Fighting Broke

“Fear is a motivational factor, and often we’re not afraid of anything in particular but a nebulous phantasm. Fear is about managing risk, and what you’re trying to avoid is a negative, irreversible consequence. The best way to defeat fear is to define it. When you do, you find few things are actually negatively irreversible.” – Tim Ferriss, on Chase Jarvis live, minute 02:50

This snippet is my favorite segment of this particular interview (linked up at the end of this post, for your convenience). This mentality — define fears to see few things in life are irreversible — pushed me when I first started in entertainment, with no idea what a POD was, who runs which studio, or what a “mensch” meant.

And I revisit it often, actually. I think that’s really important when you work in the entertainment industry, which feels archaic at times, with unrealistic demands for a glimmering lifestyle and a standard of perfection that makes sending a single e-mail a paralyzing chore.

By being aware of the worst case scenario (and its reversibility) I realize there are many moments I’m better off trying many things, making small and correctible mistakes so I can barrel through the learning curve, versus laboring over a single act of perfection.

So how do we put this framework about fear (dubbed “Fear Setting” by Tim Ferriss) to work when it comes to quitting your job?

Amanda Pendolino covered it here on the Aspiring TV Writer’s blog, when a reader asked her: “I want to write for scripted TV but the company I work for only produces reality television. When is time to move on and find the next job? How do I move on with out my boss hating me?”

To sum up Amanda’s position, she offered these three nuggets:

1. It’s time to quit when you’re not learning anything and not making contacts. 
2. Don’t quit until you find a new job.
3. Get over the “boss hating me” thing.

 

How to “Fear Set” Quitting Your Job

The Fear Setting method helps us reach similar conclusions, but the methodology is more rigorous, which I feel provides the confidence to execute more succinctly. I’m going to continue using the above reader as our case study for Fear Setting:

1. Define your nightmare, the absolute worst that could happen if you did what you are considering. How realistic are any of these outcomes?  

   You don’t have a new job lined up, or the one you had fell through. In fact, it takes you six months to a year to find a new job. Your boss, the reality TV producer, hates you and blackballs you. He screams at you when you give him your two weeks and tells you to get the fuck out. He makes it so you never want to work in reality again.

2. What steps could you take to repair the damage or get things back on the upswing, even if temporarily? How could you get things back under control? 

   Before you quit, you could find your replacement and have them ready to be trained, to make the transition as smooth as possible. Before you quit, you could reach out extensively to your network and let them know you’re looking for a new role. If you needed money, you could waiter or bartend. Or you could use Craiglist gigs to make money in the meantime.

3. What are the outcomes or benefits, both temporary and permanent, of more probable scenarios? What are the positive outcomes? What would the impact be on a scale of 1 – 10? Have less intelligent people done this before and pulled it off? 

   How much of an impact on your career would finding a job closer to your desired role, in your long-term career trajectory (even with a 6-month or 1-year hiatus, while searching for the right gig)? Isn’t that worth quitting for?

4. If you were fired from your job today, what would you do to get things under financial control? If you quit your job to test other options, how could you later get back on the same career track if you had to?

   How good were you at your job before? If you absolutely needed to get work again, how easy would it be for you to get another job at a reality production company?

5. What are you putting off out of fear? What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do. 
6. What is it costing you – financially, emotionally, physically, to postpone action? Measure the atrocious cost of inaction. If you don’t pursue those things that excite you, where will you be in one year, five years, and ten years? 

   Again, think in the long-term trajectory of your career. What’s it costing your end game by not quitting right now?

7. What are you waiting for?

Here’s the Chase Jarvis Interview of Tim Ferriss. Enjoy!

 

 

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Photo Credit: notsogoodphotography

Come every October, I start looking into booking a flight from LAX back East. The prices hit me like a cold shower, and like an 80-year-old man who gives out Werther’s caramels, I’d complain, “When did travel get so expensive?”

Then I’d check my “Travel” savings account to see if I saved enough cash money to purchase the flight.

Sometimes I did. Sometimes I didn’t.

And each time, I thought, “there’s got to be a better way. I shouldn’t have to shell out $600 every time I want to get on an airplane.”

Or… I’m sure you’ve gotten that email from your college friend back East.

They’re getting married. Or they’re throwing the Bachelor/ette party of the decade, and you’d trade your damaged liver for an airplane ticket.

