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Location: Cocoa, Florida | I guess my question is how many of you are out there like me single, 32 female trying to make it on your own and live this extravagant lifestyle?
My question is what do you do to make it by yourself on a single income and still be able to have horses and run rodeos/barrel races?
Life has been tough for me, no family support when it came to my horse obsession. Mother says its more of a burden when I see it as more of a blessing. Horse life has taught me to work 110% harder then I have to. I am a weekend warrior and train a colt Here and there, season and sell to make some extra cash savings.
My dreams are bigger then my wallet!!!!
I am a full time hair dresser, I have an education but I've built such an extensive clientele that i'm doing pretty well now. I live by myself in a studious single wide with my dog on 35 acres. I have one horse i always keep for myself to run the other two are for sale. As much as I get attached i need to make a savings for myself.
Sometimes I get lonely and wonder where will life take me but I trust in God for helping direct my pathway to success.
So I guess the point of this is....how many of you out there are like me and making it on your own? What do you do to survive?
Edited by RnRJack 2015-05-12 8:24 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
  
Location: Kansas | Try being a single mother as well.....I budget to make things work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I am exactly like you. I am 27. I have an amazing full time career that I work about 50 hours a week at. I have 5 horses right now. TOOOOOO MANY!
I bought my own home almost 2 years ago. I have a 2014 Truck and Trailer. And I have been completely on my own since I was 18 when it comes to my horses and my bills. I have no family support when it comes to them. As a matter of fact, they say that I need to get rid of them all because it wears me thing. My dreams are way bigger than my wallet as well. I bust my a** for everything that I have.
I would love to be able to go buy a 20K barrel horse right now but financially, I can't. I trade around some on colts that I break. Sell something here or there and make a little cash. But this addiction consumes me. But it is also the only thing that truely makes me happy.
It gets lonely, yes. Would it be nice to have someone to help. Yes! Would it be nice to have two incomes and support, Heck yes! What you said about your horses giving you work ethinc is correct. You are a strong independent woman and making it on your own. That is something to be extremely proud of. Look around. There are people twice your age that still have nothing to show for themselves. You are out supporting you and your horses and living part of your dream. Embrace it. Lonely sometimes... but rewarding as well. Work hard to play hard. Someone will walk into your life that genuinely appreciates it.
**Edited to add: I would be RICH if I didn't have horses** 
Edited by TNcowgirl88 2015-05-12 8:33 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | hoofs_in_motion - 2015-05-12 8:26 AM
Try being a single mother as well.....I budget to make things work.
I am still learning to budget, I have given up going to eat with my girlfriends (sometimes they don't understand) shopping at the mall, (my local goodwill is actually really nice) don't get me wrong I have my share of grace and mismee jeans, but ive brought all that to a halt lately.
Buying groceries and eating at home is a must as well. I hate cooking for just myself but it really saves me money and I can take leftovers to work.
I have also stopped the dreaded Starbucks drivethru. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | RnRJack - 2015-05-12 8:42 AM hoofs_in_motion - 2015-05-12 8:26 AM Try being a single mother as well.....I budget to make things work. I am still learning to budget, I have given up going to eat with my girlfriends (sometimes they don't understand ) shopping at the mall, (my local goodwill is actually really nice ) don't get me wrong I have my share of grace and mismee jeans, but ive brought all that to a halt lately. Buying groceries and eating at home is a must as well. I hate cooking for just myself but it really saves me money and I can take leftovers to work. I have also stopped the dreaded Starbucks drivethru.
I use pinterest to make pre-planned meals. Also coupons help as well!!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| I am 31 and have been paying all my own bills since I was 19 and moved out of the house. My family supports me, but not financially. They listen to me complain, lend a compassionate shoulder, and come to the major shows when they can to cheer me on. The SO/fiance' has been in my life for 5 years, but he is not financially responsible for my bills.
So - my keys ... #1 BUDGET and build an emergency fund that you don't touch unless it is a true emergency (ex: horse accident, water heater in house blows up, pickup transmission goes out, etc) #2 Buy USED items, that brand new truck is much cheaper as 2 or 3 years old with 50k miles on it and will still do everything the brand new one will. #3 Make time for friends. I budgeted $40 a week for myself to blow on whatever, so when the gals call for drinks I go and enjoy my pals. #4 WORK - I currently hold a full time job with great benefits, but I also work for cash on the side with a few locals building fence, feeding while they are gone, barn/animal sitting, etc. #5 Don't be afraid to just tell people you can't afford something b/c that money is earmarked for something else. True friends totally understand your determination and goals!
