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#34762 - 07/07/05 07:42 AM
Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 06/30/05
Posts: 383
Loc: Illinois
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Anyone out there making enough as a writer to be able to stay home full time? If so I would like to hear from you! My ultimate goal is to make enough from writing to scale back work and work from home. Anyone out there making it--without income from a partner?
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#34763 - 07/06/05 08:45 PM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 11/11/04
Posts: 3503
Loc: Colorado
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Hey, starting, when you get the answer to this one, please let me know! I live off my husband, he subsidizes all my work. He is my emotional and financial support. And given the topics I write about: child abuse, sexual violence, and domestic violence, he never tires of hearing my latest rant on the subjects. He is a silent partner in the war against these epidemics. Anyway, I would love to earn a living as a writer. I have not even broke even in regards to my book yet. And I've yet to accept a speaker's fee. I know of at least 3 on this site who make a living from speaking/writing, so I hope they will chime in. Good luck, Lynn
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#34765 - 07/07/05 08:47 PM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Da Queen
Registered: 07/02/03
Posts: 12025
Loc: Alabama
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If you are not relying on your income for insurance coverage, then I would say the world is your oyster. I know I'll be at home soon, and I'll be paying 353.00 a month for insurance coverage. And that doesn't cover dental. Thank goodness my sis is the office manager at the dental office. Well, that and I have some dirt on the dentist. Just let him try and charge me! Sher is the member here that has a web site devoted to making money from home. She is a fountain of info, and a sweetheart. Go here for one of her homepages http://www.wiping-the-crazy-off-my-face.com/and here for her work at home site: http://www.momandhermoney.com/hope this helps! JJ
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#34772 - 07/09/05 06:46 PM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 11/08/03
Posts: 3512
Loc: outer space
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quote: Originally posted by meredithbead: I accept that the writing I do will never make hardly any money at all. At least I'm not selling out HAHA!
I love that Meredith. I'm going to post it somewhere.
Maybe I'll make a fridge magnet out of it and put it beside the Albert Einstein quote my daughter gave me that says, "Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds!"
Thoughts for the day. smile
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#34773 - 07/10/05 03:18 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 1177
Loc: Decatur, Illinois
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I'm at home, not making enough to live on without my husbands income, but I'm doing something now that is starting to bring in income.
I'm mystery shopping. It fits me to a T, the money is finally beginning to come in, it does take a while because most companies pay on the 15th or 20th of the following month for work done the previous month. I started doing this the first of June. It's something I enjoy, I go up to about 50 mile radius, and I'm signed up with enough companies I can get 3 or 4 shops in the same town. I also take my husbands smaller car to help with gas. I usually get a shoppers fee and a small reimbursement. The other day I did a grocery shop, they paid me, and will reimburse me $25 of items I would have bought anyway.
I do have to watch myself, I love to shop and so I am tending to spend a little more than what I should. Also, it's a nice way to be reimbursed for a nice dinner out with your significant other.
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#34774 - 07/12/05 02:21 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 06/30/05
Posts: 383
Loc: Illinois
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JawJaw, Your response intriques me--not the insurance part but that you feel you'll be able to stay home soon and have enough income. How?
Also, I am self insured and only paying 157.44 per month for full coverage, including a dental discount plan. It includes $25. office visit, $10 medicine etc. Seems good. If you want to know more send me a private message and I'll fill you in--might be worth checking into..
So, at this point everyone is pretty much working at something else and writing is a part-time, hobby thing--how do we progress past that? Seems like I spend all my time marketing and very little time writing. And I can't really call it marketing--more like looking for possible markets to inquire to etc. it's a frustrating cycle.
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#34776 - 07/12/05 06:02 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Da Queen
Registered: 07/02/03
Posts: 12025
Loc: Alabama
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SO, I realized I didn't answer your question, or at least not all of it. How does one balance the writing, marketing, and other parts of their life when they have chosen writing as a career?
I'll give you what I know works for me, then I'm sure others can also give you tips for making it all mesh.
For me, it's a matter of discipline. This goes against every creative fiber inside of me...but it is the only way I can get anything done. As I've stated in other post, I use a timer for just about everything. So many minutes are allotted for research, so many minutes for answering emails, and so many minutes for yada..yada...yada. When articles are due or its time to write one, I adjust the time, if needed. I also don't answer the phone and don't post in here or anywhere else, until I'm done.
I think it is a matter of setting boundaries, goals, and priorities. Make list to see what needs to serve you NOW, what can wait, or what needs more attention/time. You have to have some sort of system in place. Otherwise, you will become overwhelmed and frustrated. And...something will suffer. You might even miss a deadline, and that would be the kiss of death to a writer. Also, think about this. If you have a system in place, and you take care of business, then you have all of this wonderful "free" time to play! Like NOW!
I hope this helps! JJ
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#34777 - 07/21/05 12:37 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 12/21/04
Posts: 483
Loc: North Carolina
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Hey JJ - Here it is (I think)
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#34779 - 07/21/05 01:45 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 12/21/04
Posts: 483
Loc: North Carolina
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Aren't insurance companies crazy? If I had $808.00 a month to spend on health care - I wouldn't NEED THEM, now, would I? Sheesh.
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#34784 - 06/08/06 07:59 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 1177
Loc: Decatur, Illinois
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Chick, I still do on-line surveys. I find they don't bring in enough to make a living, but every now and then it is nice to get a check in the mail for a few dollars. I can refer you to the survey companies I use if you want to send me your e-mail.
More than happy to do that. Just today I was asked to participate in a survey and qualified to test an air purifier in my home. Lots of points for that, and they have a good redemption record as well. Another place to earn points and I have earned plenty, is MyPoints.com. There are many ways to earn here and I have always been paid promptly when I redeem my points. I have earned several $50 gift certificates from target, walmart, and kmart. Just as good as cash, and I had one to use before my husband started getting his temp disablility check.
Hope this helps.
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#34786 - 06/07/06 08:44 PM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 03/06/06
Posts: 2529
Loc: Southern California
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I did the Mystery Shopper thing for a little while. It's not enough money to keep you going, but if you have time and like to eat out, it's kind of nice.
For example, I did a shop at a gas station and got paid $12. However, I spent about 1/2 hour before I went reviewing the survey, then 20 minutes at the station, then another 30 minutes completing the online forms for the company. So I spent about 1.5 hours for just $12. But I needed the gas, so it was a place I was going anyway.
I did a New Car shop one day where you do four dealers. It paid $100. But I spent a lot of time preparing, spent most of the day visiting the dealers, spent money on gas getting to them all, and then had to spend about 2 hours later completing all the forms.
Again, if you have lots of time and aren't looking to get rich, it is interesting. It was fun to sit in all those luxury cars! But I gave it up to pursue other more lucrative things.
Kathy
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#34787 - 06/09/06 07:45 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 06/30/05
Posts: 383
Loc: Illinois
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Sorry JJ never got the PM, I'm here! What did you need dear?
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#34788 - 06/09/06 07:48 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 06/30/05
Posts: 383
Loc: Illinois
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Whoops never mind JJ! This thread was from last year!
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#34789 - 06/09/06 12:23 AM
Re: Making enough $$ to stay home
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Member
Registered: 11/07/05
Posts: 1096
Loc: West Chester ,PA
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Have any of you ladies done Focus Groups?,,,I have been doing one or 2 a week and it pays pretty well...between $75 and $200 per session...they last between 1 and 2 hours and it's fun and informative...they feed us and I have met some very nice people...you can't make a living with it...but it's enough to do a few "extras" like pay to have my hair done etc...I think most big cities have them...
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