But when it’s time to book that flight — goddamn, that’s a lot of green for an (admittedly) awesome weekend and shitty Monday morning.

What if I told you there was a way travel for FREE? Or, at the very least, at a very reduced price?

I know… this sounds super scammy, doesn’t it?

Like the kind of scammy when you stumble on a malware website selling iPad minis after “accidentally” clicking on topless photos of Lizzie Caplan while searching for that awesome interview with MASTERS OF SEX showrunner, Michelle Ashford (which is right here, by the way).

 

Keep Reading If You Want to Save Money on Airfare

I’d think it was a scam too — except for two things:

1. I don’t have anything to sell.
2. I can’t share the whole process yet, because I haven’t figured it out for myself yet.

Jeez, that’s refreshing, isn’t it? Just admitting not having all the answers? Should try that more often.

Listen — this isn’t a definitive guide to getting free airfare. I haven’t done all the work, like I did on my Best Guide for Moving to Los Angeles (where I did all the work for you.) 

This post is about how to start getting your airfare for free. This is my detailed, super-methodical journey that you can follow along and study and decide for yourself if you’d like to earn free airfare.

First thing: sending monster respect to Travis at Extra Bag of Peanuts for providing all the information I needed to get started for myself. If you’re looking for a fantastic case study on what’s possible with travel rewards, click here.

 

Wait, If It’s Too Good To Be True…

This is why I write about the process in detail, so you understand everything involved. Because my head immediately goes to:

If it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is. 

Right?

Well, maybe.

But maybe not.

So why not test it out? What’s the worst that could happen?

For real, I actually sat and thought: “What’s the worst that could come from this?” This is what I came up with:

1. It doesn’t work. Fine. Nothing lost, nothing gained. 
2. Credit card companies hate me / blackball me. Boo-hoo. You mean I’d stop getting their mailers and spam? In that case, I should have tried this YEARS ago.
3. I waste my time. Probably the biggest sacrifice. That’s why this is a test. The downside, I lose some time that I can’t ever get back. But the upside? Let’s say 5 years from now, I’ve got enough miles tucked away, I have the OPTION to travel for free, should I desire. To me, this potential upswing far outweighs the negative.
4. My credit score suffers. This is a possibility when you “churn and burn” (as signing up for credit cards for the bonus, then canceling the card, is affectionately known as). This has to do with lowering your credit utilization ratio (amount you owe versus total available credit). Yes, churn and burn can lower your credit score… but there are plenty of things you can do to improve that score . Like consistently paying off all credit card debt each month. And if I see my credit score dip below a level I’m comfortable with? I can just stop, and let my credit rebuild.

Essentially, if you pay off ALL your credit card debt each month, there is no damage that is irreparable.

 

Don’t Try This At Home If…!

Only attempt to use credit cards to earn free miles IF you have no consumer debt. That means on a month-t0-month basis you’re carrying over a balance of $0. 

If you have a problem paying off your credit, then this isn’t for you. Stay out of this game unless you have the foundation of no consumer debt, a solid credit score, and a basic understanding of how credit works.

When you’re done paying off your consumer debt — then come back. Get into this sandbox. And get your travel on!

 

How To Use Credit Cards To Travel For Free

Here’s the overarching process that I’ll explore as I tackle the challenges and report back to you:

1. Find and sign up for a new credit card that offers a Free Miles Bonus
2. Make sure I’m able to spend the specified amount in the allotted time frame
3. Call the credit card company and confirm the bonus still applies
4. Increase my revolving credit if possible
5. Spend the money in the allotted time frame
6. Earn those Free Miles!
7. Confirm the Free Miles are in fact, allocated to your account by the credit card company
8. Cancel the card during the first-year fee-waived period
9. Incorporate regular credit score checks
10. Go back to 1. Rinse, recycle, repeat!

Next week, I’ll write up my processes to complete 1 and 2. If you have any questions or comments about flying for free using credit card awards, please shoot me an email, or leave a comment. Thanks!

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Photo Credit: epSos.de

I was set to fly to Albany on Saturday, for the opening of my father’s restaurant.

A week before, I got a text message from my mother, telling me my grandmother passed in her sleep. The funeral was being held Saturday morning, so I needed to move my flight up a day.

I checked online, found a new flight, and called Delta. They quoted me a price of $180 and told me if I came back to them with the funeral home information, they could waive the change-of-flight fee.

