A friend of mine used to sit and complain about how much stuff costs these days. "A family can't survive without two working parents" he would claim. He blamed govenrment for ruining things, and ruining the idea of having a stay-at-home mother.
I pointed out to him that if he was willing to give up his cable tv, his 2nd tv, his computer, go back to a single land-line phone, and quit eating out so much, he could have a stay-at-home wife and 3 kids and get along just fine as people did in 1960. But he claimed all those things were necessities.
And this was 5 years ago when he used to tell me this. Eventually I got sick of his whining, and lost touch with him. The point is still valid, though.
Kevin
Kevin
You are right on the mark. I grew up in the '60s. A family of six kids getting by on a single middle-class (probably lower) income. We did it by no college fund, an older 4 bedroom (we all shared bedrooms), 2 bath house, no air conditioning (in Northern Virginia), black and white TV with outside antenna (5 channels), using the library, and so on.
My family still has a single income with 2 kids still at home, and I commute 83 miles each way to a pretty decent job (formed a van pool a month ago). Kids go to a Christian school, all of which leaves me $40 per month for model railroading. It's a matter of priorities, and model railroading is what's left over after serving my church, doing my job, and being a husband and father. I probably get 4 hours a week on hobby time, so if I buy low end kits, I can manage a small layout within my budgeted time and money.
Just bought the lumber last week for a 4x6 HO/HOn3 test track.
Locomotive roster consists of the following:
HOn3:
- Keystone Shay with NWSL motorizing kit - still to be assembled ($125)
- MDC inside frame 2-8-0 - still to be assembled ($70)
- Kidder 0-4-0T - to be rebuilt someday, bought used unpainted ($45)
HO:
- Mantua General kit - still to be assembled ($45)
- Mantua 4-8-0 kit - chassis to be used in kitbash ($40)
- Model Power 2-8-0 - tender drive, plastic chassis, use Mantua chassis? ($65)
- MDC 3 truck Shay kit, not started, to be traded for 2 truck (gift)
- Rivarossi Heisler - too modern, to be sold (gift)
- MDC Climax - converted from boxcab diesel ($40 total)
- AHM RS-3 - to be sold (part of $15 garage sale train set)
As you can see, I've got plenty to keep the test track busy while I get more of the roster and rolling stock running.
Meanwhile, I feel led to build an HOn3 Free-mo module for the NNGC here in Colorado Springs in 2009. I had planned a dual gauge module set, but have realized that I will be lucky to get a straight HOn3 module built with reasonable scenery before the convention rolls around.
Modeling on limited $$ is very practical if you are willing to forego instant gratification, RTR, and high end equipment. One locomotive a year, perhaps 3 car kits and a structure kit is very realistic to me, and after an appropriate number is reached, sell one off for every new acquisition.
just my thoughts, your choices