Horses and finances - how do you balance?

[xspiralx]

Well what i want to know is how so many of you are on 25+ k a year by mid 20s!!???? I'm 23, finished uni last year, got a job as a self employed agent but is 99% at one place and earn less than 15k per year. Before tax. I suppose i could get an office job but i want the freedom to use my degree at some point and not get stuck in an office (plus average pay for those around here is well under 20k!). Needless to say i can't really afford a horse at the moment. I do spend over £200 a month on petrol though which does not help. So, what job do i get to be earning over 25k lol

a. Work in an office.

b. Work in London!

I'm not over 25k yet, but ought to be there in the next year or two. Don't forget though that the cost of living down here is astronomical - just basic rent on a small 1 bedroom flat is around £700-750 a month.

 

[ellie_e]

Im 21, i earn £1000 a month, before the horse I had a sports car, paid £70 every 6weeks for a hair cut and spent lots on clothes and shoes.. After horse ive changed my car, the money i spent on my hair, now pays for his shoes, and the money i spent on clothes pays for lessons! You can easily do it on £500 i spend £120 a month on livery this includes hay, £35per week on lessons, £20 on feed, £70 every 6weeks for shoes, his insurance is about £45 per month and we are joining up to a worming programme roughly £20 per month. My car cost me £223 insurance £40, phone £30 credit card £35, petrol roughly £70 per month and I pay my mum and dad £120 each month also.

 

[ihatework]

You'll cope fine! Key is to find the right horse and the right yard.
Find a yard that has good facilities but also has 24/7 grass, the amount of money you will save on bedding & hay will really add up. Also look for a horse that will easily live out 24/7, and if it has good feet then leave unshod behind. This will give you a lot more flexibility in terms of commitment to being at the yard at certain times and also on the pressures of having to ride every day - you will find as you progress more at work the pressures on you increase! If you can find a larger yard then there is likely to be someone you can slip diesel money too to catch a lift to the odd show, or see if you can find a yard that runs their own shows.

Something like my yard might be worth considering - for £55 a week you get grass livery. It includes checking/hay and a daily feed. The added bonus is indoor schools and regular dressage/sj shows.

 

[RDO]

Mortgage Smorgage, live for the now and have fun!

When I bought my pony a month back my Mummy (who has paid off her own mortgage) said "I know I should be doing the good parent thing and advising you to save for a mortgage instead of a pony but tbh I think get the pony have fun and the rest will sort itself out later!". She went off traveling for years and did what she wanted and did the whole mortgage and kids thing later on and it seemed to work great for her.