carpediemracing 

I'm surprised they didn't find a bike racer here.

Or worse, a car racer.

cdr

kensuf

I hid the French maid.

valygrl

As I was heading out for the bike team fit kit party last night, my husband says "now don't buy a bunch more bike clothes"......

GirlAnachronism

The best line on that chart is undoubtedly "dating websites."

roadiejorge 

I never liked having to hide purchases from my wife so every time I did buy something I'd be prepared for to justify and/or debate about said purchase. Forutnately for me my wife has discovered the wisdom in letting people be as they are provided they aren't heading down the path to ruin (or taking anyone else with them) so now she is really supportive.

wens

I didn't even notice that the first time I glanced at it.

mzeffex 

I can tell you I under quoted the price of a set of wheels that I bought.

carpediemracing 

The dating website inclusion was pretty interesting.

I'm lucky as my wife supports my pursuit of my car and bike habits. I'm also not idiotic about spending money (I'm probably more conservative than her) so that helps. I was hemming and hawing on buying an SRM equipped Cannondale with Record and she's the one that said I have to buy it right now at the price of this one bike on eBay. I also get stuff for my cars and she'll come with me to get kind of stupid things like a stainless exhaust or carbon hood (I consider them kind of err flights of fancy purchases for me).

carpediemracing 

Funny story. We had a team Christmas party last year. As part of a "get to know you" thing everyone emailed something about themselves to someone who put together a quiz. You go around, introduce yourself, and ask if the person is this or that (like bingo, each square had an interesting factoid).

One square said "My wife thinks my bike cost $500". No one could fill in that square. The guy who did the quiz sheepishly admitted that he made up a few questions as random "unfillable" squares.

Well, ends up the guy who belonged in that square was there (unexpectedly - apparently he said he couldn't make it) with his wife. Not only does she think that his bike cost $500, he carefully buys black bikes each year so she thinks it's still the same bike. Apparently he does a bike each year, sells the one he has, and apparently either she doesn't know or pretends she doesn't know.

roadiejorge 

My wife has come to realize that about me as well. Recently when I bought a frame to replace the bike that was damaged when I got hit by a car, she told me to get whatever I want even if it went over the money I got back from the insurance company. Instead I got a a frame that was about half of the amount I got back and built the bike up myself and told her I'd save the remaining money to use for future bike part purchases or anything we need around the house.

Quel

I promise not to ask my girlfriend what her boots or bags cost, and in return she doesn't ask me what my bikes cost. It's a good deal.

Hermes

No hidden purchases per se. We have the unspoken $100 rule. If it is under $100 and "maintenance" we just do it. It is surprising what is considered maintenance. New stuff gets discussed but usually approved subject to budget limitations. So the upstairs maid, although maintenance, is over the limit and will never get approved.

WCroadie

That pretty much sums up my wife as well. She is a stay at home mom, I control all the finances, we are both pretty reasonable and non-flashy people. If I can't afford it I don't buy it. She doesn't give me grief about spending $$ on cycling related things, hell I could be out at a bar dropping well over $100/nite on weekends like I once did.

I don't hide anything from her and I don't believe she hides anything from me.

rbart4506

The double edge sword of having a wife who also rides/races...

There is never any hiding of bike related purchases, but there also isn't someone there reeling you in when things start getting a bit out of hand

Hence the few things we currently have for sale

dbikingman

Maybe you and Kensuf could form a co-op or something since I'm guessing this is part time work anyways.

SpongeDad

My wife is aware that bike parts occasionally show up. Basically built my cross bike with parts that accumulated over 3 yrs, and that really wasn't the point when I bought this or that part. A whole bike would be different. Still, in the grand scheme of things, it's cheaper than golf or a health club and I actually ride my bikes.

caloso

The people in that story are Cat 5 purchase hiders. Weak sauce.

cmh

Hiding little bike and toy purchases is funny.

Not so funny when I found my wife was hiding purchases of a pay as you go phone and hotel rooms. Did I say wife? I meant ex-wife. Kind of a step above the dating website thing.

carpediemracing 

ouch

Greg180

Does the check book balance? Do the bills get paid? Is there enough in our Alzheimer's fund? Are you faithful? Are you happy?

If yes to all of the above who gives a ****

Hermes

We have exchanged term sheets.

hurley.girl

Agreed. Since that's something that would typically be hidden from the spouse, can we assume that 4% of married men and 1% of married women are signed up for internet dating sites?

I particularly enjoyed the comments attached to that article. There are a lot of cynical, bitter, and selfish people out there.

bernside

my wife has horses, which means I could never outspend her buying bicycle stuff.

Several years ago I bought a motorcycle on ebay kind of spur of the moment, while she was out of town. I forgot that she gets the emails from ebay on our shared account. Immediately following I got a whole lot of "We just won WHAT on ebay??....PLEASE tell me this is a joke!!" text messages.

K. Olsen

I keep track of the finances in the house and my wife and I discuss any big purchases. If either of us found out one was hiding stuff or using secrets accounts it would damage our relationship.

kleinboogie

Wife totally supports all my endeavors (cycling, music, technology, tools). I'm the same with hers. The trick is to actually use what you buy and don't just hang it up on the wall or put it in a drawer. When and if that happens we usually gently suggest looking for another hobby. GL