I am Driving to The Gathering
Ok, you are driving to the gathering. Cool. Cheaper then taking a bus if you have people riding with you.. but you have other expenses to consider that people who are buying tickets do not have to consider. Below is a list of things you need to consider when taking this trip. Print it out, or write it down, and fill in the blanks with how much money you will be spending. There will be a blank one, and one I have filled out for you ninjas just so you know how to go about it.
The best advice I can give you is this. 2 things. First? Overestimate all your costs. I will show you examples of that below, but always overestimate your expences. Never try and figure out to the penny how much you are going to spend. If you overestimate you will NEVER be cut short.
The Second thing is no matter what, stick to your budget. If you are WAY over, ok, cool, take 20 of that and buy an extra shirt or go out to eat at that classy Denny's (hehe), whatever. That's cool. But stick to it for the Most part. It will save your ass later.
Now since I am making up this budget sheet, I am going to use me. Let's say I am going to Catskill to Toledo and 2 people are riding with me in my car and staying at the hotel with me. I am arriving in toledo at check in time on July 12th and checking out the morning of the 16th (therefore I am spending 4 days in the hotel.
BUDGET:
Hotel--Let's say the hotel costs 75 dollars a night, after taxes (always ask the person taking the reservations what the total cost is AFTER taxes) @ 4 nights that is $300. $300 / 3 (3 people) = $100 each.
Here is a good way to stick to this budget. collect the money UPON checking in and pay the bill before hand. This way if someone spends their share of the hotel money, you ain't fucked and in jail till someone wires you the money.
Gas-- At 20 MPG (Miles Per Gallon)(at the least) and 1300 miles(Take the miles from Catskill to Toledo and Double it. It is round trip) (at the most) is 65 gallons needed. Round up to 70 in case of emergency. 70 @ 1.75(Cost of gas per gallon. No, Gas does not cost $1.75 a gallon, but prices rise and fall, not to mention how much is it going to hurt to be over cost?) (at the most) = $122.50 / 3 =$41 per person
Collect the money in the begining of the trip and give it to the most responcible person, kept in a seperate envelope MARKED gas money. This way there is no confusion.
Tolls--18 tolls round trip @ an average of 2.50 a toll (at the most) = is $45 / 3 (Divided by 3 because 3 people are riding with me) = $15 per person
Again, collect all the money and put it in an envelope and give it to the most responcible person.
Food--$50 dollars for 4 days per person is fair. Especially if you bring some of your own for the hotel room.
Ticket money for Gathering-- $100
Emergency Money--Each Person holds on to $20 on the way home just incase of some emergency. Car breaking down, flat tire, anything.
Listen ya'll emergency money is reall fucking important and I will tell you why. Last year someone brought me to the gathering nd was supposed to take me home too. Naw, I got left. However, I had $100 emergency money planned and someone else gave me some money and I got an emergency bus home. This is ANOTHER reason to ask for hotel money upfront. If I didn't do that I would have been fucked. Straight up.
Miscellanious:
Batteries: Walkmen, we all know how addicted we are to those things. $10
Merchandise: $100
Film: $20
Soap, Shampoo, Deoderant (unless you plan on not bathing or something like that: $20.
Total: $476
BLANK SHEET
Hotel--
Gas--
Tolls--
Food--
Ticket money for Gathering-- $100
Emergency Money--
Miscellanious--
Total: