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How To Budget In The Fun Stuff

1/11/2012

17 Comments

 
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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
-
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
17 Comments
Marissa link
1/11/2012 03:38:19 am

That's a great/sweet article. Yes, Crystal does seem very real. Happy to have you in the challenge.

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Jai Catalano link
1/11/2012 04:32:02 am

Thank you for saying that. Glad to be a part. I really am.

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American Debt Project link
1/11/2012 04:45:19 am

I kept hearing that Budget in the Fun Stuff name but I finally checked her site out this week and I like her A LOT! She's got a ton of great posts I need to read. Plus she's killing it in monthly income. So happy to be a Yakezie challenger with you..I think we are going to break 200 in the same week :). Keep 'em coming!

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Jai Catalano link
1/11/2012 04:53:43 am

Thank you so much. Neck and neck huh??? Looks like you are killing me all the way at 335k. :)

Thanks again.

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Crystal link
1/11/2012 06:42:19 am

This is such an upper! Thank you so much! And I am so glad that you followed through with the Yakezie! Do you think you will be attending the Financial Blogger Conference in Denver this September? I'd love to meet you!

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Jai Catalano link
1/11/2012 07:10:21 am

Thanks Crystal. Glad I could be an upper. I hadn't thought about attending yet because everything is still so new but I might be as things have been moving nicely.

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SB @ One Cent At A Time link
1/11/2012 07:29:42 am

Thanks just couldn't have come in a better way. Great to have you in Yakezie.

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Jai Catalano link
1/11/2012 07:38:56 am

That was a very cool comment. Thanks for leaving it.

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Buck Inspire link
1/11/2012 07:00:52 pm

Cool recap and hilarious note from your mother, um Crystal, um, you know what I mean. Enjoy the challenge and Happy Belated Birthday!

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Jai Catalano link
1/11/2012 10:21:17 pm

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

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Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter link
1/12/2012 07:35:32 am

This was very cool of you to do. Great post.

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Jai Catalano link
1/12/2012 07:40:59 am

Thank you. I am all smiles :)

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Dr Dean link
1/13/2012 04:36:44 am

Crystal is even more fun in person, so if you get the chance to meet her...."full of energy" is just is not enough to describe her.

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Jai Catalano link
1/13/2012 04:38:50 am

Thanks Dr. Dean... I can't wait to meet her.

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Crystal link
1/16/2012 07:49:39 am

Dr. Dean has to stop talking me up, lol. I will never live up to expectations this way, hahaha.

And as long as we are talking about meeting people in person, you have to see Dr Dean and his wife together - they are the cutest couple!

Geoff link
1/19/2012 12:54:31 am

Hi Jai, it's funny, Crystal "on-boarded" me into the Yakezie too when I was trying to find some direction for my other blog (Car Negotiation Coach). Great group, glad to have you on board.

BTW- love the use of your own photography as your post images!

Reply
Jai Catalano link
1/19/2012 12:58:29 am

Thank you so much. I glad you like it. It's cool because I have been about 10 different famous people in the last 6 months and I don't have the added pressure of fame. I don't have the money either but hey you can't have it all. :)

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    Jai Catalano

    There are 3 things I can't change... my 2 kids, my 1 wife and my 0 rights.

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JAI CATALANO - Photographer | Videographer | Editor
973.715.0018 | New York, NY | Morristown, NJ

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