What's your Tri Budget for the year? (Page 2)

I'm guessing I'll probably spend about $3K this year.  The big ticket items have been a set of used HED.3's and a new Renn disc.  Lots of misc. other stuff including running & bike shoes, bike clothes, bike parts (cassettes, chains, tools, tubes & tires, etc.).

Our county-run pool raised their rates from $2/session to $4/session, but turning 55 gets me the 50% senior discount 

I'm lucky to be an empty-nester with a good income, so I really don't have any budget constraints.  I'd like to get a new bike eventually, but am waiting to 'reward' myself until I can get the most out of my current ride.

Mark

I did pretty well on my budget this year.  Came in 90% under budget.

That's all well and good until you realize that I budgeted $100,000 for tri stuff this year. 

Over the last three years, I've spent $2,000 with a potential to spend another $6,000 in the next 12 months.  But, I figure, I've also saved $5,000 minimum this year and going forward.  Read on ...

2006 = $150 (new shoes and late season training at the YMCA)

2007 = $400 (2 pairs of new shoes, use old bike, new tri shorts, rented wetsuits, local sprints)

2008 = $1,450 so far up to $5,500 (2 new pairs of shoes, still old bike (but with a fitting), 5 coaching sessions, new Xterra suit, garmin HRM watch, 6 local and out of town races).

But I visited my LBS yesterday and am looking to replace my Klein with a new Felt.  So, maybe 2008 adds another ... $3,000-$4,000.

2009 = $2,000+ (Plan to invest more to improve fitness and technique with more coaching sessions and buy a power meter and learn to use it, plan on 5 local sprints and Oly's and 2 HIM's out of town, plan on renting race wheels to check out all the fuss).

But, what is the savings from one lifestyle to the next.  I figure I save $5,100 a year with the changes.  I don't/can't spend time after work and on the weekends going out and eating really good food and wine that doesn't agree with me during the next day's LSD or group bike ride ($300 per month minimum).  I've dropped golf ($1,500 on a few lessons, 18 yearly rounds of county course golf, and lost balls). 

So, maybe I’m actually in the black with the Tri life.  Most importantly, my wife and I spend a lot more time together now that I'm doing “her” sport.  Cheers.