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Veteran
Posts: 113
| I guess I've never known anything different. I come from a non-horsey family and have always been told if I want horses, it's on me.
Good hay, good feed and safe equipment are #1.
I'm a meticulous budget-er. I budget for everything from birthday gifts, night outs etc. I do get slack sometimes from my family members or friends, "Oh c'mon, it's an extra $20." But, I stick to my guns. It all adds up.
However, I think my budgeting is a bit different than other folks. I budget for each paycheck and update it all the time. If I end up having lunch provided for me for several days in a week, I take that cash and put it to something else (usually EFs!). Granted, I do typically bring my own lunch. I make casseroles or prepare some type of meat I can eat on for a week.
I use Google docs for my budget and I look at it an analyze almost every day. I also have an online savings account where I auto transfer $25 each week. I use this to save up for the bigger shows or tack I want to buy. It's not much, but $100/month comes in handy every now and then.
Also, I think it's extremely important to be realistic about your budget. If you're going to a one day jackpot, don't just budget for your fees and fuel. You will always spend money on the little things and they will add up and throw you off.
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 Veteran
Posts: 234
Location: Oklahoma | Well I work hard I have a pretty darn good job. I am a single mom so it makes things a little tougher but I get it done. I also sell 1 or 2 horses on the side and ride for other people for extra income. Its not easy and can be done it all comes down to how hard you wanna work for what you want. I may not get to go as much as I want and have as nice of things as I want. I go about once a weekend, I budget everything. If its not needed or extra I dont get it. The baby comes first she is always taken care of then the horses then me. I am finally getting to the point I can start putting some money back into my savings account. Its not easy but it can be done and it wont happen right away it takes time. | |
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 Go Canada!
Posts: 2954
 
| runaround - 2015-05-12 11:38 AM I guess I've never known anything different. I come from a non-horsey family and have always been told if I want horses, it's on me. Good hay, good feed and safe equipment are #1. I'm a meticulous budget-er. I budget for everything from birthday gifts, night outs etc. I do get slack sometimes from my family members or friends, "Oh c'mon, it's an extra $20." But, I stick to my guns. It all adds up. However, I think my budgeting is a bit different than other folks. I budget for each paycheck and update it all the time. If I end up having lunch provided for me for several days in a week, I take that cash and put it to something else (usually EFs!). Granted, I do typically bring my own lunch. I make casseroles or prepare some type of meat I can eat on for a week. I use Google docs for my budget and I look at it an analyze almost every day. I also have an online savings account where I auto transfer $25 each week. I use this to save up for the bigger shows or tack I want to buy. It's not much, but $100/month comes in handy every now and then. Also, I think it's extremely important to be realistic about your budget. If you're going to a one day jackpot, don't just budget for your fees and fuel. You will always spend money on the little things and they will add up and throw you off.
I started keeping a very in detail budget last winter and this part is huge. I have a spreadsheet that I will add expenses/purchases into and can see how it will affect me 6 months down the road. I also make sure to fill in the actual cost for bills etc once I have paid them which improves my future budgeting. I have "flexible" items which I can adjust to balance out my budget (groceries, gas and misc) and the essential items which I build my budget around (mortgage, phone bill, hydro etc). If I'm uncertain about something I will work out different scenarios and see which will cost me more in the long run.
I also have a seperate spreadsheet and budget for my horse stuff (entry fees, diesel, tack etc) and do not take any money budgeted for bills to use towards this.
Edited by tj135 2015-05-12 12:10 PM
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Amen to all you hard working ladies! I needed to see someone else in the same boat.
I am 25 and have been blessed with an incredible well paying job. I have 1 horse and a trailer. I borrow my parents truck. I have been house shopping for a place with land so i can buy another horse and finally have them at home. I board currently.
I budget every penny I have. I plan out meals, lunches, breakfasts ... I plan out gas, oil changes, farrier, and other reoccuring bills. Its not easy but I would like to think it will work itself out in the end.
Finding a house in my price range is exhausting and my gelding is getting older... so I feel the pressure right now. Boarding two just seems silly to me.
ETA - have stepped down my competitions. I limit myself to 1 big bash a year and then I just do local jackpots and playdays. I choose places where I know I can win my money back (if I have a good run). I cant afford to haul to the tiny races.
