Breaking Even, Inc.

A Moral Dilemma

I’ve been faced with an interesting dilemma these past couple of weeks.

Twice, I have been contacted about advertising on my site. Would I be interested in advertising? How about a pay-per-post or a small text ad? Basically, do you want money for what you are already doing? Sure do. Seems like an easy question, right?

So both of these potential advertisers that have contacted me are short term (sometimes called “pay day”) loan companies. Not so easy anymore. For one, I'm very against these but also I wouldn't want someone visiting my site to get into a bad situation because they followed one of my links.

I would love to make money blogging. Actually, I am currently paying to maintain this Typepad site so I guess breaking even should be my first goal. But at what price? It becomes a moral dilemma.

Have other bloggers been faced with this? If so, how have you reacted?

How To Free Up 10% Of Space On Your Hard Drive

I know, I know. My posts are getting more techy and less saving money lately. Essentially the issue is my almost five year old laptop is not running so hot (imagine that) but I can't afford to replace it, at least not right now. When I tried to run a defrag a week ago after deleting some non-essential programs and files, my memory was too full for a defrag. I only had 5% free space and I need 15% to run a defrag.

So time and energy has been thrown at this problem. I have successfully reached my 15% goal and a defrag will run while I sleep tonight.

Here's how I freed up 10% more space on my computer:

• You know those free T.V. shows they have once a week on iTunes? (If you want an archive of them or don't know what I'm talking about, check out this blog.) Well, since I don't have cable, I download one every week in hopes it'll give me my television fix. So deleting all those shows I will never watch (read: Gossip Girl) and watching those shows I'm ashamed to admit I like and then deleting them (ok, I'll admit: My Big Redneck Wedding). Deleting unnecessary video has created some much needed room. Like a show? Burn it on CD or DVD for future enjoyment.
• Uploading photos to my Picasa web albums, which I talked about last post. Free 1,000 MB and, if you don't know how much that is, I've probably uploaded close to 1,000 high quality digital photos and there is still room. As my boyfriend asked in amazement, "Do other people know about this?"
• Delete photos you don't like. I have some unflattering pictures of myself, fuzzy photos, duplicates, etc. that I've been holding on to for too long. I think many people feel guilt about throwing away pictures. I am no longer one of those people. Since I was getting my pictures ready to upload anyway, I took some time to delete. And it was good.
• Delete podcasts. You know, I always mean to listen to the CBC podcasts but sometimes, it doesn't happen. Then I end up with a pile in my iTunes folder and it makes me feel like such a slacker, sort of how I would feel if I subscribed to an intellectual magazine I only read sometimes. I deleted all podcasts that were over a week old that I had no sentimental attachment towards. I kept a few This American Life ones though because they rock.
• Don't forget to empty your little recycle bin/trash can. I know, I know. Just had to remind.

Hopefully this will help my, and maybe someone else's computer run a little better. I like to think of myself as the kind of person who repairs something broken rather than going out and buying new things so here's hoping my computer is not the exception. 

No Computer Issues Google Can't Fix

I am one of those ridiculously focused types who, when I really want to get something done, will obsess until it is. So what I thought was a little photo problem has become way bigger as I begin to dig.

Sean and I went to Moab last April. Beautiful scenery, had a great time, took a lot of silly pictures. I downloaded them with photo software, either Kodak Easyshare or some kind of Adobe photo-looking-at program. I forgot about it.

I go to organize my pictures and decide, hey, I wonder where the Moab pics are. I have looked through all the jpegs on my computer (and everything named moab and kodak). I also searched my external hard drive, which I back things up on all the time. I have tried to reinstall Kodak Easyshare which was not working properly and the software CD won't work. I can't find the Adobe program. So, in short, I have 400 photos on this computer that I can't get to and spent a good eight hours on this problem only to be in the same place I started.

I go to defrag and, wait, there is not enough memory to defrag. You need 11% free and I've got 9%. Yikes. Maybe it's these 12,000 other jpgs I have on my computer clogging up my memory and slowing me down. No more.

I am downloading my favorite albums into Picasa web albums (after putting them on Mr. External Hard Drive) then deleting them to free up precious space. Picasa let's you store 1000ish MB for free (and after that you can upgrade for a small yearly fee) but let me tell you, putting them online will be piece of mind. If I ever find my Moab photos, I will do this immediately for them.

