Young & Free Texas Blog

Special announcement: we are extending the Y&F Texas Spokesperson application deadline to November 30!

Y&F Texas Team — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:34:11 +0000

In the interest of having as many of the communities we serve represented in the Young & Free Texas Spokesperson search, we’ve extended the submission deadline to noon on Monday, November 30, 2009. If you are a would-be Young & Free entrant who wishes you had more time to prepare your spokesperson video submission, your wish has been granted!

Thank you very much to the two applicants to date. We are extremely happy with their applications. Show your support by leaving a comment on their blog entries.

The voting will begin on December 4 and conclude on December 14 and we hope to announce our new Spokesperson by December 18, 2009.

Thanks again for all of your interest. We continue to be thrilled with the traffic to this site and the public interest in the Young & Free Texas Initiative.

The Young & Free Texas Team

blog comments powered by Disqus

Westheimer Block Partayyyyyyy!

DeAndre' Upshaw — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:27:07 +0000

Be on the lookout for Jason and me this Saturday and Sunday as we embark upon the Westheimer Block Party in Houston!

Come out and check out bands like the Eastern Sea (interestingly enough, I went to high school with one of their members) on Friday at Cactus Records and at Numbers on Saturday.

We'll be out there with the money booth giving away free stuff so it would behoove you (isn't that a great word?) to come out and say hey! Track us on twitter: @youngfreetexas. The schedule for the weekends festivities can be seen here.

See you there! Have a great weekend!

DeAndre'

blog comments powered by Disqus

APPLICANT #2: Jenna White

Y&F Texas Team — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:51:56 +0000

Jenna White is a 19-year-old student from Baytown.

Here is Jenna's video application:

Here is Jenna's current situation:

Lately, I've been going to school and getting excited about the holidays (even though I know there are plenty of readings, tests, and papers ahead of me!). I'm a Government Sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin. There are so many different people in Austin, and I love people! I love where I am and what I'm doing. And I'd really love to be the Young & Free Texas Spokesperson!

Here is Jenna's blog post:

It’s November, and I’ve been thinking recently about how much I love this time of year. Being from Southeast Texas, I especially appreciate when I can take a walk and not feel like I’m working out. But it’s more than that. I think there’s a feeling of hope in the air. Around campus, I am reminded of how close that light at the end of the tunnel is getting (mainly by all the people talking about what grade they need on their finals to pull out the grade they want!). It’s that time of the year when everything seems like it’s going to be okay, even when you're worried that it's not. For me, the knowledge that I will soon be free of the books for a little while and I’ll get to hang out with my family sounds great! Soon, I will be free of my 5000 pound Constitutional Law book!

Speaking of freedom, I’m going to offer a tip for the young and free people who are going to read this. This year I moved into an apartment for the first time. Unlike living in a dorm, I have to pay bills, buy groceries, cook for myself, all that crazy stuff! So here’s the tip! Keep a checkbook register! Now I know, this is something your parents always were on your case about (mine were, too), and it seems really lame, right? Well, this year, I started keeping up with one. And guess what? I always know where all my money went, and I know how much I have left to spend! When I stopped being apathetic about managing my money, I realized that I could do myself a lot of good, just by paying attention. So start a checkbook register (for your debit card and your rent check: I’m sure you rarely use a checkbook). You may not even have to get a pencil – there might be an app for that! You’ll love it!

blog comments powered by Disqus

A World Without Credit Unions

DeAndre' Upshaw — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:57:03 +0000

Ever imagined a would without credit unions? No? Well pretend that you have and enjoy this masterpiece.

Thanks to Justin for his help with this epic masterpiece! Remember that his month we're giving away a $50 Target gift card!

DeAndre'

blog comments powered by Disqus

Because Who Doesn't Love Ramen?

DeAndre' Upshaw — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:26:41 +0000

This weekend we went out to the Victoria Mall armed with a blow up money booth, two carboard cutouts and a thirty crates of Ramen Noodles.

Yes, thirty crates.

Check out this Flickr photostream to see pics from the action, and be sure to keep an eye out for us at the Westheimer Block party this weekend!

DeAndre'

blog comments powered by Disqus

APPLICANT #1: Josh Garrett

Y&F Texas Team — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:36:50 +0000

Josh Garrett is a 20-year-old student from Victoria.