Edited by stayceem 2015-05-12 12:08 PM
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | If anyone is looking for a budget spreadsheet I've made one that I feel like is pretty easy to operate and it helps you tinker with your budget. If you'd like one, PM me your email address and I'll send you one. Budgeting has SERIOUSLY helped my boyfriend and I. The reason I started budgeting is I was bringing my horse down here and needed to watch my money more carefully. Knowing how much you have to spend in each category is so nice. | |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Add me to this list. I'm 21 and in college full time. One more year until I have my degree. I am still living at home so I'm not paying rent but I'm on my own with horses and everything else. My parents will sometimes help out with vet bills but other than that, I pay for everything myself. My dad and I share my truck (I make payments every other month) and I have an old dinky stock trailer that gets me from point A to point B. I find it really hard to budget because my paycheck fluctuates and it's never the same. Could be a lot, could be not much. I just moved my horse closer so I'm now paying board but just have the 1 horse. Have vet bills to pay right now. I'm looking at getting a second job to help out with expenses as well.
It's frustrating because my most of my friends are doing "decent" right now and always seem to have money to go on vacations.... and then there's me, who always seems to be broke because of horses. | |
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | stayceem - 2015-05-12 12:06 PM
Amen to all you hard working ladies! I needed to see someone else in the same boat.
I am 25 and have been blessed with an incredible well paying job. I have 1 horse and a trailer. I borrow my parents truck. I have been house shopping for a place with land so i can buy another horse and finally have them at home. I board currently.
I budget every penny I have. I plan out meals, lunches, breakfasts ... I plan out gas, oil changes, farrier, and other reoccuring bills. Its not easy but I would like to think it will work itself out in the end.
Finding a house in my price range is exhausting and my gelding is getting older... so I feel the pressure right now. Boarding two just seems silly to me.
ETA - have stepped down my competitions. I limit myself to 1 big bash a year and then I just do local jackpots and playdays. I choose places where I know I can win my money back (if I have a good run). I cant afford to haul to the tiny races.
Keep looking you will find something. I looked for a year. Had houses sale out from under me, got into bidding wars, etc. I found my house, not exactly where I wanted but it is perfect for me. Had to build fence and some type of stall but I got what I wanted. I have had to work on it, and need to work on it some more but it was in my price range, where the realtors wanted to show me everything the finance company said I could afford. I gutted the bathroom first, and updated it. Tax refund I put new doors in. I will save some more money and will do windows next. | |
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 Night Chat Leader
Posts: 13150
Location: Home....Smiling M Farms | I'm in this group too :) I'm 30, divorced, and have a few too many horse. lol
I don't do jackpots and rodeos though, my good horse got hurt and is now retired. I have a 2 yo coming along that I bred and raised, I hope to futurity him as a 4 yo. I'm more of a breeder than a rider. I want to raise the next best thing :) I have busted my butt, scrimped, saved, and been flat busted broke to have what I have. Admittedly, it would be MUCH easier without the divorce, not saying I wanted to stay married but my divorce costed me a FORTUNE. As in, I'm still paying for the dang thing. Really makes you rethink every getting remarried.....needless to say if I ever do, there will be a prenump a mile long and I'll be keeping my last name either way.
Anyway, my family is not supportive, they think I'd be better off without the horses. I don't even know what I'd do without them though. Take up knitting???
I have a budget that I try very hard to stick to, sometimes things don't pan out the way I'd like them to but that's just the name of the game. You get back up and you just keep trying.  | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| RnRJack - 2015-05-12 6:20 AM
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?
I was like you until I turned 34 and married the man of my dreams who is also devoted to living the simple life so we can barrel race and team rope. LOL
I went without a lot of the other things that women find to be absolute musts like nails, hair, shiny baubules, going out to bars and clubs that have cover charges and $14 drinks. I also lived in a caretaker's studio at a boarding stable. Since I fed all the horses in the am before I went off to work, one of mine got to board for free. I also half-lease one of my other horses to offset costs and keep her legged up. The other girl does not compete but if she did she would pay half of the mare's grain and maintenence like chiro, injections, etc.
