How do you not spend a fortune on all the layovers?? Entertainment and constantly eating out? I am the type who lacks self control in that area, so I'll want to use a good budget app.

 

After I eat/sleep/gym there’s not really that much time to do a lot. It’s not like these are 48 hour layovers in most cases.

 

What makes you think an app will change your habits?
Open a separate debit account that you only use on the road. Put a fixed amount on it at the end of every month for next months use.
I don’t know what entertainment you’re paying for but every hotel has a TV, you don’t need 6 streaming services on your iPad.
Pandora Music is free.
I’ve better ways to spend my money then in hotel bars.
As an FO I budgeted $35/day, after upgrade I gave myself a raise to $50/day.
I usually have a little left over at the end of the month.
But I did fly with an FO who said he “needed” $4000/month on the road. Thats krazy.

 

I think the most I have ever spent on a 24-48h layover was $500 or so and that was Venice, bought dinner for me and both F/Os, and some purses for my wife and I hit up the grocery store.

If I'm on a Greenslip, I eat well and pay for dinner if the other guy comes. Any flight with a guy on probation, I buy dinner/beers/coffee depending on schedule.

Even then it's really hard to envision needing a budgeting app for layovers.

Normal domestic layover. Get to hotel, gym, go eat $20-40 depending on the place. Maybe $50 if I have beers. Next morning $5 coffee, and that's it. I'm not spending crazy cash on entertainment on the regular.

I did see Iron Maiden in Mexico City and that was maybe $100 including beers at the show.

Couple of times when my layover was where a race was (I bid around the Supercross schedule) I've spent $50 if the other pilot wanted to come to the race for an industry guest credential.

Not really sure what entertainment you'd be spending baller cash on.

I do have a friend who tried to go to every club mentioned in Motley Crüe's "Girls Girls Girls" if he has a layover where one is. That could be a money pit.

 

Why buy an app and surrender your info?

Budget $60/day. Keep track of every dollar you spend on a Notes file. At the end of the month give yourself a gold star or a mad emoji, depending on whether you came in under or over.

Keeping track of your spending is key. But you have to have a certain amount of OCD.

 

If you're worried about blowing a bunch of money on the overnights, then get a side business you can do from a laptop in your room. Or do online coursework for a degree or another certification. Either of which would keep you occupied in the hotel room.

 

Exactky what I did.
Kept track on my phone in Notes, $30 this date, $40 this date $20 this date etc etc
Again…an app is not going to give you the discipline you lack.

 

My wife makes a lot of money, so I don't ever think about budgeting at work. So far this year, I spent $800 a month on "work."

That includes EVERYTHING associated with work. This year, that included a uniform refresh (about 5 shirts/pants), a new headset ($895), $175 a month on dry cleaning, and buying coffee/food for the entire crew during a turn about once a trip. I bet I'm on the high side since I know my dry cleaner overcharges and I frequently overpay on Ubers and food delivery.

 

On my recent trip to China, I realized layovers can quickly drain your budget. I booked a personalized tour through https://gowithguide.com/China and it really helped. Having a plan kept me busy and less tempted to spend on random food or shopping. Plus, I got to explore unique spots I wouldn’t have found on my own.

Other tips: pack snacks, download movies or podcasts for entertainment, and set a small spending limit for the layover. A budget app can also help you stay on track. A little planning goes a long way!

 

Imagine securing your dream job, Getting paid to fly jets to the far corners of the world, and being worried if you were going to spend more than $35 or $50 on a layover?

No pilot has ever lay on their death bed and thought, “I wish I spent even less on my layovers.”

I look at the replies on these year-end threads about salary survey and think what a shame it is that some of these pilots, with such high incomes, are just trying to figure out how to skimp on layovers where they spend almost half of their lives. That’s sad.

Enjoy your layovers. Travel well. Eat well. Experience things. Splurge. Treat your crew. You’ll appreciate going to work a lot more than the cheapskate pilots.