Not going to XI Fest because you think you can't afford it?

[WldPenguin]

As soon as we say we "can't" do something, we're right......we can't.  Because we've already shut our minds to the possibilities before we even entertain the what-if's or the how-to's.  Instead of saying "I can't afford to go", why not change that to "How can I afford to go"?  This will open your mind up to many ideas that you wouldn't ever think about as soon as you said "can't".  And this little "trick" works for many situations in life. 

If XI Fest is something you'd like to attend but you think you can't because of finances, please read on:  

So, over the next week or so, I'm going to share some ideas and tips that you can use to plan on attending XI Fest this year, either Euro or USA, and these same ideas and tips can be applied to other things you'd like to plan, save for, and experience in the future.  

But, before you know the tips and tricks of saving for a specific event, you first have to know your budget.  How much is this trip going to cost?  Without knowing that, you won't have a clear idea of exactly how much you'll need to set aside.  A trip budget, as for anything else, can help keep you from overspending, while making sure you get to do the things you really want to do.  

Before I go any further, I'll say this.....even if you're just thinking about going, not sure about going, or would really like to go but aren't sure how you'll get there financially, then I suggest you first ask to be added to the PM regarding all of the XI Fest details for the US Fest, or check out and follow the posts regarding the Euro Fest.  Information is being provided and discussed regarding hotel costs, things to do, etc., so you can get a better idea of how much money you'll need.  Then determine how you'll get there.  Will you need to fly, drive, carpool with someone that's along your route so you can share travel expenses?  At which hotel will you choose to stay?  Or do you live close enough that you won't need lodging?  Can you share a room with other XI members in order to save on the hotel bill?  Those are your two largest costs, and should be determined as closely to their actual costs as possible when planning.  Then you can figure out how much you'll need for food, activities, souvenirs, etc.  

Once you have this ballpark dollar amount, divide it by the number of months that are left until the XI Fest.  The Euro Fest is a bit sooner than the US Fest, but it's still possible if you set your mind to it.  If you need help with your budget, let me know.  I also have a great trip budgeting calculator that I can share with you.  

So, for example, let's say you've determined you need $1,000 for your trip to XI Fest.  With 5 months left until the US Fest in September, that comes out to $200 per month.  That might sound like a lot, so break it down even further.  There's 20 weeks left until the fest, so that's $50 a week or $7 a day.  That seems more manageable and attainable when you break it down like that.  That $7 a day could be foregoing your Starbucks fix, or not ordering pizza for the third time this week  Little things can add up to a lot over time.  

Another great idea to consider once you know how much you will need to save is to open up a bank account specifically for your trip, or whatever else you are saving for.  Make sure you tell your bank you don't want a debit card for the account.  This will make it more difficult to "borrow" money from it in a moment of weakness.  Faithfully put the money in each week or month, and don't skip a deposit and tell yourself you'll make it up the next time.  We usually don't end up making it up for whatever reason, and then we're behind with our plan.  Also, the physical act of moving or depositing the money into a vacation or special fund is a good mental exercise in keeping the funds separate from your general sources of money.  

Thanks for reading, and please stay tuned for other tips and ideas for saving for your trip or other specific goal that you may have  

 

[Sourtap]

Thanks for the post. Excited to see you in Brussels, cause reading this post I know that you can!

[WldPenguin]

1 hour ago, Jeroen v.2 said:

Thanks for the post. Excited to see you in Brussels, cause reading this post I know that you can!

But at the very beginning, I said if it's something you WANT to do.........

[RobMc]

Great idea WP, so to raise money I'm going on the game as a male escort, and you can be my first customer ( a great cause), pm me for time and date , may take a few visits to raise the cash but I know you have a bottle to save in now.

Seriously though a great post, must have taken ages? and the wife says I have to stay retired 

Edited April 30, 2018 by RobMc

[7Toes]

i will be there might only be there for one night.some of us are on very fixed incomes with high med bills .my doc wants me to take this certain type of insulin lol over 900 a month with medicare paying some....

[Bosun]

It's not that I CAN'T go to the Fest it's that I don't WANT to....I don't want to wake up in @wildthing and @Unchileno s room with a bad hangover and a sore ass!

[YACCster]

How awesome is XI for having folks that do stuff like this?  AND how FAN FRIGGIN TASTIC is  @WldPenguin for putting this post together!!??  WOW!

 

 

[Sitting-Duc]

Well that sucks.. I did the maths and looked at my budgeting and really can't afford to go.. 

oh well already paid for my room so guess i'll have to go anyway.. thanks for ruining my budget @WldPenguin

[WldPenguin]

Oh geez, @Sitting-Duc, I'll buy you a beer in Nashville.... will that help your budget issues?

