29 Comments

I pay as I go. If I can't afford it, I must not need it that bad. I paid full price for your paperback version and read it. Then, I donated it to the local library for someone there to read it for the price of a library card. I believe in paying it forward when I can. Learning to live within my means was beat into me as a kid when we barely had a roof over our heads at times. I have never forgot that.

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That is so appreciated!

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All my content is free because part of my writing is explaining how much better off we'd all be without currency ruling everything.

I could hardly type stuff like that and then ask for money. I ask nothing, but I appreciate donations. My income is truly abysmal but I have savings for now. If I leave America soon, I may even get to keep some of it saved.

So yeah, anyone writing about certain topics sort of allows that they aren't the sort to be after money themselves if they're authentic.

Or at least that's my perception. It also coveniently relieves me of deciding which, if any, content is "good enough" to charge for. I just don't need that stress!

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Sounds like we're on the same page.

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I know Amee Vanderpool (SHERO) also went free like 5-6 weeks ago? Not sure what that did with her numbers - and I may have missed a mention in an article - but still doing it so I'm guessing she didn't go homeless.

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I’ll try to check that out.

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Live in central Michigan with one fulltime employed spouse and myself, fully disabled SS income. When we had 2 children home and I was fully employed, we were around 3k or less. Now it’s shifted but still holding down the budget. Not to pile on savings, it’s honestly for teetering on the lower middle class/poverty with any income loss line. Therapy books and anxiety meds I guess lessen the impact of it all.

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I get it. I’m not disabled but I am apparently not hireable at my age. I had planned to work well into my 70s.

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I too had planned to work into my 70s, but at 59 I'm on permanent disability.

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If I were writing about how to make money in the stock market, my Substack writings would be free, because I would already be rich.

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I have a similar attitude: keep everything free, but keep paid subs open. If I get any paid subs, it's a symbolic vote of confidence I really need.

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In N Ca, it's $5000/mo with no mortgage.

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Is it coming out on Apple Books as well? Otherwise I’ll buy the Kindle version

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It’s on Amazon, I’m afraid. Really the only practical way open to me.

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Hi Michelle! Good to see you here!

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My husband recently retired and we are learning to live on a lot less. We're operating without credit cards and within a strict budget for the first time in our lives. I also write on Medium. I was in a slump for a long time, but I'm back at it and going for it. My plan is to use at least 10% of my earnings to support other writers. It may take a while, so your book will come out of next month's fun money. I love what you're doing. Keep it up!

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Thank you, Denise! I hope the book gives you hours of enjoyment.

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Love the Tolstoy shoutout! Yes if only he were writing about trailer parks… the novels we would have!

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Oh dear God … now I want to rewrite all the great Russian novels and set them in trailer parks.

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Having read a few novels by Dostoyevsky now - that would work.

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I am feeling dangerously tempted. My God, those would be some fantastic novels. Anna Karenina first, then War and Peace for Tolstoy. Then Crime and Punishment for Dostoevsky! And OMG, Poor Folk!

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I'd suggest The Brothers Karamazov as that one is wildly and ribaldly funny and that whole family is Trailer Trash writ large for definite.

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The Brothers in the Karamazov Trailer Park should be my next book.

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I plan on making my Substack paid sometime soon, but not paywalling my writing. I am of the same mindset that if someone can pay, I hope that they will because they want to support the content I produce. I would love to make this an eventual way to make a decent living, but if I can have it be a means by which I can upgrade my ability to produce more content for subscribers with better writing mechanisms and incorporating other mediums, I would be just as happy with that too.

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It's ok. I am subscribed. It's worked out. Negotiating the online procedures often feels like clambering blindfolded through an underground labyrinth with no map,I know how Theseus felt. I'm glad it's gone through. I enjoy your writing and share your world view in my own way.

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Very appreciated — thank you!

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I've just tapped upgrade and monthly subscribe but I'm not sure if it's gone through,it's confusing how the process works on here. I had to wait until I had some money in,now I'm worried I've inadvertently subscribed to more than I intended,the process on here is confusing. Or my attempt has not gone through to the conclusion so I'm not subscribed. Sorry,I'm thick.

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I bought your book at full price for the paperback simply because you're a writer and writers deserve to be paid. Plus, I've written a book before. I know the fuzzy feeling every time someone purchased it. And I know the work that goes into writing books.

As for newsletters, I pay for very few because I can't afford all the five bucks here and there. It really adds up!

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Thank you!

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