Beautiful weather sends us all looking for outdoor fun. For many people, the best summer days are spent fishing on a peaceful lake with good friends. And when crisp fall days arrive? That’s when many of us put the fishing pole aside and get geared up for hunting season. 

These hobbies draw families together as generations fish and hunt together, and everyone gathers around a campfire to talk about the day’s adventures. Parents and grandparents share their hard-won advice and young adults discuss the latest gear they can’t wait to buy. 

And that’s the challenge right there, isn’t it? Hunting and fishing require plenty of gear, and most experienced nature-lovers will tell you that there’s no sense buying cheap gear that will only last one season. Good quality outdoor equipment will help you enjoy your favorite hobby — and excel at it. 

Outdoor fun comes at an expense:

But it does come at a price. A 2020 USA Today article ranked hunting up there with golf and skiing as hobbies that can be quite expensive. Even fishing can add up, once you shop for rods, reels, lures and good quality fishing line. 

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as of 2016 the average sportsperson was spending $2,049 per year on their hobby. When new data is released later this year, those numbers are likely to be even higher. 

And yet for so many of us, those hunting trips and fishing expeditions and summer nights spent outdoors are what life is all about. So the puzzle for American families is this: How do you enjoy all the summer and fall outdoor fun and recreation that you love without breaking your budget? 

If you’ll be needing money for hunting gear or fishing gear this year, step one is looking at your budget. Are there any places you can spend a bit less, in order to save a few dollars for your favorite hobby? 

Another option is taking out a small personal loan at a fixed rate. Our “Friendly Franklin Folks” often sit down with local families who want to make the best possible decisions in order to get the gear they need in a way that fits their budget. 

You can begin the application online, and then have a face-to-face conversation with your 1st Franklin Financial associate to discuss rates and terms, and complete your application. Our team is here to explain exactly how our personal loans work and help you make the very best budgeting decisions for your family. 

So if you want to talk about personal lending for hunting and fishing gear, we’re here to answer all your questions. 

Here’s to a beautiful summer and fall spent enjoying the great outdoors!