A short statement on site finances

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A short statement on site finances
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jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28247
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 9:41 pm Post subject: A short statement on site finances

This is a non profit site, in fact as far as members helping run the site a loss making site, since no one has been paid at all, or claimed recompense for any out of pocket expenses. One anonymous member has gone to quite considerable expense without wanting it repaid.

We are keeping full accounts of income and expenditure. But here is roughly the score until now:

Site expenses so far approx $136 plus a couple of software donations committed to, but not paid out.

Google ad income $477.41 since the site opened. This money yet to be received, hence the delay on the donations.

I hope this dispels any concerns that somewhere someone, that someone being me, is somehow making a financial killing on downsizer

The monies involved are basically a pittance, and we have committed to making sure even that sum goes either into making the site better, or charity, or to some other idea that we can make up later

Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 9:50 pm Post subject:
I would dispute the statement that such sums are a pittance; they are quite considerable, in my opinion. Are there manual accounts being kept, ie on paper, somewhere?

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 9:52 pm Post subject:
As they are not yet existant, and may never exist, because they are debts to the site, they are less than a pittance at the moment

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28247
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 9:54 pm Post subject:

Anonymous wrote:

I would dispute the statement that such sums are a pittance; they are quite considerable, in my opinion.
Are there manual accounts being kept, ie on paper, somewhere?

I think that subtracting expenses from income leaves us at about the �200 pounds in 5 months level

Personally I have been known to charge more than 3x that for a days work. But by any standard it is a paltry sum.

But even so accounts are being kept.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 10:06 pm Post subject:

Anonymous wrote:

I would dispute the statement that such sums are a pittance; they are quite considerable, in my opinion.
Are there manual accounts being kept, ie on paper, somewhere?

Compared to many other sites such sums are very small and monies have not been received.

If the site purchased a single piece of software this could cost far in excess of that amount. No profit for any individual will be made and many people have given up valuable time for free to run this site.

Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 10:09 pm Post subject:
200.00 is not a paltry sum at all; especially when it is money that should be seen to be accounted for in the interests of the Downsizer site and its contributors. I don't think you can or should equate it with what you say you can earn for a day's work. It's an insult to a lot of people to call this paltry. Just voicing my opinion.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 10:13 pm Post subject:

Anonymous wrote:

200.00 is not a paltry sum at all; especially when it is money that should be seen to be accounted for in the interests of the Downsizer site and its contributors. I don't think you can or should equate it with what you say you can earn for a day's work.
It's an insult to a lot of people to call this paltry.
Just voicing my opinion.

In the context of the costs of running a site it is small. Considering the huge amount of time people have given for free to set up and run the site the amount is also small.

I agree it's not chicken feed and I'll be trying my best to keep a record of the acconts.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28247
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 10:57 pm Post subject:

Anonymous wrote:

�200 as a sum of money is not Paltry. I'd rather like �200 extra quid in my pocket right now. As whilst I have been know to get 3x as much for a days work, such days are few and far between.

But we are not talking about �200 as an abstract sum. This is �200 over 5 months of running a web site. e.g. less than �1.50 a day, and you seem to imply that some plot is afoot to misaccount that �1.50 a day

Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 11:10 pm Post subject:
I am implying nothing of the kind, if you read my posts. My quibble is with the word "paltry". If accounts for the site are being kept, then that answers that part of the question.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28247
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 12:07 am Post subject:

Anonymous wrote:

I am implying nothing of the kind, if you read my posts. My quibble is with the word "paltry". If accounts for the site are being kept, then that answers that part of the question.

The first post in the thread said that the accounts were being kept.... and if you think �1.50 a day is not paltry then okay its not paltry, it will still buy a half pint of beer.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 7:00 am Post subject:
It is a shame "guest" is so shy as to remain anonymous

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 7:51 am Post subject:

I think the actual issue here is that in the bulk of this discussion no-one has said 'Well done team' for not only getting the site up and running so well with only out of pocket expenses to do it, and also making sure that somewhere down the line the site may start paying for itself. This means it will be able to fund improvements or possibly even small projects. I agree that some lucky person should be appointed to keep proper accounts- and this appears be be happening.
One possibly suggestion if the site is ever in the enviable position of having a couple of hundred quid 'surplus' (though I would imagine this is a couple of years in the future)- how about using it to fund a print run of selected articles -eg the top 10 articles on dealing with new ground, or lambing, or whatever- then the authors of the articles get a complimentary copy, and the rest are offered for sale at a whisker above costs to help spread the good work of the Downsizer community or as a fundraiser for a mutually agreeable project or cause. Just a thought.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 7:58 am Post subject:
Thank you Sally. I've started to keep a record of the accounts and, when I get a bit of time, will start to post up a simple ove view. There are quite a few requirements for the money and I'm sure more needs will appear over the year. �200 does sound like a fair bit but would probably not cover much at the moment.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28247
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 8:09 am Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

Thank you Sally, a real surplus could actually be a way off as we have one enhancement to the site in mind which would cost �450, which notably certain members did volenteer to pay yet again out of their own pockets if the site was unable to afford it.

I like the idea of printing articles. But this would need to checked past the authors.

All contributions ot this site retain the legal copyright of the authors. In Internet law this means that we gain the right to use the article in the context of the contribution. But only in that context. If we were for example without permission to take a post on a forum and make it an article on the site, we would be in gray area. If we went into print, we would be in breach of copyright.

There are actually tonnes of ideas that could be done, if we did raise the money, and I hope at some point we will be able to have a great and enjoyable debate about not accounting for �200, but how to spend �1000.

moggins

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 942
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 8:29 am Post subject:
I would imagine that most of the internet is run for someone to make a profit from and that everyone who puts their time and effort into making this site what it is sfor no financial reward should be applauded and not denigrated. If there are any profits next year perhaps we should throw a downsizers party

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