Here is Josh's video application:

Here is Josh's current situation:

Hi, Josh Garrett, and what am I up to? Sending in my video application for Young Free Texas!

But other than that, I'm college student trying to decide on going into commercials or teaching- both quite noble professions if I do say so myself.

Plus this really great urge to go traveling!

Here is Josh's blog post:

I know that between trying to study for the next exam and making sure getting enough hours at work to pay rent it's easy to forget about those that are rooting for you.

So stop! Well, don't stop reading, but take a five minute break to call one of them and see what is going on in THEIR life.

I called my brother, whom I hadn't heard from in a while. He's doing great btw.

Lately I've a little nervous about the future, it's like I just want to fit fast forward on my life and skip five years from now to skip ahead and fight out what becomes of me! I want to see where I'll be and what I'll be doing how and when I hit my goals (notice the lack of an "if"? that's confidence for ya). But I guess I'll have to wait and find out like everyone else :p

Alright, now go and call somebody who supports you!

But the question is: Who ya gonna call?

(Now I want to watch Ghostbusters!)

blog comments powered by Disqus

10 Reason Being a YF Spokester Rocks!

DeAndre' Upshaw — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:32:57 +0000

Hey friends and potential applicants!

On the fence about whether or not to apply to be the Young Free Texas Spokester?

Luckily for you, I am a fan of lists, and here we go!

Two words: Yoakum, Texas. Three more words: The Tom Tom Festival. Put them together: The Tom Tom Festival in Yoakum, Texas.
When you drive around, people stare really hard at the Prius and try to acertain who you are and what you do. When you catch them staring you can wave at them with a big grin. It makes them happy and confused at the same time.
When people ask you what you do, you can just casually say, "Check out my website." And it isn't even hosted at (the now defunct) Geocities.com!
Have you ever ridden in a parade? Because its pretty doggone awesome.
Because Twitter is now not only an integral part of your life, but your job as well.
Wanna be a youtube superstar? It could totes happen.
Wanna share the ways that you save money with the world (and find out a few more while you're at it?)
The LYF Show. And making a speaker out of a box of Macaroni and Cheese.
Giving away free stuff every single month.
Annnnnd I almost met Rachel Ray. We were in the same room. Breathing the same air. Let that marinate in your mind for a few moments.

If that list, plus the awesome swag you could get if you win the job doesn't get your application in, then nothing will!

If you have Any questions or thoughts, shoot an email to youngfreetexas@gmail.com, or shoot me a twitter: @youngfreetexas. Make it happen!

DeAndre'

blog comments powered by Disqus

Living Young & Free Show 007: Financial Horror Stories, Halloween Costumes on the Cheap and Raising Your Credit From the Dead

Y&F Texas Team — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:23:00 +0000

Welcome to the special Living Young & Free Halloween edition! Josh from South Carolina has a faceless fill in interview people about their financial horror stories, Cheryl concocts original costumes for less than $10 and Myles from Alberta raises his credit card from the dead. DeAndre' from Texas is eerily missing, but everything should be fine. Right?*

You can also download all of the episode as a podcast from iTunes.

Enjoy!

The Y&F Texas Team

*DeAndre' has been super busy with the launch of the 2009 Young & Free Texas Spokesperson search and had to sit this episode out.

blog comments powered by Disqus

The Search. Is. On.

DeAndre' Upshaw — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:19:32 +0000

On your mark...

Get set...

Go!

Think you can do what I do and be awesome with it? The search for the 2010 Young Free Texas Spokesperson is on!

If you want the bestest most awesomest job in the whole wide world, send in your application today!

Jason and I will be at the Victoria Mall in Victoria, TX today, so hit us up on twitter (youngfreetexas) and come say hi!

DeAndre'

blog comments powered by Disqus

Happy International Credit Union Day!!!

DeAndre' Upshaw — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:14:50 +0000

Celebrating International Credit Union Day! on 12seconds.tv

That's right boys and gulls, tomorrow is International Credit Union Day!! For more info, check out this awesome page filled with info.

How are you going to celebrate? Leave a comment and you could win our Horror Triple Play! OoooOOoooh....scary.

DeAndre'