As we all know model airplanes are a very expensive hobby. You may have noticed that your money supply will never equal the cost of new airplanes that naturally you just "have to have". Well Rick Giannini of the York County Fliers has come up with some very reasonable, doable ideas and shared them in the November 1998 York County Flyers newsletter. Knowing that everyone needs help with money once in awhile, I have posted them here.

Note: Since I never leave well enough alone, I have added to and changed the article some what, so don't blame Rick for everything you read here.

1. Check around the house for anything of value that you don't really need. These include any of those old items handed down from relatives   that you never liked anyway. What are antiques anyway but old furniture? Since you eat in the living room watching television, the dining     room set is a good place to start. Your wife won't miss it, she only uses it a couple days a year and hell, she never let you build airplanes on  it anyway, so what good is it?

2. Sell any of the kid's toys that they may have misplaced or have not used for a few days. TIP: Remember expensive "do it all" toys are bad for the imagination. Balls of aluminum foil and pieces of scrap wood, force them to use their imagination.

   Look for that sweater that your Aunt Hilda made. Clothes like these are good items to sell. TIP: Buy only long sleeve shirts and shorts. In the summer the shorts will be cool and in the winter the shirt will be warm, no need for a different set of clothing for winter and summer.

   Continue scrounging around for any items that are not definitely needed for survival or flying and then yard sale those suckers. Wow! I bet you picked up a good pile of cash for your hobby fund. Right?

   Next. take a look at that retirement savings account. Do you really think it is necessary? When you’re 80 years old. you will probably not be capable of flying anyway, so why not spend it on models now? Fly and build while you're young enough to enjoy it. TIP: You can live with your kids when you get old!!!     It will be long past time for payback by then anyway.

4. Take a look at those credit cards. If you haven't topped them out, well, do I need to say more? Go for it. You can get a fresh one when that one is full!!! See how easy this is?   TIP: It is a well known fact that the country's financial health requires a large consumer debt, what are you un-American?

5. Let's also not forget those cash draining grocery bills. Kids love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Think how happy they will be to have them every day for every meal! Powdered milk is really cheap, and only one glass is necessary each day. Water is healthier to drink, so knock off those expensive soft drink purchases. Think how happy you and your wife will be with your new slim figures as a result of that bread and water diet you're now on!  TIP: Visit your local soup kitchen every so often if you tell them you are homeless or fly model airplanes they will let you eat for free....

6. Birthday presents can be purchased at the Dollar Store and Christmas presents too. Think of how that nice year-end savings on Christmas expenses will fatten up that hobby fund?    TIP: There are certain religions that do not celebrate birthdays or Christmas, consider changing your religion or at least saying you did.

7. Borrowing from relatives is also a good idea. Almost any excuse can be used. After a while, they will stop asking what happened to the money and when you will pay it back? Note: Trying to get some money out of a fellow hobbyist even if he is a relative is a waste of time, they don't have any money either.

8. Try getting a loan from the bank, they have plenty of money. TIP: Be honest, tell them you are going to use the money to buy an airplane, just don't tell them it is a model. Dropping hints about 747s and starting new airlines, always helps.

9. Children are a bad idea, incredibly they cost even more then RC models!!  Divorcing the wife is also a bad idea. You not only lose half your income, but all of her income too!    Instead learn to use your assets, get her a second or third job. TIP: If you already have children dropping them off on the way to the field at highway interchanges, with crudely lettered signs begging for money, could be a way of recouping some of the money spent on their upkeep

10. As we all know utilities are a big part of the household budget right after airplanes and housing.   Electricity is one of the largest items, unfortunately doing without electricity is not an option, you have to be able to run vital electric items like battery chargers and covering irons.. You can however find ways to cut back.  Cooking over a  open fire in the fire place can be very helpful in cutting the bill down. It also helps heat the house and your wife will love the romance.  Natural gas is of little use to modelers and you can always fill up bottles of water at work and bring them home. TIP:  Instead of using a battery cycler to run your battery packs down, use the left over energy to light the house.

11. Check around for any vehicles that you don't need. All you need is one truck and a cargo trailer to haul your air force in. Any other cars, bicycles, skateboards, big wheels or other wheeled vehicles are to be considered non-essential and immediately converted to cash. Get rid of that riding lawnmower too, since you will be so busy with your models, you won't have time for grass mowing! TIP: Goats keep the grass cut, make excellent low upkeep pets for the children and give free milk.

 So have I  given you some hints on filling up that modeling fund?