There is nothing quite like a hobby to make a serious dent in a budget, unless you’re a childless Baby Boomer who makes more money than you know what to do with. Perhaps that’s why those people almost always have hobbies.

If you expect to be a golfer, for instance, you’ll need to start purchasing. Try not to wince, although, if you do some homework, the prices shouldn’t make you swallow too hard.

I once saw a guy come into the pro shop with a long printout of what he wanted to buy. He’d obviously done his research. He knew which big brand name clubs to buy, what kind of bag, top of the line golf apparel and accessories to shop for. Even hats and belts were on his list, along with two jackets, two vests, six pairs of shorts, ten shirts and three pairs of shoes. The only thing missing was a partridge in a pear tree.