Am I Selfish?

[Genipher]

My husband is getting a used car with a portion of our tax money. After paying off some (not all) debt, I'm thinking of FINALLY getting a pair of female goats. Except, I'm second-guessing myself.

The responsible part of me says to save the expenses goats will eat up and use it for house repairs (the house needs a lot of work).

The "fun" part of me argues that goats will help get rid of the blackberries taking over the backyard. They'll eventually give us milk...and cheese. They'll be fun to watch and take care of and, heck, the money I make p/t babysitting will take care of their costs and since hubby is getting a car, I should get something too, right?!

I'm not sure what to do.

All you goat enablers out there, what are your thoughts? Should I take the responsible route or the fun path?


As an aside, we live in town. I already have permission from the city to have 3 goats and have paid the yearly fee...It'll cost us $52/year for the privilege of owning goats. We have a 10' x 20' shed to house goats and hay and a 2-tiered humongous backyard.

 

[GypsyG]

Get the goats!

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Get bills paid and home repair done.....once goat math starts....well i now have 9 with 8 prego and six more comming......get stuff done first, lol.....can not control goat math...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Get the goats - don't waste that $52 fee!

 

[Genipher]

Get bills paid and home repair done.....once goat math starts....well i now have 9 with 8 prego and six more comming......get stuff done first, lol.....can not control goat math...

Well, I AM limited by the city to a total of 3 goats. Though I think we're given grace if I get two does and they end they up having a bunch of kids (I'm currently looking at Lamancha/Nigerian crosses so who knows how many kids they'd have/pregnancy). We'd just have to sell them before "x" amount of time passed.

The house repairs are so many that by the time we can afford to do it all (redo all electric, new siding and windows, etc. etc. it's a 100-year-old house with a lotta issues) I'll be on my death bed . Our only debt would be the house payments and a little credit card that we're chipping away at.

Have I listed enough excuses to warrant still getting goats?

 

[Genipher]

Get the goats - don't waste that $52 fee!

That's also been lurking at the back of my mind! I had to pay the fee just to see if they would approve and when they did I was like, "Looks like I need to save up for goats now or that $52 will be wasted!"

Don'cha love logic? hehe

 

[Genipher]

Get the goats!

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Ok you passed, lol GET THE GOATS

 

[CntryBoy777]

If ya have a good "market" in your area....selling the offspring can help recoop some of the cost....and plant grass to grow, so that the feed bill isn't too high and then supplement what you can grow....just don't overpopulate the space....they will gladly enjoy and leaves, branches, and vines if ya can get some to feed them.....they love sweet gum, oaks, and cedar.....

 

[Genipher]

If ya have a good "market" in your area....selling the offspring can help recoop some of the cost....and plant grass to grow, so that the feed bill isn't too high and then supplement what you can grow....just don't overpopulate the space....they will gladly enjoy and leaves, branches, and vines if ya can get some to feed them.....they love sweet gum, oaks, and cedar.....

The back of our property butts up against a small forest. I'm thinking maybe we could "forage" some extra goodies for them there, if need be. And/or take them on walks in the woods and let them munch a bit...

I'll definitely have to keep an eye on the condition of the backyard. One of my plans is to fence the top tier of our backyard and rotate the goats from the top to the bottom, to give each tier a chance to grow/recover.