APPLICANT #11: Is Josh Sutherland the Young & Free SC Spokesperson?
Y&F SC TeamJosh Sutherland is a 22-year-old graduate from Summerville, South Carolina.
Here is Josh's video application:
Here is Josh's current situation:
"My name is Josh, I'm 22, and I'm currently an unemployed graduate still looking for that first breakthrough career. This job looks absolutely amazing and I know that I've got the skills to pay the bills. I graduated from the Honors College at USC and have a degree in Marketing, and I'm just itching to get out there and put my knowledge and charm to work. ;) "
Here is Josh's blog post:
"Hi everybody, today I'm going to jump right into teaching you all how to save some dough, but in a specific place: Fabulous Las Vegas! Now, I know Vegas isn't for everyone. All the broke students and career builders, for example. But fortunately there's this bank called South Carolina Federal Credit Union, perhaps you've heard of it? Well, they can help you save money right out of high school and build up savings so that you can be well on your way to Vegas before you turn 21!
I went last summer with my parents for a week and gained some wisdom from them, along with my own experiences. We'll start with planning the trip.
Tip #1: Search for the lowest airfare! Any savvy shopper knows that getting a good price on airfare translates into more fun in Sin City. Prices vary up to $100 per flight from Charleston or Columbia to Vegas, and that could mean the last $100 you've got to drop in the slots for that big payout. It's a common traveler tactic to buy tickets for off days, like Tuesday through Thursday. Ticket prices are usually higher on Mondays, Fridays, and weekends because a large majority of business trips commence and return on those days.
Tip #2: When you land, don't rent a car. There's just no need for one for the average Vegas tourist. The great thing about the city is its compactness. You can walk down the entire strip at night with any decently comfortable pair of shoes. When you're ready to get around, just take cabs to the farther-away hotels, walk to the close ones, and take the many FREE shuttles that are meant to get you to the distant locations. Keeping a car just means lots of valet parking and sitting in cab traffic while everyone around you scurries into their favorite air-conditioned casinos.
Tip #3: Stay at a nice place, but in an economical room. Places like Caesar's Palace and the Flamingo are right in the middle of the strip and both have rooms for under $100, which is what you'd pay at the Holiday Inn in Charleston anyway. If you go for a cheaper motel, you're likely going to be stuck at the edge of the city in a far less classy environment.
Tip #4: If gambling is your thing, you MUST STICK TO A BUDGET. You've no doubt heard stories about people losing EVERYTHING in Vegas. Well guess what, friend? You can't lose everything if you don't BET everything. Keep a budget that allows you to still be able to eat, maybe do some shopping, and most importantly make it back home with some cash on hand. If you have a bad bout with the blackjack table or some annoying slot machine, just have some patience, do some walking around, hook back up with your friends and try to stay calm and rational. Losing $100 is not justification for dropping another $100 to win it back.
Tip #5: This is for the responsible drinkers out there. If you're sitting in a casino at the nickel slots, blackjack table, poker table, or keno room, there will be cocktail waitresses buzzing about every 10-30 minutes. They'll ask you nicely if you'd like a drink, but this is not the place to be frugal. Drinks are technically free if you're gambling. You heard correctly. Those $6 vodka cranberries you love so much are free when you're dropping $5 into a slot machine. The cocktail waitresses DO work for tips though, so if you're at the slots, give 'em a nice crisp Washington, and if you're at the tables, they can cash out those $1 chips just like you can. Though "free" drinks are nice, for serious card players, you'd be saving more money by just staying sober. Trust me. ;)
Tip #6: Have some fun at the free shows. The fountains at the Bellagio run on a timetable throughout the day, there are tigers and huge aquariums in various hotel lobbies, and there's a live action pirate show at Treasure Island every couple of nights. There are of course other shows that are amazing, but can sometimes carry hefty price tags. I went to a Beatles tribute, a show of celebrity impersonators, and a comedy act called Second City which were all great. Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum is a little pricey, but fun if you're into posing with celebrities and being interviewed by Oprah.
Tip #7: Rewards cards. You should definitely take the 5 minutes to stand in line and fill out an application for these rewards cards. My parents have earned free nights at Caesar's multiple times just from a somewhat normal amount of playing poker and pressing the buttons on slot machines. This is getting a little lengthy, so I'll just let you walk away with those basic tips. The week that I spent in Las Vegas was quite a memorable trip, and one that I'd love to take again. Maybe saving with South Carolina Federal Credit Union could assist me with that? If you've got more questions about Vegas(or Texas Hold'Em), just send me an e-mail at joshsuth@gmail.com Thanks for reading everyone, and remember that it's all about the Benjamins.
Josh"
The Y&F SC Team
