After two full weeks of writing the Frugal Cool site for MSN Money, I’ve learned that a five-times-a-week deadline can be less intimidating than a once-every-10-days deadline.
I’d been writing a biweekly personal finance column since spring 2009. Initially I thought this would be easier than my previous job at MSN Money, the three-times-a-week Smart Spending blog. It wasn’t.
Each assignment meant doing interviewing experts and consumers all over the country. Generally I’d talk with eight to 15 people for each column. Just lining up and conducting all those interviews often felt like herding rabid cats.
But then I’d look at all the material and think, “Now I have to organize it.” And always, always, I was aware of the next set of interviews needing to be queried and set up. Developing major, overarching topics took a surprising amount of time, too.
Lately I’d been longing for the time when I only had to come up with three narrowly focused topics per week, then turn them into lively prose. (One thing about MSN Money: I do get to have fun with the writing over there.)
Coming up with good material that actually helps people is a big challenge. I don’t want to write filler, ever. (Not that my editor wouldn’t notice immediately, and kick my butt up around my shoulder blades. Bless his heart.)
If you have suggestions, e-mail me at SurvivingAndThriving (at) live (dot) com. Any food for thought will be gratefully received, even though I can’t promise that your ideas will be approved by the aforementioned editor.
Yet more assignments
My latest column at Get Rich Slowly, “Stepping off the foodie-go-round,” ignited a snitstorm: 256 comments so far. Some people missed the part where I wrote “do what works for you” and considered the article a polemic against polenta. In fact, I was just suggesting that it’s OK not to be an adventurous cook if it isn’t a priority for you.
Some folks get really touchy about their gluten and their locally sourced feta. I’d be interested in your thoughts on the subject.
I’ve been represented twice this week at The Daily Worth. First up was a short rant think-piece called “How dollar stores drain you dry.” I disclose at the get-go that sometimes I do shop at dollar emporia, which is why I’m well aware of the perils contained therein. The road to hell is paved with good intentions — and I bet a lot of them only cost a dollar.
The other piece was the introduction to The Money Fix, an annual project involving four readers with challenges and four experts who help. It’s sort of like the Big Sisters-Little Sisters program for personal finance.This year I’m happy to have been chosen as one of the experts, along with Liz Weston, Jean Chatzky and Kimberly Palmer.
My li’l sis, SaVanna, is a 21-year-old student who’s facing a year of unpaid internship in her quest to become a registered dietitian. Unfortunately, her student loans will be coming due at the same time and she has relatively little savings. My advice to her will be revealed day by day. Some of it may surprise you. (Hint: I actually discourage her from using coupons and rebates.)
Hope you’ll have time to check out the extra gigs, and to clock in at Frugal Cool (daily, if possible). Every now and then I’d appreciate a comment, especially since I already seem to have at least one recurring troll. I have been civil, even though I’m greatly tempted to mention the Greater Internet Dickwad Theory. Self-preservation, i.e., “I really want to keep that job,” has kept me in line thus far.
I have no idea why these folks take out after me. Maybe they hate my freedom.
You are awesome :)! Ignore the ignorant clod. Keep up the fabulous work. Love reading all your articles!!
I thought you would be proud to hear what I did this month.
I don’t have to pay rent on my “work town” apartment this month because I am watching the building while my landlords are out of town. So I put the rent money toward my mortgage rather than spending it.
Woo hoo! I’m that much closer to paying off the mortgage and being able to stop having 2 residences.
@Katie: What a great idea. Good for you!
Now: Any chance they’ll “hire” you to do this again? And if your emergency fund in need of a little cash boost, could the rent money go there?
Thanks for reading, and for leaving a comment.
feeding trolls can be a guilty pleasure. 🙂
I’d like to see more diversity articles re: kate’s idea juxtapositioned with ideas like “getting paid to exercise (hence saving gym fees)”…setting up a supply chain with fewer critical disruption points. I take especial interest in anything that describes ways to distributes various incoming eggs among many baskets since I’ve recently discovered a significant structural flaw in the one basket I have.
