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.
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!:
- Nerd Church - Millennials Are Gonna Get There... Somehow
- A Rough Guide To Supporting Authors When You're Broke
- Nerd Church - Rebel Valentine
- Nerd Church - The Age of Media