Great. We hung up, I got the information, then called back. It’s a different representative on the phone.

“The difference in flight fares,” this representative told me, “is $290. Did you want to pay now?”

 

Negotiating with an Airline

“That’s weird. I’m showing a flight difference of $180. I also just called in, and that’s what the representative quoted me as well. Can you double-check?” I asked.

We spent another 10 minutes trying to figure out the discrepancy between the difference in fares, but at the end of the call, she said, “There’s nothing I can do, because that’s what my computer is telling me.”

“I’m not trying to be difficult,” I replied. “I appreciate your help and understand that’s what you see on the computer. What I want to do is get clarity on why your computer is showing something different than mine. Can we go over the legs again? On Delta Flight 008, flying out of LAX at…”

Another 15 minutes, and we didn’t get anywhere. I said, “Okay, I’m going to do a little more research, and then call back in. Thank you for your help.”

The rep can’t couldn’t get off the phone fast enough — relieved to be rid of me. We hung up — and I called back in immediately, hoping with a different representative, I’d get a different result.

Different rep. Same result – their computer showed a difference in airfare of $290. I asked him to check the flights again. No change.

“I appreciate your help,” I told him. “Is there a supervisor I can speak with who may be able to shed light on why there’s a difference between what’s on your computer and mine?”

He brought on his supervisor, and I explained the situation again. She looked at her computer, and told me, “I understand your frustration, but the computer’s calculating a difference in fare of $290, so that’s what we have to charge you.”

I asked her the cost of the actual leg of the flight.

“$560.”

“Right,” I said. “That’s what I’m seeing, too. And on your computer, you should see that I paid $380 for my current fare. So if you calculate the difference, it comes out to $180, not $290.”

Silence. Then, “hold on a second.”

Five minutes later, she got back on the phone. “You’re right. I’m not sure why the computer’s calculating $290. We’ll honor the quote of $180, just give me a few minutes.”

Another 10 minutes passed, and she told me, “actually we just found another fare for you, that brings the quote down to $150. Is that okay?”

 

Negotiating Frameworks

Let’s look at some of the things I did and didn’t do in this situation:

Research – I educated myself before I got on the phone with Delta, to make sure I knew what flight I wanted, and what the lowest fares available were. For every conversation regarding money, or a negotiation, go into it with due diligence (it’s amazing how many people skip this step).

I pulled up fares on both the Delta website and a fare aggregator (my choice: Hipmunk.com). This accomplished two things: one, I knew they misquoted me right away, so I could immediately correct the problem. Two, I took the onus of double-checking the fares and flights off of them, and made it something “we” were doing.

Align interests – Here’s the framework I could have used for this negotiation: Delta and I sitting at opposite sides of the table, me trying to pay the lowest price, them trying to charge me the most. If you enjoy activities like bouncing your skull off cinderblocks, make this your default approach.

If instead, you prefer finding solutions, frame the conversation to align interests. In this case, I said, “I’d like to get clarity on why your computer shows something different from my computer.”

By using that framework, I take “me versus you” off the table. The problem is with our computers, not the person. I never make it personal, or insinuate that this person is out to get me (this is rarely the case). Instead, we’re both trying to get the proper fare to show up on our computers, regardless of what the actual difference is.

Stay at the table – I kept the representative on the phone with me until they’d done everything to explain how they reached their results. I did this politely, but firmly: “Can you please double-check that?;” “Can we look at each individual leg and see what prices you’re seeing?;” “Sorry, I don’t understand, can you tell me again how you got that number?”

Can I hear her frustration on the phone?

Do I know she’s so over this conversation?

Of course, but a customer rep can’t hang up the phone until you let them. So don’t let them until you got the answers you need.

I’m not saying waste people’s time. What I am saying is, in any negotiation, gather as much information as you can, and never leave the table without answers.

Move up the chain – After the first rep couldn’t help me, I knew it was time to find another one. When I sensed we were about to hit a wall with the second one, I called in the supervisor. Be clear and polite with everyone, but never be afraid to move up the chain, where the representative can solve your problem or at the very least, provide better answers.

 

Money Is a Difficult Conversation

I hope you gleaned some negotiating tactics from this post, but a golden tactic isn’t the major takeaway here.

