How do you pay for your horse habit?

[Ajinx]

I know for some of you its just the way of life, but with the economy the way it is its getting tougher,so is your horsey life a living or a habit?

I wish I had the benefits of doing something I loved everyday. I work full time, but I was wondering if any of you have any part time gigs to justify your horse costs.

[Technicolor]

Yes, I work part time as a stripper. Really helps to pay those extra bills and the tip money is wonderful (never have to go to the ATM).

Actually, I'm a RN and until recently just picked up extra shifts to support my habit. Course we havn't been busy so I may have to go back to the stripping thing.

[bcsnqhs]

LOL Technicolor. That's one thing I missed about working at the hospital--the RN's with the weird sense of humor.

[MyMagic]

I work part time at a tack shop to help support my habit and any and all money gifts (birthday, christmas, etc) go in the horse fund. Once a year I go through my tack room and sell what I'm not using to raise a little extra cash...but maybe Technicolor's part-time gig is a better deal??! LOL!!!

[Sunday Girl]

I work...all of the time. I have a full time job in research that pays better than any other job I've had, but still doesn't quite cover rent/bills/horses. I work part time at a photo place, on average 2/3 nights a week and a weekend day, 12-16 hours a week. I also work at my barn part time, doing 3-4 night checks/week, working 2 am shifts/1 pm shift every other weekend, and 1-2 pm shifts a week. Averages about 12 hours a week.

And now I have my jewelry business to focus on, so I have 4 jobs. And somehow I still manage to ride my horse 4-5 times a week? I just don't do much of anything else ;) I'm barely scraping by, but if I worked anymore I think you'd have to have me committed. I also wouldn't be able to ride as much, and HELLO, that's why I work all of the time in the first place! It's a fine balance and one that I'm still working on.

[Dare2Dream]

How do I pay? I close my eyes when I write the checks... ;)

Seriously, I budget carefully and work at the barn on the weekends to work off some of my board, it makes a big difference!

[ss]

I use as much money as I can from the "house" account but also have a horse account. I work part time and am self employed so when I have "little" jobs I try to save the money from those. The horse account covers whatever the house account can't and sometimes gets used to bail us out. I use the horse account for purchases- saddles, hay, the bigger stuff. It's in a seperate bank with no checking acct or ATM card. I have to go there for a withdrawal. Slows down any impetious decisions. I have used it to save board for the winter. Now I just keep them at home and trailer to a friend's arena when I can and weather permits. I work my part time job plus my 3/4 time contract job plus whatever little jobs I can squeeze in.

[Suburban Tack]

I have a wonderful fellow who knew going into buying non-horse property, that since I was going to be paying board, my down payment was all he was getting for bills.

After that I have a small pt job that pays for health insurance, the store seems to bring in a little money here and there while paying for my tack, and I'm not sure where the rest of the money comes from, oh wait the draining bank account. . . . But I save money by doing my own chores (well at least with 3 horses I save) and I'm VERY frugail with anything not horse related . . . .

[UpNorth]

I work full-time, take care of my horses on my own property and am very frugal. Anything I don't need, I sell.

[MNHorseGal]

I work full time, live at home (still pay rent but not as much as if I had my own place), and my horses are at my aunts house. She doesn't charge me for keeping them there, just gotta get hay and grain. I don't think I could afford to board anywhere else. I am trying to get down to just one horse and then get a boarder for horsey company.

[Celt]

I work my bum off and try to work off board in any way that's reasonable if its possible. That and I lease with a friends to help share the cost. Makes it a bit easier on my wallet when it comes to gas that way too.

[Louies Momma]

I work full time at a High School and I enjoy it. The pay is not the greatest but I survive. I also live at home still. The fiance is a tattoo artist and so we can't always count on his income as it changes monthly.

I work odd hours (11:00-7:30) and because of that I can't really find another job without pulling overnights.

Right now I pay board, and I'm 2 payments away from owning Louie again completely. I get frusterated quickly with money but Lou is my life and I make it work I guess.

[Technicolor]

Yeah bcsnqhs, actually we're a wield bunch, esp. a night shift. Heck, the last time I worked I had to have a serious conversation about proper "winkie washing" with a gentleman (5 o'clock in the morning, no less). You can't be normal with a job like mine.