Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm not even sure if this is the right board, but here goes:

I'm trying to earn money for various transition stuff. I currently work a part time job at a drugstore. The upside is that I get to save all of my money, but the downside is that it will still take me 2-3 years at this rate -- when I'm willing to work way more than I do right now.

My stipulations:
1. No car or public transportation can be involved. I don't own a car and have no intention to sink the money into one, and my town's public transportation is awful.
2. I can't get a second part time job, at least not yet. I haven't worked at my job long enough to be too valuable to let go just because I want a second job.

Does anyone have any ideas that can work within these limitations? I feel like there has to be something. Otherwise, I'm stuck waiting out 6 or so months until I can convince my employer to let me work another job.

Do "odd" jobs, like mowing lawns, flower bedding, garden/weeding for neighbors or elderly; do errands for them (or single moms). Put up flyers around the neighborhood, hand them out, etc (keep a few in your pocket so you're ready).

(Yes, that would be dependent on how close the store(s) are, etc. But, a bike is a better investment than a car is, for sure. A bike, or a big red wagon)

Walk dogs (for a fee).

Learn a craft--sewing, crochet, etc. This is more of a long-term skill (as in, it takes a while to get good at it), but it could bring in some money.

Pick up litter around the neighborhood (for a fee)

Hit up garage sales, estate sales, etc., keep an eye out for things that can be sold for much more than it's bought (A neighbor of mine was walking thru an alley one day, and saw a fuel injector assembly for a Mustang lying next to a dumpster. Brought it back, sold it on EBay for $80 + postage)

Umm...anyway, there's a few ideas to start or initiate other ideas. Good luck!

Being a escort could get you extra money. All you have to do is go on dates with people and keep them company. Nothing more. You would be surprised what kind of nice people you meet

Beth Andrea:

Okay, I initially wanted to make excuses to reject what you've said because I of course have had those ideas, and I shy away from them. But that's just it: I'm shying away. I have no idea how to efficiently do that or talk to people about it (more so talking to people -- it seems awkward to just approach people and ask if they need those things?). Advice on that front?

Tristan:

I'm definitely not attractive enough as a girl to do this and I don't know if it'd work as a "guy," plus I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be doing it in the latter. I also have no idea how to approach that. Is it something you've done?

Quote from: Sybil on July 05, 2013, 06:06:09 AM
Beth Andrea:

Okay, I initially wanted to make excuses to reject what you've said because I of course have had those ideas, and I shy away from them. But that's just it: I'm shying away. I have no idea how to efficiently do that or talk to people about it (more so talking to people -- it seems awkward to just approach people and ask if they need those things?). Advice on that front?

Tristan:

I'm definitely not attractive enough as a girl to do this and I don't know if it'd work as a "guy," plus I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be doing it in the latter. I also have no idea how to approach that. Is it something you've done?

Well, talking to people is a major failure on my part. I have never been able to get much further than "Hi!"...I've always been the type that needs someone to hold their hand in order to say anything, to encourage me.

Sorry. Hopefully someone else can help with that.

Quote from: Sybil on July 05, 2013, 06:06:09 AM
Beth Andrea:

Okay, I initially wanted to make excuses to reject what you've said because I of course have had those ideas, and I shy away from them. But that's just it: I'm shying away. I have no idea how to efficiently do that or talk to people about it (more so talking to people -- it seems awkward to just approach people and ask if they need those things?). Advice on that front?

Tristan:

I'm definitely not attractive enough as a girl to do this and I don't know if it'd work as a "guy," plus I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be doing it in the latter. I also have no idea how to approach that. Is it something you've done?

I am sure as time goes by your looks will change. You can just be friendly and fun with them. If you would like some info on it I could most likely help. Either that or if your in Florida you can get your Cna . It's more hard work and lots less pay

Beth Andrea:

I'm not really a shy person per se, but I'm aware of making things awkward for others .. I feel like errand-running in general would not be too successful because of this. Working on a skill might be an idea I could try to muster more energy for, though, or maybe asking strangers about errands isn't as awkward or fishing-in-the-dark as I think it is.

