Friday, June 8, 2007

Unexpected Expenses and Thoughts of Internet Begging...

...have been subjects on my mind today. What with the washing machine breaking down and most likely needing replacement (see previous post), I got to thinking wouldn't it be nice to have a million bucks stashed away for such things.

I had been sort of hoping to stash away some money to buy a new gun sometime in the next couple of months; but now there is no chance of that with the expense of a new washing machine looming on the near horizon. I got pretty bummed out by this because I recently had some other unexpected expenses that had the same effect on my gun buying hopes. I was so frustrated that I almost decided to put a begging post up with a PayPal icon begging for donations.

I did a lot of thinking about this subject today, I even went so far as to write up a whole begging post. No not for inclusion on this blog, but actually under a whole new blog. In thinking about how I would do it, and why I would do it, I decided that if I was going to be an Internet beggar of some sort, I would do it not just so that I could buy new toys and show them off on my site even though I would like to buy some new toys; but rather I would want to also achieve some sort goal. I have always wanted to be a munificent millionaire, ever since the days of the show "The Millionaire". I guess almost everyone would kind of like to have a million bucks, I certainly would. If I was going to beg for it on the web, I would beg for it with that goal, of becoming a millionaire, as my driving force. If I actually were to gain that much money from begging, I would probably give most of it away to charity. Of course I guess I would spend some on myself and my family, pay the taxes on the million with some of it, but then I'd probably give the rest of it away.

Then I thought about how I feel when I see others begging, and I felt almost ashamed of myself for even having given it some thought, let alone actually writing up a whole blog on the subject. While begging to get money is not necessarily a bad thing, it often gets me riled up when I see someone begging, but who has a good paying job, and plenty of money, a nice house, plenty of toys like guns and cars and boats and power tools and electronics and cameras and other goodies. When people who have it to excess stoop to begging so they can have more to excess I see it as the height of boorishness. So, I decided against the begging thing, though I will say I was sorely tempted.

I was oh so tempted that I took it this far: http://TheHumbleBeggar.blogspot.com. As you will see though, the PayPal link is not on the page. When I think about it, it would be fun to say that I was able to get one buck from each of a million people so that I was able to become a millionaire. It would be very nice to have about $50,000 to spend to close out my mortgage and college loans, and to have some to stash away for my sons college expenses; with some left over for a car and a vacation; and then with plenty more left over to donate to a charity.

It probably would not have worked, but who can tell? I leave it to someone else to try. As for me I just don't have it in me to beg when I don't need to beg, even if it means actually missing out on luxuries and toys. Oh well, it was a fun fantasy project - The Humble Beggar blog site that I created this afternoon - and it will remain just that for me, a fantasy project and nothing more.

All the best,
Glenn B

3 comments:

Pen of Jen said...

I know that you are just musing...After reading your blog for a while, I know that you enjoy the life you have. Maybe not the crap/day to day work issues, but the concept of your career, family, pets, and hobbies.
It seems when one gets all the money for doing nothing it gets in the way of the things one used to enjoy.

But to think aloud...I would love to be able to move to Australia for a year, then Ireland, then move back to the good ole USA.

Sorry to ramble, have a great or not broke weekend!(as in the previous post)
Jennifer

Glenn B said...

Jen,

While I do mostly like my life, I would not mind having that million. That is why I played the lottery last night. As for enjoying my life, yeah there are lots of things I enjoy, and that is one of the reasons I try not to complain about it as much as I used to do; I am a great complainer and blamer regarding inconsequential things with me and the family. I really am getting better about that.

The milion dollar begging thing though was not just a muse, I really was going to do it. That is until I remembered how I feel about people who beg that already have more than enough, and my complaint there was not so inconsequential at least to me, because it prevented me from becoming what I speak out against.

I may yet do it someday, but my bet would be that if I do, it will be because I would be doing it all for some charity or good cause - and no I am not a charity giver by nature, but that would be a good end for a fun and challenging project like raising a million dollars, one buck at a time. Then again, I guess that would be asking for donations for charity, and not begging to fulfill my own material wants, therefore something very different than that which I am against. Whatever!

Those trips you mention would be wonderful. You could always try to raise money via the web, and then as payback for any donations, you would give insightful trip reports. That would be earning your keep. You could also start your own web site,. one that you pay for, and ask for donations to keep it running. Whatever you write about everyday would be your way of earning the money people might give to you. That again is way different than what I mean by out and out Internet begging. It may seem a fine lined difference, but to me there is a wide gap.

Enjoy the weekend, we don't habve that many in life as compared to workdays, so uyou know they are meant for having a good time.

All the best,
GB

Anonymous said...

you should add a paypal link, whats an experiment even a fantasy experiment without results? even if you only got $50 that would cover the time you spent writing the page up.