What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
So I started audio engineering school this year. That was the best next step for me after the disaster that was my music therapy internship. And so far, so good! I’ve gotten nothing but As in both of my classes so far, and while I’m far from being finished with this degree, I’m confident I have what it takes to make this one happen.
There’s just one little problem. You see, school is like, really fucking expensive.
So therein lies the dilemma. Ya girl needs money, and I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of how I’m gonna raise like, $6,000 between now and September. I’ve toyed with a lot of ideas. I’ve considered streaming video games, and even tried launching a streaming channel a few times with varying amounts of success. I’ve thought about busking on the streets with my guitar. Heck, OnlyFans crossed my mind on occasion. I do, uh, have a lovely bunch of coconuts.
None of these ideas are great, though, and I know this. I think about my wife and how the only thing she’s talked about for the last two months is buying this huge T-shirt printer for her merchandising business. She’s locked in. She knows what’s going to make her money. Meanwhile, I feel like I’m throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what sticks. Ideally, I’d earn the money I need for school doing something I’m good at, but it’s hard to monetize the two things I’m actually good at.
I wish I could monetize this blog somehow, since it is where I publish much of my writing. I have made money as a writer before, but it was damn near impossible when I’d just graduated with my journalism degree in 2015, and the climate is even worse now. Between the rise of party press bullshit in the journalism world again, the fact that many writers are willing to work for free, and the elephant in the room that is AI, writing jobs are pretty much extinct.
So I’m going to try something new in my blog posts. At the end of my posts, I’m going to add a section asking for donations. I’ve toyed with the idea of switching to a subscription-type of platform, but the end of the day, this blog is a labor of love, so I want to keep my writing free for everyone to access. But if anyone feels particularly moved by a certain piece of writing, I’d like to have the option for readers to give whatever they deem reasonable.
That’s my plan for hopefully getting a little extra cash for my classes. I’m also looking into additional jobs. I’m far too attached to my teaching and performing gigs to let them go, but I’m interviewing for a position at an overnight vet clinic tomorrow, so I’m praying that works out. (Here’s your cue to pray/send good vibes/make a neat spell jar too — I need all the divine intervention I can get.) Until then, me and my broke coconuts will brainstorm other get-rich-quick schemes.
If you enjoyed the writing in this post and elsewhere on the site, please consider donating to Jessa’s tuition fund! Any help is appreciated!
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JESSA JOYCE 
Hey! I hope you are doing well, I am currently in the same predicament as you. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with the hope that I will get my master’s and become a therapist. Even started teaching to save up for the tuition, until I realized teaching (especially in a private school) does not pay enough to cover living expenses, let alone savings. I have also considered many other side gigs but like you said, the economy is currently shit and it’s hard to make money off of things I am good at. I was hoping if I post consistently enough maybe I can monetize this blog somehow. Not sure if I am being delulu or if that is a possibility. Have considered starting a YouTube channel too but I am camera shy. So if you ever find a solution for this problem, help a girl out and let me know as well! In the meantime praying and hoping we both find a suitcase full of cash somewhere to cover our education.
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