Tristan:

I'm in Massachusetts. My looks have changed a lot, I've been on HRT for over two years, but I still have some stubborn facial features left over (which is part of why I'd like to work harder and earn more money). Um, to respond to the rest of what you said: I'm not sure, I feel extremely shy about the idea, but I'm still very curious about it. I'm a moderately attractive person in guy-mode and I've already forsaken my dignity at work, so I'm not really clutching to any ideals aside from safety to earn more money right now. I just want to get this all over-with.

Become a YouTube partner and get paid off your videos. You can make a little side income. It will not be a lot unless you get mass viewers everyday. I am documenting my transition on YouTube and made $100 last month. It's not a lot but helps pay for laser or any other transition based costs. It also gives back and helps others. So it is a win win. You help others and you get help. :)

People Per Hour (http://www.peopleperhour.com/?utm_expid=3894779-31&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3B_ylt%3DA0oGdbe71thRxS0AFbZXNyoA%3B_ylc%3DX1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGJjawM1bmdraXNwOHRoN2czJTI2YiUzRDQlMjZkJTNER2U5bEVXbHBZRUpkNEppZmp6X3M2bmNSbWFlOXltMXFJU1FwX0EtLSUyNnMlM0QxMyUyNmklM0RHdkcwbU9sbUtFUG1RT0o2MW5XNQRjc3JjcHZpZANBWHpPemtvR2RFZGJ3cExtVWRpZUF3eXNyVE5aSEZIWTFyc0FCajJJBGZyA3lmcC10LTkwMARmcjIDc2EtZ3AEZ3ByaWQDMjRZU0VWSTVUX0tLTG9nRkxIMHlKQQRuX3JzbHQDMTAEbl9zdWdnAzEwBG9yaWdpbgNzZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMxBHBxc3RyA3Blb3BsZXBlBHBxc3RybAM4BHFzdHJsAzE3BHF1ZXJ5A3Blb3BsZXBlcmhvdXIuY29tBHRfc3RtcAMxMzczMTY5NTE2OTM4BHZ0ZXN0aWQDTVNZMDEz%3Fp%3Dpeopleperhour.com%26fr2%3Dsb-top%26fr%3Dyfp-t-900)



fixed link

Quote from: sandrauk on July 06, 2013, 06:30:51 AM
www.peopleperhour.com (http://www.peopleperhour.com)

404 not found!

Edit: I got it to work by going through Google instead. Looks awesome. I will definitely spend some time on it later, thank you.

I can't get that link fixed. We need a competent moderator!

I think it just doesn't like it when you link from other websites. A few sites are like that -- seems counter-intuitive to its purpose, though...

Quote from: Tristan on July 05, 2013, 05:40:37 AM
Being a escort could get you extra money. All you have to do is go on dates with people and keep them company. Nothing more. You would be surprised what kind of nice people you meet

Usually being an escort involves very intimate sexual
Contacts....I heard :-P.  Not that an innocent girl like me
Would know ....

can pay half decent maybe an easy 200 day who knows...
Markets differ in different regions....I heard LOL

Do you play an instrument? If so I totally recommend you try your hand at busking.
I play piano accordion, sometimes I go out with my band too. We find a bench where lots of people walk past and just play ten or so catchy songs (Protip: play lively ones, people like to dance). Our record is around £200 in two hours, and sometimes people even bring us free bagels and coffee for lunch! I literally know of nothing more lucrative (or more fun). We often get asked while we're out to do paid gigs at weddings and parties and things, which means even more money! Ahahaha! ...We're in a very friendly tourist area though - it may be not such a good idea if where you live isn't wholly kindly to such activities.

Pet sitting. It's actually quite nice if you like animals. You get to visit peoples' homes and play with their pets while they're on holiday.

Or pick-up laundry service. Like go and collect peoples' laundry, clean it, bring it back.

Those could be difficult to pull off without a car, though.

You could try being a life-model for art classes. I heard you can get paid for that and you don't have to be amazingly talented or good-looking. You just sit.

There's always pharmaceutics testing, which does pay very well. Apparently a lot of students go for that. However if you're on any medications or hormones already you may not be eligible. Aaaand there's always the chance that it could turn out badly.

Good luck on your hunt for transition money. I salute you.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on July 06, 2013, 12:28:17 PM
I can't get that link fixed. We need a competent moderator!

