StearmanR985 0 #1 July 8, 2004 So we are in the process of purchasing a home. It will max us out financially, and I mean max us out . It is a big commitment but it is for the greater good. I need EVERY penny I can get my hands on to make this happen in the manner we want. So, I am considering selling all my stuff and giving up the sport..."temporarily". I hate to sound like a whiner but this is REALLY bothering me. There are two positives though. 1. My wife and daughter SO want this house = Happy family. 2. Making this sacrifice now should greatly improve our financial picture within 18 months = Back to jumping with new equipment and hopefully flying lessons to boot. Thanks for listening, Jeffrey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catfishhunter 2 #2 July 8, 2004 Doesn't sound like you need any advice. Sell your shit now and get the house. Family is WAY more important then jumping out of planes. Get your house the sky will be there in 18 months. Nothing to even think about. Gear should already be listed in the classifieds,by the way what you selling MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #3 July 8, 2004 Well I'm strapped for cash myself. I got into some serious debt just about the same time I was learning to skydive. I didn't buy something like a house, but it feels like it My only suggestion on this one is DO NOT SELL your gear. You can always go make a jump or two a month. Once you decide your going to resume jumping you've got everything you need. I made the mistake of selling my rig and now I'm starting to feel the pressure of bills lift a bit. So I'm looking to start jumping on a limited schedule, enough to stay current once I become current again. But I don't have a rig anymore or the money to buy one. Just think about it before you liquidate your skydiving gear. Gratz on the house though!! "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,527 #4 July 8, 2004 If your gear won't bring you enough money to help with the house, and you really plan on coming back, then keep the gear. It makes getting back into jumping much easier. When I came back, I was jumping gear from the early 80's because I saved it. But that meant I could learn the new gear and find the best deal for me with no hurry because of rental prices. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shawndiver 0 #5 July 8, 2004 Dammit, I did'nt chase your ass around the sky twice last weekend for you to quit on me now! If you have to take a break for something this important, thats cool, but like Wendy said, keep your gear. (ok, sell that suit!) You can always sell any time if absolutley necessary, and when you are ready to come back it will one less excuse to keep you from jumping! I better see you guys at Lodi, you don't need to be jumping to keep the friends you've made out there! Shawn_________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #6 July 8, 2004 Keep your gear. The stress associated with a new house can be a bit overwhelming and even a $10 hop & pop once in awhile can help alleviate it. If you'll be maxing out to the point you can't afford an occasional hop & pop, you're buying more house than you can afford and will find yourself completely hosed when something unexpected comes up (broken AC unit, increased property taxes/insurance, retrofitting a backflow preventer, etc). Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NicoNYC 0 #7 July 8, 2004 I'm sure you can find some kind of happy medium dude. Like others have said, you may regret it if you sell your gear. If it really comes down to crunch time and you're starving and can't pay your bills, then by all means do what you have to do to survive. However, you should calculate all your fees and costs now so you can pretty much get an idea of how much capital you have to cough up. How much are closing costs? Any Down payment? Is there PMI involved? yada yada yada. More importantly, banks won't fund you if you don't fit their bill so I'd find out how much cash in hand I need before I start selling the farm if I were you. How many hits of adrenaline can you take? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdhill 0 #8 July 8, 2004 I bought a house a few years ago, and it is a huge financial responsibility... If the sale of your gear will have a significant impact on your situation, sell it... But if you don't absolutely need to, think hard about it. JAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #9 July 8, 2004 Actually I got some good news this morning. We are borrowing against my wife's 401K and there is more available then we originally thought. Like 30% more. Now, I just need one more piece of good news from our damn car insurance company... Jeffrey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #10 July 8, 2004 Home ownership is a good thing. Just don't borrow beyond your means and become "House Poor" in order to live in a certain type of house. My mom once gave me some very good advice when I was considering leaving Canada to work in the USA (6 1/2 years ago) and that was: Don't get attached to physical objects. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shananay 0 #11 July 8, 2004 I am with the others on this one.... I am as single as they come, totally support myself with only one income, and I just closed on my very first house four months ago. Talk about psyched! It's hard and you have to sacrifice but DO NOT, I repeat do NOT sell your stuff! I was so scared going into it I lost weight, sleep and my mind at times wondering how I was going to do all this but ya know what? It just works itself out and now I have a beautiful home that is all mine, only 19 miles from the DZ AND I am still living, skydiving and actually attending boogies. I mean I have to make responsible decisions, , and have given up things here and there but it is all for good cause. Do what is best for your family but don't give up what you love if you don't have too. Hang on and let it work itself out. Things have a tendancy to do just that. Good luck!!!!! Do it Again! P.M.S. #22 LaLa Gang #4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #12 July 8, 2004 Don't sell the gear. Learn to pack well. Pack for others for $ on the weekends. Make jumps with packing $---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #13 July 8, 2004 "...but, Honey, the house is something for US." "...and a mini-van is so much more practical than the Mustang." So, how much do you want for your gear? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #14 July 8, 2004 Quote"...but, Honey, the house is something for US." "...and a mini-van is so much more practical than the Mustang." So, how much do you want for your gear? Oh your so fr00kin evil!! Seriously what ya got for sale and how much "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #15 July 8, 2004 QuoteDon't sell the gear. Learn to pack well. Pack for others for $ on the weekends. Make jumps with packing $ Ya know, I was going to do that this summer. But, the business in Lodi ain't what it used to be from what I understand. There seem to be plenty o' packers most weekends. Well, that and the fact that I don't want to work that hard for my money. Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #16 July 8, 2004 QuoteQuote"...but, Honey, the house is something for US." I know, I know....But there is something about making both my girls happy, I just can't help it. Quote"...and a mini-van is so much more practical than the Mustang." Thank God my wife HATES mini-vans. But I did sell my 5.0 quite a few years ago..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #17 July 8, 2004 Hey Shawn, That was a fun jump!! I enjoy making you up-jumpers work for it!! And what is wrong with my suit, you think it is too fast? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TequilaGirl 0 #18 July 8, 2004 Buying a house shouldn't max you out.....I bought my townhome almost a year ago....and it did not alter my lifestyle one bit...maybe you are trying to buy "too much" house.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #19 July 8, 2004 QuoteI know, I know....But there is something about making both my girls happy, I just can't help it. That is something that having kids teaches you in a way that nothing else can. The happiness that you get from the happiness of those you care about. If they team up on you, abandon all hope because it may be the best moment of your life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NicoNYC 0 #20 July 8, 2004 QuoteDon't sell the gear. Learn to pack well. Pack for others for $ on the weekends. Make jumps with packing $ Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant. There you go dude. There's your quick fix to your situation. You don't have to pack every weekend. Just make sure you get most of the tandem rigs packed. That'll get you more dinero. How many hits of adrenaline can you take? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites StearmanR985 0 #21 July 8, 2004 QuoteBuying a house shouldn't max you out.....I bought my townhome almost a year ago....and it did not alter my lifestyle one bit...maybe you are trying to buy "too much" house.... Yeah, but that $30K Swan pool in the backyard sure looks appealing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AndyMan 7 #22 July 8, 2004 Packing is a very easy way for somebody with minimal experience to make money skydiving. You can make GOOD money packing. Like $400 in a weekend, if you're on DZ staff. Lack of funds is no reason to give up skydiving. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Angel25 0 #23 July 8, 2004 I hear ya!!!!! I just bought my first house and I am the poorest person I know. I went through the mind game of do I sell my gear for a down payment or not? Thanks to one of my best friends he said to just be poor and don't sell because as we all know when you first start jumping and buying gear it takes forever to get everything and paying all that money out at once will suck in the future. I only have two jumps in since I bought the house three months ago...mostly because of money but also because I never knew how much stuff there was to do on a new house. I went from jumping on the weekends to painting on the weekends. I find myself going "crap it's Sunday night, I missed out on jumping again this week." If you have no money to jump