Financials

With the HSIFD, it is a common question on how do we split the costs. And with the arrival of the new Spec. Pond Gala, questions arise on if the cost should even be split anymore. Read on through this QandA section to find answers to your questions as Timmy learns about the HSIFD financial system.

Timmy: How do the financials work now?

Answer Fish: Currently all shared costs are split according to what shall be known as "Skip's Point System", or SPS for short. In the SPS system, each person is assigned a point. Adults are one point, and children are 1/2 point. Therefore, one parent with two kids would be assigned as a group 2 points, this is called the points per group. All the points get added together, giving a total trip points. This number is divided into the total costs of the trip. This gives us amount of cost per point. Multiplying the cost per point by the points per group will give the cost for each individual group.

Timmy: Ok, I see how the SPS system works, but how could there be any problems with this system?

Answer Fish: Silly naive Timmy, there are problems with this system though. Take for example dinner at a restaraunt, 9 people order $18 dollar prime rib dinners and 1 person orders $6 chicken dinner. Out of the 9 people, there are 6 adults and 3 children, and the 10th person is an adult. Considering this as the groups, 1 adult w/ 2 children, 1 adult w/ 1 child, and the rest adults in their own groups.

The problems arose when each child did not cost half as much as the adults, they actually cost the same. And when one adult cost less than a child.

Timmy: Ahh, I understand. But what can we do to fix this problem?

Answer Fish: Stupid Timmy. We can fix this problem by not using the SPS system for when the costs are not based on the age or reimbursement. You see, with the SPS system, we can reimburse peoples' costs by subtracting the amount of reimbursement out of their costs. But when you have costs that are not based on age and no reimbursements, then there is no need for the SPS system.

Timmy: It is more clear to me now. But what do we do about motel reservation costs?

Answer Fish: Well, Timmy, I understand your question. You want to know what to do about people who say they will go, then at the last minute decide not too. This of course costs everyone else because the room is still reserved for that person who left. The resolution to this problem is to have the people who want to go on the HSIFD trip pay an up front deposit. They will get this deposit back at the end of the trip, credited to their account. This ensures that if they decide that they cannot make it, then everyone else does not have to pay for that decision, or not as much as before anyway.

Timmy: That is fine, but really what will the deposit be?

Answer Fish: Good question, Timmy. I am figuring that it would be $50. Not too much to make one weary of deciding now, and not to little to allow for quick decisions to back out of the trip. You see, we must still reserve rooms in advance, therefore we must have answers from people as soon as possible to ensure that we will have rooms.

Timmy: Thanks. I think that answers all my questions.