Will some photos off my memory and a defrag help me find Moab? It couldn't hurt. After I do a little cleaning house (here's hoping that'll fix the getting the Kodak program working problem), I will go way back in time to a restore point sometime last summer when these photo programs did work. Then I guess we'll see. My computer (and myself, actually) will probably need some professional help if these steps don't work.

Your comments and thoughts of free or cheap online photo storage are most certainly appreciated. 

The Grocery Game

I'm all for coupons. They're a good idea and I have absolutely no problem taking the time to cut them out (or, as we have now entered the internet age, seek them out).

I've tried a few coupon sites. Coupons.com has coupons for things I never buy (but they're on my Google toolbar, you know, just in case). I have subscribed to CoolSavings.com  for free daily emails (just a warning is that it takes a little while to sign up since they make you go through about 5 screens before you're officially signed up). Couponchief.com has an RSS feed and coupons for major online and store retailers. Ultimatecoupons.com is for online retailers only. Basically, I want to save a couple bucks at the grocery store, etc. without having to think a lot. None of the above sites really deliver for me, so far anyway.

I've heard of The Grocery Game in sevaral magazines and, while it is a paid service, they have a try-four-weeks-for-$1 promotion so I couldn't resist. The site combs through the best deals and then tell you, based on your zip code, the deals at different stores. Of course, there is only one store for my area but I'm giving it a shot anyway. That and I'm subscribing to a Sunday paper. Will do a cost-benefit analysis for a future post.

In the meantime, anyone have some fool-proof coupon sites or sources?

Making Money On The Side: Online Photo Contests

So whether you know me or not, you've probably figured out that I'm not a money for nothing kind of lady. You won't see anything in my budget for lottery tickets or anything like that. I have, however, decided to  investigate this whole online photo contest thing after my dentist epiphany.

The original inspiration WEZQ your easy listening station (what other music would be playing in a dentist's office? Death metal?) proved to be a cumbersome web site. I mean, voting by email? Bleh. There had to be something better.

A web search quickly yeilds a ton of results. I decided not to enter anything that required a fee or anything that was too big (no offense to Sadie but entering her picture in a National Geographic-type contest is like taking a small town beauty queen and plopping her into Miss Universe, expecting her to do well). In the end PamperedPuppy and Cutest Pet Contest got submissions. I also submitted the lovely photo in this post to www.picture.com because it makes me giggle whenever I see it. Hope it makes you smile too. Also will let you know when (ok, if) the cash starts flowing in.

Summary: Online photo contests are a long shot and nothing to count on but worth five minutes of effort to submit photos to free ones.

Working My Money Maker

As I was lying in the dentist’s chair getting my teeth buffed and praying for no cavities when I overheard a cutest pet contest on a radio station. It was then I had an idea. Maybe I could make money by doing next to nothing. I Googled pet photo contests only to find a ton, some paying.

My dog Sadie is pretty darn cute. She’s 13 and I often joke that if she weren’t an old lady, I’d be pushing her into show business. And this is mostly a joke.

So for those who want to give me feedback, I’m making a Sadie photo album on this blog. Let me know what picture you think is the cutest and that’s what I’m sending in. Because I don’t often pursue these something for nothing events, I’ll indulge this one time. Plus it’s a great occasion to put together all those great Sadie pictures into one place.

Check out the Sadie album here!

Making A Web Page 101

Remember a few days ago when I got really excited about buying my very own domain name and how it took me an hour to figure out how to make Typepad point to my new address. The good news I did it right. The bad news? Well, sometimes I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack.

Me: "So I made my blog point to my new domain name but nothing is happening. Could I have done it wrong?"

Person I work with: "Well, did you buy a hosting package?"

Me: Silent.

So you can have a domain name all you want but if you have no hosting, nothing will happen. Hmph. I actually knew that. Not ready to invest in hosting at the moment so I guess I'll just own a domain name for now. Just thought I'd follow up on my earlier post so you wouldn't be wondering what was happening. Excitement slightly tempered but not entirely gone. 

Filling A Hole

Yesterday I left work early to go to the dentist. One of my teeth has been hurting for about a month but, like most people, I ignored it until it got uncomfortable.

A teeth cleaning ($100) and 2 x-rays ($20) later, I have a cavity, which will be filled ($85) about a month from now. The only way I could have avoided this is if I would floss everyday (and if you do that, please comment below. I'd like proof that one person on Earth does this).

