Need money, what do?

[cellophane]

So, recently I quit my job in fast food to go on the road with my band. That was all fine and dandy, had a lot of fun, etc... Now a month later I'm back home and bills are piling up.

In an ideal situation, I would like to find some way to be self-reliant and independant. I can't work a full-time office job or any 9-5 factory bullshit because of the bands touring/rehersal schedule. I've been scouring craigslist and similar sites for odd jobs, but nothing quite fits the bill.

I know that I could always go back to being a frycook, but that wasn't getting me anywhere and I would rather not go crawling back to that shithole.

What does Zoklet suggest I do to make ends meet?

[Rude Louis]

In before "sell drugs/your body"

But seriously. If you sell drugs, blood, sperm, family heirlooms etc. you'll have money from thin air. Other than that it's back to the deep fryer for you. If you can't make money AND make the band, you might have to make a tough choice.

[Nik0]

sell drugs/your body

[cellophane]

I have considered selling all of those things.

[Rude Louis]

Originally Posted by cellophane

I have considered selling all of those things.

Have you financed for each month? Do you know how much your food/gasoline/insurance costs you?

When I'm low on money, I focus on saving it just as much as finding it.

Start keeping receipts for one thing.
Don't eat out.
Don't leave the AC on.
Don't open the fridge for long periods of time.
Don't buy shit you don't need.
Don't spend money on girlfriend.

As a matter of fact, don't do anything except band practice and job hunting (for your specific schedule). No bar hopping, no marijuana smoking, no gambling, nothing that will take your money away.

Your life is now made up of two things:

• Music
• Job Hunting

Good luck motherfucker.

[rustyshackleford420]

^That's the best way to do it. I've always been a cheap bastard so there's only so much more that I can save, but any drugs get expensive quick.

I was thinking of looking around yard sales and trying to buy shit I can resell for more. That's all I got. I don't know how well it would work, but its yard sale season and its theoretically very possible assuming you have some start up. Anything thats not a McJob is not going to be extremely dependable.

[cellophane]

Ha. I've already cut back as much as possible months ago. I don't buy anything for myself. I don't go anywhere. I don't travel anywhere, except to band rehersal. I don't even have my own place anymore. But I'm still up to my neck in debt. It's depressing.

I've considered selling drugs. But that requires money to get into in the first place. I could sell blood, but I'm too underweight for that. And there are no sperm banks anywhere near me. The jobs I see on craigslist are all scams or on the professional level.

Maybe I'll knock over a liquor store.

[Rude Louis]

Originally Posted by cellophane

Maybe I'll knock over a liquor store.

Enjoy prison.

What the Hell did you get in debt over? Credit cards? House mortgage? Student loans?

If you can't finance and swallow the bitter pill of a part-time job (no matter how demeaning) then you don't deserve the payoff. You want to be in a band? Earn it.

[Sir Cornwell]

What about temp job agencies? Is there a chain restaurant in town with a number of locations? If you got trained on the line to their standards (many chains prefer to train green kids as they can pay them less) with the understanding that you'd be leaving and coming back. Being ready to fill in at any location when you were in town might appeal to them.

Better than nothing. Some people prefer to be a waiter/bartender and get tips. Some places a 'tender makes more on a Friday than a cook makes in a week. One thing about regular restaurant work is you've got to have good timing skills to keep everything under control in a busy place. A slow place at a slow pace = too dull.

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by Rude Louis

Have you financed for each month? Do you know how much your food/gasoline/insurance costs you?

When I'm low on money, I focus on saving it just as much as finding it.

Start keeping receipts for one thing.
Don't eat out.
Don't leave the AC on.
Don't open the fridge for long periods of time.
Don't buy shit you don't need.
Don't spend money on girlfriend.

As a matter of fact, don't do anything except band practice and job hunting (for your specific schedule). No bar hopping, no marijuana smoking, no gambling, nothing that will take your money away.

Your life is now made up of two things:

• Music
• Job Hunting

Good luck motherfucker.

All of this. ^

Also, selling plasma can make you around $80-100 a week depending on location and whatnot and takes only a couple hours. That's pretty good pay.