Instead of my Starbucks addiction I started drinking coffee at home. Much cheaper and my waistline is much smaller, too. Wal-Mart and Target have cute clothes if I want to shop, and if I think I NEED a new pair of Miss Me's or CGT's...I never buy them unless they are at least half off the original price. I am also not abject to eating leftovers for several nights in a row. This may sound boring but it has really afforded me more barrel races and lessons/clinics that I otherwise may not have been able to afford. | |
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | I did 100% better when I WAS single!!! A single mother at that. I budgeted my money. I worked a good job that is considered part time, only because I make my own schedule, I work more then full time plus 20 hours a week. My daughter is just as much if not more horse crazy then I am so we did what ever it took to make it work. We LOVED our lives! Then I went and got attached to a man, had another kid and things have changed alot. He has LOTS of expensive hobbies and we still have our horses. We do what ever we can when we can, but I wish we had more money and more time. Trying to get back to budgeting my time and money to make it happen like it use to. TIME is the big thing right now. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | It is very awesome and inspiring to read all the different stories of people just like me, and getting great advice from others that may not be in the same boat but can help by suggesting simple things such as meal preps!
I'm glad I started this thread, there's so many others like me out there I just don't see it a lot!
Thanks everyone and keep sharing! | |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| scamper - 2015-05-12 2:15 PM
stayceem - 2015-05-12 12:06 PM
Amen to all you hard working ladies! I needed to see someone else in the same boat.
I am 25 and have been blessed with an incredible well paying job. I have 1 horse and a trailer. I borrow my parents truck. I have been house shopping for a place with land so i can buy another horse and finally have them at home. I board currently.
I budget every penny I have. I plan out meals, lunches, breakfasts ... I plan out gas, oil changes, farrier, and other reoccuring bills. Its not easy but I would like to think it will work itself out in the end.
Finding a house in my price range is exhausting and my gelding is getting older... so I feel the pressure right now. Boarding two just seems silly to me.
ETA - have stepped down my competitions. I limit myself to 1 big bash a year and then I just do local jackpots and playdays. I choose places where I know I can win my money back (if I have a good run). I cant afford to haul to the tiny races.
Keep looking you will find something. I looked for a year. Had houses sale out from under me, got into bidding wars, etc. I found my house, not exactly where I wanted but it is perfect for me. Had to build fence and some type of stall but I got what I wanted. I have had to work on it, and need to work on it some more but it was in my price range, where the realtors wanted to show me everything the finance company said I could afford. I gutted the bathroom first, and updated it. Tax refund I put new doors in. I will save some more money and will do windows next.
I sure hope so... I had an offer in on the perfect little place and we got in a bidding way and i lost. Just had a house sold from underneath me on Monday. So I need to realize I am not the only one. I dont need anything beautiful or glamorous. Just a small little place where I can have my horses and be comfortable. I like projects and doing work. | |
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On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | stayceem - 2015-05-13 8:29 AM scamper - 2015-05-12 2:15 PM stayceem - 2015-05-12 12:06 PM Amen to all you hard working ladies! I needed to see someone else in the same boat. I am 25 and have been blessed with an incredible well paying job. I have 1 horse and a trailer. I borrow my parents truck. I have been house shopping for a place with land so i can buy another horse and finally have them at home. I board currently. I budget every penny I have. I plan out meals, lunches, breakfasts ... I plan out gas, oil changes, farrier, and other reoccuring bills. Its not easy but I would like to think it will work itself out in the end. Finding a house in my price range is exhausting and my gelding is getting older... so I feel the pressure right now. Boarding two just seems silly to me. ETA - have stepped down my competitions. I limit myself to 1 big bash a year and then I just do local jackpots and playdays. I choose places where I know I can win my money back (if I have a good run). I cant afford to haul to the tiny races. Keep looking you will find something. I looked for a year. Had houses sale out from under me, got into bidding wars, etc. I found my house, not exactly where I wanted but it is perfect for me. Had to build fence and some type of stall but I got what I wanted. I have had to work on it, and need to work on it some more but it was in my price range, where the realtors wanted to show me everything the finance company said I could afford. I gutted the bathroom first, and updated it. Tax refund I put new doors in. I will save some more money and will do windows next. I sure hope so... I had an offer in on the perfect little place and we got in a bidding way and i lost. Just had a house sold from underneath me on Monday. So I need to realize I am not the only one. I dont need anything beautiful or glamorous. Just a small little place where I can have my horses and be comfortable. I like projects and doing work.
