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I, J. Money, only claim the thoughts from my head. I am NOT a professional finance'er, banker, CPA, or anything of that sort. Please seek a professional for any "real" advice. For more info, please check out my disclosure page. That is all - enjoy!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Vegas + Work = Sweet Love?

UPDATE: just uploaded some pics!

Whew, i'm back in action and now ready to dish the dirt :) Would you like to know a few secrets from the Vegas adventure? (If not, click here for a not-so-randomly generated older post to keep you busy instead)

I thought about just giving you a rough idea of the trip, but since Vegas is all about money, as well as this blog, I decided to share it all. While I have my reservations, like someone at work finding out, or coming across as a bragger :(, i also want to remain 100% honest w/ my postings and financials. Not only that, but it also opened up my eyes t0 a high-end lifestyle that DOES exist out there. So, although i personally wouldn't consider/promote it, it def. makes for good discussion.

With that said, here are the events posted line by line (as to not ramble). Keep in mind most of this was comped by our hotel, and then the rest by our company. (I love you boss-man! not that he knows this is my site, and who "my" refers too, but still, credit is due). Also, I left out all the work-stuff...no one wants to hear about that.

So here we go, in order of events:
- FIRST CLASS flight roundtrip! lots of legroom and feel-goodness. (est. cost = $1,700)
- Picked up by limo @ airport :) the BEST part was the guy holding a sign w/ my name on it when i arrived! haha... so bad a$$ (est. cost = $100)
- Handed a packet of money. this was to cover all food, transportation, drinks, and more importantly....gambling! haha...i sure didn't see THAT one coming. ($600)
- Hotel for 2 nights - very sexy & comfy. i'd guestimate it at around $300/night
- Concierge breakfast(s) - eggs, bacon, the works! $35 a piece
- Partied at Rain Nightclub - couple hours here, so-so.
- Partied at the Kingpin Suite at the Palms - awesomest part of the trip - personal bowling lanes, a bar, AND a pool table all in your very own suite! how sick is that?
- VIP table @ the Playboy Club! Crystal champagne, music, and overall great vibe. est. cost =$6,000
- Cabana by the pool! was perfect for what we needed (NEEDED? i was already getting sucked in!), our own section to sweat off the alcohol and get some sun. tack on another $600.
- Fancy pants dinner - 1st time trying Kobe beef. crazy diff. than normal steak as it literally melts in your mouth! weird, but cool to try out for a 1 time thing :) that ran $400 a plate.

I think that's pretty much it. What a trip, right? I'm not one to splurge (at all) on this sort of thing, so i must admit it was very VERY strange keeping this up for the few days while there.

It was actually pretty crazy... at the end i caught myself using my money extremely loose! i bought a few souvenirs for $70 w/out even THINKING of it, and then was tipping people like mad. no wonder Vegas leaves many a men crying when they go home....all the lights, drinks, clubs, they're all set up to squeeze the money out of you.

Oops, almost forgot about the gambling. Here's how that played out:
- Blackjack: Down $20 at the end.
- Texas Hold 'em: Walked away up $5
- Pai Gow Poker: Down $75.
- Texas Hold 'em casino table: Up $60!
- Slot machines: Down $14.50
- Total damage: - $44.50ish

So there you have it kiddies, my Vegas trip all wrapped up in a nice post. This will be good for me to remember later, as my gold fish mind tends to forget the details. All in all, the trip cost about $10,000 for ME alone!!! Some of the things included others like the VIP table and the Cabana, but you get the idea. 100% C-R-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S, and surely not expected.

Now, interestingly enough, i'm off to Atlantic City for a night out with the boys! (we had planned this weeks before my knowledge of the work trip) I can guarantee that the only thing that will be on par with the above is the "down $44.50" part. haha...

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Slowly. going. down. hill...

Vegas = 1, J. Money =0

I tip my hat to you, Senor Vegas. While the 8 1/2 hours of sleep kept me "alive" through all 3 days, your bright lights and fancy lifestyle have now knocked me to the ground. You have put my wallet on an emotional roller coaster, and i can no longer think clearly. To be honest, i'm not even sure i'm making any sense right now? (don't answer that).

So with that, i wish to proudly withdraw, and retreat back to our nation's capital to regenerate my brain cells. You are a most honorable host, good sir, and i look forward to future meetings.

Your friend,
J. "don't wake me for 24 hours" Money.

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

I'm still alive in Vegas!!!

after only 2 hours of sleep, i am still alive and kicking :) tomorrow, however, may be a different story. we have 3 after-parties to attend this evening, and since everything is comped (all drinks, food, etc) it may just cause a ruckus!

other than that, i don't have much to report. i was a good little boy last night and didn't do anything terribly interesting. aka i checked email, this blog, and then *tried* to sleep.. i will say, though, that i picked up a banana for $1.19! i have no luck w/ those things lately...

OH! and i almost forgot. I played one hand of blackjack for $25, and won! i stayed on 15 (the dealer was showing a 6), and she barely went over 21. so i'm now 1 for 1, and up $25 for the week so far :)

...now let's just see if can maintain this little lead! i'm off the poker tables. Woohoo!!!

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Monday, March 31, 2008

It's Monday, and i'm off to VEGAS!!!

That's right kiddies, the work is sending me to the City of Spending ;) And not only that, but word on the street is that we'll be treated like rock stars when we're there! it's along story, but basically my boss got mistaken for a big roller a cple years back, and has since proved it to be true. haha... works for me!

But while i'm as excited as a little boy on Christmas, i'm also nervous as hell! There's a number of reasons for this, but the budgety ones are topping the list for sure. Here's a list of things for me NOT to do while gone. Since i can't write them on my hand like i'd normally do, you better believe i'm printing this out and keeping it on me 24/7:

1) Not to forget how sexy budgets are!
2) Not to forget to pack Mr. Frugal in my suitcase.
3) Not to spend over $200.*
4) Not to forget i'm actually NOT a rock star ;) ....sadly.
5) And most importantly, not to get wasted and make a fool of myself w/ colleagues!

I'm sure there are a billion other items not to forget, but as long as i follow the above i should make it out w/ my money (and my job) still in tact. And to be even MORE on top of the game, i'm gonna bring my own book/magazines from home as to not waste so much on airport prices. I just picked up a copy of "The Automatic Millionaire" after hearing so much about it, so that should keep me in the frugal spirit!

All i know is, i gotta get my game face on and do my best to fit in as a Frugal'er in a high roller's suit. It's sure gonna be hard, but you know what? I can do this. As long as i don't get dropped off at a Texas Hold'em table all night, i'll be fine. (poker's my one weak spot, i can't help it!!!)

As you can imagine, i won't be able to spend a huge amount of time posting and reading all my fav. pf blogs, BUT you know i'll do my best to post at least once a day :) I can't leave everyone hanging, right? I'm thinking I'll write a little this afternoon, and then post them over the next cple days. Of course, if i have my own internet access in the hotel, i might even be able to share a little directly from Vegas! Perhaps some pictures and stories meant to "stay in Vegas"? haha...we shall see.

Before i go now, i want to give some last shout outs to those i will be sure to miss this week. The first, of course, is Mrs Budgetsaresexy! She's my partner in crime, and i will miss her dearly. The rest is my online family! Without all you personal finance bloggers and readers, i might just find myself crying and broke on the plane ride home :)

So with that, i bid you all adieu. May your net worth increase, and your hearts be happy!

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*This is my max amount i'm allowing myself to blow from gambling, souvenirs, etc. LUCKILY all housing/food expenditures will be taken care of by work.

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