Happppppppppy Fridayyyyyy y’all! I’m super excited this morning cuz in about 12 hours I’ll be playing another rousing game of poker w/ some friends, and I sure can use the extra money ;) (You like it how I just assume I’ll win?)
We played the other week for the first time in about 6-7 years probably – at least for REAL money – and it totally sparked my excitement again for the game. Especially since I doubled my money that night! (On the downside, the wife lost all of hers so I guess we kinda broke even in the end? Though I was mighty proud of her for hanging in there ’till the end – it was her first time ever playing! :))
I also started thinking about that whole “tit for tat” kinda mindset where you set out to accomplish a specific goal for your hustling, and so this round I’m totally using the money I make to buy myself a new pair of shoes. Which will be the first time in at least 2 years since I bought my last pair (this is REALLY crazy for me cuz I used to have a shoe fetish!! I’m a sucker for Sauconys and other comfy (and bright colored) running shoes).
So I’m setting my sights high at around $50, and as soon as I make it I’m cashing in my chips and walking away ;) And if it doesn’t happen this night, then I’ll keep going until it happens the next time – all the while dedicating this money *ONLY* to a new pair of shoes. As funny as it sounds, if I don’t “attach” these winnings to anything spectacular, it just never feels all that special to me, ya know? It was fun as hell winning the lat time – no doubt about it – but at the end of the day I only had an extra $20 bucks in my pocket – big woop. $20 doesn’t mean anything to me at the moment unless I KNOW what it’s for.
I know we’ve gone over this kinda stuff here on the site already, but I’m back into the mindset again and trying to keep it steady :) And just like my post the other day on wanting checks or cash over digital money, the same thing applies here too! It’s MUCH more fun touching and sending around dollar bills on the poker table than it is if someone were to just deposit some money into your account! I can tell you that there’s no way that money would ever reach that Foot Locker I have in sight either if that was the case, haha…
So that’s what I’ll be getting into later this evening, how about you? Anyone else doing some hustlin’ to reach one of those goals you have at the top of your mind? (Anyone going to yard sales tomorrow??? Maybe anything I get over $50 will go towards that! haha…)
All I know is that it’s time to have a little fun with my money this weekend, and hopefully the risk taking pays off. If anyone has a favorite hand they play in Hold ’em, lemme know! If I’m feisty enough, I just might go “all in” with it ;)
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(Photo by Play Among Friends)
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Having a purpose for winnings makes you more likely to concentrate on winning and cashing out when you reach your goal. I normally stick to the basics with my hands in poker but sometimes it is fun to bet without looking at your cards if people don’t watch you. Just be confident then tell them you never looked when you win. It gets in their head bad.
HAH! I do that all the time!! Except I like telling everyone I’m doing it cuz they freak out and don’t know how to handle it, haha… usually I end up losing, but it still spices things up a bit and gets everyone to not figure me out as much ;)
Before when I gambled (recently clean), I never had a purpose if I won anything. Maybe that’s why I kept going until I was outta money??? Good luck J, hope you get your fancy new shoes. :-)
Love a good game of poker, and more importantly if it has a purpose – like a new pair of shoes.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out. No fibbing on the numbers either…haha!
Have a great weekend J.
I LOVE POKER! usually get to a casino every few months to play and play a home game maybe once a month or so. I play tight aggressive.
While you are playing poker I’ll be watching a play on Broadway….hmm think the wife would mind if I joined you lol jk kinda
I’m a sucker for some blackjack! It’s easy enough for me to understand and I can do a little side hustling from that! Great post J$!
Love it, I’m about to work on none other than blogging tonight! Already mentioned it to you on twitter, but have a list of little design things I want to get done tonight as well as get another few posts written up…probably go live a week from Monday : 0
Speaking of poker, no joke, about 2 minutes ago my ace high straight got beat by a full house and I’m out of the tourney I was in. Looks like it was a sign I need to concentrate on one thing at a time!
Have fun playing tonight
Honestly, I do not go for gambling. I think it is a waste of time and money. I would rather keep the money and spend it on food or SHOES (LOL!) than on poker or casino. But my view on gambling changed when some old friends and classmates invited me over for a night of chips and cards. Of course, I did not play with them but enjoying the night away and seeing them doing it for fun. Despite the loss, there was on amount of money that can equate the laughter that filled the house of our host and hostess.
Have fun, J! I gave up on all gambling twenty years ago when I realised that my compulsion is so strong that I could have sold my (hypothetical at the time) children in slavery to continue playing. Good gambling is for controlled people – I have too much passion for that (ha! I knew I’ll manage to twist this thing to my advantage).
More seriously, your post on linking spending to hustles was ace – I have been doing it and it works a dream. When is Junior coming?
I don’t gamble, but good luck! I hope you can buy your new shoes!
Well, it wasn’t in the cards (bah dum ching)… we ended up not having our game :( Hope it gets rescheduled soon though, now I’m even more anxious!:)
@Jen @ Master the Art of Saving – I used to be the same way, esp if I won a lot in the beginning – it’s hard to just walk away when you’re having fun and just got started! ;)
@Eddie – Haha… I’d never fib about the numbers ;) Just wish I HAD some to report :(
@Evan – HAH! It’s too bad you don’t live closer or you’d always have yourself a seat here in our games :)
@Craig – Thanks man. Blackjack kicks my ass every damn time, no matter how hard I try – it sucks. Some of my friends are great at it though and swear by it just like you do, so at least someone’s winning! :)
@DC – Woahh, that blows!! You must be playing online then? Or you sneak out of the room to get on your computer now? haha…
@Cherleen @ My Personal Finance Journey – Yeah! We pay for the atmosphere and friendships too – it’s all a part of the entertainment :) But good for you for not gambling, it can be a horrible addiction for sure.
@maria@moneyprinciple – Glad you liked it! It’s one of my fave posts actually cuz it helps SO MUCH! :) And I have to force myself to walk away sometimes too w/ gambling as I can get sucked right in and get hardcore too (really good I don’t live near a casino!). Junior is due in two weeks, it’s getting closer!!! :)
@SavvyFinancialLatina – Awww, thanks! I hope we get anther chance soon at it, I was really looking forward to playing :(
6-7 suited is my go-to.
In terms of hustlin’…I frequently check out the recycling area of our apt complex (nicer apartment=nicer free stuff). This weekend we scored an almost new TV stand and wooden dresser. My GF kept the dresser while I flipped on the TV stand on craigslist for $40.
Wow, there you go! That’s awesome! And I hear ya on the 6-7 suited too, for some reason I always stay in when I have them in clubs – it’s strange?