Since he lives in a robust music-oriented community (Nashville), there are probably tons of people with great equipment they could borrow or barter for the use of.

For example, even though detailing someone’s cars several times might take 10 or 20 hours, if it gives access to expensive equipment to make great-quality recordings, it would be well worth the effort.

Absent this approach, there are probably places to rent very good equipment for less than $200 (probably with pretax dollars for a professional musician).

Thanks for reading.

‘In your response to the third question, the sentence should read “Maybe they broke off their friendships with a lot of people to get where THEY ARE,” not “where they’re at.”’

On the other hand, an acquaintance with 4 cats keeps insisting that our group of friends meet at her house. Many group members are allergic to cats and are uncomfortable after more than a few minutes in her home. No one would ask that she get rid of her cats, but it would be nice if she would quit demanding that we let her host events. There are plenty of cat-free homes in our circle.

I also decided to go with Vanguard mutual funds. I did 66% in VBMFX (Total Bond Market Index) and 33% in VTSMX (Total Stock Market Index). I also passively invest with automatic buys on a regular basis. It has had some ups and downs, but overall it has worked well.

This is in addition to some CD’s and a high-interest savings acct. I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.

Regardless, I’m open to other people’s thoughts/opinions on the matter.

Really? Hundreds of thousands of unwanted pets in this country and you think that your pet will become a victim of religious sacrifice? Dropped roadside, maybe.
I agree with the shelter idea but the thought that there are huge numbers of people out there who are making crush videos boggles my mind. Farmore likely that someone will get in over their head with pet care and the cat will be neglected.

My pets are a top priority to me (I will never have children) so I get a little fired up about this. Reversing the situation-If you had issues with your niece would you request your sister to have her removed pemenantly so you could enjoy a visit now and then? That is am unreasonable request correct? Now animals don’t equal humans but uprooting your cats and changing your lifestyle permenently (never having another even when you love and enjoy these so much) for occasional visits from family sounds like a selfish, controlling and obtuse request on the part of your sister and her family.

I hate cats, have no pets, and have a terrible cat allergy. I am sensitive to the point of reacting when sitting near a cat owner.
I don’t think you should get rid of the cats.

You love them. They are your pets – have been for years. No-one in your house is allergic. Your sister demanding that she wants to visit, so you need to make over your house to accommodate her is ridiculous. I believe that they may be unable to stay with you – I could never stay overnight in a house with cats, no matter how well you cleaned, even drugged to the gills. It would be pain and discomfort and horribly not worth it. But I could stay in a nearby hotel and visit. Heck, I would camp in your backyard, but that’s just me.

I think it would be entirely reasonable for her to visit, stay in a hotel, and be at your house only in brief periods – and go out and do things together without the cats. (If they’re really allergic, fresh clothes would help.)

Asking you to make some concessions, like coming to their place more often, recommending hotels, cleaning a little extra, meeting in other places, etc. is very reasonable. Asking you to get rid of your pets is not.

I have friends where I would never stay at their house, and prefer to have them over for dinner rather than being in their house even for the short period (which, with drugs, I *can* stand) – but I would never think of asking them to get rid of a pet.

On the other hand, if someone in your house is allergic, then yes, the pet should absolutely go. I think it is completely unacceptable to drug your child and try to get him used to the pet, and let him suffer – even for a late-developing allergy. That’s awful.

I’m not really sure where Trent’s $100/month calculation came from… If your goal is to pay then off before you graduate, you need to be paying around $450 ($444, to be exact) to pay them off in 18 months.

However, saving for retirement is also good, especially since you’re taking a year off. It’s advised people our age save 10%. I’m saving 15% to make up for the year of no income. $140 is 10%. $210 is 15%.

So minimally, you need $590 extra a month to not get too off track with your long-term financial goals (travel + responsible retirement savings).

Can you work a second job or is your master program one of those that forbids it? I tutor a couple extra hours every Sunday, all of which goes directly to student loans. If you picked up even two hours of tutoring at $20/hour each week, you would earn $160, closing the gap between what you have and what you need.

Also, how are you financing the year off? I’m planning on WOOOFing (also–check out HelpX!) and such as well, but I still feel I’ll need more than the $2000 you have in savings. Most holiday visas also require a couple thousand in the bank to qualify (to get over and support yourself for several months while you find a job). How are you earning the extra money to keep building towards this goal?

I’m also a musician (classical) and have found a good balance of performing/teaching/and a day job as a web designer. My “regular” job lets me work my own hours and is location independent: I’ve done work while at a music festival in Germany for 6 weeks!

It took me a couple years to establish myself (I didn’t know anything about web design when I started), but having a steady source of income when my freelance gigs are slow and control over my schedule is great!

Thanks! I will definitely check it out!