Submitted by anna on Sun, 28/06/2009 - 18:38
This weekend I did a complete overhaul of my budget using the Sorted calculator, and despite making a lot of adjustments, it still came back $20.20 per week short. There are things I could have cut back on more, but it would have made me grumpy (I need my shinies), so instead I decided to try and turn it into something positive. What if I managed to sell enough writing to make up the shortfall? Tough, yes, but I think it could be doable, and at the end of it I'd not only be in a better place financially, it would also give me the motivation to make a lot more sales.
Therefore, I present to you: The Budget Shortfall Challenge
The idea is to set yourself a small weekly goal, and a time period (ideally at least 6 months). To sucessfully complete this challenge, your earnings from writing should average out at the weekly amount or less.
I suggest you do this one of two ways. Either:
You have a small budget shortfall; aim to cover that amount
Or
Your budget balances, but is quite tight. Think of some extras you'd like to cover (a fortnightly trip to the movies, dinner out once a month, whatever works for you) and try and write your way to the funds.
Other than that, I'm leaving it really open. To get started:
1) Copy the above code to display the sidebar on your blog
2) Make a post about your goals (you don't have to include the monetary amount if it makes you feel uncomfortable)
3) Comment with the link to the post (it may take a little while to show up as comments are moderated) and I'll publish a link to participants here.
I'll be making another post with more details about my own goals shortly.
Is this a challenge you're
Is this a challenge you're issuing? If so, interesting! I'd love to write my way to some extra funding this year. Every penny goes into my 'moving out' fund. Got any tips for just how someone who has never broken into the market could do so? How to start, what to look for, that kind of thing?
Dooooo eeeeeeeet! It's
Dooooo eeeeeeeet! It's something I wanted to do, so I thought why not open up the challenge to anyone else who wants to join in. I would appreciate the company.
That's a good idea, not sure I'm qualified to do it (I've only earned token payments so far), but I'll see what I can do, even if only a collection of links.
Yeah, I'm totally tempted to,
Yeah, I'm totally tempted to, but that's the problem. I have no idea HOW to, you know? So any tips that I can get are more than welcomed, believe me. You're miles ahead of me if you've gotten any payment at all (or if you've submitted something, even).
Count me in as well, the
Count me in as well, the extra motivation never hurt right? I don't NEED to make any money, but I want to make some by the end of the year! Thanks for helping to motivate me :-)