Well, I find that it helps to remind my wife of some of the other hobbies I COULD be in... I USED to do classic cars-- my brother still does... he's got about $20 grand in a 69 Ford pickup with a tricked out everything... and STILL needs to eventually do the paint job... He's got a 3 year old Mustang he's paying off... I used to help a bus driver buddy of mine with his classic cars-- he's got a 57 Chevy, a 58 Chevy, a 56 Ford, and some other stuff... heck he'll drop $20 grand JUST on a PROJECT CAR, straight out of the barn! Putting one to carshow standards will sink up to $30,000 more into the car... That is SERIOUS cash. My great uncle rides motorcycles/trikes and has boats and stuff... BIG BIG MONEY toys...
You name it, just about EVERY other hobby is more expensive than rocketry... I know guys who've had $20 grand sunk into layouts and rolling stock for a model railroad, or twice that tied up in large scale multiengine RC aircraft... you name it. Of course I know some folks into HPR that have MAJOR money tied up in that too...
I just fly LPR/MPR and have no interest in HPR, but I don't forget to remind the wife "aren't you glad I have a CHEAP hobby!" every time I get an opportunity. She's pretty supportive of it, because she realizes that 1) I'm at home or at a launch, 2) Keira's into it now, 3) I DO focus on the "cheap end" of the hobby, and 4) it's better than the alternatives-- sinking TONS of money into cars or bikes or boats or whatever else, or sitting around at a bar or chasing other women...
She has her stuff, and I have mine... we get along well that way... and we do lots of "non-rocketry" related family stuff as well, so we have balance...
Later! OL JR