[cellblock4]

I'm sure most of us here pay rent, cable, utilities, gym fees, and spending money on going out/dates.

Given things have been in the shitter the past 2-3 years, where have you guys cut down your expenses, if any, and found it a pleasant surprise when it seemed to add up? I know everyone is different where they spend their cash, but just looking for any basics that I might have not thought of.

I haven't been able to go out for a month and am shocked to see my bank balance. I'm almost scared to go back and reconcile how much I've been spending on going out before my injury. Also, when you guys go swooping, on average how many drinks do you have a night? I think that's where my recent savings has come from. $12 a pop adds up real fast.

[oldnemesis]

(12-18-2010 08:50 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

I'm sure most of us here pay rent, cable, utilities, gym fees, and spending money on going out/dates.

Well, cable would be the first thing I'd cut if I had it. If you have time to watch TV, you're wasting opportunities (as well as your brain energy).

[cellblock4]

hahhaa....point taken.

[Kickb]

heres what i spend money on

rent-(421)i split 921 bucks a month
electric bill-split the bill, this time of the year we pay around 160 bucks a month
water-32 bucks
and that is everything i have to pay for to continue living in my apartment(i dont have a car payments nor do i pay for any insurance or health care)

so if you add it up i pay about 550 bucks a month on just my apartment.

in a month if i work part time hours i will make almost 1000 dollars after taxes. however i useually come out even for the month where i havnt saved anything...

a big part of that is i spend about 60 bucks a week on lunch alone. thats 210 dollars

i useually buy a G of chronic a week so thats 20
and once a month ill stock up on my alcohol which usually costs me about 70 bucks for a handle of vodka, whiskey, beer etc...


luckily for me i saved up 13k before i moved out into an apartment so i have been able to live somewhat comfortably.

[truedat]

Kill the cell phone bill. Mine was about $90 or so a month, plus it microwaves your brain. Bought a Ooma phone, VOIP, unlimted calls in the USA or to the USA if you take it out of the country. 1 time fee of $200, plus $3.14 a month in taxes.

http://www.ooma.com/

[Duke Castile]

I got out of the whole "cool phone" contract thing a couple years ago and I've never been more happy than to not have a huge cell phone bill looming over me. I pay 45 bucks a month for unlimited calls and internet Its slow but oh well) Plus you can get a decent phone now, metro pcs and cricket.

I also would recommend taking advantage of happy hr with girls. You could also just use google talk for your home phone. Free calls in the US. You don't have to buy an adapter.

[Biz]

(12-21-2010 06:14 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

I got out of the whole "cool phone" contract thing a couple years ago and I've never been more happy than to not have a huge cell phone bill looming over me. I pay 45 bucks a month for unlimited calls and internet Its slow but oh well) Plus you can get a decent phone now, metro pcs and cricket.

I also would recommend taking advantage of happy hr with girls. You could also just use google talk for your home phone. Free calls in the US. You don't have to buy an adapter.

What if you text most of the time? How much does that run you with those phones?

[Duke Castile]

(12-22-2010 10:05 AM)Biz Wrote:  

(12-21-2010 06:14 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

I got out of the whole "cool phone" contract thing a couple years ago and I've never been more happy than to not have a huge cell phone bill looming over me. I pay 45 bucks a month for unlimited calls and internet Its slow but oh well) Plus you can get a decent phone now, metro pcs and cricket.

I also would recommend taking advantage of happy hr with girls. You could also just use google talk for your home phone. Free calls in the US. You don't have to buy an adapter.

What if you text most of the time? How much does that run you with those phones?

Same price, unlimited texts, picture texts, etc.

[oldnemesis]

(12-21-2010 06:14 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

I got out of the whole "cool phone" contract thing a couple years ago and I've never been more happy than to not have a huge cell phone bill looming over me.

