Hiding Money In Your Watches/Accidental Investment

[Lord Monocle]

No, not like that! Although a Nixon could probably hold a pretty big roll if you took the movement out...

I am starting to unload some of the watches I got as I started this hobby and didn't know what I was into yet, and I'm running into a problem with motivation and for lack of a better word, "rebudgeting" the money.

For the last few years we've been doing pretty well and operated on what my wife and I called an "allowance." We got $x (technically x円) every week that was already taken out of the budget and we could use for anything we wanted. We could eat it, save it, go shopping, etc. I, of course, spent mine on watches.

Now is kind of a low point for us financially and I'm selling off watches. I wasn't really intending for those two things to coincide. I sold a watch today and my wife asked, "So, what are we going to use the money for?" and I kind of thought...watches. That's apparently not on. I do understand her position, and she's honestly right. At the very least the proceeds should be held for a while against need, but I feel like this is money from years ago and if I had known I was going to just lose it back into the general fund later I might have gone out for steak more often back in Japan.

So now my dilemma is this: I was planning on selling most of what I had and consolidating my collection to G-Shock, beater/diver, and dress. All I really have left to get is the dress watch. Only now I'm not going to get it. So what's my motivation to sell watches? I'm not going to starve to death or become homeless with a full watch box so I don't think I'm being unreasonable here, but I am really considering just setting everything back and holding on to it for a while.

[Longhair]

Do you wear the watches anymore? If not, then that is your motivation to sell them.

Laziness is a greater motivation not to sell them - this is what I am suffering from.

[KCWrist]

Is she selling the durable goods she purchased with her discretionary budget? If not, it seems unfair to make you do that but it is the most fiscally sound thing to do, and a happy wife makes a happy life.

[John MS]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote, but when you ask What's my motiviation to sell watches just after writing Now is kind of a low point for us now financially and I'm selling off watches I think you are selling off luxuries so that the basics can continue to be paid for. When your wife asks So what are we going to use the money for I think she is looking for some input on how to use the money in a manner that helps you both financially now. Not to buy more watches or establish a future watch fund.

What did she use her allowance for? If luxuries is she cutting back and/or liquidating too?

[Perseus]

Unless you really need the money, and it doesn't sound like you do, I would talk to my wife and explain that I want to sell 3 watches (or whatever) and use that money for one watch. Sounds pretty fair to me. Their is a Mrs. Perseus and a mini Perseus so I know it can be challenge putting money in the watch fund!

[Lord Monocle]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote, but when you ask What's my motiviation to sell watches just after writing Now is kind of a low point for us now financially and I'm selling off watches I think you are selling off luxuries so that the basics can continue to be paid for. When your wife asks So what are we going to use the money for I think she is looking for some input on how to use the money in a manner that helps you both financially now. Not to buy more watches or establish a future watch fund.

What did she use her allowance for? If luxuries is she cutting back and/or liquidating too?

I meant to say that selling off watches and hitting a financial low point are not connected. It is by no means necessary now or in the foreseeable future to liquidate our belongings to pay for necessities.

[TexasTee]

To skirt the issue, this where a nice bit of wise watch trading comes into play.

[Aerofish]

To be honest a lot of my watches get culled when something else is in my crosshairs. If I had bought it used wisely, and wore it carefully I could sell it for what I bought it for. After ship cost and PP fees I am usually out a few bucks, but got to use and fondle the darn thing for a short while. Heck I may even snap a few wrist shots for WRUW threads. :) I guess you could say I'm just renting/leasing them for a spell, kinda taking them for a test ride to see if they are keepers. If you sell off your surplus just look at it as turning in a rental, and use the cash as needed.

[Lord Monocle]

To skirt the issue, this where a nice bit of wise watch trading comes into play.

I had a tempting offer a couple of days ago in that direction but didn't take it.

[Lord Monocle]

Unless you really need the money, and it doesn't sound like you do, I would talk to my wife and explain that I want to sell 3 watches (or whatever) and use that money for one watch. Sounds pretty fair to me. Their is a Mrs. Perseus and a mini Perseus so I know it can be challenge putting money in the watch fund!

It is. And will be so in the future. I guess what I was going for is that my watches will come and go but the balance in the watch fund will merely change forms from watch to cash and back again. Once it's gone I won't be able to bring myself to put money back in later because I am a pretty responsible guy. I had a couple of good years recently and won't again, so maybe I'm just trying to hang onto that for a little longer.