Pay WIlma

Maybe it's a metaphor for life.  Maybe it's bad luck.  Poor judgement definitely played a role, so maybe it's only an example of stuff that happens.

After a long and exhausting day and while taking a lengthy drive from a friend's house in a neighboring city, I struggled to stay awake. "Almost there, almost there, almost there,"  I chanted.  I counted. I sang. Finally, I reached my exit a little before 11 p.m. and started on that last mile toward home. "Home free!" I sighed with relief as I approached an intersection, knowing that I only had three more intersections to go.

Did I doze off for a split second? A crash, airbags, cracked windshield.  I ran into the back of that vehicle?  Is he hurt? No. Am I hurt? Yes.

A trip to the emergency room revealed that I had bruised ribs, a bruised finger (from the airbag), bruised knees, and a sprained ankle. No bones were broken, but the injuries were sufficiently painful to keep me out of commission for a while.  Even more painful, it looks like the PIP insurance may not be enough to cover the entire emergency room costs when xrays and head scans are factored in.

The Internet has created a relatively new phenomenon sometimes referred to as cyberbegging or online panhandling.  People who would be appalled by the idea of standing on a street corner with a cardboard sign and a cup are going online to ask for help (with varying degrees of success).

Karyn Bosnack is credited with starting or providing impetus to the cyberbegging with her site, SaveKaryn.com.   The site was created in June 2002 in a desperate bid to pay off $20,000 in credit card bills, and the bills were reportedly paid by the end of November 2002.

One way to cyberbeg is to post your need on one of the many begging sites available.

There are some sites that will pay you for your articles based on how popular they are with readers.  This is a share the revenue concept for the site's advertising.  The more impressions these ads receive from the readership of your articles; the more money you make.  While not exactly the quick path to riches, there is no cost associated (no need to set up your own website) and you can use the articles to build your credibility (or lack thereof) in your chosen field.

Sitting at your computer in your pjamas with your faithful pooch at your feet, you can write brief articles on a variety of topics to bring some cash (not necessarily a substantial amount) into your account. Some of these sites include:

The internet is a wonderful place.  In theory, it should be a ripe wonderland for freelancers.  But have you taken a look at some of the freelancing sites lately?  Due to foreign competition, there are some ridiculously low bids on freelancing jobs on many of the bidding-based freelancing boards.

Freelance writers especially find a lot of competition on these boards. On Scriptlance.com , for example, I've seen bids for well under a $1 per original article (one person even bid $30 to write 100 articles) and I saw a bid today to write an entire ebook for $100.  Given the amount of time required to write versus the amount of payment, what adult American could afford to work for that much less than minimum wage? Bear in mind that the freelancer also has to pay a commission to Scriptlance for the job.

Some bidding-based freelancing boards require both a fee (monthly, quarterly, or annual) and a commision. For example, the rates in the bidding at  Elance.com are a little more reasonable but this is one of those boards that has a fee plus commission requirement.

I know one freelancer who has given up on these boards and instead mines Craigslist for opportunities.  Still, there are some options out there if you are dilligent and aren't looking to get rich or even necessarily solvent.