The major takeaway is: when it comes to conversations about money, most of them are uncomfortable ones. Conversations like:

• Hiring an employee
• Negotiating your salary
• Negotiating big purchases (real estate, a car, etc.) 
• Asking for a raise
• Comparing spending habits and savings goals with your significant other
• Firing an employee  

 

People aren’t born with an innate ability to have these conversations. It’s a skill set that’s learned, by having them over and over again, until the uncomfortable becomes comfortable.

The above conversation with Delta moved seamlessly from problem to solution. I didn’t use a script or notes or anything to get it to that point. I’ve had enough of these conversations to know my response for each likely scenario. I’ve listened to enough high-level negotiations to understand the framework to move the negotiation forward, when to concede a point, and when to hang tough.

But I promise you, a year ago, this situation probably wouldn’t have resolved itself so amicably. I would have backed off earlier, or I wouldn’t have finessed my asks or articulated my pain points as clearly as I did.

We get better at this, by taking every opportunity to have a difficult conversation. Whereas most people shy away from these conversations, we need to move towards them.

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Photo Credit: JD Hancock

Once upon a shitty time, my job was watching Youtube videos all day for a Multichannel network. Which sounds awesome, up until the point I realized I signed up for 7 to 8 hours a day watching Pokemon battles and Minecraft videos — with commentary.

(To be fair, some of these channels had more than 42K subscribers. What do I know?)

During this period of my life, crawling out of bed was a Herculean chore. Every minute I spent in that warehouse, armed with enough power strips and Apple charging cables to cause a Chicago brownout, a small piece of my soul spit in my face before it promptly, like a bumblebee sans stinger. I was wasting the best years of my life.

Most importantly, I had no passion for the Youtube space. I didn’t believe in what we were doing.

So I quit.

 

It’s Not About Passion

One point, before I continue — I don’t believe everyone should do whatever they love to do. I don’t believe that simply following your passion will make you happy and successful.

I believe you need to earn the rightt to create happiness and success from your passion. Earning this right takes hard work. This hard work will be uncomfortable. It’s challenging. You’ll doubt. You’ll get lost along the way.

Fact: no one’s going to make you an executive because you slaved away for the company for a decade.

Fact: no one’s going to give you a shot at the writer’s room because you feel you “paid your dues.”

Fact: no one cares if you hate the work you’re doing.

But if the work serves a higher purpose… if you’re learning along the way… then the work — no matter how shitty, is worthwhile.

 

What To Do Before You Quit

Before you quit, before giving up on the job, ask yourself: does your work serve the bigger goals in your life?

If the answer is “yes,” think carefully before quitting. If the work can propel you to the next level, the potential reward in the future may be worth the discomfort now.

Maybe you get a lot of creative control.

Or you’re working with a master, someone at the top of their game.

If that’s your situation, and there’s just a few things that make the job untenable, before you turn in your two weeks or start looking for your replacement, please: communicate what your problems are.

Is your schedule unmanageable?

Are your responsibilities unfairly split?

Do you not get along with your peers?

No one can read your mind. No one knows what you’re feeling. You may think people are taking advantage of you, or that someone’s out to get you. Far more likely, however, is they have their own issues they’re dealing with and your boss and peers have absolutely no idea you’re so miserable. So communicate.

 

When You Know You Have to Quit

But if you’re:

• Not learning anything new
• Not working with people who are the best in your particular field
• Not working in the space you want

 

Then it’s probably time to get out.

That’s how I knew it was time to leave the Multichannel Network company. The time spent Youtube channel surfing was actually making me dumber, so I definitely wasn’t learning anything new. There was no indication that the people I worked for were the best in the space. Most importantly, I had no desire to be in the Youtube space.

(I bring up this experience because I’m undergoing a similar change in my current role. Looking back and revisiting the heuristics used under similar circumstances shapes my decisions today — but I’ll post about that in due course 🙂 )

So, let’s say you know you should quit your job. How do you go about actually quitting? That’s the topic for this Zen Assistant series. I’m going to cover:

1. Fear Setting – understanding the worst that could possibly happen
2. Exit strategy – creating your plan on how to quit
3. Networking – utilizing your weak ties (now, and for your next role) to find a better new role, faster
4. Side Projects – inspiring your side endeavors when you can’t stand your day job anymore

 

When was the last time you quit your job? What was your thought process for making that decision? I’d love to hear what you went through.

