Comments on: The Other Side of Budgeting http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Thu, 23 May 2013 18:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: down the rabbit hole http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2400 down the rabbit hole Tue, 08 May 2012 21:52:17 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2400 @Megano I think maybe budgeting for some of those unexpected expenses might help you out? Wiggle a preventative $50 for car repairs into your budget every month. Sock it away in an envelope or a separate savings account or whatever. Find a few places to cut $10 here and there to make room for this $50. Next time your car needs to be fixed, you'll have a couple hundred bucks to use without dipping into your real savings. I do this for car maintenance/insurance, travel and gifts and it really helps me level my budget out. I may save a smaller amount monthly but it stays in savings instead of getting pulled out for unexpected costs every month. Seeing $2000 keep plugging along to $2050, then $2100, then $2200 feels way better than seeing $2000 grow to $3000 and then get knocked back down to $2050. @Megano I think maybe budgeting for some of those unexpected expenses might help you out? Wiggle a preventative $50 for car repairs into your budget every month. Sock it away in an envelope or a separate savings account or whatever. Find a few places to cut $10 here and there to make room for this $50. Next time your car needs to be fixed, you’ll have a couple hundred bucks to use without dipping into your real savings. I do this for car maintenance/insurance, travel and gifts and it really helps me level my budget out. I may save a smaller amount monthly but it stays in savings instead of getting pulled out for unexpected costs every month. Seeing $2000 keep plugging along to $2050, then $2100, then $2200 feels way better than seeing $2000 grow to $3000 and then get knocked back down to $2050.

]]> By: cherrispryte http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2253 cherrispryte Mon, 07 May 2012 20:52:27 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2253 @Mike Dang I clearly need to upgrade my normal freelance writing to "freelance writing I GET PAID FOR" which is a leap I need to learn how to make, and most likely lack the skills/ability. Also discipline. Hmmmmm. @Mike Dang I clearly need to upgrade my normal freelance writing to “freelance writing I GET PAID FOR” which is a leap I need to learn how to make, and most likely lack the skills/ability. Also discipline. Hmmmmm.

]]> By: Megano http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2216 Megano Mon, 07 May 2012 17:26:55 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2216 MC here -- boyfriend works in video game design as a 3-D artist in Vancouver.... where 3 studios have closed in the past 2 months. There is zero work for him in his field, particularly since he just spent a year out with a shattered leg. He's trying to do physical labour, but shattered leg. I'm with Cherrispryte. I work full time, and have since I finished grad school in 2007. I was just hoping there was something I hadn't thought of beyond another job, since as an architect freelancing carries a lot of legal liability I'm not super comfortable with. I did spend some time this weekend looking into side projects, and I'll see what I can do! Thanks for the advice, Mike Dang. MC here — boyfriend works in video game design as a 3-D artist in Vancouver…. where 3 studios have closed in the past 2 months. There is zero work for him in his field, particularly since he just spent a year out with a shattered leg. He’s trying to do physical labour, but shattered leg.
I’m with Cherrispryte. I work full time, and have since I finished grad school in 2007. I was just hoping there was something I hadn’t thought of beyond another job, since as an architect freelancing carries a lot of legal liability I’m not super comfortable with. I did spend some time this weekend looking into side projects, and I’ll see what I can do!
Thanks for the advice, Mike Dang.

]]> By: Mike Dang http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2208 Mike Dang Mon, 07 May 2012 16:51:33 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2208 @cherrispryte Yes! I remember when I was in grad school, I looked into getting a retail gig to help pay for school, but eventually decided I wanted to just focus on my program. Barnes and Noble said they were willing to give me a 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. shift to help get their store open every day. The best side gigs though are ones that don't require you to have shifts—you just work whenever you have spare time, which is why freelance writing is so nice. @cherrispryte Yes! I remember when I was in grad school, I looked into getting a retail gig to help pay for school, but eventually decided I wanted to just focus on my program. Barnes and Noble said they were willing to give me a 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. shift to help get their store open every day. The best side gigs though are ones that don’t require you to have shifts—you just work whenever you have spare time, which is why freelance writing is so nice.

]]> By: cherrispryte http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2205 cherrispryte Mon, 07 May 2012 16:45:15 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2205 How does one find side gigs, though? I mean, aside from Craigslist? I work from 9-6 already, and kind of desperately need my weekends to stay weekends. Are there really retail gigs that'll let you work, like, 7-10 or something? How does one find side gigs, though? I mean, aside from Craigslist? I work from 9-6 already, and kind of desperately need my weekends to stay weekends. Are there really retail gigs that’ll let you work, like, 7-10 or something?

]]> By: Mike Dang http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2159 Mike Dang Sun, 06 May 2012 17:31:55 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2159 @Esther Goh@twitter Yup! And sometimes the WG News + Arts, and Time Out. Side gigs, you guys! @Esther Goh@twitter Yup! And sometimes the WG News + Arts, and Time Out. Side gigs, you guys!

]]> By: Esther Goh@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2157 Esther Goh@twitter Sun, 06 May 2012 10:23:18 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2157 Side hustles FTW. I've stopped now after a few years of it, but it does wonders to boost the bank account (and hopefully, your resume). I remember you, Mike, not only from Longreads, but Bundle, I think? Side hustles FTW. I’ve stopped now after a few years of it, but it does wonders to boost the bank account (and hopefully, your resume).

I remember you, Mike, not only from Longreads, but Bundle, I think?

]]> By: Megano! http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2129 Megano! Sat, 05 May 2012 02:09:36 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2129 Um other important thing -- why is the bf not looking into these side gigs. I'm not sure if he was programmer or not, but if he was, he should have no problem finding gigs BECAUSE HE WORKED AT MICROSOFT. Um other important thing — why is the bf not looking into these side gigs. I’m not sure if he was programmer or not, but if he was, he should have no problem finding gigs BECAUSE HE WORKED AT MICROSOFT.

]]> By: NoReally http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2120 NoReally Fri, 04 May 2012 23:49:59 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2120 Yes! Extra jobs. Eight hours at one job and four at another is not as painful as 12 at one. Variety! Retail is a great second gig, because you can do short hours, and get a discount. Yes! Extra jobs. Eight hours at one job and four at another is not as painful as 12 at one. Variety! Retail is a great second gig, because you can do short hours, and get a discount.

]]> By: muush http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/the-other-side-of-budgeting/#comment-2105 muush Fri, 04 May 2012 21:11:27 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=3427#comment-2105 Mike Dang! I didn't know you sometimes edit Longreads. For some reason, this makes me very happy. Mike Dang! I didn’t know you sometimes edit Longreads. For some reason, this makes me very happy.

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