Not the freelance life per se like the “Frugal Hacking” (although that was helpful and interesting) but ways, means, hows, and whys for those who may not want to quit their day job. It seems to me that “have a job/paycheck” and “many eggs in many baskets” are two mutually exclusive lifestyles and I wonder if that is indeed, so.
@Bareheaded Woman: A criticism I see appearing more frequently in the PF blogosphere is along the lines of “Not all of us want to quit our day jobs and start our own businesses” and/or “My day job plus my family leaves me so tired and overwhelmed that I simply can’t have an alternative income stream right now” and/or “There are no ‘second jobs’ to be had in my area of the country — I’m lucky to get 30 hours a week at the job I do have.”
For those people, spending less — not earning more — is the answer.
As far as redistribution of funds, if you’re talking about investing/retirement then a longer MSN Money article (not a 350-to-700-word blog post) would address that. But as regards things like being paid to exercise, yes, that would be a great example of redistributing money by looking at the way you’re currently spending it. My usual-suspects list includes:
What do I want/need?
Why do I want/need it?
How can I get it cheaper/for free?
At what point does it make sense to cut somewhere else vs. on this one expense?
And then there’s this idea: Getting paid to do what you’re already doing. When I was on NPR the other week, I mentioned a woman I’d interviewed who told other working parents that she would walk their kids to school along with her own. (Her day started later.) She got $5 per kid per day, or an extra $25 per kid per week to do what she was going to do anyway! This is an example both of the “find a need, and fill it” school of alternate income stream and of the “make what you already do work twice as hard” idea of frugal hacking.
Thus I got paid to shovel the snow, but it was a nice little workout and it got me away from the computer several times per day as I checked on how much snow had fallen and determined whether I needed to sweep/shovel or throw down ice melt. Some other possibilities:
If you’ve vowed to take a daily walk, would a friend/neighbor/relative pay you to take his dog along? (If you don’t mind picking up poop.)
If your income is drastically reduced and you are staying home most nights, would a friend/neighbor/relative pay you to babysit? (I did this while in school; I looked at it as being paid to study after the kids were in bed.)
If you’re looking to make extra cash, would a vacationing friend/neighbor/relative pay you to pick up the mail and water the plants? (A former neighbor who took occasional three-day weekends would give me $20 if I’d look in on and play with her cat once a day. I considered it being paid to be amused — the cat was a big, goofy, amiable lump who loved to chase the ball. Afterwards I’d sit on the couch and read, and the cat would sit next to me and purr. It was an extra $20 to walk upstairs three times.)
Thanks for the food for thought — I just wrote “occasional series on achievable alternative income streams” on my ideas list.
@Donna: Emergency fund is pretty much fully funded thanks to a smallish tax refund. Retirement funding in full force. Mortgage is my only debt and I want it GONE!
@Katie: And I believe it will be gone sooner rather than later because of your can-do attitude. Thanks for inspiring me and others.
So, the woman who walked kids to school because her (working) day started later. Did she walk them home also? Or did she pair up with a neighbor who worked an early shift and got off early? Other people’s creativity always amazes me.
@Karla: I can’t remember how her kids got home. I’ll have to dig up those notes. A lot of places now have after-school care, either on the premises or by bus to a child care center, Boys and Girls Club, etc. But for commuting parents who have to be at the office by 9 a.m., getting the kids to school can be tricky.
I too was impressed by this woman’s attitude. Just a take-charge kind of person.
Another woman I interviewed for that article was a 22-year-old single mom and full-time college student in Washington, D.C. She made money by doing errands/chores for super-busy people who couldn’t get to the dry cleaner before it closed, who needed someone to go pick up a package at the post office, who planned a dinner party/reception and needed help with set-up, etc. The young woman charged an hourly rate and was available to do just about anything someone needed. I was impressed by her, too.