You got me instead!  :o

As someone who has worked in the 'escort' industry, don't do it.. It takes a certain kind of person and even then, it can leave you somewhat broken.

Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on July 06, 2013, 11:12:49 PM
As someone who has worked in the 'escort' industry, don't do it.. It takes a certain kind of person and even then, it can leave you somewhat broken.

+1 I'm pro legalization but would never encourage someone i knew in that direction.

Kelly is right
Making yourself a sex object daily has a cost
It's been over 12 years....8 years if celibacey
For me to recover ...lots of crying ....self doubt...

Oh and you get to get raped which no one will assist
You after cos your a hoe and deserve it
Physically assiilted...low self esteem
But uou will have lots of cash flow

As the saying goes damaged goods

Sounds like some people had bad experiences :(

Quote from: Tristan on July 07, 2013, 08:42:56 AM
Sounds like some people had bad experiences :(

No particularly bad experiences. Just the whole thing left me kinda warped.. As it did to my late GF, Alison, who also worked in that industry. We were both quite open about the fact it warped us..

I'm sorry. I hope your able to recover from all of it some day. I guess some of your clients were demanding in what they wanted?

Quote from: Tristan on July 07, 2013, 08:48:42 AM
I'm sorry. I hope your able to recover from all of it some day. I guess some of your clients were demanding in what they wanted?

I've recovered as much as I'm ever going to.. It's the whole concept of selling part of yourself.. Eventually it gets to you, leaves you kind of hollow. It messes with your emotions. It warps your view of sex. It warps your view of people..

Quote from: Sybil on July 04, 2013, 09:21:53 PM
I'm not even sure if this is the right board, but here goes:

I'm trying to earn money for various transition stuff. I currently work a part time job at a drugstore. The upside is that I get to save all of my money, but the downside is that it will still take me 2-3 years at this rate -- when I'm willing to work way more than I do right now.

My stipulations:
1. No car or public transportation can be involved. I don't own a car and have no intention to sink the money into one, and my town's public transportation is awful.
2. I can't get a second part time job, at least not yet. I haven't worked at my job long enough to be too valuable to let go just because I want a second job.

Does anyone have any ideas that can work within these limitations? I feel like there has to be something. Otherwise, I'm stuck waiting out 6 or so months until I can convince my employer to let me work another job.

start a meth lab.... wait - it's been tried - Breaking Bad....

Seriously:

I know what you mean.  It costs so much, and I've had to scrimp and save a bucket.....you sound like you're an amazingly good saver.....can you get a bank loan and pay that back? 

Quote from: stavraki on July 07, 2013, 09:18:46 AM
start a meth lab.... wait - it's been tried - Breaking Bad....

Seriously:

I know what you mean.  It costs so much, and I've had to scrimp and save a bucket.....you sound like you're an amazingly good saver.....can you get a bank loan and pay that back?

I already plan to get a medical loan for the first operation when I get within $10,000 of the price (I think it's going to be close to $30,000, but I still need to get a quote). No interest for two years and such. I don't think I could manage to go beyond that without putting myself in serious debt in the future, which would slow down the rest of transition.

I wish I had a rich friend who could give me the money up front and let me pay it back with no interest over a few years!


To everyone else:

Thank you for the ideas and sharing some of your experiences. It's looking like www.peopleperhour.com (http://www.peopleperhour.com) is my best bet so far. I'm a skilled writer and editor, but that's a very difficult skill to market due to saturation; peopleperhour seems to offer me some jobs for that talent.

Quote from: Sybil on July 07, 2013, 01:18:22 PM
I already plan to get a medical loan for the first operation when I get within $10,000 of the price (I think it's going to be close to $30,000, but I still need to get a quote). No interest for two years and such. I don't think I could manage to go beyond that without putting myself in serious debt in the future, which would slow down the rest of transition.

I wish I had a rich friend who could give me the money up front and let me pay it back with no interest over a few years!

wow--interest free two years--not bad!!!  hopefully clear the debt before interest kicks in.....30 grand interest free--over two years would work out to about 1200 a month in repayments....if u can get a job at 35,000 plus, and cheap rent (or live at home?) -- doable -- tight for two years, but doable.

