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Budgeting Bingo
Keeping accurate records
Hi Guy,
Do you have an idea of how much is OK to spend on Bingo or
cards or whatever and how much is too much?
I spend maybe $200 a month, not counting any winnings, which
my wife says is too much and constantly upsets her. Our
retirement income is over $60,000 a year, so $200 a month for a
year is less than 5 percent of that, which I don’t think is
extravagant. And Bingo and cards are something I enjoy doing. It
seems to me that people spend more than that on hobbies.
I have the $200 budget and I stick to it. I also have my winnings—
which I also will use. Does this sound bad to you? —Budget
Conscious in California
Hi Budget Conscious,
I am not going to share an opinion on how much is “OK” versus
“Too Much” when it comes to gaming and wagering. It is, for the
most part, subjective—as long as it is not causing harm to the
player or his or her family.
It’s good that you did the math and to know fairly closely the
percentage of your income you are using for Bingo and other
gaming. You are pretty vague, however, when you discuss the
winnings that you say you “also will use.”
This is a gray area if you do not keep close track of exactly how
much you have won as well. If you don’t, you may “use” the $500
you won in December as an excuse for additional gambling and
end up spending two or three times as much in the belief that you
are still only spending that original $500.
If you keep tabs on both of those numbers—budget and
winnings—and show your wife that you are doing so and exactly
what those figures are, I think it will go a long way in reassuring
her that you are not gambling away your retirement income…and
her’s. —Guy
Hi Guy,
I am running into a problem with the Bingo monitors at Bingo.
They are getting harder for me to see. If I get a seat closer it
helps, but lots of times those seats are taken by the time I get to
Bingo.
I rely on the monitors to help keep up with the pace of the game
and so I can play multiple packs. Any advice? —Bill R., Florida
Hi Bill,
There are a number of things you should consider.
First, get your butt to Bingo earlier so that you get a seat close to
a monitor. Why do you think all the seats are taken? Because
they all get there before you!
Next, you may have to face the reality that it’s time for you to play
less packs. If you need to rely more on the caller and less on the
monitor, having less cards to play will help even out the pace of
the games.
Finally, have you considered electronic Bingo? Lots of folks who
want to play multiple packs but don’t have the speed to keep up
with the caller and worry they are making mistakes turn to
electronic Bingo as a backup. That way you can play one or two
paper packs and let your Bingo handheld keep track of the rest.
—Guy
Hi Guy,
I’m always really self-conscious about going to Bingo during and
after the holidays. It seems like I’ve spent so much money on food
and gifts and travel that spending yet more money on Bingo
seems wasteful. Do you take a break or do you continue to play
through the holidays? —Lara C., Massachusetts, via e-mail
Hi Lara,
I probably should not admit this, but I always play Bingo during
the winter holiday season—and usually play more!
The reason is because so many people get busy that they skip
Bingo, which means better odds of winning for me. All those
beautiful empty chairs—my only fear is that the halls will cancel
due to poor turn-out.
Another reason I like to go to Bingo during the holidays is that it
gives me a break from all of the holiday hubbub. I can forget
about tree trimming and gift buying and enjoy a nice session of
Bingo—and possibly pick up a little cash to cover those rotten
bills. —Guy
Hey guys! (And gals!) Write to: Guy’s Turn c/o The Bingo
Bugle, P.O. Box 527, Vashon, Washington 98070, or send
e-mail to Guy directly at Tonder22@aol.com.
Keeping accurate records
Hi Guy,
Do you have an idea of how much is OK to spend on Bingo or
cards or whatever and how much is too much?
I spend maybe $200 a month, not counting any winnings, which
my wife says is too much and constantly upsets her. Our
retirement income is over $60,000 a year, so $200 a month for a
year is less than 5 percent of that, which I don’t think is
extravagant. And Bingo and cards are something I enjoy doing. It
seems to me that people spend more than that on hobbies.
I have the $200 budget and I stick to it. I also have my winnings—
which I also will use. Does this sound bad to you? —Budget
Conscious in California
Hi Budget Conscious,
I am not going to share an opinion on how much is “OK” versus
“Too Much” when it comes to gaming and wagering. It is, for the
most part, subjective—as long as it is not causing harm to the
player or his or her family.
It’s good that you did the math and to know fairly closely the
percentage of your income you are using for Bingo and other
gaming. You are pretty vague, however, when you discuss the
winnings that you say you “also will use.”
This is a gray area if you do not keep close track of exactly how
much you have won as well. If you don’t, you may “use” the $500
you won in December as an excuse for additional gambling and
end up spending two or three times as much in the belief that you
are still only spending that original $500.
If you keep tabs on both of those numbers—budget and
winnings—and show your wife that you are doing so and exactly
what those figures are, I think it will go a long way in reassuring
her that you are not gambling away your retirement income…and
her’s. —Guy
Hi Guy,
I am running into a problem with the Bingo monitors at Bingo.
They are getting harder for me to see. If I get a seat closer it
helps, but lots of times those seats are taken by the time I get to
Bingo.
I rely on the monitors to help keep up with the pace of the game
and so I can play multiple packs. Any advice? —Bill R., Florida
Hi Bill,
There are a number of things you should consider.
First, get your butt to Bingo earlier so that you get a seat close to
a monitor. Why do you think all the seats are taken? Because
they all get there before you!
Next, you may have to face the reality that it’s time for you to play
less packs. If you need to rely more on the caller and less on the
monitor, having less cards to play will help even out the pace of
the games.
Finally, have you considered electronic Bingo? Lots of folks who
want to play multiple packs but don’t have the speed to keep up
with the caller and worry they are making mistakes turn to
electronic Bingo as a backup. That way you can play one or two
paper packs and let your Bingo handheld keep track of the rest.
—Guy
Hi Guy,
I’m always really self-conscious about going to Bingo during and
after the holidays. It seems like I’ve spent so much money on food
and gifts and travel that spending yet more money on Bingo
seems wasteful. Do you take a break or do you continue to play
through the holidays? —Lara C., Massachusetts, via e-mail
Hi Lara,
I probably should not admit this, but I always play Bingo during
the winter holiday season—and usually play more!
The reason is because so many people get busy that they skip
Bingo, which means better odds of winning for me. All those
beautiful empty chairs—my only fear is that the halls will cancel
due to poor turn-out.
Another reason I like to go to Bingo during the holidays is that it
gives me a break from all of the holiday hubbub. I can forget
about tree trimming and gift buying and enjoy a nice session of
Bingo—and possibly pick up a little cash to cover those rotten
bills. —Guy
Hey guys! (And gals!) Write to: Guy’s Turn c/o The Bingo
Bugle, P.O. Box 527, Vashon, Washington 98070, or send
e-mail to Guy directly at Tonder22@aol.com.