[KungPowKirby]

By now, we all know how expensive this little habit (or addiction in my case) is. I want to know how everyone is saving money, because perhaps someone is doing something that I haven't thought of yet. Plus I think other people would find the info useful as well.

Recently I bought one of those big water jugs that you usually see in office buildings. I bought it purposely because the money is next to impossible to get at unless I cut it open. (Which I will do when ACen comes around.)If I have it in a bank account, and/or a card, I'm more likely to spend it. Currently, I am taking $20 out of every single paycheck I get. No matter how many I get, and how much they are for. I also stick any change I have in my pocket at the end of the day in the container, as well as cash, up to $3.00. I should have a nice stockpile by the time May comes around.

So please, throw out your ideas! I need all the help I can get, and I'm sure someone else does too!

[Alkaren Hyralt]

Don't spend the money and save it instead.

[rwarsauce]

I just don't buy stuff I don't need, which is kind of hard... I see it I like it I have the impulse to buy. BUT I save regardless never for a specific reason x3

[XenoBlade]

I usually use some of my tax check, and some money i saved up months before. lol I don't buy too much at acen especially since I go with alot of people, and it's usually 4/5 people per car, so there isn't much space to buy things. lol

[Snow_Storm]

I plan on putting 75% of my checks into my savings account which is solely only for ACEN.

[Mystline]

Every paycheck I make I just save for Acen.
Although I'm a High school student...so I don't pay for food or rent, if I did, I would put about $30-50 of the money away for Ace.

[kenkendazo]

Don't book a hotel*, and only get a ticket for 1 day.


*I am not saying sleep elsewhere, I am saying only go to one day so a hotel room is not needed.

[CrimsonAnime]

Keeping in mind I'm only paying for groceries for myself at school and my cellphone msg/data plan, I save by:

- When I get my paycheck I decide between 20-40 bucks to set aside from the check. After I make sure that I'm going to cover the other expenses I need from that check, I put the saving money into an account that I can't access with my card. And there is sits until May. My usual goal is between 250-300 which covers food AND swag.

And because I just thought about it - How do I save money AT the con?
- I spend my first time in the dealers hall looking around FIRST. Trying to get a feel of who has what, who has sales, what do I want and making mental notes of it all. Then I decide on what my big purchase will be. That's what I get first because after that I can't justify spending more on anything that I did on that. My first year it was 75 on an ED Jacket. My second year I think it was on either my $25 kimono or a dvd set. This year ...i don't remember what it was..i think it was a grab bag >.< Basically I try to make sure that I know what I want to get. As a subset to this:
* I make a list of what I want to buy before hand. IE - I always want a wall scroll of some sort, clothes of a sort and one box set. ==

- I also make it a point to get one grab bag. There is one place that the $25 bag ALWAYS has a messenger bag in it so just with that item you've broken even. then there is also manga, dvds and some buttons maybe.

- finally. I get 100-150 of what I saved in cash and make sure I spend that first. Since I don't have it all in cash AND I'm caring around big bills, I'm less likely to just buy anything that I see. After I spend the cash then I'm even more specific because I have to use my card and that normally adds an extra charge.

These are my tips....I hope they help

[MsLovelyCookie]

With every year I attended Acen I figured out what I need to save:

2008-2010: I used my paycheck, tips, tax refund and any lottery tick winnings to fund my part of the hotel I share with my friends and for other things I come across.

Tip: Ask your self before you buy 'Do I need this now or can it wait?'

This post has been edited by MsLovelyCookie: 04 November 2010 - 01:45 PM

[Sandstorm]

By not having a PS3 and just dealing with the fact that everyone else besides me gets to play Final Fantasy 13. /disheartened

[wrexness]

Tend to use my tax rebate check for some. Going with a group is definitely a help, especially if you're staying in a hotel at the con. But honestly, most of it is just the fact that I've always had a pretty well paying job (even in school, though obviously it's much better now), so I can just take my last paycheck before the con and use part of that (after paying bills and other essentials of course).

[stumpy1337]

i save any money that i get including lunch money that my parents give me, i just stop eating lunch at school or bring a lunch and then any extra money that i get. ill even do odd jobs around my house to make some extra cash.

[obakasan]

Take walks around the neighborhood.