Funny thing in my quarters is that for the last 6 years I saved not a drop.  But, after needing money, fast, I upped my shifts at work, got a second job, work til real late some nights, and got a scholarship--and I've saved more money in last months than I have 6 years.  I also did it by cutting right back.  No luxuries.  Scrimpted, saved and banked....

Quote from: stavraki on July 07, 2013, 11:08:07 PM
wow--interest free two years--not bad!!!  hopefully clear the debt before interest kicks in.....30 grand interest free--over two years would work out to about 1200 a month in repayments....if u can get a job at 35,000 plus, and cheap rent (or live at home?) -- doable -- tight for two years, but doable.

Funny thing in my quarters is that for the last 6 years I saved not a drop.  But, after needing money, fast, I upped my shifts at work, got a second job, work til real late some nights, and got a scholarship--and I've saved more money in last months than I have 6 years.  I also did it by cutting right back.  No luxuries.  Scrimpted, saved and banked....

I really wish I could find a 30k+ job right now, but without transportation and/or an intricate work history, I'm stuck with somewhere between 10-15k.

I think I understand how you felt with quickly wanting to expand how much money you make. I'm already receiving as many shifts as they'll give me at work, and I want to take a second job but at this point in my employment it'll make my boss pretty unhappy. I have to wait a bit longer until I'm more settled in, and I have to think of a way to compromise with him; I'm aiming to take a job at the pharmacy in the same store so that it's easier for them to schedule me together.

What you're doing with cutting back is how I'm doing it, too. I'm only allowing myself to spend 10% of what I make for the year. On anything, for any reason.

It may seem like small potatoes, but perhaps you have culinary talent? Why not bake several loaves of banana bread and sell them on the side? I don't know what's popular up in Massachusetts, but where I live there are many families that make extra money selling homemade tamales for 6 dollars a dozen. I've seen that price as high as 12 to 15 in California and Illinois!

You know what your talents are.  Use them. I use my kitchen. My sister takes art commissions or sells homemade dice bags as well as the occasional soap art! Maybe you have some artistic, culinary, or technical skill you can share on the informal market as well as the world wide web!

You absolutely do not need an intricate work
History to get a high paying job
It also depends if you really pigeon hole your self
I cant do that...why would I do that Ewww that's
Not my idea if work

What it is its a tool ...a tool to create a means for change
Omg what I always wanted to do...work on a offshore
Dril rig....dishwashet janitor room attendant
Sdamn!!! Level three first aid attendants make ip to
600 off shore ..per day

Minerals industry...remote mines require extensive
Catering staff....and pay pretty ...they pay me 185 day
Tax free....last time I worked 44 days straight

I know who would hire me right ?
Expand your ideas for work...

What other skills do you have?

Editor and writer can get you work from home. I have friends who do it. But you will need to probably work as an intern, ie free labor, for a bit in order to build up experience and a portfolio of work. The paying jobs come more easily after that. They usually have deadlines so be prepared for late nights and no days off while on a contract.

You said that you work at a pharmacy? Retail clerk or pharmacist assistant? If you are an assistant are you credentialed or do you have a degree? You might be able to find work at a hospital if you are willing to move or at a competing store that might be opening near you. Lateral moves like that can be good for a quick pay raise as new stores like experienced help to make their business more profitable very quickly. Hospitals usually pay better anyway and have often good benefit options.

Do you live in Boston or near it since you live in Mass.? They do have a bike messenger service which could get you paid while you get in shape. Also look for a service called Sober Chauffer. They drive fold away scooters to pick up pub crawlers in need of both a lift home and a way to get their car home legaly. You drive to them on the scooter, fold it up, tuck it in the trunk and drive their car home. Then you are off to pick up another late night customer. Usually minimum wage plus tips and the company supplies the scooter.

The YouTube thing sou da pretty good. I'd just check to be sure that you don't end up outed by a local viewer if your current employer has issues with transgenders.

Lastly your taxes. Max out your return. Remember that the Feds count your return as income on the next year so plan accordingly. Count your medical bills towards your taxes and see if you can setup pretax savings accounts for medical purposes. My work place does it and while it isn't very much, about a $1000, it's still a $1000 that Uncle Sam can't touch and after its spent it's a bill that you can count on your taxes.

