[pjgtech]

I think it can be an expensive or relatively cheap hobby depending on how you approach it.
Starting up costs can be steep as with any hobby as you gather up the gear you need.
I am lucky enough to have all the equipment I need now as I’ve built it up slowly over a number of years.
I also tend to recycle a lot of gear / stash so my actual spend per month is pretty low.
Geoff.

Lol, thats my problem though, I tend to go "all in" when I start up a new hobby and buy everything in sight....!

 

[Snowman]

It depends on what you want to do.
Simply glue kits together and paint with a hairy stick or not, then it's relatively cheap, depending on the kit you are buying.
Airbrushing elevates the cost.
Weathering can cost a bit extra.
Super detailing modding and resin kits really start pushing that price envelope.
What do you want?
What scratches that itch?
It's down to the individual and what drives their plastic addiction.

 

[pjgtech]

It depends on what you want to do.
Simply glue kits together and paint with a hairy stick or not, then it's relatively cheap, depending on the kit you are buying.
Airbrushing elevates the cost.
Weathering can cost a bit extra.
Super detailing modding and resin kits really start pushing that price envelope.
What do you want?
What scratches that itch?
It's down to the individual and what drives their plastic addiction.

Lol, all of the above (accept air brushes, for now....)!

 

[John Race]

Welcome to the world of scale modelling then.

 

[LeytonO]

Thankfully I have my teachers pension as well

I had my final salary pension too and couldn't turn down a generous early leaver package.
Always intended to go at about 55 so a golden handshake was a pleasant surprise

 

[pjgtech]

My wife and I always wanted to retire at 60, we both had professional careers.
Sadly despite having redundancies where I worked, they would not let me go, as I was the only person capable of doing my role in a large team, so I missed out on a good payoff (as I had been there for 30 years at that point!).
So I decided to work part time (3 days a week) from then on, to prepare for retirement at age 58, and I finally bit the bullet and retired at age 59, so a bit earlier than we had planned, (My wife also retired at the same time from her job). Luckily we both had reasonable work pensions, I would not say "good", but they are reasonable and we can live within our means. We will not get our state pension until we are 67, so still six years to go for that.
I started part time works in my teens, I think about 12 ish, working Saturdays and school holidays, and actually started full time employment at 16. So I think I earned my pension after 42 years (46 years if you include part time stuff).
I would not go back to work now if you offered me double!
Enjoy it while you can, you only get one shot at life....