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Photo Credit: Sarahnaut

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

TK will need to move the bullet points so it’s lower, past the picture

So far in this Best Guide to Moving to Los Angeles, I’ve covered:

 

 

 

1. How Much Should I Save?
2. Minimization
3. Getting to LA
4. Road Trip
5. Finding Your First Apartment
6. Transportation
7. Getting Your California License

 

It’s been really awesome to write this Guide.

I set out to create something that included all the tools and resources you’d ever need on the topic of moving to LA. There were so many things I didn’t know, and over the last three years, I had my share of moments where I was just ready to give up. A little insight would have gone a long way.

Yet for all the people that move to Los Angeles, why weren’t there tons of resources detailing people’s experiences?

Why wasn’t there even just one definitive guide?

So I set out to write it.

It was a lofty goal, and I hope I came close to realizing it. Thanks for reading.

Best, Chris

 

First Month in Los Angeles – Case Study

This case study is my own, when I first landed in LA, more than three years ago. Note: I’m glad I’m a note-taking fiend, or I’d have a hard time believing the numbers below:

We looked at five apartments: in Venice, Los Feliz, Echo Park, and Long Beach. Ultimately, we settled on Culver City. There were three guys living in a 2-bedroom apartment.

Here are the costs of furnishing the new pad:

• Three sofas (two for the inside, one for outside on the balcony): $25
• Carpet: $2
• Dining Room Table: $10
• Dining Room Chairs (4): $15
• Bar Stools (2): $45
• Entertainment center: free
• Television: free

 

Save for the bar stools – everything was purchased or picked up for free on Craigslist.

Transport turned out to be the challenge – I was driving a sedan, and it wasn’t big enough to move sofas, tables, etc.

The ideal solution would be owning a pick-up truck.

Second best would be borrowing a friend’s.

The last resort: you do a one-day U-Haul rental, camp out on Craigslist, and hope to pick up everything needed in 24-hours. This isn’t a great plan, but here are ideas to make it work anyway:

1. Do it on Saturday or Sunday – more people have day offs, more likely to post on Craigslist, and more likely to be home.
2. Reserve the U-Haul a few days in advance. Get an all-day rental, which allows you to drop it back off the following day. As long as you drop-off before the store officially opens, there should be no extra charge. If you’re not sure, ask.
3. Camp Craigslist the night before. Try setting up definite appointments for the next day, but remember, most free stuff is first come, first serve.
4. Bring bungee cables and rope.
5. Know exactly what you need, and prioritize: what’s the most important item? Have a plan, in case you must make a choice.
6. Start early. Camp Craigslist first thing in the morning, and stay on it all day.
7. Have cash on hand the night before. You don’t want to waste time at a bank.
8. Know how much you’re willing to spend on any piece of furniture. With only one day to acquire everything, you’re not in a strong position to negotiate.
9. Use a GPS – you’re going to be driving all over town.

 

Do you have to get lucky to get everything on one shot?

Yes.

But… better lucky than good.

Renting the U-Haul and buying gas, split three ways, cost $37 each.

 

More Furnishing Costs

This time for my bedroom. I led a bohemian lifestyle at first, but eventually decided I didn’t want to sit on the floor all year.

• Desk: $50
• Chair: $50
• Mattress: $50
• Bed Springs: Free
• Lamp: Free
• Bookshelf: Free

 

Individual cost to furnish the apartment, including U-haul costs: ~$200

 

Miscellaneous Tips On Moving to Los Angeles

Over these last eight weeks, I’ve managed to cover everything I know about the whole process of moving to Los Angeles. If you think this guide could help anyone, please share this guide with them.

Here are some remaining tips about Los Angeles, assorted and varied but just as worthy of mentioning:

1. If this is your year to “explore Los Angeles,” or if you’re on a budget, don’t drop money on brand new furniture. Craigslist what you can. It’s amazing what you can find for free (or close to it.)
2. The UTA Jobs List (Google it) can be great for finding unpaid entertainment internships. It’s not so great for finding that “great job” – because everyone can access it, it’s value is low. Those great opportunities are typically picked off by someone-who-knows-someone days before it hits the list. This is true for most jobs posted on tracking boards.
3. Do the free internships. Everyone starts somewhere. Do it before the restrictions are so tight you can’t get any experience anywhere.
4. If you’re starting an entertainment career, early on everyone will tell you to try getting into “an agency.” Shortly after, many will admit they never worked at an agency either.
5. Don’t be afraid to get a non-entertainment job. If it pays the bills and you still have time to pursue what you love, it’s not a bad option.
6. Same with bartending and waiting tables and working at coffee shops. People might look down upon you for doing it, but condescending friends aren’t real friends, anyway.
7. Read the signs when you’re street parking. All of them. Twice.
8. When you’re closed on an apartment, don’t forget to call the Gas company to turn on the gas.
9. As with any place, not all of Los Angeles and its people will be “for you.” That’s fine – dive in anyway, don’t snub your nose at it. Fake it. Meet as many people as possible. Be optimistic. Have fun.