The taxes can get you a few extra hundred dollars to a grand or more back each year. The rest is depenant on how motivated you are at the second job/craft thing. I was making about an extra $1000 a year painting models for war games for people and bartering/eBaying games on line. Be warned that most of the time you end up making less than minimum wage that way though.

Oh I forgot, you don't have a car but do you have a house or anything that you own that you make payments on? What about a credit card? Use these things to build up a good credit score. That will make your interest rates lower and open up better options for larger loans.

If you can do that then you could get a couple of surgeries scheduled together and save on the OR room charge and anesthesia if its needed. You will be out on the professional charges regardless but if you can combine surgeries then not paying for two room charges, two recoveries in the PACU, two oxygen charges, etc. adds up to a much lower bill. Often several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars less depending on what you having done and what OR does it.

Its gonna really take a lot to add up but aluminum is still selling good. I save empty beer cans, soda cans, walk around the neighborhood on trash day and grab cans people are setting out for recycling, i actually just filled both the bed of my truck and a trailer when i found someone who just redid both there gutters and siding....rent paid for 2 months on one stop lol.

If that's not enough, spend $20 on powder, get some baking soda, rock that stuff up and well never mind all that will get you is a nasty criminal record.....just stick to collecting aluminum and maybe coper wire if you find any in the trash.

Quote from: kariann330 on July 08, 2013, 11:06:03 PM
Its gonna really take a lot to add up but aluminum is still selling good. I save empty beer cans, soda cans, walk around the neighborhood on trash day and grab cans people are setting out for recycling, i actually just filled both the bed of my truck and a trailer when i found someone who just redid both there gutters and siding....rent paid for 2 months on one stop lol.

If that's not enough, spend $20 on powder, get some baking soda, rock that stuff up and well never mind all that will get you is a nasty criminal record.....just stick to collecting aluminum and maybe coper wire if you find any in the trash.

I LOLed...me and you could have been fgood friends in another
Lifetime

Quote from: Christine167 on July 08, 2013, 09:38:58 PM
Oh I forgot, you don't have a car but do you have a house or anything that you own that you make payments on? What about a credit card? Use these things to build up a good credit score. That will make your interest rates lower and open up better options for larger loans.

If you can do that then you could get a couple of surgeries scheduled together and save on the OR room charge and anesthesia if its needed. You will be out on the professional charges regardless but if you can combine surgeries then not paying for two room charges, two recoveries in the PACU, two oxygen charges, etc. adds up to a much lower bill. Often several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars less depending on what you having done and what OR does it.

I don't make payments on anything at all. I've considered using a credit card to pay for all of the little things I buy, but that's about it. I only plan to get two surgeries: FFS (all of it at once) and GRS. The hospital costs were a concern for me, too, and I definitely want to minimize.

Also to answer your other questions/comments:
- I'm just a retail clerk, not a pharmacy tech. I would like to eventually work in the pharmacy.
- I live near Boston, but can't afford to get much of anywhere because I both have no car and my public transportation is horrendous (has very limited times and doesn't even run on some days) -- or the train, but that is a very, very steep expense.
- I will definitely be trying to do the best I can with my taxes.
- I definitely won't do youtube because of the outing thing, which is a huge bummer for me because I like that idea otherwise. I'm afraid of more than just my employer finding out (I don't want to get into that, though).

Thank you for all of your input. I really appreciate it, and I think there's some stuff I might be able to consider more down the line.

Edit: typo! play -> plan

Quote from: Tristan on July 05, 2013, 05:40:37 AM
Being a escort could get you extra money. All you have to do is go on dates with people and keep them company. Nothing more. You would be surprised what kind of nice people you meet

This only works if you are still young and pretty

Quote from: vegie271 on July 11, 2013, 12:13:18 AM

This only works if you are still young and pretty

There is way more to it than being young and pretty.. Even the clients that don't want to have sex with you are hard work.. It takes a certain type of person - and even then will leave you somewhat warped from the experience..

