In my continued fight to get this project done, I will run into some serious roadblocks, and some have some good help. I already have $200 saved up for the trip, so that is good. The whole trip will cost me around $2500 I'm projecting. I have been in touch with the coordinator and we are working on a way to maximize my ability to work with large animals. He wants me to fly out there earlier in 2011 for a one-on-one intro, where I can then come back to NYC, train with an old student of his, and be super prepared for 2012 when I go out.
Pros:
I have $200 already saved up, with the right deal, this can cover much of the first flight out there
I just got a part-time job eating food for $15 an hour (only a couple hours a week though) to try and save up more $$$ for this adventure
I am cheap
Cons:
Even though I am cheap, I love to spend money on food
I suck at budgeting
Birthdays and other such events will drain my $$$
I am broke
NYU pays me shit
Adventuring in Belgium (March) will also drain some of the funds. As will my proposed road trip in April to Miami.
So I will have to work double hard on raising the money, and be extra jewish if I want to try and make this happen.
Funds allocated as of 1/25/11: $200
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My Nintendo
The story of how this decision came to pass began in my childhood.
When I was six years old I wanted a Nintendo NES, the most awesome (deadass) game system on the planet of all time (I mean come on, 8-bits!). My mother...would not buy me one. AND, she also informed me, she had spoken to Santa and he would not be getting me one either. I was devastated. Until my mother offered up, maybe accidentally, the solution :If you want one so bad John, youa re going to have to save up your money and buy one.
Now when you are six years old in 1990, a Nintendo costs $99.99 and games cost $59.99 (the default video game price, despite the system, since 1989). At a hefty allowance of $3 per week, it would take me 33 weeks to save the money, this was an unacceptable amount of time.
I had to exercise my entrepreneurial skills and take on extra chores and odd-jobs to save the money. There was no such thing as credit to a six-year-old. It took me a couple of months of work, but I finally got the money together, went to Toys R Us and went over to the video game section. Staring behind the glass case at the most amazing game system ever invented, I was shocked, and pleasantly surprised the system had gome down to $69.99, which allowed me to buy the system and one real shitty game that has now been forgotten.
There is something incredibly special about this way of purchasing. By saving up your =money for something that is out of your pay grade and buying it up front, being beholden to no-one for the purchase. As we become adults in the 21st century, I feel this value has been lost. it has been far too easy to swipe a card (because it isnt real, its magic money) and get what you want now and pay extra for it later.
I have decided to take this old pilosophy and strategy of mine to once again save up the money for something I want.....bullfighting school.
This blog is to keep trackn of my journey to save and earn the $2000 necessary (approximately) to get myself there. I will save, take side and odd-jobs and scrimp every cent I can get. This will be purchased up front, not credited.
More on the advantages and challenges I face later, including an up to date account of the money saved and how it was obtained.
When I was six years old I wanted a Nintendo NES, the most awesome (deadass) game system on the planet of all time (I mean come on, 8-bits!). My mother...would not buy me one. AND, she also informed me, she had spoken to Santa and he would not be getting me one either. I was devastated. Until my mother offered up, maybe accidentally, the solution :If you want one so bad John, youa re going to have to save up your money and buy one.
Now when you are six years old in 1990, a Nintendo costs $99.99 and games cost $59.99 (the default video game price, despite the system, since 1989). At a hefty allowance of $3 per week, it would take me 33 weeks to save the money, this was an unacceptable amount of time.
I had to exercise my entrepreneurial skills and take on extra chores and odd-jobs to save the money. There was no such thing as credit to a six-year-old. It took me a couple of months of work, but I finally got the money together, went to Toys R Us and went over to the video game section. Staring behind the glass case at the most amazing game system ever invented, I was shocked, and pleasantly surprised the system had gome down to $69.99, which allowed me to buy the system and one real shitty game that has now been forgotten.
There is something incredibly special about this way of purchasing. By saving up your =money for something that is out of your pay grade and buying it up front, being beholden to no-one for the purchase. As we become adults in the 21st century, I feel this value has been lost. it has been far too easy to swipe a card (because it isnt real, its magic money) and get what you want now and pay extra for it later.
I have decided to take this old pilosophy and strategy of mine to once again save up the money for something I want.....bullfighting school.
This blog is to keep trackn of my journey to save and earn the $2000 necessary (approximately) to get myself there. I will save, take side and odd-jobs and scrimp every cent I can get. This will be purchased up front, not credited.
More on the advantages and challenges I face later, including an up to date account of the money saved and how it was obtained.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)