Bridging the gap

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Dream of Freedom
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Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

Last week there was a fire at work. The fire extinguisher wasn't were it was suppose to be. Someone closed the door and ran for another one. I wasn't there, but one metal door is the only reason I have a job today.

The whole job is pretty fragile, not just from fire. I can think of half a dozen things that could change where I couldn't tolerate working there anymore. Not to mention the 2 dozen reasons they couldn't tolerate me. :D

I also want the ability to just leave. Hay, that's why I'm here, right.
The swr of my portfolio is about 6800 my lifestyle costs me 12000. The difference is only 5200 per year. I want to bridge that gap.

What are some relatively easy ways to make 5000 per year? They can't be very capital intensive (that money is going to the portfolio) and they can't take a year to learn before making a dime.

saving-10-years
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by saving-10-years »

Dream of Freedom wrote: my lifestyle costs me 12000.
No ideas to offer (can't seem to find much about you to offer sensible suggestions - do you have a journal or intro?) but are you saying that your lifestyle when not working will be the same? For my household I am expecting current lifestyle costs to go down quite a chunk when I am no longer commuting, buying clothes I don't need, etc. and have more time to be creative about how I spend money. (Although $12000 is low might it be lower yet with more time to manage things). The gap may be narrower than you think.

Good luck with finding ways to close it.

Dream of Freedom
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

saving-10-years

As far as a journal goes I would never keep up with it.

I didn't adjust my budget to lower spending. I spend 120/mo on gas, mostly commuting and my car insurance would likely come down a bit with fewer miles. Though, I think I'll stay with the less sugar coated version.

theanimal
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by theanimal »

Find a part time job in any industry. In most cases, you could easily make the 5200 within a few months. Something like working 3 months a year and taking the rest off.

And if you lowered your spending you could work even less.

jacob
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by jacob »

Tax prep, fast food, shelf stocking, store clerk, warehouse lift driving, tutoring (does require some forgotten college skills or the equivalent of those forgotten ones) ...

Dream of Freedom
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

That would be a lot better than the good old 48+ I'm pulling now. It's a possibility.

Come on guys, climb out of the box. Its bright and sunny out here. :idea:

Don't know how to make a quick 5k? How about $14.20 per day?

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Ego
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Ego »

Fire extinguisher sales and inspection.

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/start-fi ... 18813.html

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jennypenny
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by jennypenny »

If you don't have any ethical objections, you could donate your eggs or sperm (are you male or female?). Donating eggs usually nets over $5K. Sperm donations don't pull in as much, so you would have to do it at least a few times a year. (insert joke about becoming a fast millionaire here :D )

Personally, I'd either work a seasonal job (lifeguard, ski lift operator) and take the rest of the year off, or work a part-time job that came with benefits that would reduce my expenses, like working at a gym or golf course where I'd get free access with the job.

Dream of Freedom
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

jennypenny

Well I did ask you to get creative. I'd donate sperm if I could but the nearest sperm bank is in another state. http://www.spermbankdirectory.com/midwest.htm

chenda
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by chenda »

Maybe spend part of the year abroad somewhere with a low COL ?
Or get a housemate ?

Do you have any skills you could sell freelance ?

Or just join a temping agency and do a few months work - shouldn't take too long to earn the gap.

Dream of Freedom
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

chenda

"Maybe spend part of the year abroad somewhere with a low COL ?"

One of my hobbies is studying Spanish and talking to some native speaker friends in it. I could go to Guatemala or Ecuador.

P.S. I've always liked your posts. You think so much differently than I do.

BattlaP
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by BattlaP »

That's less than $100 a week. Relocating to another country is pretty drastic. I'd work one or two days in a local bar or cafe, make heaps of new friends and probably earn enough to slowly keep increasing the safe withdrawal.

Or work hard for one month out of every 12.

Are you American? Here in Australia I could easily get double that for the cost of filling out some irritating forms and a 1hr jobsearch meeting every fortnight (CENNALINK CUZ!).

lazyboy
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by lazyboy »

Ok outside the box. Please don´t use these if you have problems with controling emotions or gambling addiction.

1. matched betting (don´t know if possible in US)
2. online or offline poker only lowest limits. Start with freerolls, cash out as soon as possible.
3. stoozing, not possible in Germany :-( . Make sure u read all the small print!!

Dream of Freedom
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

BattlaP

No, I'm from the states. I doubt I would pass the means test for welfare. Though I could be wrong. Come to think of it if I quit I might qualify for a lot of government aid. I just don't know witch programs include assets in the means test. Then there is the question of ethics; a topic for another thread perhaps.

lazyboy

I had to look up matched betting and stoozing, though with stoozing I've heard of the concept if not the word. I'm not sure what to make of matched betting yet. I need time to digest the information.

It would take a huge amount of money from interest free loans to generate 5 grand. Though a few tricks like this combined might get us there.

Ego

From a quick look in the phone book, there are already 3 busnesses like that open in the area. The market is probably saturated.
Thanks anyway. I hope it helps someone reading this thread.

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Ego
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Ego »

Dream of Freedom wrote:Last week there was a fire at work. The fire extinguisher wasn't were it was suppose to be. Someone closed the door and ran for another one.
Ego wrote:Fire extinguisher sales and inspection.

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/start-fi ... 18813.html
Dream of Freedom wrote:Ego

From a quick look in the phone book, there are already 3 busnesses like that open in the area. The market is probably saturated.
Thanks anyway. I hope it helps someone reading this thread.
Meant it as a bad joke with a twist... turning a negative situation into an opportunity. I did a bad job of communicating that thought.

before45
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by before45 »

House-cleaning, organizing, baby-sitting, doing oil changes, gardening, basic carpentry, dog-walking, cooking . . . Basic life things that people would be willing to pay for to save them time or effort. Depending on who you're doing it for and what you're charging you wouldn't have to be an expert.

After ER I might try to pick up extra money offering to clean my (still-working) friends' houses for them--I like cleaning as long as it's only a few hours a week. It's good exercise. And they know they can trust me. Win-win.

Scott 2
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Scott 2 »

Teach CPR

Train others on whatever your career expertise, via a local community college or library

Avoid unskilled jobs where you have to compete with people too lazy to develop a niche. When the labor supply is unbounded, the working conditions stink.

chenda
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by chenda »

@dreamoffreedom thanks :)

Dream of Freedom
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Re: Bridging the gap

Post by Dream of Freedom »

bigato

That means a lot. It really does. "may help you weather the storm" You misunderstand a little, I am the storm trying to shake up my own life. This FI thing is getting a little long in the tooth. I've been at it long before I met you fine folks.

before45

That's how I made money for candy when I was little. I mowed lawns, cleaned attics, even dug a foundation for a garage. It's hard work, but you couldn't be more intimate with your neighbors than to know whats in the attic, payed by them, and worked with beside them.

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