Biking & Bucks

In the previous blog, I began my writing on spending on hobbies with an interview on Riley and his spending on fly fishing. After writing that blog on Riley's spending, I was intrigued to see the reasoning behind my other interviewees' spending habits on hobbies. After seeing a pattern of vying for community when it came to miscellaneous spending, I was hoping to find another pattern, and my interview with Clayton may have done that. 

While hanging out with my friend Clayton, it is easy to see that he likes bikes: from his funky biking hats, to the extra wheels, handlebars, and tools sitting all over his apartment, to the fact that he shows up at almost everything we do on a bike, it's pretty obvious he's a fan. To someone who rides a bike casually, I didn't understand what he needed to be constantly purchasing or fixing up on his bikes, but I just let it remain a mystery. But after hearing about the new things he purchased, I wondered why and how much he spent on this hobbies. 

How did you decide you wanted to go forth in this purchase?

I base my purchases mainly off of impulse decisions, or very little thought on practicality


Do you set a budget for spending on this type of stuff? Did you change your spending budget after this purchase?

I usually do not set a budget for spending money on bike equipment, but usually rethink my decision to have a budget once I have spent the money. 

Have you forgone participating in other activities or purchasing other items in order to purchase this/these item(s)?

Yes, If there is something that I feel I need and my resources are low, I will not participate in certain activities to fund my bike buying habits.


How much would you say your spending habits changed while in college?
(1-Not at all, exactly the same as before college. 10- It has done a complete 180 and I spend much differently)
Why?

My spending has gone up in college for biking and the associated costs of that activity is not school. Biking is my outlet from school so as the stress goes up, the spending also rises (10).


Do you think you will you continue to spend the same after college?

I feel once my income increases after college with a paying job, my spending will exponentially increase with it.


As an engineering student, it is no surprise that Clayton is stressed, but I found it so intriguing to hear that biking was an outlet from the stress of school. 

For him, there is no set budget on biking, yet the only thing that makes a difference is his stress level. Is this something that a lot of college students are struggling with? He does note that once he graduates and has a higher paying job, his spending will increase, as many students have also stated. 

This makes me wonder... is it our freedom of spending in college that allows us to use our emotions to play such a large part in our reasoning? I know for myself that if I am having a tough day, I'll buy myself a coffee or extra treat... and maybe for Clayton it is his spending on a bike. 

This correlation makes sense when considering earlier blogs that have to do with spending to be with friends, for example eating meals with friends to fit in and have the time in community. I am curious to find out if this could be a larger theme in our spending. 


I hope to learn more from my interviews on hobbies and eventually on less-recreational purchases if this reasoning for our spending in college continues.