[WldPenguin]

So, one of my first ideas is to create a change jar and add your spare change to it whenever you have any.  Instead of giving exact change when making purchases, let yourself get change back from the extra dollar you pay with, and toss that into your jar.  You can even decorate the jar with a pic or two of your destination, or whatever it is you want to save up money for.  It may sound too simplistic and maybe even a bit corny to some, but it really adds up over time.  I made a Vegas jar for what I wanted to bring for my gambling money.....not a high roller by any stretch, but thought it would be fun to save up all my change for it.  I used a 2 lb Folger's can and tossed everything in there, even a couple of singles from time to time.  Well, the singles usually got pilfered for pizza delivery tips (another idea I'll talk about later) and sometimes the quarters got extracted for laundry when I was living in an apartment complex.  Even still, that can added up to over $250, even after the coin machine took its cut!  Not bad for loose change.....and you can have even more of it "in your pocket" so to speak, if you roll it yourself, or have one of your kids do it for you.  Let them keep a roll of quarters, dimes, and nickels for their effort, and they'll think they've won the jackpot  

If $1,000 was your budget, 25% of the money you'll need is right in that jar!

Not all of these ideas will be ideal for everyone, but it's all just a lesson in possibility thinking.......what can you do when you set your mind to something.  How creative can you be, and still not be breaking any laws?  Further tips & tricks to soon follow.....

[wildthing]

The Tax Lady speaks!!! It is a business trip so it is a tax write off oh and the money writing off i use for the next fest. God I love how our government works. LOL @Bosun I promise to be gentle.

[Bogleg]

If you don't want to think about saving money, and are looking to do it in small enough deposits not to really notice it, you could always try a service like Digit.  I signed up for it a couple years ago just to test it out and ended up saving $1400 in just under a year without ever realizing I was even saving the money.  They took out anywhere from $1-50 from my checking account each week depending on my balance, deposit history, spending history, etc.    When I started they didn't charge for the service but you didn't earn interest in the money they held for you (they kept that as their fee).  Now I think they charge $3/month for the service, but they also pay dividends.

Anyway I ended up using that money for XI Fest in Vegas.

[WldPenguin]

@Bogleg, that's awesome!  And yes, @wildthing, if someone owns a business, it's awesome because there are ways to make the whole trip a legal tax deduction, but I'm not going to give tax advice here on the public forums.  If anyone is interested, however, in learning how any trip can be turned into a business deduction, then please message me privately  

[BlackRose]

On 4/30/2018 at 5:19 AM, Bosun said:

It's not that I CAN'T go to the Fest it's that I don't WANT to....I don't want to wake up in @wildthing and @Unchileno s room with a bad hangover and a sore ass!

Memories????

[BlackRose]

also to save money some can stay in same room as others and split the cost. OR if someone is generous and is booking a room they may let you just pay for the cot rental!

And before you want to stay in my room,,,im not going.lol

[WldPenguin]

So, here's another great idea for having money for your trip to Nashville, or whatever else you want to save up for.....

If you feel the same way I do......life is about experiences and memories, not stuff.  So, go through your stuff, and the stuff you don't use or don't need or don't want - SELL IT!  With so many great apps out there now, you no longer have to go through the hassle and time of holding a garage sale.  There's places like eBay or Facebook garage sale groups for starters.  On Facebook, just type in your local city or county with the words "garage sale" after it, and you should be able to join that group and post whatever it is you have for sale.  Make sure you are mindful of the group's rules, since each group will differ in what it allows or doesn't allow.  You list what you're selling and how much you want for it, and then make arrangements with the person that wants your stuff.  

If you are tech savvy and like to do things on your phone, then there's OfferUp  and letgo, just to name a couple.  You make a quick post about what you're selling, and then just sit back and wait for someone to be interested in your stuff  I've had quite a bit of success myself selling household items, shoes, clothing, and even office-related surpluses of file cabinets or chairs, etc.  It may not seem like much, but $10 here and $25 there, and another $15 on FB, and soon you have $50 in your pocket and less stuff to dust around or take with you every time you move  

And, ideas like this are "found" money, so it's not coming out of your pocket to save it.  You've already spent the money on the stuff, and by getting rid of said stuff, you have more money to toss into that dedicated vacation account that you don't have a debit card for so that you can't withdraw money for no good reason  

Getting rid of $50 of stuff per month for 5 months gives you another $250 toward your $1,000 budget.  Selling your stuff and collecting change could net you close to $500 by the time September rolls around.........are you starting to see the possibilities yet when it comes to wanted $ for something you really want? 

[Mule]

On 5/2/2018 at 12:50 PM, BlackRose said:

also to save money some can stay in same room as others and split the cost. OR if someone is generous and is booking a room they may let you just pay for the cot rental!

And before you want to stay in my room,,,im not going.lol

Did you say COCK rental?

[USMale]

Love to go but I'm on oxygen, Level 8;  my cables is too short. is another reason.

[Mule]

Don't drink for a week and I can do it!

Edited May 6, 2018 by Mule

[BigPapaDean]

I would love to see ya'll, but that being said I don't have any funds to set aside so I will just stay home in my warm room and be by myself. Living in assisted living is great but they take all your money and then you get about $63 a month to buy all your necessities. That don't leave me much to set aside when I have grandkids I want to do things for. Though I do want to hear about all the fun and pleasures you leave there. lol