Girlfriends and wifes, how do YOU cope?

Spend half the budget on jewelry or equivalent for the lady and buy used with the remainder.

In my case, audio is my main hobby that costs $$$s, and I treat my wife right, so she does not mind when I indulge on occasion.

The system MUST play HEAVY METAL! Well!

Especially in the car so I can p*** off all those trunk rattling gangster wannabe's in traffic with real music.

Yours truly,
Via my wife


Andrew
Synesthesia Studios

It's your money. If she complains, buy something else to go with your first purchase. Just be sure you know how to manage money...or it'll manage you.

Man cave setup so she doesn't care. I buy vintage classics that don't cost too much. I don't get needing to spend fortunes on high mark up gear. My rig sounds great for a lot less dough than most.

We have a sort of "don't ask, don't tell" arrangement. The stereo rig is in the man cave, which can only be accessed from the outside - so she rarely sees it (her choice, not mine!). I keep a separate slush fund for business expenses, gifts - and the occasional purchase. Meanwhile, these last two years she's spent quite a bit more on her "stuff" than I typically do on mine - so there's balance of a sort. Finally, a bit o' lovin' is important. Sure, I buy little gifts for myself, but I buy gifts for her too. Thoughtful, spontaneous gifts count for a lot.