In my own experience: I managed this apartment building for almost five years. When I quit, I let the owners know I was still available any time I happened to be home. If they need someone to let the electrician in or to receive and fax a completed rental application, they call me. In return they take money off my rent or send me a gift card. I work at home anyway, so why not help them out?
I also let the UPS/Fed Ex drivers in a lot (they’ve all figured out I’m here) and sometimes sign for and hold packages for residents. I wouldn’t charge for that, though. That’s just being neighborly.
I don’t know how you get people to stop for an interview. I’m working on a book about advanced careers for nurses, and it’s tough to get people to stop for a 30 minute interview. I would love some tips.
As to trolls, I’m getting a thicker skin the longer I do this.
Well, it was hard to decide whether to send this privately, or just go fer it and lay it out here. Decided on here–what the hay! Two of the reasons I continue to adore you are: your vocabulary choices (“snitstorm”) and your edifying links (Greater Internet Dickwad Theory) which never fail to “instruct and improve the mind.” If I don’t agree with you, you still entertain. So happy to have you on a daily basis at Frugal Cool. There, I said it.
@Reta Davis: Aw, thanks. I appreciate it.
I really like your Frugal Cool pieces, and I read your piece about food too on the Get Rich Slowly blog; your articles about food are my favorites. I think that’s because I think about food a lot, which is partly why I end up having to go to the gym a lot.
Trolls are the worst! You’d think they’d just start their own blogs rather than harass people. I think the best way to deal with them is to ignore them or just to write a short response and leave it that. They’ll keep posting mean comments, but that’s because they’re hoping to get a rise out of the people they attack. Those trolls should be ashamed of themselves.
@Neurotic Workaholic: I’m afraid trolls have no shame. I think they listen to too much drive-time radio and think that obnoxious attitude = clever and devastating wit.
On the other hand, perhaps I should feel sorry for them: This is how they choose to spend their free time? Being anonymous jerks? They must lead very, very small lives.
And yeah, food is a recurring frugal theme because it’s the area of our budgets that has the most wiggle room. I just want to make sure not to do too many food posts in a row, lest people think that’s all I’ve got to offer. It isn’t, but I sure have a lot of food ideas on the list.
Thanks for reading,a nd for leaving a comment.
Donna, would they ban the troll? I haven’t gotten any at my current place, but I know that trolls are like cockroaches, they’ll make a home anywhere. Or they’re like overexcited dogs who regard their target bloggers as someone’s leg. Ahem.
I like your Frugal Cool series.
@Pamela: Trolls get banned only if they’re specifically profane, threatening, etc. You can be as rude and obnoxious as you want (and some people do want) in the comments section.
Someone said that “anonymity breeds animosity.” I’m afraid that’s so.
Overexcited dogs…legs…snort. That’s my grin for the day. Thanks!
Donna, I’ve been enjoying your Frugal Cool series. And I *loved* your link to the “Greater Internet Dickwad Theory”. I read your dollar store article as well. It’s interesting..I know someone who does the exact same thing when they really “need” to shop.
Wow its so great that you get to write for MSN Money. I just checked out some of your posts – they’re awesome! How fun!
@ImpulseSave: Thanks for your kind words. I’ve actually been writing for MSN Money since January 2007 (freelance for the first nine months, then full-time). It’s been great to have a bigger platform from which to beat the frugal drum.
I LOVED your Foodie-Go-Round article and the people who didn’t get it can go eat Burger King.
Please tell us more about your “recurring troll”!!!!!!
I want to hear about the troll also. But even if you have one troll you should be comforted by your loyal followers/fans.
It should warm your heart that I am considering paying off my mortgage a bit earlier (I have 4 years left) since I seem to have “too much” money in my savings account.
I probably won’t do it since my favorite small cruise line has a new trip to Spain and we haven’t been. And if I book through Upromise I get a nice rebate….
When I started blogging a few years ago I covered fashion and celebrities and wrote a post about how annoyed I was that a casting agency hadn’t booked me for a background role on my favorite show. Resident troll said I was only qualified to be on Planet of the Apes.
