5,000 by summer of 09
by Tyler Slabinski · in General Discussion · 08/06/2008 (11:01 pm) · 11 replies
Ok, so here is my story... I have just become the 7th grade valedictorian of my school, and I have just received an invite to go to Japan for 2 weeks and learn about the language, history, and stuff like that. Unfortunately I still must pay for it, and it is $1,200 just for the plane ticket, and many more fees for food and a hotel and stuff. It all adds up to $5,000 for the entire trip.
Now with all the planning I could think of, I could not think of a plan to save that much money by that time with my parents paychecks. So then I wanted to see if I could work some place to get that much money, and thanks to me being only 13, I can't work anywhere (stupid child labor laws).
Since this trip will be very good on a college application, I REALLY did not want to let it slip away, so I decided to do whatever possible to save that much money.
My question is, do you know any way how a 13 year old can save $5,000 by next summer? I am thinking of buying the TGB platformer kit and build a game using that, and then seeing if I can sell it cheaply to pay for the trip.
But if you know any better ways I could make that much money, then please tell me.
Now with all the planning I could think of, I could not think of a plan to save that much money by that time with my parents paychecks. So then I wanted to see if I could work some place to get that much money, and thanks to me being only 13, I can't work anywhere (stupid child labor laws).
Since this trip will be very good on a college application, I REALLY did not want to let it slip away, so I decided to do whatever possible to save that much money.
My question is, do you know any way how a 13 year old can save $5,000 by next summer? I am thinking of buying the TGB platformer kit and build a game using that, and then seeing if I can sell it cheaply to pay for the trip.
But if you know any better ways I could make that much money, then please tell me.
About the author
Working on prototype.
#2
1. I made a plan with my parents where they can pay for about $1,500.
2. I have 5 people helping me with the artwork, so it should go fast.
3. In our state, no one may hire under 15. So the only job I could do is mowing lawns or something to that matter.
08/06/2008 (11:56 pm)
I have made many games before. Granted they were very small and had no point or story before. I also forgot to mention a few things:1. I made a plan with my parents where they can pay for about $1,500.
2. I have 5 people helping me with the artwork, so it should go fast.
3. In our state, no one may hire under 15. So the only job I could do is mowing lawns or something to that matter.
#3
08/07/2008 (12:05 am)
Quote:I have made many games beforeBut have you sold a game before?
Quote:1. I made a plan with my parents where they can pay for about $1,500.Awesome.
Quote:2. I have 5 people helping me with the artwork, so it should go fast.Great - your still unlikely to make 4k though.
Quote:3. In our state, no one may hire under 15. So the only job I could do is mowing lawns or something to that matter.If you really want this - do it. Mow lawns, rake leafs, take out an old ladies trash. Take initiative - for that matter what are you doing here asking us? Get out there and make money!
#4
Are you the only one going? A lot of times, when a bunch of students are going on a trip like this, the students get together and do fund raisers like car washes. You might also be able to get a local organization to sponsor your trip in exchange for doing presentations about your experience afterward. There may even be scholarship money for people your age to go abroad: do an Internet search and see what's available. Although you might be too young, I used Fast Web to fund my studies in Japan, but there could be other resources available for you.
Again, I really hope you can go, but if the timing's not right, you can always do study abroad in college. I spent 4 months in Nagasaki on $10,000 (including tuition and everything), and with financial aid to help, it's absolutely worth the experience.
08/07/2008 (9:54 am)
I really hope you get the chance to go, Tyler. Japan is awesome! I studied in Nagasaki for a semester and lived in Aichi prefecture for two years. It's definitely a great place to see, and I personally think all young people should go abroad and experience the world firsthand.Are you the only one going? A lot of times, when a bunch of students are going on a trip like this, the students get together and do fund raisers like car washes. You might also be able to get a local organization to sponsor your trip in exchange for doing presentations about your experience afterward. There may even be scholarship money for people your age to go abroad: do an Internet search and see what's available. Although you might be too young, I used Fast Web to fund my studies in Japan, but there could be other resources available for you.
Again, I really hope you can go, but if the timing's not right, you can always do study abroad in college. I spent 4 months in Nagasaki on $10,000 (including tuition and everything), and with financial aid to help, it's absolutely worth the experience.
#5
08/07/2008 (10:36 am)
No, I am not the only one going. Over 100 people got invited to go in the state who received high grades, but only a few will be able to even afford the trip.
#6
And does anybody know the best way to fund a large project? We need about 500$ right now. For the engine seats, I already bought mine. We thought about an investor, but that seems to...big.