I never got any phone with a contract, always buy them unlocked on eBay/Craigslist. Paying $100 for three phone lines on T-Mobile non-contract plan, 700min and 3G internet which is faster than my home DSL. The only thing not included is text messaging, which I have blocked on all lines, so I don't really care.

[kimleebj]

(12-18-2010 08:50 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

I haven't been able to go out for a month and am shocked to see my bank balance.

You answered your own question. Reduce expensive alcohol. Switch to soda or water, or even smuggle booze into bars in flasks or tiny bottles.

Many people get too materialistic and ambitious. I suggest living like a student after you graduate. Just live a couple years behind your income.

Don't pay credit card interest or late fees. Drive dependable used cars. Maybe ride a bike or motorcycle. Quit smoking. Drop the expensive gym membership. Buy clothes on sale after Christmas and July 4th, or shop at Nordstrom rack. Pack a lunch, and don't dine out. Some of this is Suze Orman stuff, and I hate her, but it is true and basic.

[JayMillz]

I haven't cut expenses. If anything I'm spending more. As far as I'm concerned there is no recession. I say this because I see people in places like NYC spending like there is no tomorrow. I think businesses are sitting on cash and not hiring, but a lot of people have loot and I see peeps on the train with a laptop in one hand and an Ipad in the other and I don't think its all credit driven. I feel for people that lost their gigs and some people got greedy and over leveraged themselves during the subprime mortgage crises, but I think the economy is doing better than people think so I haven't cut back.

(12-18-2010 08:50 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

I'm sure most of us here pay rent, cable, utilities, gym fees, and spending money on going out/dates.

Given things have been in the shitter the past 2-3 years, where have you guys cut down your expenses, if any, and found it a pleasant surprise when it seemed to add up? I know everyone is different where they spend their cash, but just looking for any basics that I might have not thought of.

I haven't been able to go out for a month and am shocked to see my bank balance. I'm almost scared to go back and reconcile how much I've been spending on going out before my injury. Also, when you guys go swooping, on average how many drinks do you have a night? I think that's where my recent savings has come from. $12 a pop adds up real fast.

[cellblock4]

(12-24-2010 09:24 PM)JayMillz Wrote:  

I haven't cut expenses. If anything I'm spending more. As far as I'm concerned there is no recession. I say this because I see people in places like NYC spending like there is no tomorrow. I think businesses are sitting on cash and not hiring, but a lot of people have loot and I see peeps on the train with a laptop in one hand and an Ipad in the other and I don't think its all credit driven. I feel for people that lost their gigs and some people got greedy and over leveraged themselves during the subprime mortgage crises, but I think the economy is doing better than people think so I haven't cut back.

(12-18-2010 08:50 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

I'm sure most of us here pay rent, cable, utilities, gym fees, and spending money on going out/dates.

Given things have been in the shitter the past 2-3 years, where have you guys cut down your expenses, if any, and found it a pleasant surprise when it seemed to add up? I know everyone is different where they spend their cash, but just looking for any basics that I might have not thought of.

I haven't been able to go out for a month and am shocked to see my bank balance. I'm almost scared to go back and reconcile how much I've been spending on going out before my injury. Also, when you guys go swooping, on average how many drinks do you have a night? I think that's where my recent savings has come from. $12 a pop adds up real fast.

certainly things have improved from a couple of years ago. i remember going out in manhattan on a wed or thurs and even some weekend nights and it was dead. it was really eerie to the city so dead and you knew that's how bad people retreated. since then we've stabilized and confidence has grown. and, the "buzz" is back in the city.

i was just shocked to see how much money i've saved purely due to not going out and curious to see if anyone else had cut out spending in areas that i wasn't thinking about. i definitely like the cable part. i don't need to sit at home and watch mindless shit. the cell phone stuff, i do like paying for a solid network, having a data plan, etc. i find that stuff very useful, especially when i travel.

maybe i just need to get into what you're doing. my job blows....but at least i have one. too many good people out of work right for me to start complaining.