I asked up front about how much everything would cost, something I've never done before until this past year. The hygenist answered all my questions and didn't make me feel bad. Now, I know how much I need to save up to fix my little problem.

In a less positive interaction, I did this at the doctor's office last month, too. My doctor wanted me to have a test done "just in case". When I asked how much it was, he estimated about $350. When I said no, he began to lecture me, "This is your health!" he kept saying. "That's my salary for a week." I said. I left angry.

I went home and did a little research on my condition, and ended up talking to another doctor for a follow-up appointment a the women's health clinic. I didn't need the test. It was then I realized that it is my right to ask how much things cost, and if a doctor, dentist, or any other medical professional can't give me a good reason why to do something, I will refuse to do it. I am perfectly willing to follow every whim, but only with good health insurance.

My teeth money will be obtained from the selling of some gift certificates from Christmas ($50) and returning a couple gifts I don't need ($50). I also subscribed to a grocery coupon site so over the next month, if I save another $50 in groceries, I can use my $30 cushion for two months to pay the difference. I can probably cut back on expenses further I'm sure. But I'll only do it for those health things that are really necessary, like things that make my mouth not hurt. Happy Friday!

You Know You're A Little Nuts When You Buy Things You Don't Really Need And Then Get Really Excited About Them Anyway

You know you're nuts when 1) you spend money you don't have in an uncalculated way and 2) get as excited buying a domain name as you do about a new dress.

Yesterday, against the little bugetary fairy talking in my ear, I purchased a pretty and functional dress at The Grasshopper Shop. For you non-Mainers, this is the type of store that sells $150 dollar jeans, not a place a girl on a budget should go let alone purchase clothing. But everyday as I walk by the window with my powerwalking ladyfriends from work on lunch break, I gazed lovingly in the window at a Donna Morgan graphic print dress. It was too nice and way too expensive at over $100.

Two months passed and I still smiled whenever I saw the pretty, brightly colored dresses, posed perfectly in the window. But I still did not go in.

A thirty percent off sign went up before Christmas. I decided to wait it out.

A week later, fifty percent off. They had me. I emailed my boyfriend, fraught with temptation. "Get the dress" he urged in his email reply. Well, that was all I needed.

I went in, picked the dress I wanted off the rack. One left. My size. I tried it on. It draped well. I paid $40 I don't actually have yet and walked out. The clouds parted and the sun shone brilliantly as a little bird perched on my finger and began to sing...

Ok, everything except the last sentence was true. You know, there is some satisfaction to be had for waiting for something. So Nicole's a big nutball story part one: I get excited over a dress.

Nutball story part two: I bought a domain name today. Do you believe www.nicoleouellette.com wasn't taken? Thank you Network Solutions and my parents who apparently gave me an uncommon name! I thought of the possibilities and even spent about an hour just now making my new domain name point to this very blog. Do I know what I did? Not exactly. Will it work? Not sure. 24-48 hours will let me know. 

In both cases, notice how I recklessly spent money even though I have a tight budget. I know, I know. The key is this behavior not become habit (and the fact that I have adult ed teaching money coming in soon). But my two purchases at $140 total (my domain is good for five years) have brought such joy that I wonder if money can buy me happiness, at least a little bit.   

An Explanation For the Lack of Posts

To those of you reading this, thanks. It is so very appreciated.

Been kind of having a rough week, Dad-related, but please keep checking this blog. I hope to be posting regularly again soon. Thanks for understanding!

The Old Long Lost Relative Fantasy

First off, Happy 2008. Best wishes to you in the year ahead, financially and otherwise.

I stumbled across a little blurb in a woman's magazine that fed my whole long lost rich relative fantasy. You know the one, where you find out some relative you barely remember dies and leaves you a fortune? Maybe I've just seen to many movies.

Anyway, I thought I would give you a link where you can check (by typing your name only, no social security number or anything fishy like that!) if you have unclaimed property somewhere out there. Here is the link where you can search by state and here is the link where you can search nationally. Both pages are part of the National Association of Unclaimed Property site, which must be a fantastic job because you get to give people money they didn't know they had, making them (I'm guessing) really happy.

Unfortunately, my uncommon name yeilded nothing while my boyfriend's much more common name yeilded hundreds of results. Will he look into them? I don't know but there is something to knowing it's out there. . .