Man, I feel this. I started hitting my Fry's at 7am on Wednesdays when they slap those yellow stickers on the meat that's about to turn. Last week I got a pack of chicken thighs for $3 that was marked $11. I also dig through the bruised produce rack for stuff I'm gonna cook that night anyway, peppers and squash mostly. It took me a month to stop buying whatever looked good and start planning meals around what's cheap. Saved me about $60 a week once I got the hang of it.

What is it about the setup time that kills the hobby for so many people? I read a thread on a stargazing forum where a guy said he sold his big dob after realizing he only used it a handful of times a year because hauling it out felt like a chore. The reply that stuck with me was from someone who said the best scope is the one you actually use, and for most folks that means the small grab and go setup sitting by the door. Honestly your brother in law leaving his scope in the truck says it all, because when the urge hits you want zero friction between you and the sky. For me it is a cheap pair of 7x35s I keep on the windowsill, nothing special but I probably use them four nights a week.