How do you get your funding for your railroad?

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

what's this??? funding??? no job so I have to beg and plead

[cheese3]

I ask for every modeling thing i need for christmas or my birthday.

[GerFust]

Darren:

Here is how it works. The revenue side of the business (me) does not have free control over expenditures. The Department of Management and Budget (wife) has oversight of all expenses.

Now, one might think that such a relationship of checks and balances might be restrictive on the railroad. In fact, it is the revenue side of the business that dictates restrictions. The budget department is actually quite good at the support functions, scanning the retail environment for cost reduction activies (sales), securing training services (MR subscription), and occasional grants (gifts). However, the real benefit of the relationship is when the Management side of the Department of Management and Budget begins to allocate additional resources.

For example, the planning department (me) had annexed the SE corridor (basement corner) for a new layout. With proximity to the significant infrastructure (where my shop is) this seemed the logical choice. Management subsequently suggested a relocation to a more beneficial piece of real estate (other corner of basement), that is protected on three sides, is closer to natural light, and lacks the over head plumbing present over the current layout plan.

Managment and Budget is also involved in a partnership with both Revenue and Planning departments to secure additional resources (paint, electical, etc.) as part of larger construction projects, therefore introducing a synergy into the relationship.

Anyway, it is good to have the Controller on your side.

-Jer

[camarokid]

Well, your'e right. WORK. However, that doesn't necessarily make it mine, even though we both work. So I really have to have a good reason to get something for the railroad. But my wife is very understanding since it keeps me home in the winter and she knows where I am at all times. It works out great for both of us. I LOVE MY WIFE!!!
Archie

[jrbernier]

I do it the 'old fashioned way'......I earn it!

[Javern]

Been seling my wife's diamonds and replacing them with fakes, so far so good

[jlcjrbal]

I usually take the change from my kids banks and fill them with slugs...

[Anonymous]

Well, there's the monthly allowance, and the occasional working for $10/hour. However, this money must cover all my clothing, school supplies, model railroading supplies, and rocketry supplies, so it is not as much as it sounds.
Reed

[johncolley]

Sneak and lie? Not quite yet, but I do fudge a little now and then. Actually I budget a small amount a month until I can make any major purchase. One way, if the vendor is willing is with a PayPal subscription...so much a month. Some vendors will work with you this way, some won't send the article until it is fully paid for.

[darkstar974]

I have to ask the CFO of the PB&Y for monitary donations followed by filling out paperwork in triplicate lol

[Anonymous]

I am on a subsidised outlay each month. (Allowance) I beef up my purchasing power via ebay. I usually plan carefully what I will get. Fortunately I have a pair of very good LHS's that assists me with anything I am trying to find.

Once in a while I go outside the limitations of the allowance and usually repay it in form of extra honey do jobs or special service for a period of time.

[Bikerdad]

toiling in the Slave Pits of the Undercity.

[CBQ_Guy]

I just buy what I want, when I want, trying not to overdo it. [^]

In the lean years I engaged in what I called "creative accounting". [;)]

Of course, this only works when you control the budget! [8D]

[TurboOne]

I don't spend anything. Really. New wood just appears from the wood fairy. I never buy trains. Ever. They appear and then I've had it for years works. My buddy gave it to me to check out. Its a loaner.

Tim [;)]

[Anonymous]

Slooooooooooowwwwwwwwwllllllllly...

I've been saving for a hobby shop trip for weeks now. I had enough ca***o buy some turf and a station platform.

[;)]

[Jetrock]

One of those lovely job things. However, it's nice to get paid for something that you like to do. Lately I have had a bit more money to spend on hobby items since the amount of money I spent on cigarettes has dropped once again to zero--so that extra $20 a week goes straight to the hobby shop!

[challenger3802]

Pay yourself, leave it alone, when you have enough leave it a bit longer, then spend it when you know you're not going to miss the money.

A good line to follow often overlooked in the case of money-burning-a-hole-in-the-pocket syndrome!

Ian

[Anonymous]

Way back when I was a teenage model railroader I wanted to have some passes and other stationery for my model railroad. Myself and two other friends chipped in $25.00 each and sent away for a hand operated printing press. We used it after school to print business cards, tickets, envelopes, letterheads and paid for it within a short while. We would do this after school, and my share of the income helped me pay for my hobby items. And I was able to print my own supplies. I also had a paper route and a weekly allowance to help in paying for my stuff.

I still have the printing press and associated equipment - it's not very big, sits on a table - but no longer use it because using a computer requires much less effort.

Bob Boudreau

[ereimer]

i have this thing called a credit card .... not sure how it works but stores take it then give it back along with whatever i want . it's pretty cool really , everyone should have one

ok now to reality ...
i'm self employed and i try to set aside 10% of whatever i make for 'entertainment' . this includes movies , dinners out , music etc. actually having any left when i head over to the LHS is rare so my usual purchase is a couple of magazines

[cwclark]

today's new word boys and girls :..can you say Mastercard???...too bad i have to spend a perfectly good day at this place called "Work"....Mr. Mastercard gets real ugly with his interest charges if i don't work and earn money to feed his unsatiable appetite...Chuck

[lupo]

got hit by a car and a lawyer did the rest ![:D][D)]

[Anonymous]

I have a decent jobs, a stay-at-home wife, a three year old and one more on the way. To fund my spending, we sat down with our budget, and found how much we could afford each month (It turned out to be $80/month). On the first of the month, I transfer that money to my Paypal account and go from there. It works, and I never have to feel guilty when I come home with itmes from my LHS or when a package arrives in the mail from 1st Place Hobbies.

Mike

[grayfox1119]

I retired!!! There was little time or $$ when I was raining 4 kids, and then later it was 8 grandkids, 5 of which lived with us 7x24 for a period of time. Now, I can plan and budget for two people, a cat and a dog......AAAAANNNNND MRR'ing , Yessssss!!!

[Anonymous]

Works well for me. Just me, the lady, and our cold-blooded pets with a big old house all to ourselves. We have seperate budgets (splitting the cost of our shared bills) and a shared savings to back us up.

Considering neither one of us shoulders the burden of any given bill we're free to spend our extra money as we please. After I've contributed to various accounts that make sure I won't have to live in a gutter after I retire I am able to give myself $300-$600 a month to spend on railroading...if I ever get to a point where I need more than that I think it's time to step back and do a reality/priority check!

[howmus]

As CEO of the SLO&W, I go to the board of trustees and propose a bond issue through our local VISA fund. So far I have never been turned down! Of course, I am the only voting member of the committee. I do have to admit that some months the mortgage, heat and light, taxes, and sometimes little extras like food reduce the amount available for expanding the empire. I try not to let it bother me! LOL

It is a lot easier being retired on a good pension rather than 20 years ago trying to raise a family and get permission from my wife to spend money on "toys". There was "our money" which I earned (and she managed), and her money which she earned (which of course was HER MONEY!). "Our Money" paid all the bills, and "her money" went for extras that she got to decide. After all it was (I think I already mentioned) "her money"!

[Anonymous]

I get my money from allowance.

[davekelly]

Jer,

Sounds like the Controller there should be the CEO. Hopefully the Controller gets rewarded with such bonuses as dinner out, flowers etc. I hear they like that.

Tim,

As a newbie you sure catch on fast!!

As for me. Well, the railroad had a managerial split (divorce) a couple of years ago which saw the budget increase quite a bit (perhaps too much lol). Revenues however have decreased significantly (lost job) but the railroad's perspective CFO (fiance) seems to be very very receptive to at least a reasonable budget.

[Anonymous]

I work in the sewage ditches on Qualan 4. After several years or so, I have enough to buy a woodland scenics tree. Sometimes two!

[Anonymous]

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