 

Conclusion

This has been a ton of fun.

I hope it was as good for you as it was for me.

If so, please share.

Otherwise, if you have any more questions feel free to email me at [chris]@[christopherming][dot][com].

Enjoy your stay in LA!

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Photo Credit: Sergey Sus

This is the 2nd in a series of expense reports summarizing my spending for the month. I’ll cover what happened quantitively, and then qualify those numbers with details about the month. Finally, I’ll conclude with what I’ve learned, and what I plan to do in the future. I’ll respond to any questions or comments you have. Thanks!

Important Going-Ons in November

• On November 18, 2013 my father opened his third restaurant, Rain. For some of the pre-opening coverage, check it out here. Short-term financials-wise, what this meant for me was taking that trip back to Albany for the opening.
• In November, we celebrated both my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving) and least favorite (Black Friday). Amy and I took a wonderful trip up to San Francisco to eat, drink and celebrate the former, and did absolutely nothing for the latter :). A big part of not getting caught up in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday madness has to do with 1. not having a TV, 2. never reading local news, 3. being too freaking busy to think about shopping and all the money I could “save” by spending.
• Started tracking the metrics of the blog with an eye towards growing readership and email subscribers — I’ll get into those details below.
• I cycled 10 out of 13 working days this month, for a total of 72 miles and 6.37 hours spent on the bike.

 

Fixed Expenses

• Rent: $688
• Internet: $30 [wireless + domain hosting]
• Gas (Utilities): $8
• Electric (Utilities): None (we’re billed every 2 months)
• Renter’s Insurance: $10
• Car Insurance: $77.50
• Cell Phone: $50
• Netflix: $5

 

Variable Expenses

• Groceries: $107
• Gas: $72
• Drinks: $20 [“drinks” almost always means afterwork, with others who work in Hollywood]
• Lunches: $62 [again, work related lunches]
• Going Out: $250
• Miscellaneous: $60
• Travel: $120
• Gifts: N/a
• Business Expenses: None

 

Total Expenses = $1,559.50

Breakdown

• Groceries: Amy and my goal has been to keep our combined grocery bill under $300 / month, which we did here, largely due to the fact that I was gone for a week this month, plus our long Thanksgiving weekend out of town.
• Gas: the $72 spent on gas this month was spent driving to and back from San Francisco. I bike-commuted 10 out of 13 work days, and didn’t refuel at all this month. For those who don’t live in Los Angeles, yeah, that’s an (freaking awesome) anomaly.
• Drinks: I budget $100 / month for drinks, and only spent $20 this month for one set of drinks. No, this is not good. It means I’m not networking enough. I was away a good bit this month, and focused on side projects at night, which partly explains the sharp drop off. But drinks-networking should be something of a constant. I think it pays dividends in the long run if you’re consistent, and provide value to people whenever you can, anyway you can.
• Lunches: I budget about $80 / month for lunch, and spent $62, which is solid (considering I was away so much this month).
• Miscellaneous: Holiday decorations and household items!
• Travel: I needed to bump up my Albany flight a day early due to a death in the family. After some serious conversations with the folks at Delta, they waived the rebooking fee and got me a reduced fare, of $120.
• Gifts: For a couple birthdays and some holiday gifts — don’t think including the costs is appropriate 🙂

 

