First I want to say thank you for you time, whether that is reading one of my blog articles, from my photography to finding to solutions to Wasgij puzzles, or watching one of my videos from the camper builds to my photography trips away.
Read on for a quick breakdown of the reasons I keep this vlog updated and why I do the YouTube videos, and also how you can support myself carrying on doing these, I have to state you I’m not begging for money or that you shouldn’t feel pressured into giving any money, that’s not the idea of setting up donations, so again read on and I will give you examples of how your donations are spent and what services I use to accept donations.
DONATE using any of these services – Buy-me-a-coffee or Ko-fi or PayPal
YouTube Videos
If you watch any of my videos I always say this, that I do the video for myself and just enjoy sharing, as if I wasn’t doing the videos I would still be going away to places and taking photos, as this is what I have done for years and years before filming it. Even though a lot of the time I’m in a lot of pain due to my spinal problems, but I like to push my body to its limits. But bring filming these trips don’t really take that much extra time and also gives me more of a push to carry on if that makes sense.
The hardest part of doing the videos is the editing side, to give an example for one of my average videos of around 25mins, there maybe around an hour of footage taken for that video. So editing that down, adding voice overs, editing the photos for the video, getting the music right, finding previous B-roll footage etc. This may take me around between 10 – 20 hrs. But this is something I can do when I cant get out due to my spine playing up. So just sitting in the office even for an hour to two. Is something I enjoy and it makes me feel more productive.
A good way to support my YouTube Channel that Doesn’t cost any money is if you aren’t already SUBSCRIBED to my channel make sure you are subscribed and tap the BELL icon to make sure you get notified of my latest videos, also give the video a LIKE, and if you really enjoyed it SHARE it with your friends on Facebook, X (Twitter) , Instagram etc etc. As all of these help with YouTube recommending to others, so my videos don’t get lost in the YouTube algorithm.
The Website
My website originally was setup just to share photos & general info, over the years it has changed and grown. I have all sorts on there from computer tips to my photography. Before I started doing YouTube if we went anyway either that was a day out to a holiday after we got back I would do a write up of the trip and reviews of places we had been and also share any photos I had taken on that trip.
Once I started doing the YouTube videos which was the same as I would write about, the videos are the main content and then I would write an article to support that video, with then showing off the photos that were in the video and sometimes extras that I had missed in the videos.
I still do original content on the website, this maybe just because the subject matter doesn’t need a full video.
As the website is self hosted I do have charges that occur these are made up of a yearly cost for the domain names, then there is a monthly cost for the hosting service I use, i.e the server space where the site is stored. So any donations are used towards those costs.
Wasgij Solution List
I started the Wasgij solution page as I was stuck on one of the puzzles and really couldn’t find a photo online of the completed puzzle. So I then started to compile a list of all the Wasgij puzzles that were available at the time, and purchased those to complete the puzzle so I could put up the solution to help others.
This then started to grow traction and I then found if I hadn’t got the solution for a puzzle people would get in touch and send me their photos so I could add to the list.
I am very proud of this page as now it is the most complete list of all the Wasgij puzzles with every solution. I love that people get in touch to say thank you as it helped them when they were stuck on a puzzle.
I always keep checking for when new puzzles come out and as soon as I know a new one is coming out I add it to the list as normally within a week I will go buy the latest puzzle so I can add the completed photo to help others, so if you donate for the Wasgij part that money goes toward me getting those puzzles, which on average there are about 7 released each year.
What Donations Are Used For
I like to be open to how I spend money that is donated to me, so here goes, when you donate the money you give depends on if you have donated for the YouTube side or the blog side.
YouTube donations, this money goes into a pot which is then used towards trips that I do in the camper, which every trip is recorded. This can be from the fuel cost to even parking. I don’t use that money for me personally like food or anything like that. As I know you have given that money as you have enjoyed the videos I make.
As you can appreciate recording the videos does have a cost for the cameras which I use several either that is still or the video work, microphones, SD cards etc. so if there is extra money that is put towards equipment cost also.
As YouTube isn’t my living I don’t need that money for normal monthly costs etc, so don’t worry about your money that is going straight back into future videos.
I receive donations directly to do with the Wasgij page, like I have said above that side of the money goes directly towards keeping the website up and running and also to get the latest puzzles to make sure the list is fully up to date.
Again any spare money is still kept in that pot for the above costs and only those cost.
How To Donate
You can donate through various different services which are – Buy-me-a-coffee or Ko-fi or PayPal, The reason there are 3 different ways is some trust one service over another, for me it makes no real difference, each one charges a small commission so say you donate £5 depending on the service I don’t receive the full amount, I would receive anywhere from £4 to £4.50. Though like I have said any money helps me keep creating content for both the website and the video.
So if you could spare even just £1 that would be great. If you donate your name will be listed in my videos as a thanks, don’t worry your full name will not appear just your first initial and surname. If you don’t want your name to appear that just send me a message. It’s my way of saying thank you for your support.
DONATE using any of these services – Buy-me-a-coffee or Ko-fi or PayPal