I did that on a regular basis and managed to find a fair amount of lost coins and bills.

Found about $60 one year alone (winter excluded). Hint: check near outdoor pay phones especially near bars.



20 cents a package ramen noodles help too... (add "stir fry" veggies and/or cut up hot dogs/other bits).

[Ohki]

Just like every other year, I have a coin jar that I dump my spare change into. It used to be a large applesauce jar, so it's pretty good sized. I usually get around $100 from it at least.

It's looking a bit low this year, though, so I'm also cutting way back on things like PVC figures and such, and anything else I don't need.

[short_pixie89]

Ohki, on 02 November 2010 - 05:49 PM, said:

Just like every other year, I have a coin jar that I dump my spare change into. It used to be a large applesauce jar, so it's pretty good sized. I usually get around $100 from it at least.

It's looking a bit low this year, though, so I'm also cutting way back on things like PVC figures and such, and anything else I don't need.

My bf and I do the same thing. We have a huge plastic jar that used to be full of atomic fire balls We just throw in spare change or change left over from the end of the week into the bucket. We tend to usually get about enough saved to pay for both of our portions of the hotel room, which is usually around $200, so it's a really good plan. You can also return bottles or do odd jobs for your parents/people that are willing to pay you. Also, since ACen isn't too far after my bday, I usually just ask for money and save part of that as well. Buying snacks and drinks in bulk and outside of the hotels also helps save a ton and of course as others have stated just try to watch what you buy. If you're doing cosplay, try to find cheaper materials that you can use or wait for things to go on sale. My Botan cosplay alone for Youma cost me around $100 and that's with getting pretty much every part of it 40% off (thank god for JoAnn coupons haha)
And it's ALWAYS a good idea to have a little extra cash because it's always better to have a little more in case of an emergency or something, or if your hotel charges you up front, etc.

[Aiko☆Noble]

I am the worst when it comes to spending money. You only live once, right?
Between ACens, I'm spending my paychecks on figures, clothes, and food. Those
are the three main necessities of my life, as absurd as it may sound.

...Not necessarily in that order. XDDD

Usually a paycheck or two is good enough to cover my ACen trip (NOT INCLUDING
THE OUTRAGEOUS HOTEL FEE. That my friends and I split, so it ends up being about
$100 a person.) So, with hotel share in mind, I'd need to save about three paychecks,
three weeks before the con. That'd give me around $600 to divide between hotel,
dealer's room/artist's alley, and the extravagant trip to Woodman's/Aldi before
the drive down to ACen.

I usually blow all of my money, and then take a trip to the ATM, in the dealer's room.
I have little self-control, I know, you don't have to tell me. XD IT'S THAT ONE TIME
A YEAR YOU CAN JUST GO CRAZY AND BUY ALL THE SWEET ANIMU CRAP YOU'VE BEEN LUSTING OVER.

That's it.

[CurseOfTheLeek]

I allocate what I make in a week so that I know how much money I'll have after bills etc. Then determine how much of that I want to save for acen. It's been harder this year than in previous because my hours have been greatly cut this year - so there's hardly anything left after bills. To try to make amends for this, I've been trying to buy cheaper versions of things I buy on a regular basis: 6 pack of blue moon = $8 vs. 6 pack of special export = $3.50. I also usually plan on saving the better part of my tax return on acen.
Also rock the "ACen or Bust" milk jug. I put in whatever I found/had in pockets or car. Had $80 after only a few months, this year I'll have a whole year's worth of change hoarding.
If that fails, try putting up a red light camera in front of your driveway. Or mug people, it's pretty much the same thing.

[Millions_Knives]

i try to make as accurate schematics as possible
this allows me to account for all the aspects of a cosplay including, form, structure/support, mechanics, electrical, ventilation, and paint/finishing
then i take this info and calculate how many units of material i need
its a bit of work
but by the end i have a much better idea of how to construct a cosplay
saving time and waste(money) in R&D

[TekoMuto]

joined the military, funds increased
made rank due to previous college classes, funds increased
every year we get around a $100-$200 raise, funds increased
got a house last week, funds are about to increase +$957, the rent is $500 a month, sht is so cash

also I have access to the +50 unemptying dumpsters of random materials here on the base, nothing like free materials.