it's still good fun to go to the DZ for the day to hang out with friends and I have found that as much as I hate to pack so does everyone else in the Arizona heat so making $20 a day at least pays for the gas out there. You'll get through it but there are ways to do it without selling your gear you will just find that your gear takes up more room than you ever thought... the last guy I heard say "I'll give up the sport temporarily" hasn't been heard from since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrewEckhardt 0 #24 July 8, 2004 While having a 'better' home would be nice, I'd much rather have the flexibility not worry much about periods of unemployment. A smaller home meant that I didn't need to change my lifestyle when unemployed for 3.5 months and not paid for 2.5 more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JRock 0 #25 July 8, 2004 It is funny that you posted this. I was just discussing this with a friend yesterday. I bought a house in 2001. More house than I should have bought but wanted to max out to get into the best house possible. Then all the stuff that comes with a house like termite treatments and lawnmowers.... $$$$$$$ A year and a half later.... I started jumping and went all out on new gear. Well guess what.... all this = very little money to jump. I mean I get to do about 3 jumps when I go to jump. I finally got over it. There other things I want to spend money on other than skydiving. Like non- skydiving vacations and friends and family. So what if I jump less? I finally got over it. Get the house. A lot of jumps is not gonna be the same as the house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
NicoNYC 0 #20 July 8, 2004 QuoteDon't sell the gear. Learn to pack well. Pack for others for $ on the weekends. Make jumps with packing $ Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant. There you go dude. There's your quick fix to your situation. You don't have to pack every weekend. Just make sure you get most of the tandem rigs packed. That'll get you more dinero. How many hits of adrenaline can you take? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StearmanR985 0 #21 July 8, 2004 QuoteBuying a house shouldn't max you out.....I bought my townhome almost a year ago....and it did not alter my lifestyle one bit...maybe you are trying to buy "too much" house.... Yeah, but that $30K Swan pool in the backyard sure looks appealing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #22 July 8, 2004 Packing is a very easy way for somebody with minimal experience to make money skydiving. You can make GOOD money packing. Like $400 in a weekend, if you're on DZ staff. Lack of funds is no reason to give up skydiving. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angel25 0 #23 July 8, 2004 I hear ya!!!!! I just bought my first house and I am the poorest person I know. I went through the mind game of do I sell my gear for a down payment or not? Thanks to one of my best friends he said to just be poor and don't sell because as we all know when you first start jumping and buying gear it takes forever to get everything and paying all that money out at once will suck in the future. I only have two jumps in since I bought the house three months ago...mostly because of money but also because I never knew how much stuff there was to do on a new house. I went from jumping on the weekends to painting on the weekends. I find myself going "crap it's Sunday night, I missed out on jumping again this week." If you have no money to jump it's still good fun to go to the DZ for the day to hang out with friends and I have found that as much as I hate to pack so does everyone else in the Arizona heat so making $20 a day at least pays for the gas out there. You'll get through it but there are ways to do it without selling your gear you will just find that your gear takes up more room than you ever thought... the last guy I heard say "I'll give up the sport temporarily" hasn't been heard from since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #24 July 8, 2004 While having a 'better' home would be nice, I'd much rather have the flexibility not worry much about periods of unemployment. A smaller home meant that I didn't need to change my lifestyle when unemployed for 3.5 months and not paid for 2.5 more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRock 0 #25 July 8, 2004 It is funny that you posted this. I was just discussing this with a friend yesterday. I bought a house in 2001. More house than I should have bought but wanted to max out to get into the best house possible. Then all the stuff that comes with a house like termite treatments and lawnmowers.... $$$$$$$ A year and a half later.... I started jumping and went all out on new gear. Well guess what.... all this = very little money to jump. I mean I get to do about 3 jumps when I go to jump. I finally got over it. There other things I want to spend money on other than skydiving. Like non- skydiving vacations and friends and family. So what if I jump less? I finally got over it. Get the house. A lot of jumps is not gonna be the same as the house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