[cellblock4]

(12-24-2010 09:24 PM)JayMillz Wrote:  

I haven't cut expenses. If anything I'm spending more. As far as I'm concerned there is no recession. I say this because I see people in places like NYC spending like there is no tomorrow. I think businesses are sitting on cash and not hiring, but a lot of people have loot and I see peeps on the train with a laptop in one hand and an Ipad in the other and I don't think its all credit driven. I feel for people that lost their gigs and some people got greedy and over leveraged themselves during the subprime mortgage crises, but I think the economy is doing better than people think so I haven't cut back.

(12-18-2010 08:50 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

I'm sure most of us here pay rent, cable, utilities, gym fees, and spending money on going out/dates.

Given things have been in the shitter the past 2-3 years, where have you guys cut down your expenses, if any, and found it a pleasant surprise when it seemed to add up? I know everyone is different where they spend their cash, but just looking for any basics that I might have not thought of.

I haven't been able to go out for a month and am shocked to see my bank balance. I'm almost scared to go back and reconcile how much I've been spending on going out before my injury. Also, when you guys go swooping, on average how many drinks do you have a night? I think that's where my recent savings has come from. $12 a pop adds up real fast.

certainly things have improved from a couple of years ago. i remember going out in manhattan on a wed or thurs and even some weekend nights and it was dead. it was really eerie to the city so dead and you knew that's how bad people retreated. since then we've stabilized and confidence has grown. and, the "buzz" is back in the city.

i was just shocked to see how much money i've saved purely due to not going out and curious to see if anyone else had cut out spending in areas that i wasn't thinking about. i definitely like the cable part. i don't need to sit at home and watch mindless shit. the cell phone stuff, i do like paying for a solid network, having a data plan, etc. i find that stuff very useful, especially when i travel.

maybe i just need to get into what you're doing. my job blows....but at least i have one. too many good people out of work right for me to start complaining.

[JayMillz]

(12-24-2010 11:51 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

certainly things have improved from a couple of years ago. i remember going out in manhattan on a wed or thurs and even some weekend nights and it was dead. it was really eerie to the city so dead and you knew that's how bad people retreated. since then we've stabilized and confidence has grown. and, the "buzz" is back in the city.

i was just shocked to see how much money i've saved purely due to not going out and curious to see if anyone else had cut out spending in areas that i wasn't thinking about. i definitely like the cable part. i don't need to sit at home and watch mindless shit. the cell phone stuff, i do like paying for a solid network, having a data plan, etc. i find that stuff very useful, especially when i travel.

maybe i just need to get into what you're doing. my job blows....but at least i have one. too many good people out of work right for me to start complaining.

I cut my cable and landline out years ago and not because of the economy but because I didn't need those things. I only really watch TV at the gym doing cardio. I love my iphone cause it keeps me connected. Work pays the bills but I plan to stop working in 3 years. I'm not big on work, unless maybe I played for the Knicks or was a porn star.

[Rocco81]

One of the best ways I found to cut some expenses while still bieng out and meeting women, was to get a job in an upscale bar. I became single and was going out drinking, partying, chasing girls like Thursday - Saturday. This was not the best thing for me health wise but I also started to blow tons of money with nothing to show.

So, I had a friend that ran an upscale pub. I worked the door on Fridays (shirt and tie gig..upscale yuppie crowd) I was able to eat for free make a a buck and a half (money for the next night out) and meet tons of girls while working.

[cellblock4]

Rocco, that's a great idea. My job isn't too demanding and I could pull off a couple of nights working a bar. I'll look into that. Sounds like a goldmine.

[Duke Castile]

(12-30-2010 08:46 AM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

Rocco, that's a great idea. My job isn't too demanding and I could pull off a couple of nights working a bar. I'll look into that. Sounds like a goldmine.

I did this myself for a while and it was great, its like being paid to be out. I've done some bodyguarding jobs here in vegas and its VIP all the way with hot ass girls everywhere.

