I think quite a few guys here work with a budget. Most of us don't have complete cars and save and buy as money allows.
One thing I have done to stay on track is make up a well detailed build sheet with prices. When I want a certain part, I focus on saving the dollars up and buy that part when the money is saved up. (I am talking dimes and nickles here) Another thing I have started doing is selling anything I have stacked up in the garage and don't have a need for. There is always people that are interested in others junk, even if you get a few bucks for it, that is more than you started with. Start selling stuff that you don't use.
Another thing that I have been doing is refinishing old parts on the car so I feel like I am getting something accomplished and still spending very little cash. I manage to buy parts even on my almost non existing college budget. If you budget every factor of your life you can save money as well. I don't eat out hardly anymore which has allowed more money to spend. Most people wouldn't want to go to a big extreme of budgeting, but that is my only way to buy parts. Did you ever sell the blazer and the firebirds? Good luck with the project.
I'm a cheap bastard who doesn't spend money on anything that isn't completely necessary for me to live... leaves some money for me to spend on all the cool toys I don't have the willpower to pass up.
make my wife work 3 jobs . just kidding , i wish i could get her to work 1 full time .
45 hrs running the bodyshop, 40 hrs on the streetrod shop , per week .
I have 2 jobs and a business with my wife (DayCare). I do home loans and design for people. I'm going to school in SF to be an automotive designer. I charge 90 hr when I design stuff for people. The home loan money is going to pay for school and bills. The rest is for my car, but mostly to start a business when i'm done with school. I'm only 22, so I HOPE to have my cake and eat it too when i'm in my late 20's
__________________
Dave
“Tony Tony Tony, I know that your horny, but there’s
somethin bout that Bush ain’t right”
I was the marketing director for a performance automotive company for 7 years. Since I started my own business I'm still able to build ads, catalogs, logos, etc. in my spare time. This helps support my addiction.
Designing other people's cars on the side really helps since my full-time product design paycheck gets eaten up by bills, diapers and home improvements.