Found It
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (112717)
United States
January 29, 2025 7:50am CST
Whenever my wife and I travel, or there is a large expense to put out, I like to be as creative as possible in determining how it will be paid for. 9 times out of 10, it's the stock market that comes home to deliver the goods.
I finalized my numbers this morning and was even able to add a couple hundred dollars to the gambling budget and I am satisfied that the plan is in place as well as the budget, and the majority of the funds will not actually be "out of pocket."
So, that's it. Off to Oak Grove, Kentucky in the first part of February for a little gambling fun for my wife's birthday which is on the 6th. Her cousin is also flying in, and she'll ride with us to the casino, where we will also be staying. We even have dinner on the 6th covered since her cousin wants to treat. Plus, she says she wants to pay for a tank of gas even though I told her there would be no need.
It should be fun, and who knows? Maybe the casino will wind up paying for the whole thing if we're lucky. But at least I have the comfort of knowing that the trip is indeed paid for and what's coming out of my pocket is only about 25% of the total budgeted cost.
Found it.
18 people like this
15 responses
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
29 Jan 25
Have fun. Hopefully you will leave the casino at least breaking even.
3 people like this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Feb 25
@porwest let’s hope you win something …
3 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
14 Mar 25
@lovebuglena Isn't that always the hope? I mean, who hopes to lose? lol
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
1 Feb 25
@porwest I'm good at the saving part but I don't know anything about investing. I used to get Canada Savings Bonds but they don't seem to be available any more.
2 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
1 Feb 25
Back in the day, rather than be envious or mad at rich people, I watched what they did, learned what they did, and copied them. lol
Make your money once. Save and invest all you can of it and let the money one day do the work for you to make more of it. If all I ever do is spend every dime I ever make, I have to keep working more and more to make more. This sounds to me like a dog chasing his tail, and seems like a very dumb way to do things. 
2 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
14 Mar 25
@BarBaraPrz Gosh, if only there were books or something, or something like YouTube with COUNTLESS hours of material explaining things in full detail.
Maybe one day.
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
29 Jan 25
Sounds like a fun trip and hope you come home with winnings so you're ahead of the game (so to speak).
Definitely have a safe and fun trip and also a Happy Birthday to your wife.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Feb 25
Those are the best kinds of trips, aren't they? I know you joke with me a lot about my Disney trip habits, and the amount of money I spend there, but the majority of that is "found" money and not straight out of my pocket. Any bonuses I get, any online earnings, credit card reward dollars, and even gains in investment accounts go towards the Disney budget each year. I do spend a lot there, but it's not always coming directly out of my pocket.
And good on you for putting yourself in a financial position where you don't have to spend out of pocket all the time!
Now go out and win you some money!
2 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
14 Mar 25
It's an art, really. I mean, technically, it still comes out of "my" pocket, because it's money I generated or found through my efforts. But it doesn't dig into the principal, which is the key part for me. When you can do what you want and your numbers stay the same, that's as good as spending zero to do it.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
29 Jan 25
Have a wonderful time, happy birthday to your wife.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
29 Jan 25
Enjoy your trip.. it's a big relief when your travel plans work within your allocated budget. I am sure that your wife will have a great time on her birthday. Her cousin treating you is such a thoughtful gesture.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
14 Mar 25
I love to go to the casino but I never win. I don´t mind though, as long as I have fun. And I seldom go.
1 person likes this
