Saving money, not as easy as it sounds!! LOL

Got to love being horse poor!
I'm 21 and have two jobs! I have been putting money away for my dressage saddle since summer! Even after that I need another set of stirrups and black leather and a girth!

Also starting to save and put away for clinics and shows!
Would love to get out to two shows this year, a jumping show and dressage! But if all I can affored this year is clinics to really get training and 1st level down without missing anything!

I'm working towards getting my training award through USDF, and that means saving more for membership fees! Also planning on getting Oliver his lifetime membership with USDF!

Exciting stuff but I'm sure as you all know saving money when you ride and own and pay board.....well not as easy as it sounds!

I'm working 39 hours a month as a caretaker and 8 hours a month cleaning my moms office building. Gets me through what I need to spend monthly on Oliver and my gas money, some food for me a little spending money if needed otherwise it goes into saving for the above listed! Haha

Luckily I'm having family help out when they can, helping pay for clinics lessons, tack money in gift cards and soon some cash coming my way. All that is going into savings pretty much!

Hopefully will be getting my new used dressage saddle soon!
In the works of putting together a dressage bridle for this year since I have some parts already and would rather put the $80-$150 into savings!

Might be able to pick up some odd jobs to contribute to the savings!

Give yourself a much deserved pat on the back. I know its hard, but just think of how proud you'll be when you finally get the saddle!

Im glad you have the strength to save and not spend, haha. I work ~30hrs a week at a warehouse and I'm starting my travelling trainer and photography businesses.

I make about $800 or so a month with my actual job and it just doesnt pay the bills..and I just acquired another horse xD

I'm going to quit smoking so that I can afford this second horse (was going to before and put it on the back burner, lol). But, I can't give up ST or Lucky..so my wallet will suffer for my happiness :p I have 4 cigarettes left until I never buy another.

I currently need:
Savings for truck/trailer
Savings for third saddle (and hopefully sell my extra)
Savings for shows
Savings for fair (2 horses this year.. :o )
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I work full time to support my horse habit and my kids hockey habit .... and I never have anything left over, but hey you only live once right

That's 47 hours a month. What are you doing with the rest of your time? School, I hope?

Collecting extra change and the few dollars that just wind up at the bottom of your purse and setting those ins jar can really add up too.
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DancingArabains-
I was enrolled for 9 credits, two classes but fincail aid didn't cover it and wound up having to drop out in the second week :( sad cause I was really feeling good about my class selection and was excited about the work I was going to do in both classes!

Everything happens for a reason is what I go by so with no school I have more time to pick up odd jobs to save and go to my week of training at work that they where going to let me do after this quarter and that will give me an extra $400 to stash away in all the areas I am needing to stash in! So I shouldn't say extra I should just say very hard earned money!

Leapoffaitfarn- yes too true we do only live once an better make the best of it in making ourselves happy to the fullest and if that means being poor to make your horse life as rich as possible why the heck not?!

I'm coming to this conclusion after the long bought of ending my three year relationship, he sadly somewhat gets my horse life but I truly think he believes I will walk away from that for him and he has shown no intrested to helping out, the occasional visit with me and that is fun! He loves Ollie but I have to make myself happy and Ollie will always come first and if I want to achieve the goals I have in mind it's only fair to everyone that the relationship comes to a close.

We have to make ourselves happy as this all we got for now and choices lead to consequences in everyday life, growing up and becoming an adult is so not easy to do but yes as pointed out earlier worth it and then I can be proud I didn't beg my mom or slack off. I knew what I wanted ad need so I got to it and made it happen through my own hard work and dedication!

Iseul- sounds like you have a lot of stashing of savings to do! I can't imagine the thought of saving for a trailer!! Later in life I'll have to do that but thankfully I am allowed to use my trainers...once I lean to haul!
Kudos to you though for having the ability to save!
On the up side selling something really helps!!!
I went to fair once in 4h, was a great experaince and for some reason I don't remember the cost at all! (that was the good old day back when mommy dearest was footing the bill! Hehe)

I'm glad you guys didn't see this as a vent about saving as its really empowering for me to think about it! Iv already busted my but or hat I have put away and in that given myself a pat on the back with getting a few things I need that are realistic and things I need, not want.

Just last night I was on Dover saddlery and picked out some items I must get ASAP, passier leaderbaslm, a crank noseband and reins and some nice white wood boots for our working trail rides, trailering, and when we go out new places.

Also just realized in my savings I'll have to keep in mind a couple more pairs of fullseats, new tall boots and a show outfit...not looking to saving or trying the outfit on!

That's all for now!
Maybe it would be fun to post pictures of what we are saving for, this can be a mini support savings group!

Oh and before I forget!!
Iseul- good job on quitting!!!

Maybe you could pick up some work hours if you arent in school this semester ?

I feel ya, im always saving ! I try to put at least $50 away from each paycheck. Im in school full time right now and work 3/4 time and have 2 horses. Busy busy ! But its all worth it to me lol

Yeah!!
Also a thought, who here with all the work in saving has a social life?!
Friends...in my paddocks or a my dogs! Haha
My family is like we never see you!! Come visit! All you post about on Facebook with about your horse life.... Cracks me up! True but funny!

I work at a stable for my horse and I earn 20 dollars a month not to much right? And I am saving for breyerfest but the tickets are like 70 bucks and I only have like 10 I also have to pay for bored so you know you get a good pay oh and not including the saddle I still have to buy lol 8D

Why not just pick up a full time job? I work one full time job, one part time job, taking 13 credits in college and still see my horse everyday and weather permitting ride as often as the weather holds out. I am now adding 5am gym workouts at least 3-4 days a week. I still have time to go out on weekends just not during the week.

I'm not sure how the job opportunites are where you are but it might be worth while to try to find a full time job or something as close to it. You work the amount of hours in one month that I do in one week. Plenty of time to pick up more work. But I still have a hard time saving up money as the horse always seems to suck it away.