[cellblock4]

(12-30-2010 05:12 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 08:46 AM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

Rocco, that's a great idea. My job isn't too demanding and I could pull off a couple of nights working a bar. I'll look into that. Sounds like a goldmine.

I did this myself for a while and it was great, its like being paid to be out. I've done some bodyguarding jobs here in vegas and its VIP all the way with hot ass girls everywhere.

i'm on it. i'm sure vegas has to be unreal with the hot girls. not sure i'm cut out for bodyguard stuff. i train muuy-thai, but don't think it'll help much in a streetfight.

[Duke Castile]

(12-30-2010 10:35 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 05:12 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 08:46 AM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

Rocco, that's a great idea. My job isn't too demanding and I could pull off a couple of nights working a bar. I'll look into that. Sounds like a goldmine.

I did this myself for a while and it was great, its like being paid to be out. I've done some bodyguarding jobs here in vegas and its VIP all the way with hot ass girls everywhere.

i'm on it. i'm sure vegas has to be unreal with the hot girls. not sure i'm cut out for bodyguard stuff. i train muuy-thai, but don't think it'll help much in a streetfight.

Bro all you have to do is be big. Everyone out here is a bunch of wimps. Look stern and professional and redirect the occasional drunk from your area and its all good. Plus the girls are looking at you all night to "protect" them. It's a cakewalk.

[YoungGunner]

(12-30-2010 10:35 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 05:12 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 08:46 AM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

Rocco, that's a great idea. My job isn't too demanding and I could pull off a couple of nights working a bar. I'll look into that. Sounds like a goldmine.

I did this myself for a while and it was great, its like being paid to be out. I've done some bodyguarding jobs here in vegas and its VIP all the way with hot ass girls everywhere.

i'm on it. i'm sure vegas has to be unreal with the hot girls. not sure i'm cut out for bodyguard stuff. i train muuy-thai, but don't think it'll help much in a streetfight.

Any fighting system'll come in handy if your a bouncer, but at an upscale bar you shouldn't have too many problems. The only problem w/ muay thai is striking someone to subdue them can get you more legal problems than submitting them. Try out BJJ if you wanna be a bouncer all the trips submissions and throws do wonders to get rid of drunks. One of the best bjj instructors in the world was a bouncer and found it useful http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/john-danaher. Obviously though if your going against multiple people BJJ=Bad Idea.

I would recommend Krav among all else for streetfighting but some onlookers might see your beatdown as overkill , only for very serious situations.

[cellblock4]

(12-31-2010 02:26 AM)YoungGunner Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 10:35 PM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 05:12 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

(12-30-2010 08:46 AM)cellblock4 Wrote:  

Rocco, that's a great idea. My job isn't too demanding and I could pull off a couple of nights working a bar. I'll look into that. Sounds like a goldmine.

I did this myself for a while and it was great, its like being paid to be out. I've done some bodyguarding jobs here in vegas and its VIP all the way with hot ass girls everywhere.

i'm on it. i'm sure vegas has to be unreal with the hot girls. not sure i'm cut out for bodyguard stuff. i train muuy-thai, but don't think it'll help much in a streetfight.

Any fighting system'll come in handy if your a bouncer, but at an upscale bar you shouldn't have too many problems. The only problem w/ muay thai is striking someone to subdue them can get you more legal problems than submitting them. Try out BJJ if you wanna be a bouncer all the trips submissions and throws do wonders to get rid of drunks. One of the best bjj instructors in the world was a bouncer and found it useful http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/john-danaher. Obviously though if your going against multiple people BJJ=Bad Idea.