Im 100 percent positive I can do it at 40
You got to remember workers that rely on looks
And body performance are top notch at taking care of myself

I do yoga up to 60 mins a day....I would pay any girl half my age
To hold a match agaijst my body...like demi Moore she is 50
Something

I get geussed to be 25  regilarly. .mmm add a little ffs

Boom!! High end escort .   But I couldnt live with myself
Selling my body and miss out on love ...

Quote from: xchristine on July 11, 2013, 01:13:44 AM
Im 100 percent positive I can do it at 40
You got to remember workers that rely on looks
And body performance are top notch at taking care of myself

I do yoga up to 60 mins a day....I would pay any girl half my age
To hold a match agaijst my body...like demi Moore she is 50
Something

I get geussed to be 25  regilarly. .mmm add a little ffs

Boom!! High end escort .   But I couldnt live with myself
Selling my body and miss out on love ...

Yes but I am 50 - and I don't like men, there is only one thing I could do - I have done it before and I am not sure I could stomach it again.

Even if you do like men...
As Kelly stated....it rakes a special mind set to do it
Oldest profession...nothing wrong with it...
It's just taxing ..if your not that certian mind set ..

If course you should be prepare LOL for up to a few a
Night during pay weekenda maybe. 
As old whores I uses to know say...

When it's dry its drought
When it rains it pours

Hi Sybil,

You said you had problems approaching people for part time jobs such as pet walking, car wash, lawn etc.  Have you thought of typing up a small poster to do mail box drops offering to do such tasks? You just need a contact number and interested people come to you. It is also efficient as the people who call are interested to be customers so there is no hard sell needed.

Other sort of jobs in that line are ironing, emergency store visits- particularly useful for elderly or woman with young kids. They order and you select the product making sure they get best quality (rather than online shopping where you get what you are given), you can say that you will charge 10% of the total as a fee.

Just a few thoughts.

Good Luck

Cindy

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but most of these things (pet walking, babysitting, lawn mowing, etc.) are jobs usually, and overwhelmingly, done by children who are happy with whatever meager money they get, and elderly people who don't really care about money, just needing something to do. A way to do something when feeling useless, yes, maybe. But for making money? In my experience, never.

They're time-consuming, energy-consuming work, and they just don't pay. Why pay an adult stranger a real salary when the neighbour's son will smile so hard at getting 10-20 $ for it? I did pet sitting and walking. I got my rates negociated down to 5 $ per pet per day, for what amounted to several hours of work a day. My sister did babysitting too, too. She was never paid more than, say, 8 $ an hour, lower than the minimum legal wage, and most of the time, it was less than that.

Quote from: Sybil on July 08, 2013, 11:40:02 AM
I really wish I could find a 30k+ job right now, but without transportation and/or an intricate work history, I'm stuck with somewhere between 10-15k.

I think I understand how you felt with quickly wanting to expand how much money you make. I'm already receiving as many shifts as they'll give me at work, and I want to take a second job but at this point in my employment it'll make my boss pretty unhappy. I have to wait a bit longer until I'm more settled in, and I have to think of a way to compromise with him; I'm aiming to take a job at the pharmacy in the same store so that it's easier for them to schedule me together.

What you're doing with cutting back is how I'm doing it, too. I'm only allowing myself to spend 10% of what I make for the year. On anything, for any reason.

Hey there Sybil.  That's hard going. 

[joke]I'm thinking Breaking Bad here -- meth lab -- or hijack and ATM[/joke] *smiles*

You are one disciplined saver and committed person.  That's something to be extremely proud of.  I don't know what the job situation's like over your way.  Our way, you can make good casual money, hourly rate-wise, but our cost of living is *mental*.

So, say you ear 25 an hour (which you do for admin work), but our rents are about 1500 a month, and a litre of milk costs 4 dollars and a litre of petrol nearly 2 us dollars.  So--I'm fortunate though.  My scholarship goes to the mortgage, I don't drive my car much (I ride almost everywhere), and I cook my own food.  I haven't spent a night out flushing money down the toilet on expensive beers for some months, and I'm pulling my friends into my home for entertainment.  That's my life for the next 12 months too, as I save for the other operations.

Still, I'm not complaining.

Kind regards
stav

Quote from: stavraki on July 14, 2013, 12:00:04 AM
Hey there Sybil.  That's hard going. 