Chin up and GOOD LUCK! You can do it! |
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | I am 29. I have one horse and a dog that lives with me, my old horse still lives at my moms. I bought a house about a yr and a half ago.
I don't go shopping, I buy the necessities. I splurdge here and there. I don't live in debt at all. I have a car note and my house note. I make decent money, but I pick and choose where I go; I don't go as much as I did when I was little. My friends usually get mad at me because I won't go out with them, but that is a waste of money in my perspective. I will go to dinner with them maybe once a week, if they are lucky. I am a home body I guess you could say.
I have never been on a vacation so I am going, once I am out for the summer. Trip is booked and I am getting excited. |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | I don't really have anything to add, just wanted to say that I admire you girls for chasing your dreams. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 538
Location: Central Texas | Only thing I'm going to add is that you learn to pick and choose which barrel races you want to go to. You can go every weekend to the small shows, or you can go to one or two larger shows a month. Thankfully I have a job that pays well and I have parents who still help me out when I need it. I'm 30 with 2 horses 2 dogs, 2 vehicles, and a house. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I did it for many years......i loved being single and having my own space......enjoy it......there will come a time when you will look back and realize how nice it was.......:)......m |
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Posts: 288
| Well I'm not single and young but was seperated from my husband for almost 2 yrs. So here's my advice.
Buy the best quality hay you can afford. Feed it free choice and you won't have to feed very much grain. If any.
Get on a good basis with your vet so you can have a revolving credit account if possible. Make your payments METICULOUSLY so if a catastrophe happens you will have the ability to deal with it and your vet will take care of you.
Look at your shoing program and figure out if barefoot or only shoing the fronts will work for you. You will save money there. Or even better learn to trim yourself. It's not hard
Don't spend $150 on cowgirl tuff jeans. Or any other clothing item for that matter.
Trim the fat anywhere humanly possible. Be brutally honest about your priorities and do not do anything to sabotage them
Oh....and this one was hard but important for me. Do NOT beat yourself up about not having the latest BOT sheet, softrides, razr shoes or whatever the trend du jour is. Your horse absolutely will be fine on great hay (no grain), cold hosed (wwith no soft rides), etc. There might come a time when you can afford luxeries but if that time is not now don't feel down about it. Do the best with what you have
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On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | txcajuncowgirl - 2015-05-12 9:09 AM Only thing I'm going to add is that you learn to pick and choose which barrel races you want to go to. You can go every weekend to the small shows, or you can go to one or two larger shows a month. Thankfully I have a job that pays well and I have parents who still help me out when I need it. I'm 30 with 2 horses 2 dogs, 2 vehicles, and a house.
 Ditto. I go to may 2 a month, or one bigger one a month.
My mom will help with my animals if I go away for the weekend. I love my mom to death! She will have my animals for pretty much all of June. I am so thankful to have her. Week vacation, and my 2 week summer job. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Did it until I was 33......and had a lot of fun.
Streamline & Budget - if it's not helping get you to your end goal, don't do it. This goes for how you allocate your money and time.
Quality over quantity of horses.
Just because you're not married doesn't mean to wait to do the 'grown up stuff'. I paid my neighbor to help with some of the guy stuff around my house that was tough for me.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| wickedstepmother - 2015-05-12 9:25 AM
Well I'm not single and young but was seperated from my husband for almost 2 yrs. So here's my advice.
Buy the best quality hay you can afford. Feed it free choice and you won't have to feed very much grain. If any.
Get on a good basis with your vet so you can have a revolving credit account if possible. Make your payments METICULOUSLY so if a catastrophe happens you will have the ability to deal with it and your vet will take care of you.
Look at your shoing program and figure out if barefoot or only shoing the fronts will work for you. You will save money there. Or even better learn to trim yourself. It's not hard
Don't spend $150 on cowgirl tuff jeans. Or any other clothing item for that matter.