Do I win? 🙂
I’ve been stopping by and reading Frugal cool, though I admit, I’m not usually a comment leaver. I’ll be sure to go leave one there today though.
some ideas, for upcoming things there…frugality and kids, is a topic I NEVER tire of, since I have a 4 year old, and one on the way. We already get most all the clothes at yard sales, (for as long as we can, little boys clothes that aren’t all hole-y get harder to find, the older they get) and get toys there often, but other fun ways to entertain, or feed, or corral the multitude of stuff or what nots are always interesting. For that matter, I liked reading your junk drawer post (I think it was) when you talked about the hooks, because those are the sort of things most people don’t think of!! have you ever read Real Simple magazine? they have, or used to have, (my subscription ran out about a year ago, so not sure) a section on one thing, used multiple ways, like, how many differnt uses for eggshells, or lemons, or a hook, or a pencil eraser…just interesting little tips that help you use a common thing instead of going out and buying something else. Might be something fun for you to do once a week!
I would just ignore the troll. Eventually they will get bored & go troll elsewhere. I love your writing.
I also love your writing and am quite fond of your latest at Frugal Cool. Keep up the great work and ignore the haters!
Donna,
I love your posts and insight. Having a daily dose of your posts at Frugal Cool is great at keeping me on track for my savings goals for this year. Also, I looked for your troll so I could heckle him/her, to no avail. =)
“herding rabid cats.”-If writing doesn’t work out, at least you have a plan for another job.
I don’t know why people go after you and your writing. Write and let write, I say. But some people are to simple to learn from others. Just be glad we aren’t simple.
With all due respect, on that foodie article, the “do what works for you” was like how Southerners start with, “Bless her heart but…” or Southern Californians say, “I just love her to death but…” You can’t say that post wasn’t meant to be polemic. Rarely have I seen such condescension and vitriol pointed towards people who have food as a hobby. You like to travel, some people like to eat. They’re equally ridiculous/valid hobbies.
Also, I still maintain that you are guilty of occasional foodie-ism yourself. And there is *nothing wrong with that*, despite your protestations.
@Nicoleandmaggie: In this case, you’re misinterpreting the phrase. “Do what works for you” is an oft-repeated phrase at Get Rich Slowly. It means, well, to do what works for you, e.g., if you like to budget with software, do that; if you budget with pen and paper, do that; if you don’t budget at all, do that.
Whatever works for you, do that.
I don’t deny my minor foodie tendencies. I like good food. I like healthy food. I like foods from other countries. I just don’t like buying and cooking it that often, and I don’t like being told either directly or indirectly that I should be buying and cooking it. (Yes, this has happened — and judging from some of the comments, it happens to other people as well.)
Thanks for reading, and for leaving a comment.
Your foodie post got me thinking. I once wrote a short post about foodies but realize that you can get in hot water for that. I personally love “peasant” food from China and Italy — cheap, fast and nutritious. However, “peasant” foods here is often fast food and unhealthy so it seems to be a choice between caring for your food (foodie) or not, when in reality there is so much in-between. I think foodies sometimes make food seem too complicated. A few simple ingredients is all you need and repetition of a few good dishes is ok too.
Stopped by Frugal Cool today–I really like the variety in the posts. Truly something for everyone. I did leave a couple of comments. Wanted to point out that whoever was getting hot under the collar about PayPal (and Amazon, too, for 3rd party sellers) sending out 1099s now (its the law, not something they made up on their own) doesn’t suddenly mean they are out to get you–you’re supposed to report the income you make on eBay, period. Someone who has had a thriving business on eBay and hasn’t been reporting the income is a tax cheat. The rule says the 1099-K goes to sellers who have had $20,000 AND at least 200 transactions over the year pass through their account.
@PNW Nancy: I saw that, too. The reader’s caustic little “Fun yet?” comment got under my skin because I would have been reporting that income anyway. You’re supposed to do that on your own, as you note. PayPal sending out the paperwork doesn’t change that.
Thanks for your kind words, and for leaving comments both there and here.