Sometimes you just have to suck it up.
Expenses on my toys do not dip into the household money. I accumulated my mad money when I was getting at least 25% bonus a month for over two years. Made a deal with the CFO that every other month is mine, the rest goes to her to manage along with stock grants and options I cashed out.
I bought my weapons from my mad money account that the wife does not audit.
Fast forward to 2015, 4 years into retirement I decided I wanted to learn how to chamber my own barrels. I will turn 71 this year and have been retired, retired since 2011. I sold weapons to finance 4 lathes, a Bridgeport mill, tooling, gauges, indicators, etc. Having more fun now in the garage, though the wife is not, her CTS stays outside..lol
No regrets, still have 3 safes full I need to sell off. Kids don't want them. I guess their Left Coast education made them forgot their TX upbringing... oh well.. they decided the Left Coast is their permanent residences since graduation.