Just trying to make a decision and want input from all of you.
All of us seem willing to pay 4 or 5 dollars for an AV and maybe 7 or 8 for one that's rare or newer, but is there a limit to how much you are willing to pay for an AV that you think is strikingly beautiful and that not many people or retail sources have?
There is an AV that I really want selling through a reputable and known grower for 20.00. Just wondering how many of you would be willing to spend 20 dollars on one AV? I never really thought about a limit on what I would spend for one plant. I have seen AVs selling for for this amount but generally would have to say that I didn't feel that one AV was worth that expense. In this instance I am very tempted.
If you don't mind answering, what is your limit and what makes you willing to spend more than the usual 4 to 8 dollars?
Wondering what your limit is?
I paid 12 for Annabelle. I guess it would depend on how much money I has set aside for plants. I'm on a budget as many of us are and as long as I don't rob Peter to pay Paul, I think it's OK.
I am in basically the same situation as you. Specifically, I want Lucky Penny from Rob, which he sells for $20. At this particular time, I won't pay that for it. I am still learning all the delicate details of AV care and cultivation. However, by next spring, I'll have a full year of AV growing under my belt, and I'll have made it through another winter with my AVs. That's where my biggest concern is now - keeping them warm and humid enough in winter. If, by next spring, I have confidence in myself that I can grow it well, bring it to bloom, and propagate it to share with others, then, yes, I'll pay $20 for it. There are only a select few that I would go that high for, and normally, I stick to the $4 or $5 limit, though I did splurge on some SpaceBabies and paid $10 for those. I justified that because they are huge (plenty of leaves to put down), bloom easily and have lots of blooms, and they each had several suckers already growing in their pots.
Not a definitive answer, by any means, but I hope that helps you see my point of view. :o)
I don't think the 20 dollar amount is too much if you can aford it. I think that is what you have to think about. Some people can and other can't so that is a big part of the decision.
Interesting thoughts. Thank you.
Yes what Diane said about affording it.
Would I pay it ?
Or can I Afford it ~
I have paid this before and many time more ~
But my income is half now then what it was amd expemses are higher medical wise..
I say Annabelle is well worth $ 12.00 she was full in bloom in 4 inch pot with a guarentee ~
If I could go back would I have Spent the thousands I have on AV plants and leaves..
NO ~ I bought ALL the Ajohn's ALL yes ALL plants and leaves none did well for me...
So when Russians came a long I did not go crazy bought one at a time ~
I paid $ 53.00 for SunRay Trail ~
No one else had her then...now she is selling for less.
Mom died , I gave some babies away and have one baby left in a 3 inch pot doing OK...
I paid $153.00 for an auction of rare leaves. 14 single leaves ~ ALL DIED ~
I bought all the Senks~
I bought and bought all the leaves I bought I paid good money .
It's a living thing ~
All living things die ~
If I could go back again I would have saved the thousands of $$$ I spent we sure could use it now ~
BUT if you can aford it and want it buy it ~
Which plant are you looking at. lol
April, I would happily pay $20 or more for a plant I really want. I would prefer to go without new clothes or shoes and get it.
I just paid $20.00 for EverPrecious. I couldn't really afford it, but I wanted it SOOOO bad, and it was a full grown plant in bloom. I got free shipping on it, and it was here in 2 days.
I wouldn't make a habit of it, but I don't regret spending that much on a Space Baby.
Hugs,
Janis
I have been looking at Lucky Penny and another one of the Lucky --- can't remember which one right now. Rob guarentees his plants and I have had wonderful luck with them. Here's another way to look at it: Would you rather have 1 plant for $20 or 4 or 5 plants?
Let me share my story of the soup tourine. When I was young and first married, we saved and saved to go to San Francisco for a belated honeymoon. We were window shopping, because that is the only thing we could afford to do. There was a soup tourine in the window of a shop that was drop dead gorgeous. Dennis said, "If you really want it we can get it." I really wanted it but felt bad spending that much money when I was the only one who really wanted it. I didn't get it. To this day I think about that soup tourine, wishing I would have bought it. It was $75.
Now, when I really want something, I asked myself this question, "Is this another soup tourine?" Meaning do I want it as badly as I wanted that tourine. If the answer is yes, I get it. Life is too short. We should find happiness wherever we can.
End of soap box.
Nanna, that is a great way to look at things..... I will definately have to remember that!
Janis
I haven't found my limit yet...I have a budget, but it is flezible at times.
For the most part,I tend to stay under 20.00 per plant. I'm even more picky when it comes to the size...babies just don't do well for me, so I don't pay much for them.
I'm also like Allison in that I wished I had all the money I spent when I first got started....I killled $$$ worth of plants. Since we also recently moved & I had to leave behind an entire garden it took me 25 years to aquire and lots of money ...I think before I buy,NOW.
One of the things I've come to appreciate about AV's & Gessies is their portability.lol They are fairly easy to move & grow anywhere.
