For deals such as the Bargain Bundle, you will be paying an equivalent amount as you would for the album and a shirt at a show so why pay ahead of time? The reason why is because we can only record the album with the money up front. Given our current occupations and responsibilities (rent, water bills, dog food, etc.) we can't afford to pay out of pocket for the recordings, so by paying ahead of time, you are insuring that the album WILL BE MADE.