When I was younger, I had an Uncle (in Delaware) that tried to get me exposure to different experiences.  During one of my stays there, he paid for me to go in a helicopter ride.  To date, this is the only time I’ve ever been up in a helicopter, it was great!  But I digress, during one of the summer stays in Delaware, I went to a car race.  Other than the hot dogs and demolition derby, I was bored to tears.  It was loud and monotonous.  Although I was young, I just wasn’t impressed.

But to be completely honest, I can’t afford to attend the event… 

Here are the cost calculations:

• Ticket cost from $52 to $2,243 dollars!  Wow, $2,243 dollars for 1 ticket!  Geez
• The drive down and back, maybe $250.00
• Hotel cost? $100 a night minimum (and most of the people I spoke to are staying down for 2 nights
• Food? Just a conservative guess maybe $150 per person (for 2 days)
• Beer at the event? your guess is as good as mine?  maybe @20.00?
• Going out to the bar scene?  This is probably optional, but I know at least 1 friend that is doing this!  I’m not going to guess a price.

So taking the minimum numbers listed above, the conservative cost comes out to be almost $800.  and that’s just for 1 person to go down!  Note, that the 2nd person would be less expensive because of the gasoline required to travel down would not increase (much) nor the hotel costs!

The ironic thing is most of the people I know going down to attend this even are not in anywhere nears as financially secure as I am.  Most are in debt big time.  I’m willing to bet that most Nascar viewers (at least the ones out of state) owe a decent amount on there credit balances!

I would like to say it’s okay and if that’s what you enjoy the live how you want to live, but I can’t!  If you want to become debt free (let alone financial independent), you’ll have to stop spending money and practice a little restaint.  There are plent of things I’d like to do to, but being financial secure is more important!