My father is a frugal person. I guess that's something that's never been one of my better traits as I like to spend. I think I take more after my mother as she always told me that life is short and you never know when your last day could be so you may as well enjoy it. I think I probably took her a bit too literally as I could do with a bit of my father's sense, or cents in this instance, but that's just how I live life I guess.
When I was at the University of Minnesota I wanted to save for a 21st birthday trip to Las Vegas with my brother. As I said though, I'm not one to save. So, any time I wanted to order pizza, I opted to put that money in a cup and save it for the trip. Surprisingly I came up with quite a bit of money at the end of the trip. This has worked a few other times for me, but it's nothing I gave a lot of thought to for a while.

Well, this past Christmas a couple of friends of mine gave me a little "nest egg" for Las Vegas. I was touched by the gift and greatly appreciated it, but wondered if it would truly work. As past occasions have confirmed though, it has. I'm as surprised as probably any of my friends that know me, but I'm sticking to it and packing away every spare dollar I get into the little egg.

I would've never guessed in a million years that this would've worked, but I'm saving up money just like I did in the old days and getting ready for my birthday trip to Las Vegas in style. If it works as well as in past years I'll truly head to Vegas a happy man. I may leave a happy man too, but not like anyone would really think (pervs!) as I want to do the trip different from what I've ever done in the past. What that is will just have to remain to be seen...

Although, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas - no matter how cliche and stupid that may sound.

The vacation nest egg idea of my friends is working though and I greatly appreciate that gift. I wish I could show the same discipline with my regular finances as I do with this, but such is life. I do think though that maybe I'll build on this trend for future vacations and hope it works. It hasn't failed me yet, so all signs point to "yes."