Hopefully you all can help me gain new ideas because I know that I am not the only person who has to find creative ways to purchase gear without throwing off the wifes radar. I am getting back into fishing and thanks to Dilbert am getting ready to start spending to support my habit. My wife can sometimes want to go 1 for 1 with big purchases, ie. "You spent XXX on that? When do I get to spend my XXX!" SO I have devised a great way to make purchases without having to mark this down in the checkbook. I have been spending my spare change!!!

As I am writing this I have just returned from Safeway. I took all of the spare change from my small collection in my nightstand and turned it in to $50 worth of Bass Pro Shops gift cards. I may have even pushed my purchases over the even dollar mark once or three times to receive the maximum $.99 cents change. The change counting machine there collects 8.9% on the dollar and you can turn your receipt in to any cashier for a $25 or $50 gift card. They have Cabellas also.

Now I was advised by Dilbert that if you cash in at a coinstar in Albertsons you can do a 100% exchange for a Cabellas E-Certificate that is redeemable online for purchase. The best part about that is the online store wil not charge you tax as they are a seperate entity from the actual store.

Anyway you look at it, my wife has no real idea how much any of my stuff costs. So if I can tell her that I only spent $100 from the account, she thinks that I got a swinging deal. Hope that this helps. Don't get me wrong, I believe in honesty, but all is fair in love and fishing.

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That is a good plan I think I might try that one. Thanks for the tip

That's why the wife drives the better car. "You already spent yours... it's in the driveway!"

Besides, the fishing gear isn’t just for you, it’s for the kids too.

Seriously though, I prefer to think of it as creative financing rather than hiding. I have a crown royal bag overflowing with change just waiting to be converted into an e-certificate. The only thing holding me back is the main items I want from Cabela's are on backorder. So for now I wait…collecting…counting…dreaming of warmer mornings.

Now, as far as the acquisition of change, cash purchases are definitely the key. In the age of debit cards and e-banking this is definitely my weak point. Remember the three Cs to change collecting; Couches, Cars, and Children’s piggy banks. And whatever you do, don’t go squandering away your change in fountains, wishing wells, and gumball machines.

Now, about that boat, how much change do you have anyway?

Use the coinstar locator to find the machine with Cabela's e-certificates near you.
http://locator.coinstar.com/

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“I take a whiskey drink! I take a chocolate drink! And when I have to pee, I use the kitchen sink!!”
-Homer J Simpson

its a good thing that my wife likes to fish, but i do have to get her better ($) equipement to use. she knows whats good and whats not. but i still try to get certain things. i've done all the stuff that has been stated here in my earlier years. now that theres EBAY i can get sum stuff at a reasonable price. or i can say oooops i just bidded on some stuff accidentally or i didn't mean to buy that. don't know how long i can keep that up, yard sales are great to but it still comes down to finding the ($) to stash. there has been 10.00 loafs of bread and 5.00 gal, of milk. <')//<

Fitting quote by Koos Brandt:
My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.

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I fish not because I regard fishing as being terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant, and not nearly so much fun. ~ John Volker

Well, here's how I would do it. Go to a fishing shop (Bass Pro, Cabela's, etc.) and buy a couple small, cheap items. Next, go to your wife, briefly wave the receipt in her face, and say, "Look what I got for XXX (price on your receipt)!" Then, proudly hold up a relatively expensive lure and tell her the receipt price again. Keep doing this for maybe three times. If all goes to plan, she will think that it is a very cheap store, and you are out of her radar to buy a buncha stuff. Buy with cash/change still though.

out.

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The gods do not deduct from a man's alloted span the amount of time spent fishing. So why am I not out there?

SPEEDING. What's your excuse?
"Helping you morons pay for donuts!"

forgot to say that i may get into hot water posting on this . the wifey( hi hun ) sometimes looks at what i'm doing on the computer maybe that could be an added bonus to a lifetime membership, some sort of secret passsword ioi <')//<

this is great ideas everyone thanks!!! but my wife fishes too and and knows what it all cost but BPS is 5 min from work and she dont follow me there

beresford13861 - Welcome to the board and all the way from California! Wow that is dedication. I am honored to be one of your first posts.

To all who have came up with great and creative ideas, my thanks. I am just getting back into fishing from a long vacation of 10 or so years and without all of the disposable income that I used to have. Dilbert- You are my fishing buddy and I like that we think alike. Pretty soon, if I have my way, my 2 little boys will have their own tackle boxes stocked with gear. Kevin will get crankbaits, and Mason will get spinners. If I could only have another son who wants really expensive swimbaits...

Keep the ideas coming, the friend you help might be your own!

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That would not be good.....plan scratched! Or I could do it like that movie Big Momma's House 2, where the guy hides behind the old guy's motor scooter as he is hiding from his wife in the mall. The old guy laughs a little and says, "That your wife? Been there."



out.

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The gods do not deduct from a man's alloted span the amount of time spent fishing. So why am I not out there?

SPEEDING. What's your excuse?
"Helping you morons pay for donuts!"