I would recommend Krav among all else for streetfighting but some onlookers might see your beatdown as overkill , only for very serious situations.

if i hadn't wrecked my shoulder playing baseball (i was a pitcher) i would train bjj. i dislocated so many times that i finally got surgery and although i'd love to train bjj, the newbies who train sometimes don't have the ability to go easy. i don't need my shoulder popping out.

i hear krav is very effective, but not sure how i'd feel if i maimed some drunk idiot, unless he really really deserved it.

regardless, if it is some upscale place, then it shouldn't be an issue and would be a nice way to make some cash and get some ass.

[Duke Castile]

If you train Krav you'll be able to control yourself just like you can in BJJ or baseball. You won't maim anyone unless you want to.

[YoungGunner]

(12-31-2010 09:14 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

If you train Krav you'll be able to control yourself just like you can in BJJ or baseball. You won't maim anyone unless you want to.

I agree but it depends on the person and how they train. I know at my Krav school and a lot of others they teach us to always go 100% all out and always finish attacks/ techniques. If someone trained at my center they'd be conditioned to fight until they'd either incapacitated the assailant or created enough space/time to get away, so for them being aware of when enough is enough and when your attack becomes excessive, and stopping yourself, might be difficult with the adrenaline rush, the being used to finishing techniques, etc. I agree though there are tons of techniques in Krav that are not so hostile, there are lots of trips that work well on drunk people and if the fall backwards and hit their head, whoops! It's just that in New York where I'm form (and I think Cellblock?) the self defense laws are terrible and people tend to run to their lawyers with their tails between their legs whenever they embarrass/ minorly themselves from trying to act big and pick fights while drunk.

[cellblock4]

(12-31-2010 09:58 PM)YoungGunner Wrote:  

(12-31-2010 09:14 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

If you train Krav you'll be able to control yourself just like you can in BJJ or baseball. You won't maim anyone unless you want to.

I agree but it depends on the person and how they train. I know at my Krav school and a lot of others they teach us to always go 100% all out and always finish attacks/ techniques. If someone trained at my center they'd be conditioned to fight until they'd either incapacitated the assailant or created enough space/time to get away, so for them being aware of when enough is enough and when your attack becomes excessive, and stopping yourself, might be difficult with the adrenaline rush, the being used to finishing techniques, etc. I agree though there are tons of techniques in Krav that are not so hostile, there are lots of trips that work well on drunk people and if the fall backwards and hit their head, whoops! It's just that in New York where I'm form (and I think Cellblock?) the self defense laws are terrible and people tend to run to their lawyers with their tails between their legs whenever they embarrass/ minorly themselves from trying to act big and pick fights while drunk.

yep, i live in nyc, but am not familiar with the self defense laws. i'll take your word for it, but i would have to think in the bouncer role you are given some latitude right? as far as just being a guy in a bar, i'd rather just walk away than get into a fight. too many stories of people getting stabbed or everyone jumping someone outside after they get kicked out of some bar/club. not worth it IMO. don't me wrong, if i'm not given a choice, i'd tee off on someone, but i'd rather swallow my pride and not deal with it. but as Fisto said, 99% of the time your just nudging the drunk guy in the right direction. (btw Fisto, i read some of your txt responses in other posts, effin hilarious! i'm shamelessly stealing some of those.)

happy new year to all. 2011 is already starting to be a great year. i went to a low key bar with a buddy last night as i'm still in crutches from a sports injury (ski boot and all) and was able to number close the waitress. 1/2 irish and 1/2 mauritian. beautiful face, but she could lose 7-8 lbs or do yoga to shape up the bottom half. probably too much free Guinness. I'd put her at a 7 currently, but with gym time she could be close to an 8-a fixer upper. generally i would have never bothered with a waitress, but my buddy kept saying that her interaction with me was clear that she was interested. i need to get off my crutches before i go out with her though. i'm effin useless at the moment.

[Vesuvius]

Insurance, carbohydrates, pork, beef, bad habits, smoking, going out, concerts. Do think I'll go see MH in NYC on their new tour. Providing for anyone but #1. Spending isn't really a hassle for me to go out. I cut back on things I feel are better off left alone.