I also agree with Nanna, life is short & if the item brings that much joy, etc then go for it. Life is too short...
MsC
I agree with life is short do it ! Yeah ! Buy it yeah !
BUT life is realy short..
What happens if you young , healthy running circles around people with a good career and one day you get home and can't walk to you mail box or carry your purse into the house ?
You have no savings ~
Terminal ill heh let's just keep buying and spending this small SSD check each month can't take it with you. lol
HEH not fair when you go into the Nursing home they take ALL of you SSD check you a loud to keep $30.00 ..hhhmmm this pays for my internet service ! Yeah ! I can still sell and make money on Ebay.lol
Everything is lost material wise ~
You might think this could never happen to you. I did ~
And even when I got my SSD check back when I got out of the nursing home ~
Hek I'm not going to be here long life is short. Spend that SSD as fast as you can each month lol
Guess WHAT still alive 6 years later ~
Still have no saving and broke~
Guess what Life is so short ~ Sometimes not as short as we thought it woud be ~
If I could just go back and do my life over ~
I am an ebay addict and have learned the hard way to stay away.
I paid too much for things that I really HAD to have, and then they either died or turned out to not be so special after all...and then I found another one I HAD to have, and paid too much for, etc.
I have now discovered a nursery that has some relly gorgeous noids for $5, and since I'm not planning on showing, I think I'll stick to those.
Besides...lol...I have NO money left for things like food!!!
(And I have too many AVs to remember them all)
My name is Sharon, I am an AV addict and I need help...
Hiya Sharon,
But it's a healthy addiction! :)
Glad you're here.
MsC
Sharon, you are wonderful. Thank you so much for the "crack up"
My name is Linda, I am an AV addict and I need help. . .
Oh & Sharon... we are almost neighbors...lol
MsC
Road trip, road trip!!!
I am an AV addict, and don't want help LOL
Hi Sharon nice to meet you ! Welcome to our wonderful African Violets and Gesneriads forum ~
I did the same as you and now I have no money :((
Hey, Mrs. C...check out the Southwest Gardening Forum...most folks are from Az.
We're a great nutty bunch of plant addicts...having a roundup in Tucson in Nov.
Hope you can join us!!!
All are welcome, not just Arizonans!!!
=0)
Sharon, addicted to plants in general
(also animals...sob)
I DEFINITELY need help...
You all have been very kind to share your opinions and stories. I could add to the "I wish I had the money I spent on...." So many of us have such imperfect lives and yet we have all managed to find some happiness- good for us.
I was also hard working, running circles around my peers, making tons (ok, not tons, but a lot) of money but fell on "hard times"- some were the result of poor decisions made many years before, others just chance- but all of my own doing, can't blaime anyone else. I always thought that everything would improve w/ time, but at some point you realize that there isn't enough time. I also know the sorrow of no savings, more bad decisions or at least decisions made w/o good information.
I agree life is short and we should find hapiness where and when we can- although I found that sometimes there is a price for that happiness and that happiness can be fleeting even though I thought it would last. Many times I have thought I would do things differently if I knew then what I know now, but that's a pointless thought since we can't go back and we made what we thought were the best decisions at the time.
Nanna I share your logic and I understand the soup tourine- I have a few of my own. For me, this one big beautiful plant for 20.00 is worth more than 4 or 5 smaller beautiful plants for me- it's from Rob's and I know that it will be beautiful. And Anna, I'd rather do w/o new shoes, clothes, etc too!
Well, April, I have to ask, but you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Which plant is it?
I agree with all the comments above. I wish I could change some things, but I can't, so I don't dwell on them. I'm a stay-at-home mom, so that makes our income less than it would be if I worked outside the home. Sometimes I don't have the money to buy any plants at all, sometimes I do. That's one thing I wouldn't change, though. I wouldn't trade the opportunity to stay home with my kids for all the money and plants in the world, so I'm perfectly content to not be able to afford some of the more expensive plants.
You know what makes it all even better to me? Between all of us here, we've got a very large variety of plants and everyone is so willing to share. So, if there's a plant we simply must have, but can't afford, chances are someone here has a plant or leaves they'll share. It just doesn't get better than that!
That's what I feel good about Amy ! That I have been able to share a lot of plants with people most that sell for high $$ cost on and off Ebay.
Life is short ..but like for me it has not been as short as it was supose to be . Which is good and bad. Just wished I had prepared for a day when you can no longer work and bring in money . Yet even a Millionare could not afford ALS costing 200 hundred thousand a year medical cost or any other illness like this.
Money and material things are not worth anything, you can not take them with you...
So if you can aford them and all set up for emergency's then go for it buy them all !
Just I was not and bought them thinking hek life is short , but I'm still here. lol
There's this lady I know she's a RN . And she got ALS. She did not take good care of herself thinking she would not be alive long. She gained weight which is bad for us ( i did too OOPS ) Now she says if she knew she was going to live for 17 years with ALS she would have taken better care of herself.
I feel if I knew my life was going to be this long I would not have wasted all my money.