Question about the silver cup

The way I figure it is this: The advertising award only paid for part of it all. Remember, he moved out of his apartment and all his furniture was to be repossessed. He was living on-base in what was a basically a duplex with a common shared kitchen, probably paying little or nothing for rent & utilities. He got to eat in the mess hall with the soldiers, again probably paying little or nothing for meals. Commuting costs? Aside from his quick run off-base for that one job interview, nothing! Bill was no doubt able to save up enough money from his salary, and that, along with the money from pawning the silver cup, was enough to buy the plane ticket and the telescope. Could be that the mother helped out a little as well. Anyway, that's how I understood it! Your mileage may vary!!