Trim the fat anywhere humanly possible. Be brutally honest about your priorities and do not do anything to sabotage them
Oh....and this one was hard but important for me. Do NOT beat yourself up about not having the latest BOT sheet, softrides, razr shoes or whatever the trend du jour is. Your horse absolutely will be fine on great hay (no grain), cold hosed (wwith no soft rides), etc. There might come a time when you can afford luxeries but if that time is not now don't feel down about it. Do the best with what you have
Amen! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I have a friend who is going through this very thing, only she is 50. She is tired of working 2 jobs to pay for 4 horses, dually truck and nice living quarters trailer. She is in the process of selling all but her reiner, downsizing to a 1/2 ton truck and a nice bumper pull trailer. She knows that in 6 months to a year she is going to need a more talented reiner and she also knows to afford the better horse she will have to make major changes. If I were young and unmarried, I would sell all my current horses and buy the best horse I could afford. I would do what my friend is doing except I would get a 3/4 ton nondually truck and a smaller gooseneck trailer so I would have 2 less payments. This may not apply to you at all, just sharing my friend's experience. I am sure you will figure it out, you are an intelligent young woman. |
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Veteran
Posts: 288
| GLP - 2015-05-12 8:22 AM
I have a friend who is going through this very thing, only she is 50. She is tired of working 2 jobs to pay for 4 horses, dually truck and nice living quarters trailer. She is in the process of selling all but her reiner, downsizing to a 1/2 ton truck and a nice bumper pull trailer. She knows that in 6 months to a year she is going to need a more talented reiner and she also knows to afford the better horse she will have to make major changes. If I were young and unmarried, I would sell all my current horses and buy the best horse I could afford. I would do what my friend is doing except I would get a 3/4 ton nondually truck and a smaller gooseneck trailer so I would have 2 less payments. This may not apply to you at all, just sharing my friend's experience. I am sure you will figure it out, you are an intelligent young woman.
^^ this! we have had 10 to 15 head FOREVER as we trained and sold horses for our business. But this year we bought a house in town and my town pasture is pushing it at 5 horses. That is still about 2 to many but we can't get rid of my daughters old guy. He'll expire sooner rather than later and she's already riding his replacement. I also have a sweet sweet gelding that will be sold in a couple years after he builds my confidence back up and my 3 yr old gets broke. For now I'll barrel race on my sons appy who is so sweet and will be a 4d horse which is what I need right now. The point being, do NOT keep the extras, ones that might have potential, whatever. I was dumping horses left and right this winter and I have never felt less stress in my life! And having a plan to get down to 3 in a couple years feels even better. Only keep the ones you absolutely need to do what you are doing now. horses are easily replaceable. Don't keep the yearling with 1D potential if you can only afford to feed and ride the 15 yr old that wins you money in the 4D every race you go to
Edited by wickedstepmother 2015-05-12 10:32 AM
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I just got put in this category with the death of my dad last year. I am 29 and lived with him; and my father and I had an agreement that I would look after him and do the running around (he was in a wheelchair) and in turn I got to live for less; I always thought I had the perfect life, and my dad was my best friend too. I could come and go whenever I wanted and I paid my own horsie bills, cell phone and car bills. I live on 403 acres and am now handling it solo with gasp 14 horses and all the other pets we have. I had savings which went to paying taxes to get the farm in my name (thankfully it's paid off), pay the funeral and handle the lawyer and other expenses for the estate since they managed to tie his money up for 8 months. The government and banks also managed to take 60% of what my dad had in savings besides the farm (and the rest we split between my brother and I, but it didn't even come close to my bills for the time) so it was lucky I had it and I was so worried about the farm until it got signed over. Now I budget and plan carefully, my SO does live with me but he only pays half the monthly house bills, if he didn't I could cut them down a lot more because I don't watch TV and could cut back on other items too, he thinks the rest is worthless basically. My horses and anything for the farm come out of my own pocket. I have a few I will sell but a lot of our breeding stock I won't because dad knew and I had a dream and he was so proud of what I had done . I have given up going out, planted a garden to lower food bills, turned my heat down a few degrees and put a sweater on in the winter (my power bill is $600 a month in the dead of winter with everything running), and budgeted to the penny... but I am going to do this. I start to waitress again at night in 2 weeks to save for next winter on top of what I do already, and still be able to buy another horse to expand what I love too here and there. I have come to terms with shows can wait for now too and am fortunate hay is free because I have an agreement with the neighboring farm to take it off and I get a 1/3rd. The number one thing is budget though and have contingency funds for anything factored in.
