How Has Music Impacted You Financially?

[Snicks]

Just was thinking of something that is rarely talked about in expenses. Music! From your child's first band instrument, lessons, books, etc. Or for yourself. All of my life i have enjoyed playing music. I am not great at it. It's a relaxing hobby. But, over the years I have acquired a portable keyboard, dulcimer, organ, 2 acoustic guitars , 3 amps and 2 electric guitars just for myself. For my kids, my oldest son played the trumpet which i purchased and also bought him a bass guitar and amp. My younger son is a drummer and had a very nice drumset in addition to an electric Roland drumset. DD plays clarinet and the entry level plastic resin clarinets were fine for early years but when she was playing in Districts and Regional and concert band we upgraded to an African rosewood clarinet crampon 11 which are not cheap! And, in addition she plays piano so we had purchases a Roland digital piano that has hammer action style keys like a traditional piano. And, assorted books and lessons , i think that put a bit of dent in my budget! None of this was a need but music makes life more pleasant.

And, of course it's part of entertainment expenses when I think of all the cassettes, CDs, downloads, concert tickets, etc.

[disneysteve]

I've played the piano since I was 7. I took lessons for a number of years, so that obviously cost my parents something. We already had a piano in the house, as did a great many people back then. It was a common fixture in the home. I did buy an electric piano when I moved into my 2nd apartment, so that would have been 1988-89 roughly. I still have it and play it. Really no additional cost. I haven't bought any sheet music for years.

I used to buy a lot of albums and later CDs, but haven't really done that for a while either. I did buy one digital album a few months ago. That was the first time I had paid for music probably in 5 years or more. It's simple to get all the music you want for free these days with YouTube, Spotify, etc. Another benefit of the internet and smart phones. I can listen to anything I want at any time no matter where I am (as long as I have internet access). As for concerts, I'm long past that stage of my life. It's probably been 30 years since I last attended a concert. Ticket prices have gotten insane and there's nobody I'm that interested in seeing that I'd be willing to shell out that kind of money.

[ua_guy]

Not too much here.

I've bought/downloaded probably 500 songs from iTunes since about 2005, and I have a Sirius XM subscription for my car which runs about $12/month. Not a concert-goer, so no money spent there.

My folks paid rental on a clarinet for about a year when I was 12, plus some lessons. Wasn't into it. I took a guitar course in high school and learned how to pick notes, wasn't real great with chords yet. Class was free (public education) but the guitar cost about $200 if I recall. Mom bought it from someone at work whose kid was giving it up.

[kork13]

Music has never been in significant expenditure for me, though I did purchase a used upright piano about 10 years ago ($1k?). I did take piano lessons as a kid, and again for maybe a year as an adult after I bought that piano. We are looking at starting my 5-year-old into piano lessons here soon as well, he seems to be expressing an interest in the piano. But music has never been much of any significant expense for us. It also will depend a lot on the family. Music is a huge part of life for some families, and non-existent for others.

[myrdale]

I took piano lessons when I was young for about a year. We had a piano from my great grand mother but it never worked right from being heavily damaged by mice.

In 7th grade I joined band to play the trumpet, and had a loaner from a cousin. Around 9th grade, my parents purchased a new trumpet for me, $1,200 I think. 25 years later it is in my closest at my house. I play with it about once a year.

While in college I purchased a guitar, $350. It makes a nice ornament in my den. I should take lessons at some point.

ITunes is nice. I spend about $20 a year on music there. I do miss Napster and LimeWire.

I still buy CD's occasionally from Amazon when I think of an album I want.

I have the same casset radio from when I was 10.

I did buy a new CD player for my truck about 5 years ago for $400.

I am looking forward to having BlueTooth in the future new truck.

I've never paid money to go to a concert.

Music is a good thing, all the way around. Any money you put into it is money well spent.