As most of my loyal readers know (both of you) my husband left his job of 7 years selling new homes about 2 months ago.  It was hard to adjust to having him home every day.  We moms have our routines and having Daddy home usually throws a wrench in things.  But, once I realized I now have help with the kids all day long, someone to split house chores with and a man who is more than willing to cook me lunch AND dinner, I decided this way is MUCH better.  Well, if things go as planned this will be the way it is forever.  How?  Well, I will attempt to answer that question….

My husband is taking his best stab at becoming a professional horse player.  I’ll pause a minute while you let that set in and shake your head in disapproval disbelief.  Let me explain.  First of all, yes that means he will be gambling and yes that means it will be on horse races.  No, that does not mean he will lose the house or make us live in our car.  Yes, I believe he can do it.  Yes, he is good at it and yes, he has made money.  It is hard to explain how it works but I’m going to give my best shot.

Jim has been studying for a while how to do this.  Much to my surprise people really DO this for a living.  They pay income taxes on their earnings just like any other job.  It’s like professional poker players, pool, etc.  His talent just seems to be in reading The Daily Racing Form and deciphering all those crazy looking numbers and picking a winner.  He calls it his esoteric set of figures.

What he didn’t really know how to do was manage his money like it is a business.  Even if you are the best landscaper in town, if you don’t know how to run a business you will fail.  He has been researching different methods that people who have been doing this for a long time use and has found one that he believes in and will work.

He has a “bankroll” which is a set amount of money that he starts with.  He bets a percentage of that bank roll, only bets to win, and maintains a discipline to not bet more because he is either on a “winning streak” or “to win back losses.”  The goal of all of this is to grow the bank roll similar to compound interest.  I have told him, I am willing to see if he can pull this off because we know once his “bank roll” is gone, he is done and has to go and get a “real job.” (he hates when I say that).  So far, much to my amazement he has grown his bank roll by $1400 in 2 weeks.  He just started this method only 2 short weeks ago and so far, I’m cautiously excited.  The idea that this might actually work seems almost too good to be true.  But, for all you nay sayers out there (I know there will be some) the truth is in the puddin’ right?  If in a year Jim is still a professional horse player and we are playing our bills, living a good life, and I have my husband at home (of course, he goes into his office for several hours 4 days a week) will people be ok with it?  I am just asking out of curiosity…not that it really matters.  The big question is if in a year from now he is still doing this and everything is paid for and taken care of will I make up things when people ask me if Jim “has a job yet?”  Right now I can use the excuse that his previous employer is still paying him until around November.  That gives us some breathing room.  After that, I don’t know what I will say.  Hopefully, I’ll get over my fear of what others think and just answer proudly, “He’s a professional horseplayer.”

This is a small business adventure that we are going to take a shot at.  If it fails, we will move on. But, I believe if anyone can do this it is my hubby.  He’s the smartest guy I know and when it comes to something like this that has to do with numbers he seems to just excel at it.  I trust him whole heartedly.  Plus, I’m going to need some help home schooling these two little geniuses that took after their Dad!  I have alterier motives for wanting this to work you know…..