Why It's So Important To Have a Budget

Today, while I was working on a water change and adding some sand substrate to my aquarium, my filter broke.

My really big filter, you know, the one that gives most of my beneficial bacteria? Yeah that one.

instead of panicking, I called my husband and let him know that I had to go right to the store and buy a new filter. He was very understanding and told me to go for it cuz he didn't want me to lose any of my fish. I took it out of the emergency fund and I bought a brand new filter that was a newer model of the one I already have and had better ratings. I installed it and put the old cartridges in to keep my bacteria, and now I have a running filter within 2 hours. I cannot stress enough to everyone, particularly the younger fish keepers, how important it is to keep a budget. if we didn't have a budget, I would have been without a filter and in a really bad place. Sure, I have a sponge filter in this tank, but what if I didn't have enough money to go and buy the main filter? What then? I could have lost a lot of my fish.

so the lesson being, if you have any animals, fish, kids, are alive, or just want to be smart in life, budget budget budget! And have an emergency budget for things like this. And buying new fish is not an emergency, according to my husband. Sorry to inform you guys of that. XD




Loving the new filter! Really nice!

 

Glad you got it straightened out. Budgeting and living within your means is something many people don’t understand, but that’s a topic for another day

 

Glad you got it straightened out. Budgeting and living within your means is something many people don’t understand, but that’s a topic for another day

it's very true, but I'm hoping I can encourage people to at least try it out. It's so important! we have a $0 budget, meaning every dollar has a place in our budget. It's super hard at first, but once you get into the habit of it it goes really well. That doesn't mean that we don't ever make mistakes, sometimes we go ahead and spend more than we were planning to because we know that it's a good investment, or sometimes we're just lazy and we don't want to enter it into our budget, haha. But it's so incredibly important! that is the only reason I think sometimes my fish are alive, when I had to emergency buy something for them. it definitely is the reason my dog is alive, we had to take her to the emergency care twice in the last year because she swallowed a big piece of metal, and then she got super sick with an infection. So I'm just saying, I'm a huge advocate of budgets!

 

I don't mean to brag or took my onw horn here but I have so much money that I don't even have a budget (it is hard for me to spend money on anything besides fish).

 

I don't mean to brag or took my onw horn here but I have so much money that I don't even have a budget (it is hard for me to spend money on anything besides fish).

I used to have no financial concerns regarding keeping fish, but the bottom dropped out and I had to suddenly budget gasoline so that I could drive to the grocery store in order to feed myself, let alone the fish. Seriously, don't feel bad that you don't have to budget. Take advantage of that, in order to help others in this hobby.

 

I used to have no financial concerns regarding keeping fish, but the bottom dropped out and I had to suddenly budget gasoline so that I could drive to the grocery store in order to feed myself, let alone the fish. Seriously, don't feel bad that you don't have to budget. Take advantage of that, in order to help others in this hobby.

Well I control myself because I have trouble spending money in general but If I won't hesitate to buy something for my tank that I need. I really can't fit anything more in my tank decoration wise besides plants so...…………...

 

Well I control myself because I have trouble spending money in general but If I won't hesitate to buy something for my tank that I need. I really can't fit anything more in my tank decoration wise besides plants so...…………...

Ahhh... then you're next step would be to find corners, shelves, spaces, places to put fish.... I saw this video on youtube the other day and cried myself to sleep...... I suspect this breaks the rules, but the youtube person is 'raudrian' and the video is called 'DIY fish tank river'...... sigh...... if only I could

 

then you're next step would be to find corners, shelves, spaces, places to put fish

I live with my parents so...………………….

.. I saw this video on youtube the other day and cried myself to sleep...... I suspect this breaks the rules

I want one!!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, I saw that video and felt so devastated. Why can't do that? Actually, it's really about being able, physically, to build something. The materials are cheap and one can save up money. However, if you have no physical strength and poverty level income, then it will never happen. Sad. Why can't I have it all?!!!

 

I live with my parents so...………………….

So they are taking up space that could be used by fish?

If you are in the US it maybe February but it is never to early to start socking away nickles and dimes for the Petsmart Black Friday sale.
When the sale comes around buy spare filters at 50% off and keep them in a closet for emergencies.
It is also good to standardize on a filter or two. So say all Emperors for HOBs. this is so when something fails you just swap the media over because it always fits.

 

So they are taking up space that could be used by fish?

If you are in the US it maybe February but it is never to early to start socking away nickles and dimes for the Petsmart Black Friday sale.
When the sale comes around buy spare filters at 50% off and keep them in a closet for emergencies.
It is also good to standardize on a filter or two. So say all Emperors for HOBs. this is so when something fails you just swap the media over because it always fits.

Well it want to breed apistos so I will/have to convince them to let me get another tank or to for breeding purposes and housing the fry.

 

I live with my parents so...………………….

So where does your money come from? (I have no idea how old you are lol)

 

So where does your money come from? (I have no idea how old you are lol)

Me, I earned it.

 

Ah ok. Well once you get out on your own, I promise you that you will have no problem spending all your own money lol. I guess if I still lived at home, and had no rent or utility bills or car payments or insurance premiums or had to buy food, I don't think I could spend all my money either.

OP makes a great point about budgeting. Even though you are "flush" with cash and have no need for a budget, it is still a great habit to start practicing early on.

 

OP makes a great point about budgeting. Even though you are "flush" with cash and have no need for a budget, it is still a great habit to start practicing early on.

My parents have to practically force me to spend money! lol

 

My parents have to practically force me to spend money! lol

I was the exact same way as you, I never liked to spend money at all. I'm still like that. I never bought that Lego set I wanted as a kid and I still regret it, haha. But let me tell you, having a budget now even when you're not spending any money is just as important as having one later. It's the habit for when you are out on your own and paying for rent or a house payment, paying for gas, paying for food, electricity, (which you use a lot of when you have fish tanks) insurance, and a whole slew of other things, having the habit of a budget is so important. Again, I really am a lot like you, I hate spending money, so much so that my husband really pushed me to get the 55 gallon tank because I wanted it but was afraid to spend money on it. but the budgeting of your money will help you in the long run, even if you don't really need to yet, trust me, you will thank yourself later!

 

Believe me, my parents have a budget that they go by (one time we spent $550 at Costco right after a trip and we returned $400 off it because of our budget)! I have learned that my whole life. Always pay your utilities, credit cards etc.

My mom just started complaining about how we spend too much money again! (sigh)

 

Funny this thread got started as I'm browsing the forum, procrastinating on paying bills, haha.

I also used to be one who had more money than they could spend while living at home with my parents. Oh, how life changes! Especially when you opt to be a contractor and your income depends on other people who also don't like to pay their bills, haha.

 

Ah, money, money, money. Petsmart and my LFS are a 3 hour round trip away, which amounts to about $10 in gas. To make matters worse, my car was recently recalled for a serious ignition problem. They made the required repairs, but now I never know if the engine will turn over. Now, I have to spend $10 to bring it in to them so their computer can analyze what they did wrong when they fixed what was wrong. Nickles and dimes ..... what are they?