iflyjets4food

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.

captchris

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!

RockBottom

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.

iflyjets4food

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.

saxman66

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.

dojetdriver

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.

ImperialxRat

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.

KiloAlpha

You could always be a sperm donor if you qualify

Korean1DR

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

kansas

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. 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!