skymama 35 #26 February 10, 2004 Tax refund paid for training, and then I got a second job for a brand new rig working nights and some weekends. It was great paying cash for it. Then after jumping it for about 50 jumps, I sold it and got another brand new rig paying cash. I refuse to skydive on plastic. Credit cards are evil!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aero04 0 #27 February 10, 2004 QuoteLong term plan - Worked hard in high school, got into a good college, got a good job etc. Now vacation time, not money, limits how often I can jump. Thats the best way to get the cash, IMO. That's my plan. It has kinda sucked for the last 2+ years getting around 50 jumps a year, but I finish school in May and I should be able to jump more often. As others have said, stay away from plastic. Paying cash is the way to go. It feels so good to pay that last dollar and know your rig is YOURS. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipro101 0 #28 February 10, 2004 I blew my savings. Brand new mirage g3, aff training, etc. Im having buyers remorse because I paid for the rig last september, and havent jumped it yet! ohhhhhh i cant wait for summer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PlayDough 0 #29 February 10, 2004 I had an unfurnished apartment for 4 months... lived very cheap and paid as I went. I was willing to sacrifice to continue my progression. Every day is a new decision to decide what you want in life. I just kept making the right decision for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #30 February 10, 2004 I was in college. I got a part time job. I realized that drinking three bottles of pop and eating fast food once a day was costing me somewhere between $1500-$2100 a year (not to mention making me fat), so I cut way down on that. I started staying in or at least finding free/cheap stuff to do instead of going out all of the time. So basically I worked more and spent less. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GraficO 0 #31 February 10, 2004 I was in college as well and didn't have a lot of extra money to throw around. I took the S/L class $150... and then basically I started packing student gear almost immediately. At about 25 jumps I started jumpmastering other static-liners (yes...I know...I know) and that's how I funded my startup as a skydiver. When I finally got my first rig ($750... 1982 Classiflyer with a round reserve, Strato Cloud and no AAD) I was jumping a military (stolen) green flight suit and barely had an altimeter (Alti V) and a pair of goggles. I eventually got a new main (a Pursuit 230 that was used in Point Break literally... I still have it I jumped that gear until I had a real job out of college and got a brand new Talon with a Cypres and a Pd 176 and a Sabre 170... It's tough to keep current until you get your own gear and get off student status and keep a roof over your head and food in your belly at the same time. have a garage sale... take some of the CDs you never listen to and trade them in for cash... sell your Grandmother... do whatever you have to but NEVER give up! GraficOGraficO "A Mind is a terrible thing to taste." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #32 February 10, 2004 I worked as a bouncer - and a stripper. I shit you not. But that was 19 years ago - and worth every penny. I knew I would love it - but never knew I'd love it this much! tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #33 February 10, 2004 I put all the AFF jumps on plastic and then paid for it all the next month working my part time job. That viscous cycle went on for 3 months. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John4455 0 #34 February 10, 2004 I spent ALOT OF MONEY on skydiving. The rest I just wasted. How do ya like it Johnny? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
samhussey 0 #35 February 10, 2004 I got a £1500 tax rebate, which paid for me to do AFF in Empuria. As for a rig etc... well, Im saving what I can from my student loan, but I get £2000 that my gran left me in her will on my 21st in September Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites webracer 0 #36 February 10, 2004 Most skydivers are independently wealthy, or have wealthy parents. Seriously though, lots have quite sufficient means, many more learn quite young, and probably steal the funds from their college finances (provided by mom&dad in most cases). It really isn't that expensive to learn and get gear. $2500 will get you your license in most places, and another $3000 will get you some good used gear. It used to cost me more than that for one weekend racing (luckily my sponsors covered most of that). It also used to be even cheaper for women. Two reasons contributing: 1. They actually listen and jump without ego, thus learning faster, and 2. After the 7 jump AFF program they had people lining up to jump with them (most of them anyway), which provided coaching that men had to pay for, or do more jumps to learn. Life's so toughTroy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Spatula 0 #37 February 10, 2004 Wow! Great responses! I'm learning to pack right now, and hope to do that to offset some of the cost, then it's save save save. I agree that plastic is the devil! Thanks everyone! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mcrocker 0 #38 February 10, 2004 QuoteThis post is for people who (like me) had/have to beg, scrap, save pennies, and basically anything to get trained, and buy gear. My question is this, what did, or are you doing to pay for your training and gear??? Just curious. Thanks I stayed in school, got a decent education, started my own business. Have a kick ass job and enough money to play in the sports I love. Not quite the answer you were looking for but hey... This is my sport, not my job. I fully respect everyone that works in this industry and makes it better for all of us. I don't think I could do it, I skydive to relax, I wouldn't want it to become a job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites HRHSkyPrincess 0 #39 February 10, 2004 Refinanced my house, more than once...bwahahahaaaaaaaaa! And told my family that the dz issues very nice gift certificates for birthdays, Xmas, etc. And of course, CHARGE! It's all about skydiving. Heh...***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites dinog3 0 #40 February 10, 2004 Hello, some of our customers have taken advantage of our gear financing program. Maybe you should try also. Call me at Mirage Systems and I can get you pre-qualified. [email protected] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ladyskydiver 0 #41 February 10, 2004 Tax returns, cash, and minimal credit card usage. I used to go for a latte coffee every day. Out to eat frequently. Started realizing that each week that I got latte every day was $20 - a little bit more than 1 jump ticket. So, I dropped my latte consumption down to once a week as a treat, and I don't eat out as much any more. My preference is once or twice a week to go out to eat now instead of whenever I felt like it. Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chapdog 0 #42 February 10, 2004 Glad to see there`s someone out there who thinks like me.We re-mortgaged to do the house so added a bit extra for a new rig! P.S.Have very understanding missus and am almost a kept man. OOOOPS! Coming DEAREST. _____________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------- No really,if only someone had a camera! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cocheese 0 #43 February 10, 2004 It's about how much other shit you can "cut-a-way" in your life. See Cutaway Movie. No seriously, if it doesn't help you get in the sky.....do you really need to buy ? I quit the bar scene, expensive foods,sold the toys. Sell everything you won't need anymore. Priorities: 1) Save money 2) Throw money and self out of plane like confetti ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Nightingale 0 #44 February 10, 2004 lol. Parents and relatives: Kris, what do you want for your birthday and christmas?? Me: money for jump tickets or altimeter or jumpsuit or rig. that is all. I also scored a sewing machine and a dustbuster, but I did get a decent amount of cash, paid for two aff levels and my $50 alti on ebay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kallend 1,673 #45 February 10, 2004 QuoteThis post is for people who (like me) had/have to beg, scrap, save pennies, and basically anything to get trained, and buy gear. My question is this, what did, or are you doing to pay for your training and gear??? Just curious. Thanks I have a good job.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SkydiveNFlorida 0 #46 February 10, 2004 I started after selling my condo, so I had lots of proceeds. Thing is, I didn't know this was going to consume me and cost so much... so I wasted lots of the $$ on going out and partying, too. Now, I party way way way less. I rarely shop. I try to spend less $$ on food, but that is the one thing I am having trouble doing. I am not into eating Ramen noodles, ya know?! So, most of the $$ I make goes to skydiving, it is what I look forward to all week, so imo it's worth it. Hopefully, when I am done with my degree in a billion years, I will get a good job and will be able to afford lots more jumps & traveling:D Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Tink1717 2 #47 February 10, 2004 BIG credit card. Not the smartest thing to do, but it worked.Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off. -The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!) AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites napaguy99 0 #48 February 11, 2004 You mean this stuff costs money? Gee, I guess I was just having so much fun I never noticed, but now that you mention it... "Let the misinterpretation and attacks begin." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites sdgregory 0 #49 February 11, 2004 I went without food, beer, and hookers till I got my A and my gear. No wait, I went without food and beer, and HOOKED. Hooking was unsuccessful. I made 25 cents. But hey that was 25 cents I did not have to beg borrow or steal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NoShitThereIWas 0 #50 February 11, 2004 Where did I get the extra cash to jump out of airplanes and buy gear??? Lets just say I had a strong desire and commitment to find what it was that I enjoyed doing and after my first jump I knew skydiving was something that I wanted to continue, learn and try to master at least some aspect of. To me the work that I put in was well worth the reward. I started working in the industry after learning to pack which was right after AFF in 96/97. I started packing every weekend and learned quite a bit being at the Drop Zone for a jumper with 7 jumps ... and basically a non jumper for nearly two years while packing. I packed anything and everything I could. After 2.5 years of packing tandem 421s I was like time to move on to something else. I worked manifest full time and was the office person. It was cool at times but I got sick of being inside all day long, last person to leave while everyone else was on the playground. They TOLD me I was a good manifestor but ... I think I must have become a nightmare after being bitten by the bug. There was no hope for me to stay behind the counter for long. Then working at STUNTS ... Yep yep yep. Lots to do with skydiving and it is something I have never regretted. For me one sure way to get into the sport was to be around it often, learn as much as I could from others and work hard. It took me about 2.5 years to save up for all of my gear and I bought a lot of it a little at a time. Luck was on my side when our DZO bought into STUNTS and I was able to get a great deal on an Eclipse container. So it was a bit of time, saving and commitment to make it happen. Then for fun jump tickets I needed more money than my full time job so on my other day off (one day off for jumping) I washed airplanes, the DZOs camper, the DZ bathrooms () ... and I never turned down a jump from a girlfriend or a cool guy All of that just to jump out of airplanes ... Some people would probably call me weird ...The sport is still expensive but still well worth it.Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 3 Next Page 2 of 3 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. 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webracer 0 #36 February 10, 2004 Most skydivers are independently wealthy, or have wealthy parents. Seriously though, lots have quite sufficient means, many more learn quite young, and probably steal the funds from their college finances (provided by mom&dad in most cases). It really isn't that expensive to learn and get gear. $2500 will get you your license in most places, and another $3000 will get you some good used gear. It used to cost me more than that for one weekend racing (luckily my sponsors covered most of that). It also used to be even cheaper for women. Two reasons contributing: 1. They actually listen and jump without ego, thus learning faster, and 2. After the 7 jump AFF program they had people lining up to jump with them (most of them anyway), which provided coaching that men had to pay for, or do more jumps to learn. Life's so toughTroy I am now free to exercise my downward mobility. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spatula 0 #37 February 10, 2004 Wow! Great responses! I'm learning to pack right now, and hope to do that to offset some of the cost, then it's save save save. I agree that plastic is the devil! Thanks everyone! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcrocker 0 #38 February 10, 2004 QuoteThis post is for people who (like me) had/have to beg, scrap, save pennies, and basically anything to get trained, and buy gear. My question is this, what did, or are you doing to pay for your training and gear??? Just curious. Thanks I stayed in school, got a decent education, started my own business. Have a kick ass job and enough money to play in the sports I love. Not quite the answer you were looking for but hey... This is my sport, not my job. I fully respect everyone that works in this industry and makes it better for all of us. I don't think I could do it, I skydive to relax, I wouldn't want it to become a job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HRHSkyPrincess 0 #39 February 10, 2004 Refinanced my house, more than once...bwahahahaaaaaaaaa! And told my family that the dz issues very nice gift certificates for birthdays, Xmas, etc. And of course, CHARGE! It's all about skydiving. Heh...***************** Attitude is everything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dinog3 0 #40 February 10, 2004 Hello, some of our customers have taken advantage of our gear financing program. Maybe you should try also. Call me at Mirage Systems and I can get you pre-qualified. [email protected] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #41 February 10, 2004 Tax returns, cash, and minimal credit card usage. I used to go for a latte coffee every day. Out to eat frequently. Started realizing that each week that I got latte every day was $20 - a little bit more than 1 jump ticket. So, I dropped my latte consumption down to once a week as a treat, and I don't eat out as much any more. My preference is once or twice a week to go out to eat now instead of whenever I felt like it. Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chapdog 0 #42 February 10, 2004 Glad to see there`s someone out there who thinks like me.We re-mortgaged to do the house so added a bit extra for a new rig! P.S.Have very understanding missus and am almost a kept man. OOOOPS! Coming DEAREST. _____________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------- No really,if only someone had a camera! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #43 February 10, 2004 It's about how much other shit you can "cut-a-way" in your life. See Cutaway Movie. No seriously, if it doesn't help you get in the sky.....do you really need to buy ? I quit the bar scene, expensive foods,sold the toys. Sell everything you won't need anymore. Priorities: 1) Save money 2) Throw money and self out of plane like confetti ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #44 February 10, 2004 lol. Parents and relatives: Kris, what do you want for your birthday and christmas?? Me: money for jump tickets or altimeter or jumpsuit or rig. that is all. I also scored a sewing machine and a dustbuster, but I did get a decent amount of cash, paid for two aff levels and my $50 alti on ebay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,673 #45 February 10, 2004 QuoteThis post is for people who (like me) had/have to beg, scrap, save pennies, and basically anything to get trained, and buy gear. My question is this, what did, or are you doing to pay for your training and gear??? Just curious. Thanks I have a good job.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #46 February 10, 2004 I started after selling my condo, so I had lots of proceeds. Thing is, I didn't know this was going to consume me and cost so much... so I wasted lots of the $$ on going out and partying, too. Now, I party way way way less. I rarely shop. I try to spend less $$ on food, but that is the one thing I am having trouble doing. I am not into eating Ramen noodles, ya know?! So, most of the $$ I make goes to skydiving, it is what I look forward to all week, so imo it's worth it. Hopefully, when I am done with my degree in a billion years, I will get a good job and will be able to afford lots more jumps & traveling:D Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tink1717 2 #47 February 10, 2004 BIG credit card. Not the smartest thing to do, but it worked.Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off. -The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!) AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
napaguy99 0 #48 February 11, 2004 You mean this stuff costs money? Gee, I guess I was just having so much fun I never noticed, but now that you mention it... "Let the misinterpretation and attacks begin." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdgregory 0 #49 February 11, 2004 I went without food, beer, and hookers till I got my A and my gear. No wait, I went without food and beer, and HOOKED. Hooking was unsuccessful. I made 25 cents. But hey that was 25 cents I did not have to beg borrow or steal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoShitThereIWas 0 #50 February 11, 2004 Where did I get the extra cash to jump out of airplanes and buy gear??? Lets just say I had a strong desire and commitment to find what it was that I enjoyed doing and after my first jump I knew skydiving was something that I wanted to continue, learn and try to master at least some aspect of. To me the work that I put in was well worth the reward. I started working in the industry after learning to pack which was right after AFF in 96/97. I started packing every weekend and learned quite a bit being at the Drop Zone for a jumper with 7 jumps ... and basically a non jumper for nearly two years while packing. I packed anything and everything I could. After 2.5 years of packing tandem 421s I was like time to move on to something else. I worked manifest full time and was the office person. It was cool at times but I got sick of being inside all day long, last person to leave while everyone else was on the playground. They TOLD me I was a good manifestor but ... I think I must have become a nightmare after being bitten by the bug. There was no hope for me to stay behind the counter for long. Then working at STUNTS ... Yep yep yep. Lots to do with skydiving and it is something I have never regretted. For me one sure way to get into the sport was to be around it often, learn as much as I could from others and work hard. It took me about 2.5 years to save up for all of my gear and I bought a lot of it a little at a time. Luck was on my side when our DZO bought into STUNTS and I was able to get a great deal on an Eclipse container. So it was a bit of time, saving and commitment to make it happen. Then for fun jump tickets I needed more money than my full time job so on my other day off (one day off for jumping) I washed airplanes, the DZOs camper, the DZ bathrooms () ... and I never turned down a jump from a girlfriend or a cool guy All of that just to jump out of airplanes ... Some people would probably call me weird ...The sport is still expensive but still well worth it.Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