What I Learned This Month

• Read this awesome breakdown of where Bridget’s monthly paycheck goes on Money After Graduation — and how she’s using this analysis to increase her net worth by $25K a year.
• After a long conversation with four different Delta representatives, we came to the mutual conclusion that they were overcharging my changed flight fare by $140 for a total cost of $290. Which reminded me that your willingness to engage to uncomfortable conversations is proportional to your long term wealth. Saving that $120 was a small win. The big win was firmly but politely holding my ground, despite having to speak with four different people — I see these conversations as “practice” for more difficult conversations, e.g., salary negotiations, talking about money with loved ones, big purchase negotiations, firing people, etc.
• The opening of the restaurant, Rain Modern Chinese in Albany, NY was a fantastic experience. We had a packed dining room and a line in the bar our first Friday, despite no advertising or marketing besides the coverage in the Albany Times Union. The takeaway: you have to be patient. The word of mouth and the buzz surrounding the restaurant was a process that took 5 years, when we first opened Shogun in Delmar. Patience, patience, patience.
• I mentioned last month that I’d start learning more about earning travel miles using credit cards, and Amy and I are already more than halfway towards earning our first 50,000 free miles.

 

Blogging Lessons Learned This Month

I worked on this blog quietly for one year, telling very few people about it. My goal, before I started sharing it with anyone, was to make sure I provided content that helped others. Having accomplished that, I’m setting monthly goals to push myself out of my comfort zone and start earning more readers and subscribers.

• In the month of October 2013, with no marketing, no SEO, and telling almost no one about this blog, there were 269 page views. I set a goal for November 2013 to reach 300 page views.
• In the month of November 2013, with direct asks for Hollywood assistants to look at the site, Fighting Broke received 281 page views. This is 19 page views short of my goal, but exceeded October by 12 page views, which is a WIN in my book!
• Regarding the use of page views as my metric – yes, the metric of “page views” is not accurate. Yes, it’s a little arbitrary. I realize all of this. The question is — “Is an arbitrary metric better than no metric at all?” I believe, “yes,” IF in driving up that behavior, I commit to a specific desired behavior that benefits my end goal, e.g., earning more readers and subscribers and writing more content. What’s important here is the behavior and the journey, not necessarily the outcome. 
• I’m not going to earn more readers and subscribers without asking more people to read and subscribe, and writing more. Increasing page views is an imperfect way of tracking how many people I ask to read, but it’s better than no method of keeping myself accountable.
• So for the month of December 2013, I want to earn 350 page views. 

 

To everyone who’s been reading along thus far — thank you so much! Truly. I know how busy everyone is, not just those of working hard in Hollywood to carve out our niche but in whatever industry or city you’re in. Even committing to read that one extra email, or one extra blog, is not a commitment to take lightly, so I’m grateful if you think I’ve earned that place in your inbox and reader.

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Photo Credit: Martha Chapa95

You bought your car (paid in full, not financed or leased because you read Fighting Broke and you refuse to be another cog in the Hollywood system.)

Or, you were fortunate enough to move to Los Angeles with a car.

Here’s what you need to know (these regulations are subject to change, so double-check with the California DMV).

 

Get Your California License

1. Upon entering California, you’re required to apply for a California license within 10 days. In order to apply, you’ll need a California address, so decide on a place of residence first.
2. The DMV allows you to make an appointment, which speeds up the process dramatically. With an appointment, I was in-and-out in 30 minutes. Without, I planted myself on those pine wood benches for 3-hours. It’s worthwhile to book an appointment. There’s usually at least a week wait, so book in advance. Here’s what you should bring with you:
3. Social Security Number
4. Valid out-of-state license
5. Proof of your true full name (this can be covered by a birth certificate or passport)
6. Proof of birth date and legal presence (this can be covered by a birth certificate or passport)
7. Form DL-44, which can’t be downladed online, it must be picked up at the DMV office
8. $31 to cover the license fee in Cash, Debit, or check
9. If you’ve come in with an out-of-state license, there’s no Driver’s Test. However, there is a written exam. It has about 30 questions. The day of your appointment, I’d recommend sitting down for 20 minutes and reviewing the CA Driver’s Handbook, just in case. Knowing the rules on the road and knowing them on paper are two separate things. 20 minutes is a worthwhile investment, to guarantee you pass the exam the first time around.
10. Take an eye test

 

 

Register Your Vehicle in the State of California

With your temporary CA license in hand (the real one will be mailed to your address in a couple weeks) your next step towards becoming a contributing member of sunny California society is getting your vehicle registered:

