Online Panhandling

You may wonder how I came across this topic. Most of you are aware I'm currently "disabled" and not working. This leaves me to wander aimlessly about the internet without leaving the comfort of my bed. Eternal Saturdays I like to call it.

So I was looking at high yield savings and checking accounts online being as just about everyone I know is looking for new ways to make a buck, including me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hurting for money. I'm in the fortunate position of being homeless which greatly reduces my debt to society. What a concept. Do you know how expensive it is to have a roof over your head? I'm sure you do. But being a freeloader on the other hand is relatively inexpensive. I endorse it.

So I came across a website that compares high yield checking and savings accounts as well as recommending other ways to save money. (http://www.moolanomy.com/1333/how-to-find-best-high-yield-savings-interest-rate/) I found an interesting online savings account called SmartyPig. It's an online piggy bank where you come up with a specific goal, contribute to that goal each month and can even get friends and family to put money in it. I'm all for this. Unfortunately it also came with some fees ($5 for friends to donate money to you) and in order to withdraw your money you get a visa/debit card or gift cards. Not cash or a check. So you have to actually spend the money. This wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I just want to get more money, not necessarily spend it. But I really liked the idea of having a button friends and family could push and money would just show up in my account. I mean that's just a no-brainer.

So being the ever persistent person that I am, I rolled with that sort of idea and googled "Online Panhandling". You would be impressed. It exists. And it works. I was envisioning a little button on my blog here that you could click on and put money in my savings account. I would post it here, myspace and facebook. And maybe on a few friend's websites and stuff. Unfortunately it doesn't really work that way. There's a few cyber-begging websites that you can set up your own account, write a little something about your situation and start receiving donations. I thought about setting one up, but felt really guilty about it when I read why other people were there begging. Mine wouldn't really compare, reading something like "Young woman on disability seeks donations just out of curiosity for how much she can actually get".

So then I thought maybe I could just set up a paypal button on my blog with a little ditty about putting money in my piggy bank or something. Paypal wasn't all that easy to use either. It said something about how I could send emails to people about how much they owe me and you all could click on the link and give me the money. That would actually be a very interesting concept. Wouldn't that be something? You would receive an email from me saying you owe me $100, click here to pay me. It may be brilliant, but then I started thinking about all the tax laws that would come into play and I really don't feel like dealing with the IRS again after last year's little snafu.

So really, I suppose you could just send me a check for being the witty, intelligent, cute, disabled person that I am and we'll call it good. I really wish I could say I needed money for something, but I really don't. I hardly have any bills and I'm not a big spender. I don't need a new kidney or money to buy diapers. I guess I'm just bored enough to check my financial situation several times a day and am unimpressed with it's growth. How cool would it be to earn several thousand dollars a day while sitting around on my butt?

And if any of you really are in need, I recommend looking some of this up. Apparently they really do work. One article mentioned a woman who earned over $20,000 in 20 weeks to pay off her credit card debt. Some one else has a post on there to get money for breast implants. Others are cancer patients or disabled people who aren't getting checks.

Well it's after 10am, I really should get out of bed and get some breakfast in me...