I was just thinking about this. I always low ball my numbers when the wife asks me questions about the tank. At first I was telling her the up and up but I realize my error in my ways!!! LOL
Is anyone else like this?
Mine has converted to the dark side!
MUHAHAHA
I lie. Straight up, flat out, out & out lie. Everytime. I don’t take receipts from the store, and I never allow them to put prices on the bags. I delete my PMs every day, I password protect the computer, and this forum using seperate passwords.
I turned off paper statements from my credit card companies, have the notifications sent to a completely seperate e-mail address that she doesn’t know I have.
And I keep an extra bank account here at work that she doesn’t know about.
So yeah - you’re not alone. And you’ll learn.
lOl
Wow Craig, that is a lot of work. My way is a lot easier, when my wife gave me hassle about my tanks i divorced her lOl
The good side is that i can spend as much time/money i want on my tanks, the bad side is im now working towards wife number 3!
If anyone knows any single, cute reef chicks, send em my way!
[quote=“logans_daddy, post:4, topic:842”]
Wow Craig, that is a lot of work. My way is a lot easier, when my wife gave me hassle about my tanks i divorced her lOl
The good side is that i can spend as much time/money i want on my tanks, the bad side is im now working towards wife number 3!
If anyone knows any single, cute reef chicks, send em my way![/quote]
NOW THAT IS FUNNY
I dont know what i was thinking but Saturday I went to Mr. Coral (great deals) and got some things. But I also have been acquiring some things for the tank to get it up to speed. Well she saw the bags and like you said they had the price on them. She turned over every bag. At first I was like she is interested…but then it hit me.
Oh Big C will you be my teacher…teach me the ways of the hide and stash oh great one!!!
Teach me how to dance away from the ?'s like Mike Jac in the 70’s!!! EvIl GrIn
PLEASE lOl
[quote=“rawdawg05, post:6, topic:842”]
I dont know what i was thinking but Saturday I went to Mr. Coral (great deals) and got some things. But I also have been acquiring some things for the tank to get it up to speed. Well she saw the bags and like you said they had the price on them. She turned over every bag. At first I was like she is interested…but then it hit me.
Oh Big C will you be my teacher…teach me the ways of the hide and stash oh great one!!!
Teach me how to dance away from the ?'s like Mike Jac in the 70’s!!! EvIl GrIn
PLEASE lOl[/quote]
It’s easy - learn to use words like “like”. For example:
Her:“How much did you spend on that Flame Angel?”
Me:“Like $20”
Her:“Oh, OK then”
Me:“When’s dinner?”
Truth - I spent $50 - but the 5 looks just LIKE a 2 if you turn it upside down.
lmao…I’m taking notes.
logans_daddy, I like your method…as long as she doesn’t find out I said that.
Just give them a small tank of their own for a present.
Thats how I converted Keleigh. She got a 29g with some xenia, some macro, and a few damsels for a birthday present one year. Now she chips in for everything. Much easier than hiding stuff and then you have 2 pay checks to work with…
Ha luckily for me, the tank was first, so that stays! Along with the bike! I got her into the hobby and she now bought a fish for the tank, it’s a start! She knows its expensive, but its better then me going out spending my money at the bar getting drunk with other girls haha.
[quote=“DamnPepShrimp, post:10, topic:842”]
Ha luckily for me, the tank was first, so that stays! Along with the bike! I got her into the hobby and she now bought a fish for the tank, it’s a start! She knows its expensive, but its better then me going out spending my money at the bar getting drunk with other girls haha.[/quote]
That is the only thing that has been saving me so far.
Welcome to the club rawdawg, lol.
If you haven’t already read some of Reef Keeping Mags, top ten’s, at least read the titles for the last 4-5 years:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/subject/humour.php
Here is some of my advice on this topic:
Fish:
Never ask them to buy a new fish they haven’t seen, ask them to come to the store and then talk about how cute one is. Tell them to look at the fish’s eyes. Then when you have the fish ask them to feed the fish, and the fish will quickly become both of yours and soon it will be their fish. Just don’t show them puffers, they’ll get upset they can’t go in with the other animals and that frustration could be taken out on you.
Get in the habit of “rescuing†fish from other people breaking down their tanks. Often fish start fighting and one needs to get “rescued”. Sometimes an owner wants a different clown that’s not compatible and you can “rescue†the fish from the former owner who no longer loves it. It’s all about wording here.
Coral:
QT tanks are a great way to hide new corals. They are simple and fish free and the other half doesn’t pay as much attention to them.
Start a QT service for you’re friends. Then when you come home and have three big bags full you can tell her they aren’t all for you. “Ran into Andy at that store and he just wanted me to hold on to some things cause he was scared of getting flat worms and aptasia from that one place.”
If they find a coral they think is pretty you can surprise it and “get†it for them. “Get†it for them, not “buy†it for them. Often they want us to spend money on them, but in this case don’t use words which bring up images of you swiping your credit card or last months bill.
Corals can be money makers, but don’t pus this one to long. Really it is not easy to get a coral to pay for all the power bills, light bulbs, water bills, salt, tank set up, chemicals, food… You’ll be luck to break even, let alone make money. You can convince her a couple of times that a coral might in the end make some money, but many of us use this way to much and many guys end up looking like morons because their corals just cost money and don’t make money.
Tanks:
If they get sick and tired of all the tanks laying around strike a bargain to combine three tanks into one giant one. Tell them you’ll spend less time maintaining just the one, so you’ll have more time for them.
Many women love angelfish and tangs which often times will eventually outgrow smaller tanks. If you get a little one and they fall in love with it you can tell them later we have to upgrade or trade it in. “I was just reading in this book you bought me for Christmas that it isn’t healthy for Mr. Tang to live in such a small tank. He needs an upgrade. I saw a tank(220g) in the paper the other day that was pretty cheap and would be perfect.”(NOTE, this is not a good time to bring up that you will need to reinforce the floors before buying said new tank)
General:
As DamnPepShrimp says, the tanks were here first. I also have always told all of my gfs right away, “I’m broke”. I never would ever say, “I’m broke… because I have fish tanks.”
Hit the grocery store and use debit with cash back. Cash goes to the fish store. If there is no way you can hide that you’ve been to the fish store use half cash half credit it so it doesn’t look as bad on the bill.
As Icy said the best thing you can ever do is to convert them. A nano tank with built in filtration can be a great way to start. They won’t have to mess with choosing the filter, or pump, or lighting. The fish will often also outgrow the tank, so yet another tank is right around the corner. Second time around you can set up a sea horse tank as some women fall in love with those little guys to.
GTG, get ready for the meeting.
Again, welcome to the club we have lots to teach you, lol.
Jon
lOl IS it bad that Jon’s post is a checklist for things I have done?
Al, no, apparently your on the right track lol!
{
[quote=“Gordonious, post:12, topic:842”]
Tanks:
If they get sick and tired of all the tanks laying around strike a bargain to combine three tanks into one giant one. Tell them you’ll spend less time maintaining just the one, so you’ll have more time for them. [/quote]
I’ll give that one a go…
That one does not work. Use the baby tang, it works. Keep the small tang for 2 years till it grows on her then it needs a bigger home. this one works