ETA: I have learned to trim my guys myself, I only shop bargain for myself (clothes, shoes, etc) if I absolutely need it. My horses get free choice hay and pasture, and I only grain what I need too. Price shop and compare bulk to individual if you know your going to use it all and not waste it.
Edited by ndiehl 2015-05-12 11:03 AM
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | hoofs_in_motion - 2015-05-12 8:45 AM RnRJack - 2015-05-12 8:42 AM hoofs_in_motion - 2015-05-12 8:26 AM Try being a single mother as well.....I budget to make things work. I am still learning to budget, I have given up going to eat with my girlfriends (sometimes they don't understand ) shopping at the mall, (my local goodwill is actually really nice ) don't get me wrong I have my share of grace and mismee jeans, but ive brought all that to a halt lately. Buying groceries and eating at home is a must as well. I hate cooking for just myself but it really saves me money and I can take leftovers to work. I have also stopped the dreaded Starbucks drivethru.
Well I am a busy wife and mom of 2 and sold all my horses lol. I can say though if you are looking for easy cheap meals use a crock pot. I spent a few hours one day writing down recipes for frozen crock pot dinners, and trying to find things that wouldn't require me to buy a ton of different ingredients or wasting something because I had to buy a certain amount but didn't have a meal planned for the left over chicken or whatever. You bag all of the ingredients up, put them in the freezer with cook times or ingredients you need to add at the end etc. So in the morning you grab a bag out of the freezer, throw it in the crock pot and breath a sigh of relief because that is one less thing you have to do that night. Also try to set out your meals so you can put left overs in the next meal. For instance if I make soft tacos one night, all of the left over meat will go in a crock pot of beans the next day. So the meat isn't wasted. If I just make a pot of beans then the left over beans will be mashed up and we will have bean burritos the next day. If there are still left over beans (which usually isn't much) we will add them to something like our fajitas as a filler and to make our dinner stretch further. We eat like a bunch of starving teenagers, so cheap fillers are a big plus to me.
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | I am waaayyyyy older than 20 or 30. lol. But I am single. Went thru a divorce at 36 and still single and loving it at 43. I didn't own horses until my divorce he was not a horse person. I manage it by first and foremost trusting God and praying about EVERYTHING. There is not a horse I own that I do not pray about before purchasing or breeding for. I also working a full time job. I have a small 3 horse with a weekender that is paid for. I don't pull up in the nicest truck and trailer but it gets the job done. I try to pick BBR races or NBHA races that I am a member of and need points for. I don't go to every single show in OK. My daughter also barrel races and we do the same for her. I have 2 broodmares. I keep one foal and sell the other every year. basically the one I sell pays for the re-breeding every year. But I also cannot afford a high powered high dollar barrel horse so we make our own. And sell a few along the way.
On another note, I became a rep for Animal Element so I could afford supplements for my horse and it turns out people seek me out at races and buy from me. It now pays for my horses supplements and most of the time pays most of my entry fees too.
I am not saying any of this would work for someone else but it's what works for me. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| I wish i had some advice to add but i'm one of the ones needing the advice! please excuse me if i rant a little on your post but it's the same topic and i just need to vent... i was one that always had my priorities straight. i was in college full time. worked part-time (sometimes 2 or 3 part time jobs) and lived at home with mom and dad. my bills were always paid on time or early. at the age of 20 or 21 (i don't remember exactly) i was able to finance my good ole used diesel truck all by myself with insurance in my name and all was great. fast forward to 23 years old... my mom passed away in september. in december i met my husband. in march we bought the house we are in now. in april we found out we were pregnant with twins... we have been behind on bills and all ever since then. if it weren't for my dad STILL helping us, we would never make it. the bad part is often times i feel like i would be happier with just me and my kids but i have no way to do it on my own even without horses (and most of you know how miserable a life without horses is). i just FINALLY got a horse that is good enough to be able to be very competitive on and the thought of giving that up just makes me even more miserable than i thought possible. i literally don't see any way to do it on my own until my girls are in school (which is 4.5 years from now) with daycare being $1100 per month!! anyway, no bashing please i just had to get it off my chest because i seriously envy those of you that are doing it on your own even though it isn't easy for anyone. |
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