Finances

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Hello all,
On Saturday, I completed my level II AFF jump and am now officially hooked. I've been having skydiving dreams at night. I haven't been working at work, just surving skydiving sites (and reading lots of the posts here on these forums), my whuffo (status hopefully soon to change) girlfriend has been very patient with the fact that I've been unable to speak about anything else. My question is this:
As you are all aware, skydiving is an extremely expensive lifestyle, and so is graduate school. There is no way I can afford to jump every weekend, at least at this point. Financially, it would make sense to jump once a month, since each AFF jump must be made within 30 days of the last. Practically, because you can never count on the weather, it makes sense to go every three weeks, so if it rains then, there's always next weekend.
In terms of progression, though, three weeks between jumps is an awfully long time. Also figure I will eventually need to begin looking for a rig, and this is going to get very expensive very fast.
I am interested in how you all dealt/deal with the financial issue, and your suggestions for balancing between my need to keep current and my need to eat (though I recall reading on the divorce thread that "balance" is often left at the Twin Otter door).
Steve

A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

[Sebazz1 2]

Basicaly you need to do everything and anything to do what you really want to do. It wont just come to you. So go out kick some ass and make some money You can do it yea baby!

When I first started jumping I did the once a month thing. I was younger of course. Then I just started making decisions to be more efficient with what money I had. Then I did what I could to make more. Simple..........

Let us know how AFF goes.............

[Shark 0]

Oh! For a second I thought your post was on Fiances.

[hobbes4star 0]

when i first started i did the same thing, went every 3 weeks. that went out the window by my level 3 IAF jump. i maxed out 1 cc and got a $5000 loan to by my gear. it was worth it. but i had also finished college before i started to jump. good luck and welcome to the sky...

if fun were easy it wouldn't be worth having, right?

[skydiverbrian 0]

I was in the same boat. I tried waiting in between jumps, but that was killing me. So I dipped into savings, and really cut back on unnecessary expenses. Voila! I had jump money and finished student status and had my A-license in a few weeks. Take a look at where your money goes. You'll find lots of fluff in the budget. Haircuts, gasoline, electricity, meat. (This sounds funny, but I really did cut this stuff out)

In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal

[TequilaGirl 0]

Well - if you have a 401K you can take a loan out against it - and pay yourself back monthly with interest........atleast that is how mine works......

[PhreeZone 20]

I did the slow student progress since I was in school at the time and this and that. It took me 5 months to do the 15 jumps I needed for student status. I'd jump 2-3 times a weekend and come back in 3 weeks. I've got rid of almost everything of value to afford to jump. I've got no kitchen table, no toys around the house, I go grocery shopping every 3 weeks and it cost me 75-80 for 3 weeks. I worked 40 hours a week, did 19-21 credit hours a semester to afford to jump. I worked OT when ever it was offered... I cut almost everything else out of my life and put it all into jumping. I'm slowly scaling back my money in jumping since I'm wanting to get a house and some toys, but thats cool too. You don't have to do 200+ jumps a year like some people do in the sport to have a good time.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[Muenkel 0]

This thread makes me wonder. Is there anyone in this community where finances are not an issue at all and do not interfere with skydiving?

_________________________________________
Chris

[Sebazz1 2]

Quote

You don't have to do 200+ jumps a year like some people do in the sport to have a good time

Umm he is smoking crack, don't listen to him. You can only have fun if you do 300+ jumps a year

I am kidding. He's right.........

[jfields 0]

Chris,

I wouldn't go so far as to say that finances are not at all an issue, but they fall way behind available time as the challenge to my jumping.

[smcc13 0]

I pre-purchased the whole jump package on my credit card $1200 and prayed that I wouldn't have to repeat anylevels. After reciving my A license I charged up a brand spaking new rig $4700. This was 2 years ago and I still have $2000. balance on the card but it was sooooooo worth it. I highly discourage jumping once a month cuz as we all know mother nature is not reliable. I've seen people have to repeat levels repeatedly due to the 30 days running out. Charge it up and get your license. You'll be glad you did =)

[jfields 0]

Steve,

I'd actually advise against doing what some people have mentioned and taking out loans and maxing credit cards. Bad moves. It sets you up with a bad habit. And with this sport, the expenses NEVER STOP, so you might as well get used to dealing with them in a responsible way from the beginning. Do it the hard way. Slowly, surely, and paid with cash. If you can't afford to jump more than a few times a month, then don't. The sky will be there.

For example, if you charge a $50 jump (including gear rental), by the time you've paid it off, it may have cost you $70, or more. If you go all out and charge AFF, gear, etc., all of a sudden you'll be thousands of dollars in debt. Then you'll have the choice of paying your bills and not jumping, or ruining your credit, which will haunt you later.

I know it is hard to see people jumping like crazy and have to limit yourself. But you'll thank yourself later, when you are still jumping and they have burned out and/or gone broke.

[Deuce 1]

I quit Law School. I finished my first year, I was going at night, and I had to decide if I was going to do the necessary studying or skydive. My family didn't go on vacation this year, I bought gear and jumps. I owe them.

I'll work harder at my day job.

Have less, skydive more.

