What are the tricks for 1st year guys to save money?
 

I'm sure you guys have them. I want to know how to make that almighty 1st year dollar stretch a little bit further. Any tricks of the trade would be appreciated.

Ramen Noodle soup
Mac&cheese
PJ sandwiches
Get your self a MILF with cash
Dont tip the van driver.

Pay your consequenses..your screen name says it all....SJS

Either live with a few other people, live at your parents house, or if you are feeling independent, go rent a room in someones house off craigslist.

Don't eat out a ton on overnights and treat per diem as income. If I am going on a trip... I always take cash... like $50 for a 4 day for meals, tips, etc (which equals a little less than half of my per diem).

It really isn't that bad, by the time you're out of training there are about 10 months to go :) Once you get on line you may be plesantly suprised. I am at an airline with no movement, new hires, etc. and still find ways to pick up extra cash (i.e. pickup trips off a trade board, pickup a reserve day (4:10 pay on top of guarantee), the very rare open time trip that fits my schedule, etc.

If you are going to be at CHQ... I have a friend who is RIC based on RSV and said that they are so short on FO's systemwide that he will often credit 90-100 hours per month!!!!

Good luck!

It's amazing how a job at a regional can focus your attention on the many leaks of where your income goes.

Skip the Ramen noodles, cook up a big pot of spaghetti that will last 3 or 4 days. Ditch all the monthly and yearly subscriptions you really don't need. I ended up canceling everything but Aviation Week and my American Express SkyGuide. When going out on dates, I never met a woman earlier than 9pm, and never for dinner. I only drank Soda Water and a Lime. If asked why, and that was nearly every time, I just said I don't drink alcohol-- that I'm a pilot and value my career :) Nuff said.

Stop all gift buying. Instead, send a free Hallmark e-card (couldn't do that back in my time). Use Skype as your home telephone # (ditto) if you have broadband. Man, I could go on.

Tightening the hatch for a year is actually useful in showing just how money we blow normally on a good salary... so there's a silver lining awaiting you.

Says you. It really isn't that way at all. The history behind my name is as follows (maybe the mods should make this a sticky so I don't have to explain myself over and over, j/k):

When I started flying, I went to a 2-year college. I got started using instant messaging programs. It just so happened that iflyplanes4food and iflyprops4food were both too long to fit as a username on that particular message program, so the next one I tried was iflyjets4food, and it fit. Since then, I've just used iflyjets4food as a username or screenname on everything.

Behind the pursuit of the RJ job:
I actually flew piston twins on a 135 certificate for awhile. I really enjoyed that. The only problem is that I was only flying about 250 hours a year. I got into the King Air, which I also enjoyed, but the same story prevailed. Since I've been trying to fly as much as possible to have the time I need to get a job close to my wife's family, the 135 job wasn't cutting it. I applied to some turboprop operators, but to no avail. I really didn't necessarily want to go to a jet operator, but that presented itself as a place where I could fly close to 1000 hours a year. Really, I see it as a necessary evil. I believe it will be fun, and I will learn a lot. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to move close to the in-laws (which is a good thing in my case).

I'm really not a SJS case. I probably have as much PIC multi time as most newhire RJ pilots have total time. I'm just taking the opportunity that is presented to me. If it had been a turboprop or another piston twin in a good location, I would have been just as happy. I just want to take this opportunity for all it's worth.

I'm not so sure about eating Ramen all the time. I've heard of people getting terribly sick off that because thats all they ate. Not sure if thats true, but either alota that stuff ain't exactly good for me. My plan is to just not eat out alot, and learn to cook better. You can have pretty good meals that are still cheap.

I gotta be honest. I'm a little nervous about my first year pay too. I start training in 3 weeks. I'm doing farely well at my current job so this us going to be a small blow.

As far as outside the job, it's easy. DONT LIVE BEYOND YOUR MEANS!. Yeah, first year pay is tough, but second year gets better. Learn to cook, stop eating out all time. Contrary to what people believe, IT IS CHEAPER.

If you are at a company with a so-so second year rate, it can be about a 60% raise. I can't tell you how many guys I know that think they are suddenly the "rich airline pilot" and go out and do something stupid like buy a new car. Guess what? With the payment, they are just as boke as when they were on first year pay. Save the money, pay off some bills.