1. First, if you’d like to avoid the line again, make another appointment at the DMV.
2. Next, get your smog check completed. This is done in California to ensure that your car meets specific emissions guidelines. You know, so our planet isn’t a toxic dump for our children’s children 100 years from now. Smog check sites are all over — they’ll generally run you ~$50, and take 20 – 30 minutes to complete.
3. With your appointment already set, you’ll gather your paperwork which consists of:
4. Temporary License / Regular License
5. Out-of-state title
6. $136 to cover registration fees in Cash, Debit, or check
7. With your Smog Certificate in hand, get to your appointment a few minutes early and complete a Vehicle Verification. This is usually done outside of the DMV building, and an employee will check your VIN, your odometer, and your paperwork.
8. They’ll send you inside the DMV, where you’ll fill out another form, which you’ll present to another DMV employee. She’ll take your paperwork (and your money) and in return, give you a set of California plates (sweet!)
9. Go home. Switch out your plates. Now, you’ll send your old plates back to where they belong: your former-state’s DMV. This must be done before you switch your insurance over to the state of California. 

 

Switching Over Your Insurance

In case you skipped over that last sentence, I’m repeating it for you: do not switch your insurance over to California until you’ve sent back your plates and received confirmation. There’s a fine for EACH DAY the state of your insurance and registration don’t match up. 

You’ll get a confirmation (a form called an FS6) and once you receive it, you can go ahead and call your insurance provider to switch over their coverage to your new state.

99% of the time, when switching your car insurance to California coverage, your premiums will go up. Read about how you can save $1,2o0 in car insurance premiums with four simple steps by clicking here. 

 

What Happens If I Don’t Register in California?

Well, if you don’t get caught — nothing happens. You’ll keep driving your out-of-state vehicle with out-of-state plates and no one will be any the wiser. You’ll get to brag about it at parties, you’ll show off your out-of-state license, and everyone will think you’re really cool. You’ll also probably save some money by not switching over to the higher California insurance premiums.

If you get pulled over, and you want to take your chances lying to a cop, you can tell them you’re from out-of-town and just visiting friends. I wouldn’t advise this, but it’s an option. I don’t know how many times you could possibly get away with this, though. And allegedly there’s a hefty fee if you get caught.

The biggest risk? Getting into an accident, and your insurance company finding out that you’ve been living out-of-state for like, 12 years. They may decide they’re not responsible for covering any of the property or bodily injury damage. Which, depending on the accident, could be a significant amount of money.

It’s a risk you have to decide for yourself.

Did I Miss Anything?
Getting your California License and your car registered in-state can feel overwhelming when you first arrive in California, and you’re also figuring out how to get your first job, or where to live. Everyone’s experience is slightly different. If I missed any details, please let me know in the comments and I’ll address them. Thanks!

Next week we’ll cover our final chapter in the Best Guide for Moving to Los Angeles: Your First Month in LA. It’s been an amazing journey to write this for you, and as we’re wrapping up, just want to say that I hope you enjoyed it too.

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Photo Credit: 27147

Your Boss thinks you’ve got time.

Their advice?

“You don’t need a raise. The money will come. You’ll make more at the next level.”

“You’re lucky. Just be happy you have a job.”

“Why are you saving for retirement now? You’re in your 20s. There’s plenty of time.”

“You’re young. What do you need health insurance for?”

“Pay your dues. It’ll pay off… eventually.”

 

Your 20s Are Your Sweet Spot

They’ll point to their own lives as examples.

They’ll point to changing trends: careers start later, couples settle down later, kids come later.

But that doesn’t make your 20s a “downtime.” It doesn’t mean your 20s don’t count.

It means your 20s are a sweet spot.

Your 20s are the time to learn:

• How credit cards affect your credit, and how credit will affect every major purchase of your life: your car, your house, your business.
• How retirement accounts (Traditional and Roth IRA’s) work.
• How to save for the things you really want in life, and how to cut out things you don’t.
• How this savings and investing “stuff” works.
• How to move your career forward — yes, you should explore, but that doesn’t mean the exploring doesn’t count.

Look at your bosses, your parents, your aunts and uncles, who still don’t quite have this figured out yet, and they’re still saying “I’ll get a handle on it someday…”

What do you think they were saying 20 years ago?

What do you think they were saying in their 20’s?

If you’re not convinced, watch Meg Jay’s TED talk: 30 Is Not the New 20:

Don’t kill time.

Don’t wait for the right job.

Or the right salary.

Or the right person.

This is the developmental sweet spot.

Now is the time.

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Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs