www.CostaRicaTicas.com

So, you invested and have a nice income portfolio. Or maybe you built a business and sold it for a windfall and can kick back. Perhaps you worked your tail off for a solid pension. Maybe you got a big settlement from that faulty can opener incident. Or just maybe, the fat hag you call your ex is a world class plastic surgeon and pays you spousal support.

Good for you if the above or similar apply. The rest of us are still working in the trenches and sometimes have to get creative with saving for our exploits. We have quite a bit on CRT covering how to manage the spend side: cheaper eats, hotel deals, etc. I'm interested in clever ideas for accumulating trip funds. Let's put our collective thinking together here.

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Here are some of my ideas & approaches around less obvious sources of cash. Stuff beyond holding a bit out of your regular paycheck.

Trash Into Cash: I've accumulated lot's of stuff. I took a hard look and began selling what I don't really need. Clothing to resale shops, tools on craigslist, electronics on fleabay, etc. It's work and you have to deal with idiots... but I fully funded a short trip this way.

Rebates: Late last year I needed to buy a set of tires. The set I wound up getting had a $75 rebate. That check went into the trip fund. In a similar vein, check out ebates.com which is a portal that gets you money back on online purchases (I have no affiliation). Credit card cash rewards... right into the trip fund.

Your Employer: No, I'm not talking about skimming fom the till or saving out of the regular paycheck. We have a wellness program where you can earn cash or gift cards. I take the cash. Also, I found that my expense reimbursements can go direct deposit to a different account. In my case it's mostly personal vehicle mileage, so those deposits aren't generally hard money I was out.

The Change Jar: I still use paper money for smaller transactions, meaing I have coins on occasion. Into the jar with them. My bank no longer counts change for deposit, boo. So now I take it to my local Coinstar. If you use Coinstar DO NOT convert the coins to cash; the service fee is a RIPOFF. I get an Amazon gift card (no fee) and use it to order supplies for my trip.

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I bet college football and college basketball and use that money for my trips and other fun expenses. Granted this is not something everyone knows how to do but I have been making 4-6 trips a year and spend about 20 weeks in CR per year. I have been doing this for the last 8 years.

All excellent ideas except for the gambling on CFB & basketball. If you constantly win, you are in nthe top .00000000000000000001%. Also, if you win as much as you indicate, you should have no need for a real job right?

Hotdog, great ideas, I just sold a chandelier that had been sitting around the house for 2 or 3 years & a mini fridge that has been sittin around even longer. I put the chandelier (sp??) on fb & sold it in 2 days. I just made enough on those 2 to pay for my apt rental in SJ in Sept.

Totally agree about coinstar. I see these people in Wal-mart & our local supermarket dumping coins in all giddy with excitement, like they are winning the lottery or something, acting like they are rich. Obviously clueless. And of course still dressed in pajamas at 2 in the afternoon! What is the Coinstar cut, something like 25%?

CostaReeker

I have done it maybe 3 times, it's 10.9%. No way would I use it if it were anywhere close to 25%.

You are quite right. I do not have the balls to rely 100% on gambling winnings but I do make quite a bit that would be a comfortable income for most people. Over the last 20 years I have done very well and my lowest season betting college football was 62.39% and my best was 73.84%, College basketball was 60.05% and 70.66%. I am not your average betting person and have put in 10's of thousands of hours over the years refining my criteria for which games to play. Along the way I have become a master at Excel and have spreadsheets that do all my calculations for the games. This year I am converting to Access so I hope with the extra computing ability and statistic analysis that I will be high 60's low 70's on both.

Yes! If you renovate or do any type of home improvement do not scrap, toss, or recycle anything without a hard look.

I changed out an ugly ass ceiling fan. On a lark I threw it on craigslist. Got $25 for it from a guy with rental properties. He asked what else I had. Guess what? He bought all the brass finish cabinet knobs and door hardware I had upgraded!

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How about a part time job or contract work like cutting laws, painting houses etc.

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

This is a great thread. I always knew Coinstar was a ripoff but didn't know you could get an Amazon gift card for no fee. Thanks! I have a shitload of coins. I just keep my nose to the grindstone so I can get back to CR. The only thing that I can add is that I don't waste my time and money trying to lay gringas anymore in US bars. I am so sick of gringa attitudes. Costa Rica does that to you.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

Yep, any of the gift card options are no fee. Amazon is the most useful/versatile, imho.

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Latinas are a great motivating factor aren't they. [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]


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Male prostitute

Details please! What's your average take in on a Friday or Saturday? And are you managed or an independent?



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But some of the clueless on this board would think you are serious, hotdogg.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

become a human drug tester or sell your blood instead of donating it