I finally finished filling out my tax form for 2005 on Saturday night, and I mailed it yesterday. Since I’m almost 10 months late, this makes it the first time that I’ve owed money and had to pay interest on it.  It hurts. I’m hoping that that 2006′s income tax season is less harsh on my bank account!  I’ve already picked up the income tax information and I’m raring to go.  All I need are my T4 slips.

Speaking of money and bank accounts that are on a diet, I would like to make more money.  Isn’t that completely vulgar of me to admit?  I am not destitute but I would like to feel more comfortable.  I would like to put aside the money I need for a downpayment on a house.  I would like to get a car by my birthday.  I would like to be able to do things for my family and not have to take out loans to do them. 

To that end, I’ve been thinking seriously about how wonderful it would be to make a little money in a way that didn’t involve me peddling clothing to women 12-15 hours a week, something that I could do while seated in a comfy computer chair [note to self:  get comfy computer chair] and sipping some red wine [dear self:  please acquire a taste for wine].  There is one very obvious option [get a paying blogging/writing gig!] and I’m not sure how to go about exploring it or if it’s even something I could do.  First off, the arena of talented writers isn’t one that I can see myself joining.  I can write informative and practical articles [and I do!  For an online magazine!  I don't know if I've ever mentioned that I write for MIMI magazine, an online magazine for African women.  I only just started and have written three articles.  I was surprised that they accepted my application to write, even though it's a non-paying gig because they have quite a high calibre of writing represented in the magazine] but it’s not the same as Those Writers.  You know those writers who write and you laugh until your sides hurt?  Or you cry because you can relate to what they’ve written or you feel their pain? Or the ones who stir you to change some aspect of your life?  Or make the world a happier place?  That isn’t me.  And even if  I’m someone who can pump out the occasional funny entry, it isn’t anything that hasn’t already been done.  How does one stand out?  I have no idea.

Another money making scheme is to develop my web design skills to a point that I can provide extremely affordable [and simple] designs for those who are less adept than I.  Guess what?  I don’t know anyone less adept!  I could possibly sell my sister a blog design but she has neither computer nor interest in having a weblog.  I’m sure even she would demand her money back after seeing what I can do.  But if I wasn’t peddling clothing perhaps I’d have more time to work on learning webdesgn.  Or lounging around eating bon bons.  It’s a nice theory anyway.

So, I’ve decided on the following manifesto for money making:

I, Jummy, will explore each of the aforementioned avenues for making money using my thus unexplored [and unverified] God-given talents.  I don’t know if it’ll lead anywhere but I’ll give it a good shot and at the end of the year if it turns out that selling clothing is the best way for me to save enough to Have A Future, then so be it.  It will not be said that Jummy didn’t try. 

I’ll give myself until the end of the year to give each of these possiblities a honest attempt.

I’m beyond welcome to any other legal schemes to make a bit of dough and allow me to laze about, so speak up!

Filed under: Goals, Money, Reading & Writing, WurdyGurdy by jummy