08/11/2008 (10:13 pm)
You lucky bastard. Lucky lucky lucky lucky...erm anyways. If I were you I wouldn't try to sell a torque game. Even I am in need of money for my project and I'm only 14...in a few days 15 ;) anyways. It's hard to get so much money in so little time at our age. But there are some things that don't require getting a job. Like robbing a bank! :D Or doing something thats really cool and opening a paypal donate and state the cause. I really don't think that selling a video game will get you 5k if it's your first game. I wouldn't pay for a first time Torque game. And by the time it's finished, it will be summer 09. So I don't reccomend doing that. There are other alternatives. And does anybody know the best way to fund a large project? We need about 500$ right now. For the engine seats, I already bought mine. We thought about an investor, but that seems to...big.
#7
10/05/2008 (8:33 am)
Easy... sell drugs! But if you can't do that, make a good game and sell lots of copies. If you cant be doing that... well, beg your parents to pay for half of it and you get the other half from a paper round or something. 
#8
TomFeni
10/05/2008 (9:27 am)
Sponsorship! find a local business and hound them to front you the money. You get to go and they can figure a way to write it off as a charitable contribution. Be prepared to do a lot of butt kissing tho. and write a detailed essay why you would be best served by going and so on and so forth.TomFeni
#9
10/05/2008 (11:06 am)
I have personally dealt with FastWeb and it is nothing more than an email harvester for spammers. They sometimes have a very few actual grants that apply to somebody (as a college student) and all other times its just absolute crap. Go figure they're run by Monster, one of the worst job online listing sites.
#10
I make 2-5k a month depending on how the community's pockets are doing on a modified mmorpg game LEGALLY.
My friend makes 150k a year on www.infiniteadds.com.. Look at it, stupid idea isn't it?
In my personal opinion, the easiest way of making money in the game world atm is XNA 3.0 that just released. They support your game and host it as you get 70% of the income from the people who buy it online. Make a quick, good and addicting game, you will be in style - This takes time though...
Be creative, you will make it in this world easily with creativity.
Good luck.
~DisTurBinG
10/31/2008 (2:15 pm)
Sorry man. Life is hard with money and you might just have to miss the opportunity. I have been in your position plenty of times. From opportunities such us that one to working on professional teams full time. It sucks.... Age sucks, Money sucks... But you just need to keep pushing for it. All I could say is that on the web, theres a lot of money to be made.I make 2-5k a month depending on how the community's pockets are doing on a modified mmorpg game LEGALLY.
My friend makes 150k a year on www.infiniteadds.com.. Look at it, stupid idea isn't it?
In my personal opinion, the easiest way of making money in the game world atm is XNA 3.0 that just released. They support your game and host it as you get 70% of the income from the people who buy it online. Make a quick, good and addicting game, you will be in style - This takes time though...
Be creative, you will make it in this world easily with creativity.
Good luck.
~DisTurBinG
#11
I have it figured out, and it's actually pretty easy.
all you need to do is panhandle.
seriously, lotsa people will disagree, but it would work.
you simply create a sign that states your claims, have a laptop that connects to the net.
build a website that shows everything related.
then simply hang out where people are bumming money, you will be a shoe in, people will give you the money instead of the drunks and druggies.
now when people see you and your sign, you have like a table and the laptop setup and boom
you can show them in real time the donation making an effect.
once when I was a kid, I was hungry so me and my buddy returned shopping carts until we had enough cash for 2 to eat at the bonanza buffet which was in an attached parking lot.
took about 1/2 hr to get the cash to eat.
so you could always return shopping carts (make sure they have a return fund)
Badguy
10/31/2008 (2:40 pm)
Good deal,I have it figured out, and it's actually pretty easy.
all you need to do is panhandle.
seriously, lotsa people will disagree, but it would work.
you simply create a sign that states your claims, have a laptop that connects to the net.
build a website that shows everything related.
then simply hang out where people are bumming money, you will be a shoe in, people will give you the money instead of the drunks and druggies.
now when people see you and your sign, you have like a table and the laptop setup and boom
you can show them in real time the donation making an effect.
once when I was a kid, I was hungry so me and my buddy returned shopping carts until we had enough cash for 2 to eat at the bonanza buffet which was in an attached parking lot.
took about 1/2 hr to get the cash to eat.
so you could always return shopping carts (make sure they have a return fund)
Badguy
Torque Owner Ben Versaw
The only advice I can give is either look very hard for a job, if you live in the US it -is- possible to work at the age of 13. And / Or do what I did to fund my trip to National Leadership Conference (a high school event) - write a very professional sounding letter and take it to local businesses asking for their help. Even if you only get $50 (and most people are willing to help the young when it comes to great chances) its better than nothing.
Good luck