How do you guys save money for watches?

Honestly, I have been a bit careless just getting things on a whim this past year. I used part of my bonus on my Rolex OP. I am trying to reign it in. Next more expensive watch I want is a Doxa and I told myself this is a Christmas gift. I set up an auto transfer for $50/week starting in August for 19 weeks to save up for it. I have also sold two watches this year. I’ll see how I feel down the line if I feel compelled to sell anymore of them.

That seems like a very responsible way to go about it. Especially limiting the collection, that's where I think a lot of people, myself included, find fault

Sometimes it's nice to just go out and do something nice for yourself! Also very smart to actually put aside money for it though, because it makes the end goal so much sweeter when you get it.

The classic advice, $50 a week is $2,600 a year. Just start putting aside something and give it time.

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Set aside a monthly stipend. You will be in business at the end of the year.

I waited until Ireached my sixties, became n empty nester, and had no more tuition to pay. It also helps that the average lifespan of the cars my wife and I drive is 20 years! Priorities. The watch I’m wearing today is worth more than my car (by a lot)!

I am all for the treat yourself mentality! 😆

I built my last few watches...

Beg, borrow, steal, or barter…

Is this where a watch get slowly taken apart and stripped down for parts?

I use a portion of my bonus to buy luxury watches…last year I got three watches with my bonus, this year (and in future years) I will only buy one. The collection grows large!

I also use work points to purchase affordable watches (Tissot, Hamilton, Seiko, G-Shock). This holds me over between bonuses.

Watches over a grand get their own dedicated monthly stash. Watches less than a grand I just fire away if I really like it.

I'm single. No wife or kids. Enough said.

I only purchase a watch if I know I have at least double the value in the bank. That being said, it’ll be a long time before I get a UN Freak…

I use to surf the websites everyother day and track the watches I like.... As my job implies night shifts, every time I'm bored at work I visit all the sites looking for special sales and offers. I've been very lucky, for example I managed to get a Seiko Safarnie for just about 230 dollars, Wich is a really good deal here in Mexico.

For me, I put a small amount of money away each month. This is separate from bills money, holiday money etc, its just for watches and at a level I can afford. When I got my first proper watch many years ago, I was frightened it would sell (way before the internet) and asked the shop if I could reserve it. I put down a deposit and every week went in with £5 or whatever I could afford until I paid the watch off, the shop would not release it as it were, until it was paid off (fair enough). It took me almost a year but I was 18 not earning a lot and of course girls and alcohol at that age ! But ever since (with odd lapse) put a small amount in a savings account, and with odd work bonus, birthday money etc it builds up slowly. I have sold the odd watch that doesn't settle, to build up the funds. At the moment saving for a Grand Seiko and will take a few years. If the watch under £300ish if I have spare cash will pay for it out of my normal account, the savings account mainly for grail watches.

Yes for $5 a minute if that’s what your into big boi 😉

I just save money in general. If I notice I have an extra 500, 1000, 2000, whatever, that I wasn't particularly expecting to have, and I've been thinking about a watch around the same time, I'll let my mind start to work on some possibilities. Basically, I think about watches when I have money in hand that I know is absolutely surplus to requirements; I never create hardship for myself chasing something specifically.

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Save?

I set aside $1.5-2k a month for watches that I want to acquire. And that money always stays as watch money. I normally like to plan my acquisitions but I’m not always successful. I thought for sure I was gonna end up with a Grand Seiko SLGA019 next month but I decided to go with the Glashutte Original PanoMaticInverse after seeing it in the metal yesterday.

I set aside an amount of money that goes into my "fun money" account. Wife's does the same. Whatever we buy with that is a no questions asked, no guilt purchase. I use it for gaming, watches, video equiptment, etc.

Also I run a youtube channel (not watch related) and what little money I get from that goes into the pot as well.

At first I didn’t think the question and topic was very good but as I read these responses I totally changed my mind. It’s a very good question. For those that are being honest with each other and frankly themselves, it’s very interesting to see how we justify, plan, and spend our hard earned dough.

Hindsight is always 20/20 so looking back I wish I was more of a planner and saver. I’d probably have a better collection comprised of more higher value based and even pieces that I regret selling to fund something different especially in the beginning. I remember buying the Rolex GMT black ceramic bezel when it first came out for under retail and only selling it less than year later. Wow! Right? I’ve calmed down a lot though. So I tend to not impulse buy or sell like I used to. You’ll make less mistakes. Now, it’s more of opportunity based collecting. Something has to come along that’s worth it to me to either decide to buy or trade towards. I’ve had so many watches now and some are and were very expensive that it’s easier to not get too excited and make a bad decision. If I have the money and it’s a piece that has some meaning to me then I’m good.

Live almost your whole life before getting the bug and getting into the hobby and then spending the money you saved (your whole life) for retirement (before you retire) thinking there will be plenty left to cover your future living expenses (and more watches) 😬.

I chose a fairly lucrative career. My wife and I keep our living expenses low. And I limit myself to 12 watches. If I buy one, I sell one.

Seriously, living in a small apartment in a low cost of living city is like a cheat code for finances.

It depends. If is something reasonable in my eyes, I buy it. If it’s a little more spendy, I stay out of the store.

I use the cash back from my Discover Card. I figure it’s basically free money. Unfortunately, it doesn’t accumulate fast enough for my watch appetite, so it ends up just helping to fund them. Of course, I use the card to buy the next watch, so…

I funnel money through my Whole Life Insurance policy then take out a policy loan whenever I want to buy a watch. This allows my money to still work for me while I enjoy my new watch 🙂. I’ve only done this for 1 watch so far, but more to come!

I dont buy unless i have 10x the amount already set aside...its a luxury after all, not a necessity...