[joke]I'm thinking Breaking Bad here -- meth lab -- or hijack and ATM[/joke] *smiles*

You are one disciplined saver and committed person.  That's something to be extremely proud of.  I don't know what the job situation's like over your way.  Our way, you can make good casual money, hourly rate-wise, but our cost of living is *mental*.

So, say you ear 25 an hour (which you do for admin work), but our rents are about 1500 a month, and a litre of milk costs 4 dollars and a litre of petrol nearly 2 us dollars.  So--I'm fortunate though.  My scholarship goes to the mortgage, I don't drive my car much (I ride almost everywhere), and I cook my own food.  I haven't spent a night out flushing money down the toilet on expensive beers for some months, and I'm pulling my friends into my home for entertainment.  That's my life for the next 12 months too, as I save for the other operations.

Still, I'm not complaining.

Kind regards
stav

Thank you, Stavraki. That's really nice of you to say.

The price for rent here is similar ($1250 on average) and milk and fuel are also pretty similar. Thankfully, I live at home.

I really hope things turn out well for you, too. Best of luck!

If you're artistic, there are the "on commission" groups on DeviantArt, or the Job Offerings on PixelJoint. I know a few friends who find occasional work through those, and I've commissioned someone from the latter myself.

If you're not artistic, there's stuff like Freelancer.co.uk, but personally I've had no luck with it, even with a fairly wide set of computer-based skills.

Hi Sybil!   Many people here have given you great ideas already.  I especially like Beth's ideas of doing odd jobs around the neighboorhood.

I understand where you are coming from with the transportation issue.  I don't have a license to drive and the bus system here is awful. 

Perhaps you could try writing articles on ehow and get paid for that if you know how to do something that others might need to do.  Then there is the website called fiverr.com in which you can do something crazy for someone (like dance in a hotdog suit to the music of their choicee or sell your online talents (like juggling chainsaws etc.) For $4 per person.  I've also heard of Swagbucks.com which is a legit earning site that lets you earn points for free things (but using their search engine I think) you could sell.  The drawback of that is that it can take a LONG time to to make money from there.

You could hit up yardsales with family and friends to find things to resall at a higher price if you know what to look for and how much to purchase it for.

I don't have a job so part of the way I am saving for my surgery is to sell things I don't use anymore.  You can sell your items and tell the person to meet you in an area that is within walkable distance for you.  Sometimes they won't be able to because it may be too far but it is still worth a shot.  I  sell on Craigslist and online yardsale groups on Facebook.  I personally like the online yardsale groups a lot better because it makes me feel safer to know that I have a better understanding of who I'm dealing with.   Plus the sales there are a lot quicker in my experience.  If you have some items you don't use then I would definately sell them online.  The best part about it is that you are making a 100 percent profit since you don't have to spend money on transportation for that.  Even if you do want to meet someone by using transportation, chances are that you will still make a decent profit, or just raise the price of the item to cover the bus transportation fee and then put that fee back into your regular savings.  It's time-consuming but it's definately worth it in my opinion.

Are you part of a rewards club?  Maybe you can use those points to redeem items, etc. and you can sell them as well.  Find great deals on Black Friday (carpool with family or friends), and buy up things really cheap to resale them.

Another thing is start picking up change off the ground.  In fact, start LOOKING for change on the ground.  When I walk home from the bus stop, I'm usually facing down to look for change.  The amount you find may be small, but it's putting you a step closer to your goal and you're still making money by not doing much.

Of course there's always cutting back on the things you don't need. 

You're living at home (like I am) so that's a huge plus. 


I hope some of these ideas helped!

Quote from: Sybil on July 14, 2013, 07:24:22 PM
Thank you, Stavraki. That's really nice of you to say.

The price for rent here is similar ($1250 on average) and milk and fuel are also pretty similar. Thankfully, I live at home.

I really hope things turn out well for you, too. Best of luck!

wow - now I'm gob smacked.  Now the world's gone nutty.  I remember in the US, when I was there in the 90's *coughs* okay - 20 years ago.....that gas was like 30 cents a (gallon) and milk, like 98 c per litre (ie 4 dollars a gallon).....and ur rents!  Not cheap at all.....

cheers my friend :)
stav