Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

    I have been following the posts regarding people's concerns over the
increasing costs of ride fees, gasoline, heating fuel, hay, and anything
else that seems to be on the rise. I have been truly inspired by those who
have shared their stategies for making their dollar go farther. Not eating
out, making their own clothes, not going to movies, no cable tv, restricting
driving distances to rides, reducing the number of rides they do, done so
that they can stay within their current budget. I was wondering if anyone
has anecdotes to share about how they increased their income
to meet increasing expenses and to have more of the things they want in life.
  I will share one example. Forty years ago, at the age of 36, and with a
wife and five kids, my father decided that 13 years of being a grocer was
enough. He decided he wanted to become a dentist. Even though he had been
a high school dropout, and only a C student at best, he relocated our family
so that he could enter college, fulfill the necessary requirements, and enter
dental school. He and my mother both worked during that time to support the
family, and Dad graduated at age 42. He had a 30 year career, earing a million
dollars his final year in practice. His example led to inspiring all  of
his children to enter professional school and become doctors. In fact, our
mother says us kids get our looks and our brains from our Dad, 'cuz she still
has hers!
   This is an extreme example, but even though I am heir to my father's fortune,
I, too, am looking for ways to increase my income, as it's not cheap keeping
a fresh banana beel on his front doorstep every morning. ;) Sometimes, I
might do a little teaching or consulting on the side. I thought that others
out there might have suggestions for how we all could increase our incomes
to meet these rising expenses, instead of trying to cram more expense into
an already overcrowded budget. It might be fun, and less stressful than feeling
imposed upon by even the smallest of price hikes or that we are overextending
ourselves to continue participating in this sport we all love so much.  
Anyone?
     Bruce Weary