At the job, try to bring as much food as you can. Power bars, Cliff bars, tuna fish and crackers, oatmeal for the morning. If the hotel has a free breakfast, take a bagel and bananna for later in the day. Try to spend as little money on the overnights as you can. If you go out to dinner and there is a sandwhich shop around, get one. Put it on ice and save it for the next day. Paying $6 dollars for the sub is better than paying $10-12 for lunch at the airport the next day.

One of my teachers in college kinda-sorta did a study on eating cup of soups nonstop. He was eating them for each meal out of the day, and after about a week he was experiencing hypoxia.

So amny preservatives, etc in that food.

Eating mac n' cheese will get ya fat real quick.

Go with cheap lunch meats and breads. Eat eggs when your home...theyre soooo cheap. Eat lots of soups.

You could always be a sperm donor if you qualify :D

Absolutely... There really isn't too much advice available other than this...

Learn to cook. Recipes are easy to follow, and can be found all over the internet for anything you want to make. I eat cheap meals for breakfast and dinner every single day (spaghetti, pb & j, ramen, oatmeal, pancakes, etc.), but always make sure to have a decent meal (still homemade) for supper to keep myself healthy and sane. Casseroles are easy to make, travel well, and last forever. I also make pizza and fajitas...the envy of the crew room.:D Such "nice" meals often cost me a mere $2 each by the time it's all said and done. Other tips...buy the generic brands of food, it will save a great deal of money. Always pack food for the trip, or search for happy hours with free/half-price appetizers. Drink water. Stay single. Don't get speeding tickets. When you buy something, make sure it will last...get short haircuts that will last a while, buy good luggage that you won't have to buy again later, etc. Share a room (wish I'd done that one).

Good luck!

Its been said but I'll say it again: make a budget based off your 75hr guarantee minus about 20% for taxes, and live within that. Anything you make over that is great and should be saved or used to pay down debt. Pick up opentime if it is available and you need the $$$.

Don't blow your per-diem at the bar. Set a daily budget for food (mine is usually $20/day) and bank the rest. Also, don't spend $4 a day at Starbucks on fancy drinks when a grande coffee is less than $2. DON'T SKIMP ON THE VAN DRIVER TIPS.

Take food with you on the road. PBJs, apple sauce, Chef Boyardee, microwavable soup, tuna, Cliff and Powerbars, almonds are all good. Take a small amount of food from the hotel breakfast if able (yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, granola bars, etc). Avoid high-sodium foods as much as feasible, although travel-friendly foods like soup tend to have a high salt content.

Cook your own meals when at home. Chicken is great, low fat and high in protein. Also remember to eat pasta, fruits & vegetables, milk and eggs.

Make wife fly her whole line.....

It think people need to think about the nutritional value of the food that they are consuming. If you eat extremely cheap you are destroying your body. You have to take a look at the exact ingredients in the food, you might be very surprised. These people that say it only costs them like ten dollars a day are selling themselves short.

Oh yeah those Tuna Packs are awesome.Dont forget to open then in the cockpit and offer your CA.

Note: I am not a regional pilot, but the tips below helped when I went to law school and lived only on my husband's salary. Other tips came from my many low-income clients, many of whom were homeless and penniless.

Develop a budget or spending plan.
Track your spending and see where else you can cut back.
Find cheap haircuts or have family/friends cut it for you.
Resist buying new things.
Shop at thrift stores if possible.
Shop in bulk. Get some friends together and shop at Costco, divvy up the stuff.
Load up on things that are non-perishable and happen to be on sale (toilet paper and such).
Take freebies in the hotel like shampoos, but do not do what calcapt used to - take the towels, bedding and lamps!
Eat soups, choose foods with protein (chicken, fish), pasta. [One client used to take the ketchup packets from McDonald's and reconstitute it into tomato soup. I don't recommend this unless you are really desperate.]
Perform chores for extra money.
Donate blood.
Sell excess personal property on craigslist or some other free venue.
Cut coupons.

Dr. Blackmore? He cracked me up, great guy.

When I travel on orders I always take an empty suitcase - bring back towels, everything in the hotel room I can get my hands on, and all the free food from the breakfast I collect and suitcase it back to my 'crib' for later use.

Oatmeal anyone?

Apple?

How about a Holiday Inn towel?

-LAFF

LAFF, do you have a Hilton bathrobe? Been looking for one for a while. If not, I'll take a Sheraton.

I'm wearing one now...

