This past May I got so sick of being horribly out of shape that I decided I would start running. I was an ok runner in High School (lower-level varsity on the Cross Country team), and although I can't say I necessarily enjoy it, there is a certain feeling of accomplishment that comes from being able to run that is just enough to keep me coming back. But I hadn't run in quite some time, so I needed some new gear.
I don't typically spend a lot of money on random things for myself, so I was ok with making a few purchases to get this new activity going. And you'd think that running would be a low-cost hobby, but as I look back on the last 4+ months, I've spent a decent amount of money. Here's what I'm bought and how much I've spent on each item:
* Two pairs of running shoes, ~$80 each - I put between 300 and 350 miles on my first pair so I was definitely overdue for some new shoes.
* 1 pair running shorts, $25 - I had some athletic shorts but they were too loose to run in; thankfully the days of above-the-knee running shorts are behind me (no one needs to see that) but I needed a pair that would stay up while running.
* 3 running shirts, ~$30 each - Regular cotton t-shirts are fine for most runs, but they become a real burden during runs that are longer than 10 miles (they get really heavy when drenched with sweat). This includes two shirts my wife bought as a surprise gift.
* Camelbak, $50 - When you run for longer than 10 miles, hydration becomes an issue. Camelbaks are a great way to stay hydrated.
* Gu Electrolyte Mix, $10 - I mix this with my water for runs longer than 10 miles; it's a bit of an enhancement over regular water.
* Gu Energy Gels, ~$15 total - Conventional Wisdom says take one of these per hour of running.
* Race Fees, $115 total - I participated in two runs: a 5k in September and the Marine Corps Marathon on October 26th. Registration fees (especially for the marathon) can be pricey!
* Running Socks, $10 total - Regular cotton socks can cause nasty blisters during the longer runs, as I found out the hard way.
* Shoe Inserts, $10 - A foot injury that I suffered about 3 weeks ago rendered these absolutely necessary.
That's a total of $485. $485! It was all necessary for the most part, but still, nearly $500 spent on running in four months...there are more expensive hobbies out there and it's easy to get carried away with spending money on the new hobby. The most important thing is to determine what is essential, and what could possibly be attributed to getting caught up in the excitement of a new hobby. Readers: how have you reconciled your budget with the price of new hobbies?
-Michael
Twitter: @michael_dink
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8 comments
Spending under $500 dollars to get in shape is really a very cost effective use of your money.
Consider what else that $500 could have been spent on. For example, thats 10 to 15 fancy dinners out, 10 pairs of designer jeans, a couple of games of poker, etc etc.
Frankly the fact that you are using the money to get in shape is very sensible in my book.
Welcome back to the world of running! I did the same thing a few years ago but only spent on a pair of good running shoes, that was all I felt I really needed.
But once I spent the money on the shoes, I was committed. After that I was like "Now you HAVE to run."
One other thing that helped was signing up and paying for races. Once I put the money down my motivation just skyrockets.
This has potential to save you money on health cost in the future....you never know!
Anon - you're absolutely right. I could have spent that money on any number of things, probably just wasting it slowly over time. It was definitely a worthwhile investment.
Writer's Coin - I love how spending money can nudge you into keeping a commitment. I can definitely say that signing up for the runs that I did definitely helped me stay on track. At the very least they contributed to motivating me to keep going.
Deborah - That's an excellent point! Although my diet is certainly less than healthy (I love cheese what can I say?) hopefully my exercising helps offset that a little bit!
Some hobbies can actually return money back to you. I took up gardening (veggies and herbs). You can get as fancy (or minimal) as you'd like. Seed packets are cheap. Tools and patio containers can be bought at garage sales. Nothing beats garden fresh produce. Big savings on groceries. Fresh basil, tarragon, thyme, etc. cost an arm and leg in the store.
I know how expensive entering a marathon or race can be, but, you should always pay the fees if they are required. Big news here in Cleveland just last week was about the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. More than half the participants never registered, or paid their registration fees, but still ran and got free shirts, bottled water, etc.
Mo - I can't believe that, that's terrible. Especially for a good cause like cancer research. I hate to hear stuff like that.
In the summertime I look out at all the sailboats on Lake Michigan and think "What a great way to spend a day. I should take up sailing." Then I realize how expensive sailboats are.
But I agree with the first poster, some spending for something you enjoy - and that keeps you fit - is totally worth it as long as you are conscious of where your money is going and don't go overboard.
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