Hoping for a better life
As children, we’re often exposed to idealistic messages: work hard and become whatever you want. But possibilities change and reduce as we age. The responsibilities grow, and the window to become whatever you can dream up tends to dissipate.
It would be nice to champion what many popular businesspersons say about success and achievement. It would be nice to say that the world is your oyster, and you can do anything you can think up. Unfortunately, that would negate the very real circumstances that we all find ourselves in. We come from different races, ethnicities, socioeconomics, genders, and more. Life varies, as do the opportunities.
Most of us cannot drop everything — all our responsibilities — to fulfill dream vocations. Many are just working to pay the bills — to get by. Some are burdened by being single parents, persons with disabilities, and any number of things that pose greater challenges to “making it.”
Debt holds back those dreams further
My frugal journey started with many zeros in the opposite direction. I was in debt to the tune of nearly $40,000, and without an escape plan. I wanted to have a life of freedom to ponder my intrinsic interests and passions. I wanted the opportunity to find my dream job — regardless of income level.
Before I could pursue those future possibilities, I needed to make more income and pay off massive amounts of debt. My paychecks weren’t enough to pay off loans and survive in graduate school. The equation didn’t compute, and I was running a scary deficit.
The mountain of debt seemed unconquerable. Dreams of a pleasant future were held back, and replaced with terrifying sweats and nervous nights. Debt was closing doors in my life. I needed more money.
Desperate times, desperate measures?
From the very start of Frugaling, I received emails from individuals and organizations wanting to write articles for me. At first I was flattered by their offers — some even included payments! Swirling with pride and appreciation at being offered real money to simply publish articles, I contemplated their offers, but hesitated.
I soon learned that these were “sponsored article” or “paid guest post” emails. They increased in frequency and payment amounts as I continued to write and grow Frugaling. Over the course of nearly two years, I received thousands of dollars in guest posting opportunities, but never accepted them. The emails tended to be from predatory lenders and questionable corporations. They seemed eager to receive traffic from websites and to pull from others’ reputations.
That money could’ve taken me on a European vacation, if I accepted every offer that came my way. My debt would’ve been paid off faster, and investing started sooner. There’s just one catch, I would’ve sold out my entire audience — including you!
Recently, I received another email that stated I could receive about $500 to place a sponsored article on Frugaling. Again, I thought about what it meant if I shared it with you all. What I found was that it wasn’t worth it. What I do on this website is about more than just making me more money. Ironic, seeing as this personal finance site, isn’t it?
Finding limits and sticking to them
Most individuals don’t kill, lie, cheat, or steal to make money. Whether religiously informed or intrinsically motivated, these are ethical/moral limits that prevent people from acting on individual needs. They recognize — whether consciously or unconsciously — that hurting another for one’s own gain isn’t collectively advantageous. In other words, individual achievement should not trump collective successes.
Turning down hundreds of dollars for 500 to 700-word articles from shady organizations and individuals was a limit for me. Motivated by a fear of alienating you and misrepresenting my values, I decided against any of these offers — and will continue to.
Nonetheless, I’m left to wonder:
- What won’t you do for money?
- What are your limits?
- Where do your ethics come from?
- How do you find ways to financially better yourself and others?
- When have you said “no” to money?
I’m with you on refusing predatory lending posts. Similarly I’ve turned down sponsored posts because the advertiser wouldn’t allow for disclaimers and I refuse to 1. mislead my audience for the sake of a $100 and 2. because, frankly, it’s illegal.
Good on you for sticking to your values!
Thanks Taylor! Sounds like we’re in agreement on this one. 🙂
You’re right, most of these emails and offers come from advertisers that are inherently trying to mislead audiences for money. Not interested in participating in that business strategy!
Sam
I only accept these if they agree to the disclaimer, too. I try to vet them out beforehand, too. BBB’s website is my best friend. For me it’s not about greed. I’ve turned down plenty of “free content!” posts. Turn down plenty of them every week. But this is something I’m using now to help support my family. So if they pass my vetting and they’re relevant I’m not 100% against it.
Good decision. I immediately stop following any blogger that has the questionable sponsored posts you have described or my personal pet peeve….the pop-up ads that must be closed in order for you to read further. I respect the right of the blogger to make money on his or her blog and don’t mind ads that don’t obstruct viewing. The pop up moving ads are unacceptable to me though no matter how much I like the blogger.
I think a blogger who is writing primarily about a philosophy of simplicity, frugality or minimalism runs the risk of being considered a hypocrite if the blog post says one thing but the ads all say, “buy, buy, buy”.
Thanks for your support! I completely agree that when I see too many affiliate or sponsored articles I’m immediately turned off. Fundamentally, sites that flood their readers with ads within articles don’t respect the audiences they have. I care about you too much to do THAT! 🙂
Now, I want to stress I’m not without hypocrisy. I do intend to make money through advertising opportunities when possible. But I will never promote or prop up something that I don’t believe in/use personally.
Honored to have you as a reader and commenter,
Sam
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, and I try my best to stay away from that list, though sloth and gluttony sometimes weaken me! I wouldn’t take payment for anything I felt would compromise my integrity or cause me to lose sleep.
We learn how to make ethical choices early in life, I think, when we are busy observing the behaviors of those around us. I think family and friends shape us, and help us to understand right from wrong.
Many years ago I was writing for a variety of medical and health-related companies as a freelancer. One company offered me what was, at the time, a significant amount of money to write a book on a natural supplement, and I verbally agreed. I needed the money. However, when I learned that the supplement was based on an animal product, I turned the job down. As a vegan, I choose to avoid animal products and try to promote compassion for all creatures. The marketing executive was furious with my decision, but I never regretted it.
Ethics plays a role in every facet of life. Along with not selling out to the highest bidder, I also choose not to support those who do the same. There have been bloggers who I have followed and admired who then turned around and lost my trust. As an example, there is one blog which i regularly followed, but then they posted a credit card “review” for a terrible fee laden credit card from a predatory company. Trust. Lost. All it takes is one thing to lose an audience.
Much needed reading for today!
When things were rough and I was looking through craigslist for work, I honestly thought about caving and applying for one of those $300/night gigs as a topless bartender or whatever. It would’ve been so much easier than my shitty restaurant job making $15/hour. I managed to stick to my guns though, and here I am, #breakingbroke 🙂
I’m not 100% again sponsored posts, but I try to disclose it whenever possible. I also won’t allow ones that link to things I don’t believe in, like pay day loans, etc.