This could get expensive...

Everything is expensive these days and this trip will be no exception. Tonight, I thought we could take a quick look at the finances of this trip. If nothing else, I can get a ballpark estimate of how much this trip wil cost.

Let's break it down first in to the following categories.

Gas

Food

Lodging

Golf costs

Skiing costs

Event tickets

Misc.

Ok, so in effort to over estimate everything...

Let's assume the trip is approximately 10,000 miles roundtrip. If the BMW x5 averages 350 miles to a full tank of gas, I would have to fill up approximately 28.5 times. Let's say a full tank of gas costs about $65. That means my total expenditure on gas for the trip is approximately $1900. Yikes!

Hopefully lodging includes some type of continental breakfast so to determine food costs, I will estimate paying for two meals a day. If I am gone for 30 days, that means paying for 70 meals. If one is some sort of fast food and one is a more expensive meal that most likely include a few (or 12) adult beverages, I would say anywhere from $20 a day on food to $50. If I average those two costs out to $37.50 per day on food times 30 days, that means total food costs will be approximately $1200 for the trip. After looking at this number, I'm thinking it might be sort of low, anyways, moving on.

Lodging could be tough to calculate. My goal is to stay with as many familiar faces as I can on this trip. However, I don't know anybody on some of these stops. For instance, I don't know a soul in the entire state of oklahoma, new Mexico, Utah, and Nebraska. Once again, if I estimate being gone 30 days and I stay in a hotel for 20 of those nights. Some nice and some cheap, averaged at a $100 bucks a night, that is $2000. Now, that's definitely a lot. Yikes!

Golf costs are easier. I am a PGA professional so I shouldn't have to pay for greens fees anywhere. I already have equipment and clothes. The only expense I may encounter is caddie fees or cart fees. I am going to estimate $500 just for the heck of it.

Skiing costs are harder to figure and more expensive. Season ski rentals (skis, boots, poles and a helmet) cost $230 from buckmans ski shop. That's a good price. I would definitely spend more than that on daily rentals from the resorts. Tickets can be expensive though. If I ski 8 days and tickets average $100' that is $800. I really only anticipate spending about $600 due to a pretty excellent connection at Jackson hole. I know the owners and I am very much hoping that they can help me out with tickets and lodging. Add in a miscellaneous $170 and skiing costs total an even $1000 for the trip.

I am also hoping to go to half a dozen college basketball games. If i spend $30 a ticket and go to 6 games, that is $180. Throw in another $100 for other possible event stops. Lakers, mavs, avs, who knows?

And now for the miscellaneous expenditures. Visa should sponsor my trip...it's everywhere you want to be!!!!! This is tough, in effort to simplify this category, I am going to allocate another $1000. This should cover errors in the other calculations. It should also cover my impulse t-shirt and hat buying problem that i tend to have.

Ok, let's add it up.

Gas = $1900

Food = $1200

Lodging = $2000

Golf = $500

Skiing = $1000

Events = $280

Misc. = $1000

A grand total of $7880. Honestly, not as bad as I thought. I have been referring to this as a 10,000 mile and $10,000 trip. I am not sure I will hit either one of those numbers. In any case, I think I need to be prepared to spend at least 8 grand.

Happy labor day! I can't believe summer is over....