We're supposed to go Maui for my sister-in-law's wedding this summer. I may just let Irene & the kids go and stay home and put what I would have spent into my mortgage instead.

I no longer shop on Amazon.com, Ebay.com, etc. I still buy cheap US gas if I go down, but even that's slowed down a lot. I mainly have been spending my money with local reefers, local pet shops & Cdn. online suppliers. None of my money goes south of the border except for some cheap gas, but only if I'm need to be there anyways (visiting friends).

Is the weak Canadian dollar influencing your reef purchases?
 

It's definitely affected me with I purchase from the US online vendors - marine depot and bulk reef supplies. I'm more diligent comparing price to LFS. Exchange rates haven't stopped me but I've become more selective.

I'm still making purchases at eBay and Aliexpress.

Holidays will always be holidays for us - family time and time to recharge. It hasn't affected us with our plans to goto Maui in August for a couple weeks.

I've hardly bought anything this year other than salt.

Until things improve, it's difficult for me to justify spending the money. It sucks because it really affects the enjoyment I get from my tank when I can't buy goodies, gadgets, or new livestock.


Probably a good thing though.... We put more money towards our retirement than any year before. Tough to do that in this hobby :wink:

I've only been buying Livestock most recently, and curbing my spending on dry goods, and the majority of increases seem to be on those. It kind of ended up almost as a good thing, as I think I was spending a little too frivolously with my aquarium.

I do my best to support both LFS and online where I can, but i'm also not made of money so...

I'm glad I bought my Apex and other more expensive pieces prior before the end of the year, as this year prices are climbing fast.

This is a expensive hobby I think we all new this going into it. Weak Canadian dollar ain't going to stop me from taking care of my livestock the best I can.

yeah guys.

you all knew this was an expensive hobby to get into so suck it up.

Just because things can cost 30% more now than a couple years ago is no excuse.

:lol:

I've actually found that once you have the basics (Tank, Rock, Sand, Pumps) this is a pretty inexpensive hobby to maintain.

The new technologies and methodologies are always tempting and can be fun but are also easy to avoid when you've seen so many come and go.

I generally buy salt, food and the odd supplement like selcon but other than that, it's a pretty cheap hobby to be in.

It is what you make it in that sense.

Well said...