Nationals are at Lake Wales next September. Is that anywhere near Disneyworld?

[kiltboy 0]

Internships

If your grad school program will allow you the time off take internships over the summer. You get to earn real money and the work experience angle helps for when you graduate.
That's what I did and I'm still doing it but I'll never get to jump as often as I'd like. Read wuffo girlfriend who doesn't like flying so the chances of gettingher to leave the plane are slim.

[Muenkel 0]

Quote

Chris,

I wouldn't go so far as to say that finances are not at all an issue, but they fall way behind available time as the challenge to my jumping.

Now there's a challenge I will face, time! Where do you folks find all the time. I have like a million things going on in life and I haven't even committed to the sport yet. Shit, I'm lucky if I get out to golf a couple times a month.

_________________________________________
Chris

[TequilaGirl 0]

Golf??? - Sell your clubs that is good jump money...

[TomAiello 26]

My solution to the Graduate School and Jumping Issue:

Take a year or three off school. Get a Tandem Rating and a Rigger's Ticket (at least--it will also help if you learn to fly camera and a Cessna). Go back to school. Work at the DZ on weekends. Now, your DZ work will pay for your fun jumps, and probably even generate a little extra income (always helpful while in school).

Another choice is just to take up BASE. Then you don't have to pay for your jumps. (Disclaimer: that's a joke--BASE is more expensive than skydiving.)

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[Muenkel 0]

Quote

Golf??? - Sell your clubs that is good jump money...

So is it all one sport for you folks? Only skydiving? Well I know there is sex and beer, but I believe those are included in the definition of skydiving.

_________________________________________
Chris

[Shark 0]

Quote

Golf??? - Sell your clubs that is good jump money...

Can't. My ex-girlfriend has already done that! (whuffo bitch)

[Deuce 1]

Shit! I completely forgot I had a great set of golf clubs!

Maybe my DZO will trade me for several blocks of tickets! Great idea! I love you guys!

[thrillseek 0]

If you've seen the movie "Cutaway", most of it is a bit sensationalized. However, the part about cutting away all of the bullshit is right on track. You'd be amazed what you can do without in order to maintain this lifestyle. Cheap beer, cheap food, cheap dates(if any ..), cheap gear to start out, and just being dedicated to the sport are some of my secrets. As a college student from a family that can't even afford to send me to school, i have been able to make 225 jumps in a year in the sport. I wouldn't have traded one second of freefall or one dollar spent!

[Lindsey 0]

I went through a static line progression. It was really easy on the pocketbook, and I got to jump a LOT!!!!! I was also in graduate school when I started jumping. THEN....took out a little loan to buy inexpensive first gear and made about 400 or 500 jumps in my first couple years.....A little job on the side doesn't hurt....

Peas!
Lindsey

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[bananna 0]

When it comes to money, skydiving uses a lot of it.... But, we all know it is worth it.
I got through training while being in college becuase I saved up before I started a training program. I did my first jump in Septemeber of 1999 & fell in love with the sport, but I didn't start training then. It was torture knowing that I could be jumping, but I am glad that I had the will power to wait (and, besides it is awfully cold in Indiana in the winter). I waited till Spring, so that I could save up some money & be able to do more than one jump every three weeks. Being able to jump often as a student really helped ease the learning curve. And, as a college student I can say that I don't always get to jump as much as I want because of money, but I refuse to put myself in debt. I love skydiving & all I keep telling myself is that I am going to college to get a job that will support jumping (& packing too, because I hate that partJust my thoughts,
Anna

[skybytch 273]

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I have like a million things going on in life

It's all about priorities. Once you start jumping for real, you'll either get bit really hard and let all that other stuff slip away, or you'll be one of those one or two day per month jumpers that will have fun with it but never get real good at it. Not that there is anything wrong with never getting real good at it - as long as you're having fun and are jumping enough to stay safe, that's what really matters.

I've had years where I've only done 30 or 40 jumps... and then there's this year. I'm on track to do over 200 jumps by December (oh, and become a world record holder. Have I mentioned that before? ). Doesn't sound like many jumps when compared with some people, but I'm happy with it when I consider that my annual income this year will be less than $30K.

When I'm jumping hard there's not much else in my life besides skydiving - because I don't need much else. Jumping a lot makes me happy. That alone makes it worth whatever I have to sacrifice - money, time and material goods.

Steve - if you want to jump bad enough, you'll figure out a way to make it happen. Nothing wrong with jumping every two or three weeks until you get out of school and can afford to hit the sport hard. Nothing wrong with buying inexpensive used equipment instead of shiny new stuff - again, until you're out of school and can afford the "good stuff."

I'd have to agree with those who've said charging it on plastic or taking out loans isn't such a good idea in your curretn position - unless of course your masters degree will allow you to make the big bucks once you've got a "real job." I ran up a couple thousand dollars in credit card debt when I started jumping and ended up totally ruining my credit - my freefall addiction required that I spend all my money on jumping instead of on paying bills.

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Well, in terms of scaling things down, I do have this going for me: I'm moving to a new apartment soon, under a special in which they are giving us one month with free rent. Can anybody guess which savings account that money is not going to?

A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All