[rustyshackleford420]

I wish I could donate plasma, but then I'd look like a junkie just trying to get weed money. As for op donating sperm, that is a complicated and involved process. They really screen the people, and no fapping either, so that's essentially ruled out.

Say I have $50 to my name, what could I buy that's legal or grey legal to turn into more money. Then rinse and repeat. Selling drinks/food doesn't seem half bad. I guess anything you can find a market for.

[FrY]

I will send you some cash, I have more than I know what to do with.

[Issue313]

Maybe think about starting a coffee stand or something. Casual selling.

[Bradley]

Originally Posted by nimajneb

I wish I could donate plasma, but then I'd look like a junkie just trying to get weed money. As for op donating sperm, that is a complicated and involved process. They really screen the people, and no fapping either, so that's essentially ruled out.

Say I have $50 to my name, what could I buy that's legal or grey legal to turn into more money. Then rinse and repeat. Selling drinks/food doesn't seem half bad. I guess anything you can find a market for.

Think about this, if there was some super easy way to sell a cheap product and make a living on it. Don't you think it'd already be filled? 50$ is not going to buy you enough food to open a stand, nor enough drugs to satiate more than one or two low-end customers.

[Issue313]

Originally Posted by BradleyB93

Think about this, if there was some super easy way to sell a cheap product and make a living on it. Don't you think it'd already be filled? 50$ is not going to buy you enough food to open a stand, nor enough drugs to satiate more than one or two low-end customers.

By that logic, if you're walking down the street and see a $50 bill, don't pick it up. If it were real don't you think someone else would already have picked it up?

[Bradley]

Originally Posted by Issue313

By that logic, if you're walking down the street and see a $50 bill, don't pick it up. If it were real don't you think someone else would already have picked it up?

Not quite. There is quite a difference between putting all of your liquid assets into a business that you have no idea will succeed and finding money on the ground.

The level of investment just isn't quite the same between the two outlined scenarios.

[Miley Highrus]

Your band fucking sucks how about you get a job.

[rustyshackleford420]

Originally Posted by BradleyB93

Think about this, if there was some super easy way to sell a cheap product and make a living on it. Don't you think it'd already be filled? 50$ is not going to buy you enough food to open a stand, nor enough drugs to satiate more than one or two low-end customers.

No because people are lazy and stupid fucks. Now maybe making a living off that plan is pushing it. But there are plenty of things that the model can and does work with, its just the people with innovative ideas aren't sharing them. I stand by my yard sale idea. I think I'll give that a shot, I just wish I had smart phone so I could cross check ebay for prices. Mostly people sell things for less than they're worth, though it really depends on the person and how much they know about what they're selling.

[Bradley]

Yeah, when ppl send you private messages with help, it's best to ignore those as well.

[Euda]

1.) Make a resume, dress well, go anywhere that could possibly be hiring and ask if they're hiring, let them know you're interested in a job, ask to meet their Manager/HR person too, and apply for a job.

2.) Work.

3.) Continue to work.

[cellophane]

Originally Posted by Euda

1.) Make a resume, dress well, go anywhere that could possibly be hiring and ask if they're hiring, let them know you're interested in a job, ask to meet their Manager/HR person too, and apply for a job.

2.) Work.

3.) Continue to work.

The point is NOT to do what everyone else in the world is doing. I'm not going to waste my life working some 9-5 job that I hate. I've been there. Done that. It eats your soul. Stifles creativity and destroys everything that makes people happy. It's not for me, whether you think I'm naive or not.

Music IS taking me places. It's going really well. I've got to travel the country, meet amazing people, and have the time of my life. As far as I'm concerned, making music is my career. It makes me happy. The only thing it HASN'T done for me thus far is make money.

That's why I made this thread. So... Thanks for the responses. I'm gonna try to sell some personal possessions to fund further business ventures.

[ayingerbrau]

Casino, craps/blackjack. You can make more than a "job" for sure.

[Euda]

Originally Posted by cellophane

The point is NOT to do what everyone else in the world is doing. I'm not going to waste my life working some 9-5 job that I hate. I've been there. Done that. It eats your soul. Stifles creativity and destroys everything that makes people happy. It's not for me, whether you think I'm naive or not.

