Man Caves aka, the Garage

[Big A]

True...so true a man can only dream with 4 kids (1 married, 2 in college, 1 in HS)

Having toys has nothing to do with marital and/or parental status, and everything to do with income. My wife was the one to suggest something similar to one of the more basic setups above for our garage actually.

[Baron Von Crowder]

There's a place up the road from our shop, a few hundred yards off the road on several acres. I havent been up to it, but it looks like three full size double garage doors, and an apartment on the end, maybe two stories, or just over the garage space.

I showed it to my wife and I told her I already had the place picked out I was going to buy if she ever gets tired of my shit!

[Chili]

My dad is married with two kids and he has a pretty cool man cave.

Your dad is a significant exception.. My brother is the same way. He has 4 kids but also has a gigantic garage, house over 6k sq ft, and every toy he wants. But he's been a millionaire since 29 (will be 46 next month).

Most of us normal folks have to give up (or otherwise not buy) a lot of toys in order to raise our kids.

[Unicorn Jeff]

Your dad is a significant exception.. My brother is the same way. He has 4 kids but also has a gigantic garage, house over 6k sq ft, and every toy he wants. But he's been a millionaire since 29 (will be 46 next month).

Most of us normal folks have to give up (or otherwise not buy) a lot of toys in order to raise our kids.

What does your brother do?

[2011GT]

I have an ok man cave. I just don't have any toys to fill it lol.

[Chili]

What does your brother do?

President (basically CEO) and co-owner of a privately owned refuse body builder. So basically, his company builds garbage trucks and roll-off bodies.

They just opened their 3rd facility this week in fact.

He started working there right out of college and within a couple years of starting they were about to have to close the doors due to poor management. At the time there was just one owner. He ended up basically saving the company and turning it around in a big way. The owner ended up splitting ownership between himself, his son and daughter who both work there, and my brother. Then put my brother in charge.

Just to give you an idea of his house, this is the google maps satellite image.. Baseball infield (lighted) on the left, batting cage on the top. He plans to build an additional detached garage with second story apartment in the area of the lower right, but put it off after buying and furnishing his vacation home and boat in Lake Havasu.

[ceyko]

I'd be afraid to do any actual work in most of those. Some cool features...etc in them though.

[dumpycapri85]

Mine is function over form .

[bcoop]

Having toys has nothing to do with marital and/or parental status, and everything to do with income.

Most people that make a good income, have families. Considering it costs $245,000 on average to raise a child these days, that plays a major role in the amount of extra funds to throw at toys/mancaves like those pictured.


I get it, your wife has a child, but she also likely receives child support. Plus from what I gather, her mother works; so YOUR out of pocket cost has to be relatively low. But that isn't the case for all, or even most.

[Rreemo]

I'm working on a new one now....but not to be pretty, to be functional.

I do however have a decent sized garage already....and been thinking I'll make it more of a hangout place once the shop is up and running.

[ceyko]

I'm working on a new one now....but not to be pretty, to be functional.

I do however have a decent sized garage already....and been thinking I'll make it more of a hangout place once the shop is up and running.

Personal opinion, it's better to do the hanging out for most events in a shop not attached to house(I just have a small woodworking shop - with beer fridge...) and garage hangouts for family/not get too stupid events.

[Big A]

Most people that make a good income, have families. Considering it costs $245,000 on average to raise a child these days, that plays a major role in the amount of extra funds to throw at toys/mancaves like those pictured.


I get it, your wife has a child, but she also likely receives child support. Plus from what I gather, her mother works; so YOUR out of pocket cost has to be relatively low. But that isn't the case for all, or even most.

She doesn't get a dime from him actually, and makes very little from teaching. I mentioned that she suggested upgrading the garage to illustrate that there are plenty of wives out there that support things like man caves, that won't bitch about "wasting" money on something she doesn't personally benefit from. The reality is that there are a few other things on our list of upgrades that will take precedence, but she's all for it when the time comes.

Yes, most of us normal folks have to make sacrifices in life, this toy or that one, more so when a family is involved. My point is that if you can afford a bad-ass garage like the ones pictured, and likely just as cool of a house attached to it, having a wife and kids wouldn't change your ability to do so.

[2011GT]

She doesn't get a dime from him actually, and makes very little from teaching. I mentioned that she suggested upgrading the garage to illustrate that there are plenty of wives out there that support things like man caves, that won't bitch about "wasting" money on something she doesn't personally benefit from. The reality is that there are a few other things on our list of upgrades that will take precedence, but she's all for it when the time comes.

Yes, most of us normal folks have to make sacrifices in life, this toy or that one, more so when a family is involved. My point is that if you can afford a bad-ass garage like the ones pictured, and likely just as cool of a house attached to it, having a wife and kids wouldn't change your ability to do so.

Not to mention the fact of time. When you're married and have kids it's almost impossible to have time for toys.

[RWhite]

This thread is the best argument a man has for always remaining a bachelor.

I remember my father's favorite saying when I was growing up.....

"If you stay single, your pockets will jingle!"

[Rreemo]

She doesn't get a dime from him actually, and makes very little from teaching. I mentioned that she suggested upgrading the garage to illustrate that there are plenty of wives out there that support things like man caves, that won't bitch about "wasting" money on something she doesn't personally benefit from. The reality is that there are a few other things on our list of upgrades that will take precedence, but she's all for it when the time comes.

Yes, most of us normal folks have to make sacrifices in life, this toy or that one, more so when a family is involved. My point is that if you can afford a bad-ass garage like the ones pictured, and likely just as cool of a house attached to it, having a wife and kids wouldn't change your ability to do so.

My wife has been all for it and totally part of the process - her and my daughter really wanted a pool, but she knows (and agrees) that the shop is the priority, and actually a good investment, not only for property value down the road, but also where I make a decent second income....which will have better opportunity to continue in a more appropriate space if/when the primary one ever goes away.

...and I agree with your point, she's always been onboard with my car hobby/habit, even before it became a source of income. However when we were younger (with a small child) and much less income, it definitely wasn't as much a factor, simply due to lack of time and funds to support it.