Sunday 19 February 2017

Nerd Church - It's All About The Money

Let's talk money, shall we?

With prices climbing, and incomes not doing the same, (plus an unstable global political climate, which often has a knock-on economic effect,) we need to be able to talk openly about all that awkward financial stuff.





pound coins image



Regular readers of DORA might be aware that I am regularly broke.

Don't get me wrong - thanks to the kindness and support of my parents,  and the country and time period I live in, I have a comfortable life that has plenty of privileges.






But I'm very much dependant on my parents. And in my 20s, with retired parents, that's not a position I thought I'd be in.

I work for myself, and if I ever get an additional part-time or temporary job, I'd need it to be the right fit for me because of my mental health problems. Money's nice, but being alive is a priority.






So when it comes to supporting all of the amazing and wonderful causes and creative people out there, I have to say 'no' time and time again.

And that feels bad. Because I would love to be able to give £5 to Cause A and £5 to Person B, but I know that I can't afford to. I donate and/or support when and where I can, and no more.

And I have to somehow convince myself that I have no need to feel guilty - that I have to come first, because otherwise I can't help anyone else.














So why, if my parents are supporting me, don't I have more spare cash?

Well, I'm saving - or trying to, it's not easy with business expenses, family/friends' birthdays, and low interest rates.

I'd like a house at some point in the future. And enough income to pay the bills for it. I'd also like to do a degree (probably with something like the Open University.)

I'd like to not feel like a burden on my parents, who've already had to help my brother get on his feet.

Basically - I'd like something that's mine. I'd like a future. 

And I know I'm not alone in that - it's a problem that we millennials are looked down on for, and it's a problem that's NOT of our own making.







And I know how tough it is to make money in today's world...

(...particularly when affiliate agreements may or may not have a clause that prevents you from coming straight out and saying 'please use my links to buy things.')

And even monetising your blog is difficult enough - especially if you're not so good with maths.

I'm currently looking into adding ads to DORA, but business things like that leave me totally baffled (thank you suspected dyscalculia,) which means I have to spend more time going through things and trying to understand them than other people do.







Some people think that any monetising of blogs is somehow dishonest. I sure as hell don't.

If you're a blogger, monetise as much as you want to. Because you deserve it.

If you find you've got enough cash to go around? Go ahead and support other creative people and/or causes with it. Because they need it too.













What am I trying to say in this post, exactly? I'm trying to say that it's ok.

It's ok to have to lean on others - no matter how uncomfortable it may feel; if you need it, then you need it.

It's ok to not be able to help and support other people when you want to - just do what you can, when you can.


  • Drop some change in the charity box by the supermarket till.

  • Buy the Big Issue (or whatever your local street newspaper is) instead of a gossip magazine

  • Do the free stuff - bring traffic to the websites of deserving people and/or causes, promote them online, etc.





And most of all, never feel guilty for having to put your health - mental or physical - first. You've got to have something left to give.





Like this post? Here's some more!:








10 comments:

  1. I loved how honest this post was. For me, I am in school, so I can't get a job here in India and of course my parents support me. But I have to agree about the monetization thing. Hell, it's your blog, and you deserve to do what you want.
    Prabhleen @ Booksarelife987

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    1. Thank you :) Are you not allowed to have a job if you're in school? Or is it just the timing issues? I never had a job while I was at school because I had so much homework and revision (studying) to do that I just didn't have the time. A couple of my friends did have jobs, but they would do night shifts and then turn up for school in the morning - sometimes they'd change out of their uniform in the ladies'. They could barely stay awake in class though, so it wasn't exactly practical!

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  2. I used to think it was so dishonest to motenize your blog and I'm so happy I no longer have that mindset! It's a personal choice and sometimes you just have to do it. I am in a broke teenager stage thanks to university applications, but luckily I have amazing parents who soften the blow. But not everyone has that and it's really sad :(

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    1. I know - I'm so lucky I have my parents; I don't want to think about what would've happened if I hadn't had them there for me.

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  3. I relate so much to this post because my chronic illness also makes it hard for me to make money. And like you, I would love to be able to support authors and other creative people because I know they need the money to survive too, but I just can't because then *I* can't survive. I'm also saving as much money as possible and trying to only spend it on things I really need. But I've learned to mostly stop feeling guilty by doing what I can to help promote books, especially the ones I've gotten for free, and reminding myself that I do need to take care of myself before I can help anyone else!

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    1. *raises hands in solidarity*

      I still have to work on the not-feeling-guilty thing. I love to help people, and it just hurts every time I have to stop myself. I think 'oh, but it's only £5' and then I'm like, 'yeah... but you kind of need that £5. You need new underwear (or whatever!)'

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  4. Yes, it can be a lot harder to be financially free in this world now, just because of the way the economy has fallen and how much of a struggle it can be to get some jobs. I have two older sisters going through university and they have jobs as well, and still it's tough to make ends meet and loans have to be taken. It's a hard world out there...

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  5. I don't know if monetizing a blog makes a difference in the reading experience of the readers, anyway. I certainly don't notice if there are advertisements or sponsorship deal type things happening. I agree with you. It's hard to be financially independent right now. But, I think you should give yourself some credit. You have a wonderful website, and you take it very seriously. I was "blogging" since 2012, when I was starting to get help with my mental health issues, and only very recently did I sign up for ad-sense or even take blogging more seriously. You're doing great, kid. *Pats head*
    *Hug*
    I was not hugging you, I was opening the door. (Ala Tony Stark and Peter Parker. You are Peter in this exchange. You're welcome). XD

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    1. Hahaha - thanks Dina, your comment was just what I needed this morning XD you rock *hugs back until awkwardly told you weren't hugging me*

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