I found a house I loved. It had a small barn, 4 acres. It had been listed a day. I looked at it at 9, next ones looked at it at 10. I started above the asking price, and so did they. I lost it. I was mad and upset. Now I am so glad I didn't get it now, it was already at the top of my budget. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Oh my Lordy .... I have gone around and around on houses. I have had them sell out from under me; been told no thanks cause you're a single gal, and the crown jewel was a home on 5 acres in which the house was not legally situated on the acreage but the sellers didn't disclose this until I confronted them about it a week before closing (so I got to walk away due to the contingencies I put in the offer). I mean seriously - who builds a house that is half on the neighbors property and then leaves it for 10 years ???!!!?!?
My advice - Pray more than you think you should and DON'T GIVE UP!!! I swear that for every crappy house, bad realtor, or crummy seller I have run into - each experience has set me up to appreciate the 80 acres and great home that the SO and I are closing on here shortly. We have been living in a camper trailer for the last 8 months (that's another story of a crap landlord) and scrimping and saving our rear's off. I had my eye on this property long before the SO proposed and I fully believe that God's timing is perfect. The older couple contacted my SO after he sprayed their crops this spring and we have been chasing it ever since. | |
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On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | lindseylou2290 - 2015-05-13 9:13 AM Oh my Lordy .... I have gone around and around on houses. I have had them sell out from under me; been told no thanks cause you're a single gal, and the crown jewel was a home on 5 acres in which the house was not legally situated on the acreage but the sellers didn't disclose this until I confronted them about it a week before closing (so I got to walk away due to the contingencies I put in the offer). I mean seriously - who builds a house that is half on the neighbors property and then leaves it for 10 years ???!!!?!?
My advice - Pray more than you think you should and DON'T GIVE UP!!! I swear that for every crappy house, bad realtor, or crummy seller I have run into - each experience has set me up to appreciate the 80 acres and great home that the SO and I are closing on here shortly. We have been living in a camper trailer for the last 8 months (that's another story of a crap landlord) and scrimping and saving our rear's off. I had my eye on this property long before the SO proposed and I fully believe that God's timing is perfect. The older couple contacted my SO after he sprayed their crops this spring and we have been chasing it ever since.
The first house I wanted belonged to a elderly couple that had passed away. So the kids were having an estate sale. So my parents and I decided to go be nosey and see what they were selling and I could finally see in the garage. Mom started asking a daughter there questions about the house, I was in another room. Lady told my mom some young teacher with horses wanted the house and that she knew I couldn't afford it and that I needed to just come to the realization of it. My mom bit her tounge very well, I am surprised. They wanted about 20k more than the house even appraised for and wouldn't budge off the price for me. The house I bought is very similar to this house, I just wish I had the carport or garage the other house had. | |
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 I"m Jealous!
Posts: 1737
Location: Benton City, WA | I went to a lot of school- it allowed me to have the job I have but my student loan payments are also a large sum every month. I bought my own place ASAP out of school, so that I wouldn't have to rent/board horses. Since my break up last year, I had to get a roommate...my Ex used to train out of my place, so he would help pay half the mortgage every month. Without that money, my place was too much to afford. The roommate helps a lot with the money situation. I was in a bad spot last summer, until she moved in. If I don't have extra money, I don't go run barrels, shop or eat out. I'm A-OK eating top ramen and canned soup for lunch and dinner (gross I know).
I have never been concerned with the how nice my rig is...I upgraded from a 99' dodge to an 06' GMC 2 years ago- VERY exciting for me! Just in the last few months, I managed to trade in my bumper pull and get a 4 horse gooseneck, with the difference on a credit card. I have paid for my equine prospects with credit cards and student loans, depending on timing. Not the best, I know, but I wouldn't change a thing about my decisions. The colt I bought in school using loan money is even better than I ever dreamed he would be...I feel incredibly blessed all the time with my horses and my life in general. If I would just sell one, it could pay a lot of bills but I'm WAY too attached to the ones I have now. I use care credit for a lot of my equine vet bills... no interest. My modest commuter car (honda civic) is at 1.99 so great interest rate, and I don't have to waste money on fuel driving the dually to work.
I just try to be practical about everything- I don't take vacations or anything like that. I keep up on all my payments, so I have excellent credit, despite being spread very thin... That would probably be my best advice is build your credit. It has sure helped me do what I want to do.
Good luck!!! | |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| I am NOT single, but all of this sounds like how hubby and I live our lives in general. Both of us grew up "poor" but didn't really realize it at the time, both of us just figured that that is how life is. BECAUSE we have lived like this, we have been able to afford having horses. There was a time when he was a pickup man, that we each had 4 we were using regularly. Because we have lived like this he was able to take summers off to "live the dream" and be a full time pickup man as around here, you don't get paid what your horses are worth to do the job, but he loved it and got to do what he loved.
