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Good ways to raise money to see SO over summer?

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    Good ways to raise money to see SO over summer?

    So I am wanting to raise some money to spend three months in Toronto, Canada, my SO's city, in hopes of finding an internship there. I will be participating through the SWAP program to get a visa to legally work there over the summer. It gives us a good chance to see how well we mesh together for a longer period than just a few days, all the while giving me control over the living situation so if things go sour, he can just go live with his parents again, and I won't be out of a place to stay while I'm there. (I HIGHLY doubt this would happen, as we seem to mesh together extremely well, and I love the bejeezus out of him, but I gotta be a realist here.) All the while, it gives me a good feeling of how the city works, as well as giving me experience in my career of choice.

    While I would love to have a paid internship, there is always that chance that whatever I would get will be unpaid, so I need to ready myself accordingly. Yes, I do have a job currently, but it pays me maybe around $400-$500 a month, due to the fact that it's only a bit above minimum wage, and I am going to school full-time, so I don't have very much time to work. I do expect to be able to save around $2,800 from work from now until I plan to leave next year, and approximately $3,000 when taxes come around, due to education credits, and what I will get back from work. However, that leaves me at $5,800 saved, and I would ideally like to have around $7,000 on me when I leave.

    So with needing to find some way to make $1,200 by May of next year, I pose this question... Does anyone know of some way to make money? I cannot donate plasma, due to my veins being too shallow, and I am very iffy about doing medical case studies just for the money, even though you get compensated very nicely. I dunno what I would do a fund-raiser for, and I highly doubt people would donate to me at all. I am an artist, and I am familiar with doing personal commissions for people, but with working and going to school full-time, I dunno how many I could take without being overloaded.

    So, needless to say, I am at a loss. Anyone have any suggestions?

    #2
    Tag sales, ask for money on holidays instead of gifts, ectect
    Made it official: 12-01-10
    First visit: 3-29-13/4-09-13
    Closed the distance: 07-31-13

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      #3
      I am recent graduate of art/ design in Toronto & I can tell you very very very few internships will pay, sadly. So that's something to be prepared for. I'm not saying it's impossible but I think it's very likely will be working for free.

      Maybe you could sell your art on Etsy, as opposed to doing commissions? Also, if you have any books or jewellery or clothes you don't want anymore you could sell them. Many used bookstores will buy your old books. As a student, do you have old textbooks you can sell?

      Opening a high interest savings account is good too, as each month your money makes interest. Not a ton, but every little bit helps!

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        #4
        Put all of your spare change in a jar! I had a "Desty (my SO) fund" and every time I found extra change, I'd put it in a jar and I never thought I'd get much but after about 5 months, I cashed it in and got $80 for it. It's not $1,200 like you need, but every little bit helps!

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          #5
          Thank you everyone for your input! I should definitely start a little change jar, as I know that would help a lot in the long run.

          Originally posted by flugelhorn View Post
          I am recent graduate of art/ design in Toronto & I can tell you very very very few internships will pay, sadly. So that's something to be prepared for. I'm not saying it's impossible but I think it's very likely will be working for free.

          Maybe you could sell your art on Etsy, as opposed to doing commissions? Also, if you have any books or jewellery or clothes you don't want anymore you could sell them. Many used bookstores will buy your old books. As a student, do you have old textbooks you can sell?

          Opening a high interest savings account is good too, as each month your money makes interest. Not a ton, but every little bit helps!
          Flugelhorn, how goes the internships in Toronto anyways? I will be graduating this year with an associate's in graphic design and illustration, and would like to know of any good places to apply for if you know any. Knowledge is just as valuable as money sometimes!

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            #6
            Instead of finding ways to raise money, maybe start thinking of ways not to spend it? No one really needs new clothes or that coffee from starbucks. All those little expenditures out really do add up.

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              #7
              Originally posted by Secrecy View Post
              Flugelhorn, how goes the internships in Toronto anyways? I will be graduating this year with an associate's in graphic design and illustration, and would like to know of any good places to apply for if you know any. Knowledge is just as valuable as money sometimes!
              I'll message you!

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                #8
                Originally posted by snow_girl View Post
                Instead of finding ways to raise money, maybe start thinking of ways not to spend it? No one really needs new clothes or that coffee from starbucks. All those little expenditures out really do add up.
                This is gold right here. Take another look at your budget, and see what you can cut out.

                When all else fails, there's baby sitting.
                Happily married to the little Canadian boy I never thought I'd meet in person

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                  #9
                  Thanks everyone for the replies again! They're all very helpful.

                  @ snow_girl and Zephii: Absolutely, I have looked at ways to cut my budget. At the moment, there is nothing I can cut, all the money I factored into this is mandatory stuff, i.e.. rent, food, phone, transportation. I haven't been eating out nor have I bought any new clothes. I am just in the red right now because I had surgery a few months back, and I had no other choice but to pay off my remaining balance within six months, so I couldn't make the payments as small as I possibly could and string them out as long as I possibly could. I also had to pay back my mom and dad for helping me with rent over the summer, THANKS TO my dumb medical bills cutting me short. xD

                  I also am breaking the lease in my apartment, which will cost about $570 for me to break, ouch. (I have no other choice. One of my roommates just isn't getting a job and me and my other roommate just can't keep this place afloat by ourselves.) I am moving back in with my dad, but he expects me to pay even more than what I was paying when my third roommate had money to support herself. D: (Yay school-of-hard-knocks parents.) But, I digress. This is just why I am currently in the red.

                  After some revision, I might only have $970 to raise by May. This is a bit better, but not by much. shfgndsfhnae

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                    #10
                    It's good you're being so smart and forward planning You'll probably be grateful your parents didn't baby you, at some point
                    Happily married to the little Canadian boy I never thought I'd meet in person

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