First off, I have ZERO debt other than in April/May when I max out my credit cards (FYI call your credit card companies, they'll normally give a special promotion for 4-5 months NO INTEREST which is AWESOME, or buy $500 worth of stuff at Scheels) to apply for Sheep, Mountain Goat, and Moose tags across the nation. Normally I'd have a job right now, but, unfortunately, due to field seasons being canceled due to COVID and fewer funds from Universities it's been harder to secure a position for the summer. Last year it was easier because I was only an hour and a half drive to my main shed hunting areas and I had weekends off and could get Fridays off sometimes too. I decided I would work for a reputable hunting outfitter in Alaska for the Spring Bear season as a test run to see how enjoyable fall packing up there for Dall Sheep, Moose, Mountain Goat, and Grizzly might be. During these break periods, I'm able to travel around on a low budget (just $50-100 a week on food and $0-$60 a week on gas) which if you save up enough in a month that's nothing. I've been lucky enough to not have any expensive truck repairs and my truck has been super reliable even after paying it off.
My monthly expenses consist of health insurance, phone, and truck insurance NOTHING else. I don't have a mortgage/rent so I'm able to use all those extra funds for hunting because when I'm guiding or working in field housing I don't have to pay for any of it. I spend and budget out my hunts over a year in advance like next year I'll be in Greenland hunting Muskox/Caribou and nothing else unless I draw a Moose, Mountain Goat, or Bighorn tag. For most of my hunts, I'm able to go with others who help split the costs of gas, food, etc. and that helps out a bunch too.
I'm absolutely sure 90% of the people on this forum make more than I do in a year, I just have decided to spend it differently (or have the ability to).
To recap, I have zero debt (worked summer jobs to pay off my college, rest was covered by scholarships), no rent/mortgage, I'm single, I'm great at budgeting and figuring out EXACT costs of hunting trips, have breaks in between each hunting season in the fall and can plan my hunts in between those seasons (Colorado), and thus knowing my schedule a year or two in advance and how much I need to save for it.