You can make choices that make it a little less expensive (which it sounds like the OP has already done) like NO expensive jeans or shirts, not following trends and buying quality tack instead of the latest trend...I still have stuff from when I was in 4H! I bought one of the first aluminum trailers seen at rodeos in this area, a 16' stock combo with a 22 INCH short wall LQ that I share with saddles and tack, but I still pull that trailer which is now 22 years old and put a new subframe and axles underneath it because I still love pulling it and do not have another payment......LQ trailer payments these days are a 2nd mortgage!
Because we have lived like this, when the economy crashed, it had much less effect on us than it did for many. On the other hand, there wasn't much more cutting back we could do. I cut back tremendously on traveling when fuel went to $2 a gallon, so when it went to $4 a gallon, it didn't affect me as much as my friends. However, I got tired of NOT rodeoing so I cracked back out when fuel was at it's high point, just made sure I crewed up rather than haul by myself like I used to.
Hubby likes to say that everyone works for something, whether it is their kids, a nice house, vacations, or horses. Only the very fortunate get to have it all. Life is choices and horses are a hard, expensive choice, but one I would make again and again.
Chin up and kudos for doing it yourself! You can't worry about what others think about what you wear or pull up in. You are NOT alone in your struggles. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| Oh my goodness...I could write a book on this I think. After I got divorced at 29 I definitely had to make some sacrifices to keep my horse. I was making half what I am now and picked up a job at Strarbucks after work. Got a ton of free food and coffee which helped keep me going! Had a roommate for a bit too.
After a year and a half at Starbucks I got a promotion and was able to quit. Kept working hard and a few more promotions later I can afford to live! But with a truck payment, trailer payment, and 400 bucks in feed a month it still seems to not go that far! I cook all the time, bring my lunch, and found a good farrier/vet (and nail salon) that does a great job and makes me feel like I am getting my money's worth.
I never want to have a trailer payment again, and if I can help it I will pay off my truck and trade it in for something for equal value or plus whatever cash I've saved. Brand new is NOT worth it, and I think that's the biggest thing that's helped me. I buy a lot off of FB sites etc for horse stuff, saved me hundreds, and just in general don't always have to have shiny and new as long as its in good shape.
It is SO worth it to me to learn that I can support myself. I do get twinges of jealousy when friends seem to get off easy and find someone to support themselves right away, but for ME, I know this was the best thing that could happen to me.
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Rodeoveteran I like your husbands philosophy.
I think I've sent my budget spreadsheet to almost everybody who asked. It works for me and how my brain operates. We still run very tight each month. I have an interview this Thursday for a pizza delivery job on the weekends. We NEED to get our emergency fusnd of $1000 built up.
I don't have a truck or trailer and I just trail ride nowadays. It costs me $325 a month but I am 100x more happy with my horse here. We have a lot of debt and are working on it diligently. I will say that we will never buy a new vehicle AGAIN. Our car is new and we are upside down, otherwise I'd sell it! I will always pay cash and never use a credit card again. Dave Ramsey has HAMMERED this into my brain. I recommend e Rhine struggling to listen to his free podcast on iTunes. There's 3 episodes a day and it really gives you a perspective on how other people live and the struggles they have. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | Love reading all of these! I really want to start budgeting after reading this, just need to figure out where to start. I am 22 years old and am completely on my own and have been since I was 18. I currently have a pretty amazing set up and couldn't ask for much more but I have really struggled before. I work for a trainer starting colts. My horses are kept here and fed for free which is a HUGE expense saver. I usually have 2-3 horses at a time of my own. I live on the property so I have no rent/utilities. I have a paid off trailer that is perfect, however, I did sell my truck a few months ago so I can't do much hauling right now. I am currently selling a horse so I can buy a new to me truck.
I do have quite a lot of bills: car payment, insurance, credit cards (used when I get behind or have an emergency) and student loans. I have spent over $3000 in vet bills in the last couple months which has destroyed my savings account and I also bought a new horse that broke its navicular bone a week later and I had to give away. So between the vets and losing a horse I am a bit stressed out right now but hoping to get back on my feet again here shortly. A huge benefit to my job is I can take in outside horses of my own and, as long as board is payed, I pocket the rest.
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