How To Budget In The Fun Stuff

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Crystal came into my life the same day I was having a nightmare of when I used to be traveling around the world as a famous salsa dancer making tons of money dancing next to half naked women while guys handed me free drinks all night long. Thank God my 2 year old son woke me up, at that exact moment on my birthday, to tell me that my wife needed me to help her clean up the shit that was all over my daughter's crib. :)

Yes today things are different but they are far from shitty. In fact, I am happier more now than ever. No it's true. No seriously I mean it. All jokes aside, I have a very loving wife and 2 great kids. And, I left that lifestyle way before my wife wedged in and squeezed out 2 spawns. The only thing I can say I miss is the financial freedom that I had back then. How the F**K am I supposed to have a family, create a new career path and budget in the fun stuff? That's where Crystal comes in.

After my kids went to daycare and my wife drove to work, I came across an article How To Make $10,000... Blogging. Naturally I was skeptical but I opened it up, read it and became very curious about Crystal and her personal site called Budgeting In The Fun Stuff.  I went to the about section because I wanted to read about her first to see if I could feel a connection. I started reading that she was happily married, living in Texas with her 2 dogs, with the hopes of paying off her home by 2012. Then I was hooked because she seemed like a real down to earth person (online of course) who wasn't trying to sell me anything.  She was just keeping it real. I read article after article to learn more about what she did until I found a small article she had posted about Yakezie. 

In a nutshell, Yakezie brings bloggers together for the common goal of hitting an Alexa ranking of 200,000 or under. Apparently special things start to happen at 200k or below. I love surprises.

Side Note...I ranked 4,985,251 prior to joining and today I rank at 566,486 

Anyway, Crystal is a proud member of the Yakezie group and I was definitely curious. That is when I decided to email her to find out if she thought my site and I would be a good fit to take the Yakezie 6th month Challenge. No need wasting Yakezie's time or mine if I am not a good fit.   

So I wrote her an email and here is what she replied...

Happy Birthday Jai. This is such a special day in the wonderful world of Jai and you are very special person with many talents. I am so blessed to have you in my life. 

Opps...  Sorry that was an email from my mom.

Here is what she wrote...

Hi Jai! Yep, Yakezie is open to pf bloggers, lifestyle bloggers (like you - that's what category I'd classify photography as at least), and a few other types too.  :-)  Just throw your hat in the ring in the public forums, put the Challenger badge on your site, and jump right in.  :-) 
Happy Holidays!

Crystal
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So I joined.  Thanks Crystal. If you want to read more about Crystal and her awesome site please check her out at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff. Oh and tell her Jai sent you. That won't do a damn thing for you but at least you will be talking about me too.  

Until tomorrow

Jai