All about the money

Right now, my thoughts are all about money; lots and lots and lots of money. Not in a materialistic way, but in a practical way. I need to find £75,000 and I need to find it fast. Or, at the very least, I need to find £13,000 in the next few months.

Why am I so desperate to find the money? Well, it’s because I’ve been accepted to a PhD programme but I haven’t (yet) found a scholarship to pay for it all. And I’m not one of the lucky few to have thousands of pounds (or dollars) sitting around in the bank.

But just because I don’t have money, and just because the idea of finding £75K seems daunting, doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I mean, if I gave up every time the Good Lord threw up a challenge, I wouldn’t have the life I have today.

No, this monetary hurdle just means I have to think differently. It means I have to consider loads of different and potentially quirky ways to find cash. It means I need to start getting creative about how to make my PhD dream a PhD reality.

And, as you may have guessed, I have started the thought process already. My plan will include selling some of my swirls as note cards or original drawings and I am even looking at creating a pitch video to see if I can bring my “plight” to the attention of potential funders – big or small.

Of course, I am also continuing my search for grants and scholarships and will keep saving my pennies every chance I get. (Just like I did when I was saving for my master’s degree!)

So, if you were wondering where things are with my PhD, that’s where they are. And if you wanted a cash figure, I am pleased to report that I’ve sold a few swirls as note cards in recent days and now have about £40 ($60) toward my first year’s tuition! So, only £12,960 to go! (Plus living expenses.)