Budgeting.

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dreambigpony

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Just wondered whether you usually set a budget each month for your horse? I'm absolutely hopeless each month as I always find myself buying something that I didn't intend to buy and it just blows the budget out the window!
 
I have a bit more self control than you think haha.

Yes, I budget, and I know how much I need to put aside if physio etc or routine vet things are coming up. If I want something, then I either wait till it is in the sale, or I save up for it and when I come to buy it, I then know if I really want it or not.

They're too expensive not to budget!
 
I don't budget but when buying stuff I try to be sensible and think twice if I really need it. The more you shop, online or in actual tack shops, the more you want stuff so go to the yard instead!
 
I get paid monthly so each month I calculate all my known horse costs ; livery, feed, shoes, routine vet etc alongside my household and car bills. Any equipment like rugs he needs comes out of what is left over the same as my clothes etc so I have become a real bargain hunter and think hard whether I / he needs it or not. I have been known to spend weeks online looking for simple things like fetlock boots comparing brands and prices to get the best deal! My horse is still much better dressed than me though!
 
is it just me or has everything gone crazy prices in the last couple of years... when I bought my first woof wear muck type boots they were £20 now they're £40... ok that was almost 8yrs ago.
 
I know what my livery and insurance will be and I stick 20 quid a week in an envelope for feet.

As for equipment, well we've just moved house and my husband was horrified by how much horse stuff we had! I think I have almost everything I need, but I'm on a limited budget so I replace broken needed stuff, I don't go to the tack shop on a jolly! ;)
 
No, probably not. But I'm with HappyClappy too, if it is a "need" then it happens. If I want, then I quite often will, but have got good at shopping for a good price or buying second hand. But sometimes ......
 
I budget like crazy as too much money was leaking out of my account down the horse drain.

My horses have a standing order from my account to theirs.
It covers all known costs for the year, plus a bit for care in their old age, wardrobe allowance, random acts of vandalism allowance (!), emergency vet fund. It soon mounts up, there is a little bit left over each month and over time it builds up to be quite a reasonable amount.

As Diet2Ride says prices have gone bonkers. I used to keep 5 horses for the amount it costs to keep 2 now.
 
I'm going to do like RebelRebel does and put a flat sum in my horse's bank account each month and if it's empty, it's empty! But hopefully it'll stack up into a nice comfy wodge. Obviously I wouldn't let my horse suffer or want for anything she absolutely needed, but it'll cut me spending money on ten different models of hoof boots looking for the mythical perfect fit.
 
the ponies want for nothing as far as their needs are concerned but I rarely have money for extras. So every purchase is based on necessity has been that way for a while now due to having a tiny income and no entitlement to benefits its crazy work for 45 years and get nothing due to a small pension but never work and you get support. Not knocking those who need help but it would have been nice to feel safe. The ponies are a luxury I can ill afford but I would go mad without them and as there is no market for a pocket rocket highland pony either I am caught between a rock and hard place.
 
I've always budgeted for my horse as otherwise it would just get ridiculous the amount I would spend. He has a set amount each month which covers his feed, livery and shoes. I bulk buy his supplements (normally get 3 months supply as it works out cheaper) and the rest is put aside. I learnt the hard way at the start of the year when he suddenly required urgent dental work at the vet hospital that I should always have a back up vet fund set aside for him - he is too old for insurance so it ends up me being the one who pays for vet bills.
 
blitznbobs said:
My advice is don't add it up its scary....
Click to expand...

This - totally, and that's with two old field ornaments, imagine what I'd be like if there was something rideable LOL!

OH is really good about it though, and considering we're skint as he's not been working for a while, his tolerance really is remarkable.
 
I budget very carefully on pay day every month... then it goes out the window as something always happens. I'm getting used to being broke now :(
 
We just try to be aware of what we are spending, but with 6 of the beasties, you can imagine it soon mounts up!

On top of field rent, this week I paid a £100-ish vet bill, £210 shoeing bill, £50 went in the lorry for fuel and yesterdays entry fee was £15!

Dunno the last time I bought new clothes (but I did buy new jods, boots and shirt last month!) buying new kit for school this month though so won't have to buy school clothes for another year!

We are going to a ball soon and I go to these things very rarely, so a friend is lending me a dress, OH already has his tux so that's sorted, just need to put it into the cleaners to freshen it up.

The hay is in and we are buying in the first load of feed at the end of the month, bye-bye £100! :p :D
 
Seems dad was right one of his favourite quotes was "there are two kinds of horse owner those with no money and those that quickly will have no money" we all seem to run skint most of the time
 
I budgeted down to every last penny before I bought a horse. Now it just terrifies me. There's always something extra that HAS to be paid for which wasn't expected. So even if I did put it down on paper I'd still be hideously overdrawn every month so I'm happier keeping my head in the sand whilst also trying to be careful not to get sucked into buying all the 'special offers'.
 
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