Music IS taking me places. It's going really well. I've got to travel the country, meet amazing people, and have the time of my life. As far as I'm concerned, making music is my career. It makes me happy. The only thing it HASN'T done for me thus far is make money.

That's why I made this thread. So... Thanks for the responses. I'm gonna try to sell some personal possessions to fund further business ventures.

No worries, but there are always avenues to make money. Get a job at a music store? give music lessons? sell your services to local businesses that might want a 'company song', marketing song, or to schools that might want a school song? See if your band can get any local paying gigs? play weddings? play graduations? play at dances for kids? local radio? local theatres?

[cellophane]

Originally Posted by Euda

No worries, but there are always avenues to make money. Get a job at a music store? give music lessons? sell your services to local businesses that might want a 'company song', marketing song, or to schools that might want a school song? See if your band can get any local paying gigs? play weddings? play graduations? play at dances for kids? local radio? local theatres?

I'd love a job at a music store, but they're in short supply around here. Rural Alabama isn't exactly crawling with Guitar Centers and the like.

I've offered music lessons and such. No one wants to play bass these days, I guess.

My band has paying gigs. Plenty. But at this point, the funds all go to gas for the van and new equipment/touring costs.

[Euda]

Do they know you're broke? Ask around and be honest. I'm sure someone has a way for you to make some cash.

[cellophane]

Originally Posted by Euda

Do they know you're broke? Ask around and be honest. I'm sure someone has a way for you to make some cash.

Yeah. Everyone close to me knows how broke I am. My friends and family are trying to find me odd jobs and such. I've done some yard work and other things, but it's not quite paying the bills just yet.

[rustyshackleford420]

Originally Posted by BradleyB93

Yeah, when ppl send you private messages with help, it's best to ignore those as well.

So did you have any real and useful advice? or are you like the majority of posters and just trying to get in a few lols. I wasn't trying to ignore you man, I'm just skeptical of everyone on here and am not into the whole pm thing.

But please if you are in the 1% of zoklet that has something useful to say please do. A lot of people on here are very smart. I don't know if you are or not, I don't post enough. Enlighten us.

[ratfrink]

I live a bizarre life of studying and contract work. When I don't have a contract, I make money on the side by buying and selling vintage bicycle parts. I've had a fortnight spare between my last contract and my next one, so I've bought the following:
1. Half a bicycle on ebay for £50 - cleaned it up, sold the frame for £90, some other bits for £50
2. A whole bicycle on an online forum for £140 - sold the frame for £140, wheels for £100, other bits for £120
3. A set of wheels on gumtree for £30 - sold for £120

I've made £400 profit with no job, no tax, no boss, no set working hours, and I've barely had to leave the house (except to go to the post office). I haven't even spent much time doing it, either - I just spend a few hours every day trawling ebay/gumtree etc. The rest of the time is my own; if I were in a band, I could use this time to practice!

The reason why I can make money like this is because I'm an expert - I've spent years building up my knowledge base, so I know exactly which particular brands, components or manufacturers are worth money and which ones aren't. Every hobby has expensive or collectable parts to it - you just need to find something that you're very knowledgeable about. Since you're in a band, you probably know a lot about guitars or drum kits. A friend of mine makes a living by dealing in old guitars.

Also, being on the road with your band gives you a great opportunity to find stock. Every time you go to a new town, you can search through the newspaper ads, jumble sales, second-hand shops etc.

[Struwwelpeter]

Beat people up for the money in their purse/wallet. Just kickin' 'em down like a Gigolo.

[Sir Cornwell]

Rural, eh? Do like the music done told you, do like Uncle Slayton done did.

It'll be one great big old party like you never saw
Uncle Slayton's got his Texan pride
Back in the thickets with his Asian bride
He's got a Airstream trailer and a Holstein cow
He still makes whiskey 'cause he still knows how
He plats that Choctaw bingo every Friday night
You know he had to leave Texas but he won't say why
He owns a quarter section up by Lake Eufala
Caught a great big ol' blue cat on a driftin' jug line
Sells his hardwood timber to the shipping mill
Cooks that crystal meth because the shine don't sell
He cooks that crystal meth because the shine don't sell
You know he likes his money he don't mind the smell

Only maybe not.