-LAFF

Thought I was the only one..

creative poverty
 

All through college I used to go into the produce department get one of those clear plastic sacks and stuff it full of everything I could find in produce. There is all kinds of stuff in produce from to nuts to tofu. Then I would check out using the self-checkout and punch "cabbage". Did that all through college. Once in while the newer cashiers would catch me using this ploy- usual ones knew people did that and didnt care- and I would say oops didn't see all that tofu or whatever in there sorry. It was just survival- when I got a real job I went straight. It was just like that Jimmy Buffet song, you do what you have to do to get by.

I was a broke college student too...but I didn't steal to get by...:rolleyes:

Boiler is right... I'm not so sure this is good advice to give...:rolleyes:

He is prolly a good candidate for Gojets...

Here's a tip - take your pay rate/hour, times min guarantee, x .70. That'll be real close to your take home pay each month after taxes, insurance, and minimal contribution to 401(k).

At most companies, that's gonna be right around $1200-$1300/month.

Now, add up all your bills, and make sure they come in less than that figure.

Some things I did - got rid of the mx hog car and got an older, more reliable one, bought with cash. Then I cut back to minimal (liability only) car insurance. Now I pay <$40/month. Not bad.

I spend, on average, <$5/day on food over the course of a month. All food. From eating at home to eating, occasionally, on trips (thinks like Quiznos and other places that give a good value). My fiance aggressively cuts coupons. There have been times when we were paid to leave the grocery store with products!

The idea isn't how to make more money, it's how to figure out how to cut the fat from your budget. If you can't get your bills to come out less than what you make, don't take the job ;). There are plenty of other aviation jobs out there that pay MUCH more than starting pay at a regional. Don't steal to make ends meet like some of the above posters are suggesting. Be a professional, and have some self respect.

Funny no one metioned Northwest Airline's 101 ways of saving money.
http://www.mnheadhunter.com/mh/2006/...est_airli.html

I eat on $10 a day or less each day...What is unhealthy about oatmeal, spaghetti, and steak fajitas with onions, peppers, salsa, and cheese? If I'm destroying my body, I honestly hate to think what those that finish behind me in marathons are doing to theirs...:) Eating out destroys your body faster than nearly anything home-cooked will.

Something I forgot to mention earlier...potatoes. I bought a whole sack the other day at Wal-Mart for a dollar.

Yeah no kidding. We spend (together) around $250-$300/month on food, almost all home cooked. In fact, when we eat out, we generally find ourselves with upset stomachs from all the grease and oil used.

0% interest credit card dance! Keep the balance transfers going every 15 months.:eek: Definitely don't skip the bar time, we are pilots, this is what we do.;)

Number 46: "Don’t be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash."

WTF?!?!!

Hey, I'm a van driver. What do you mean "don't tip the van driver?".:eek:

Seriously, I used to work for a company that transported overnighting NWA crews here in MSP. Not the biggest spenders but fair.

My sister is very cheap, but happens to live in a swanky condo. Two nights ago, she found a toaster sitting on top of the recycling container. She listed it on craigslist and sold it for $20. It's amazing what people will throw away. At my condo, someone threw out a Peg Perego train set, a very nice wood and glass computer desk, brand new handbags with tags still attached, a sturdy leather office chair, etc etc.

I do have a sugar-mama wife, so money won't really be a problem, but I wanted to try to make the pay cut that I'm taking seem like less. These are a lot of good suggestions, except the dumpster-diving and the stealing. I think the trick is bringing stuff you bought from the grocery store or sams club for really cheap to eat for lunch, and maybe taking an apple and a granola bar from the breakfast.

That's hilarious...and a good idea!

I did not suggest eating out i just mentioned nutritional value. Things such as corn syrups, preservatives, artificial flavors and colors. Non-natural chemical additives to food. Many low cost items are full of these.

I've heard that doing this too many times can affect your credit score. Anybody know for sure?

Hey, I want my toaster....I mean handbags back...

-LAFF

Well, definitely opening up a line of credit can lower your score and then just transferring balances can also lower it depending on the balance and max withdrawal ratio (spending limit). You really never want to go over 50% your spending limit on a credit card. The longer you have an account, the better report they have for you on your spending habits and this is one factor that the bureau likes; longevity. It's actually sounding silly these days, but it is like you are almost paying for your credit score to increase by sticking with a credit card company that is charging you more than the other guy. It's all a silly game these days.

When I read that trash thing all I could think of was that Seinfeld eppisode with George and the eclair.