[GITS SAC Motoko]

I just don't spend. Simple as that. I pinch the pennies. If I don't need it to live, I don't buy it. Also the discipline of saving is from being in college so that helps. I have much money coming in because it never goes out. I never eat out, I don't buy much. If I do it's with meal plan. XD mmmm TV frozen dinners!!!!

[stumpy1337]

my parents just asked me what i want for my birthday/x-mas(they are only like one week apart) and i said money so im probibly going 2 set most or all of it for acen

[Cherry_Wolf]

Saving? What's that? ;-;

But in all seriousness... Tax refunds are a god send. I plan on using some of it... depends on how much I get back. I was kind of wanting to use most of it to book myself a trip to California in October *coughcoughyaoiconcough*, but it depends on how much I can save this year... (I plan on the SRS SAVING come January... xD)

[Shinamura]

i just use my tax return for acen. Which gives me about 1700 to spend so I'm happy with that... It mainly goes to booze,

[Sandstorm]

I pimp.

It's good money, but despite the many technological advancements society has made, it's still ain't easy.

[-JUNK-]

i usually save xmas/birthday money and now recently some extra money ive been getting. ^__^ i think ive been doing good so far.

[ATICE]

Uhm... well work money.. My theory is you work hard, you play hard.. so why the hell not you know. I'm also thinking of asking for money too, but that'll likely go towards something else. I'm getting so into this con scene now I want to open up a whole savings account up just for conventions.. lol.. *prays for no fees*

[Ranko]

ATICE, on 04 December 2010 - 01:39 AM, said:

Uhm... well work money.. My theory is you work hard, you play hard.. so why the hell not you know. I'm also thinking of asking for money too, but that'll likely go towards something else. I'm getting so into this con scene now I want to open up a whole savings account up just for conventions.. lol.. *prays for no fees*

Is that why you were broke at Youmacon? XD

[Gavin Locke]

I personally use the change jar thing (well in my case, its a change beerstein), and when it gets full, I use the Coinstar at my bank to count it all up and then deposit it into my checking account.

However, what about those of you dont prefer cash? I confess that easily 80% of my transactions occur digitally, through the use of online payments, debit/card cards, etc. By and large I only carry cash on me because I do a lot of work in Chicago, and the majority of the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants (which are AMAZING) only take cash.

I have a savings account with a bank called ING Direct, its a bank that does the majority of its transactions online. When you open a savings account (which has REALLY good interest, btw), you have the option of nicknaming the account. You can also open sub-accounts, so you can have multiple savings accounts with different nicknames/purposes. You can also link the account to your existing bank accounts, makes transferring funds really easy.

I have an Acen-specific account that I have set up to draw 10% from every paycheck I put into my normal account, its helped me save a lot already and ive only had the account for a few months.

[antisocialist]

If your bank will let you do it, I would suggest taking an account and setting it for ACEN ONLY. Do not put it into your savings, because if you dip into your savings, that will be Acen money that you are not only taking, but ultimately, savings is for SERIOUS LIFE-CHANGING CRAP. Put about $20-$50 in PER MONTH if you are able to. It is currently December - You'll have about $100-$250 by the time Acen rolls around. Or, if you're the sort to do your stuff by pay period, I would suggest setting aside about $20 or so PER CHECK. You'll easily be well over $500 by the time Acen comes.

When the time comes, you should also see if your bank will allow you to transfer funds from one account to another. Take the money that you have in your checking and put it in the Acen account and vice versa, or take out all of your money IN CASH from the Acen account.

I'm with Bank of America, and they have this Keep the Change Utility that works beautifully. See if you can speak to someone with BoA and see if the change that you have can be put into another account OTHER than your savings.

Also, consider holidays and birthday, raises, good grades, side hustles, and such. If you're like me, and getting serious paper around these times, I usually put about 60-75% of this money to the Acen account. By the time I get to Acen, I usually have about ~$500 AT THE READY.

Also, PLEASE, PLEASE, balance your checkbooks if you're not lucky enough to get the Acen-specific account. NSF/Overdraft fees are absolutely NO FUN. Use online banking as if your life depends on it.

This post has been edited by antisocialist: 04 December 2010 - 10:59 PM