If I can veer away from the debit card discussion and get back to thoughts on building a train collection…aside from the off the cuff remark of “buy used,” I did actually make a conscious lifestyle decision years ago to help fund my train addiction. I had always enjoyed driving a decent fairly late-model car. I sort,of looked at an average car payment as a necessary expense, like utility or mortgage payments. You just accepted it as part of the deal.
Once I got into trains big time, however, I made a decision to compromise. Once my new Volvo station wagon was paid off in 2002 or 03, I resisted the urge to get a new car and instead decided to plow what used to be the monthly car payment — more or less — into trains. And I did this until my car finally died about 12 years later. By the end I was driving a piece of s**t. But I had beaucoups trains. LOL. I traded a huge one time emotional rush that probably would wear off in a few weeks for a series of smaller but more prolonged emotional bumps that gave me feelings of satisfaction and contentment that went on for years .
So one way to build a collection is compromise. Give up one of your indulgences or pleasures for your train habit. Maybe it’s a new car every couple of years. Or You give up season tickets to your favorite team. Or you sell your boat. Whatever, whether it’s big or small, a compromise may be the answer.
