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Rachel Renée Russell

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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series

 

Ask Brandon

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Get the BOY side of things!
Doubtful Dreamer
Timid Tattler

February 27, 2021

I NEED TO MAKE SOME MONEY!

Dear Brandon,
I really need your advice. My BFF’s birthday is coming up next month and I REALLY want to surprise her with something she’s been wanting forever—a deluxe recording studio kit that will allow her to play and record her own songs. She’s an AWESOME singer and songwriter, and her dream is to win a Grammy award one day. The problem is that the equipment costs $400!!! I don’t want to get her a cheap version—she’s been talking about this specific kit for years. How can I possibly earn $400 in just 6 weeks, so she can start to launch her music career???

From,
Dollarless Dork

Hey Dollarless Dork,

First, I want to say it’s so awesome that you’re supportive of your BFF’s goals and dreams!

Second, I feel you on the money problems. I’d love to get my crush a really cool expensive gift, but it’s just not in the cards. I mean, I’m still in middle school, and even if people would hire me at a part-time job at my age, my grandparents wouldn’t let me work. They say I should concentrate on my grades, my photography, my band, and helping out with Fuzzy Friends.

But hey…wait a minute. Now that I think about it, maybe I could use my personal skills to earn money after all! I could offer to take photos of people with their pets. Or set up my drum set in the garage and offer lessons to little kids (at a distance, of course, until this pandemic gets under control).

Do you have any personal hobbies that you could use to score some cash? Think about it.

In the meantime, here are a few other ideas:

  1. Ask your parents about taking on more responsibility in exchange for payment. NOTE: this has gotta be more than regular things they expect you to do (aka, don’t expect $10 a day for making your bed or taking out the trash). You could do all the household laundry, do a SUPER GOOD job of cleaning the bathrooms (yup, toilet and all), or basically anything your parents usually do. You could wash the outside and clean the inside of their car. (You could also offer up a foot massage at $5 per 20 minutes, but depending on your parent’s foot odor, that might be too stinky of an option. ☺)
  2. Are there any dogs in your neighborhood? If so, offer a 30 minute walk for $5. If you walked 3 dogs twice a day, that would be $150 bucks a week (and that’s not even including weekends). You’d have enough money within 3 weeks! (Just don’t forget to take poop bags).
  3. Are you crafty? My friend Nikki came up with this idea: ask your parents to make a small investment, so you can buy some bracelet supplies. You could use beads or string, and customize them to however people at your school want them. You could even get those letter beads to spell out their favorite sports team or inspiring phrase. Create an order form with options and people can get their own, one-of-a-kind bracelet. You can take pictures of samples with a phone and email all your relatives to see if they’ll order some, too. (Don’t forget to pay your parents back).
  4. Find an alternative gift. I know, I know, this option is NO fun. But here’s the thing: your BFF will love whatever you get her for her birthday. It’s amazing of you to want to buy her dream present, but I’m 100% certain that she doesn’t expect you to do that. Ready for some serious cheesiness? The biggest gift of all is your friendship. Yep, I said it. But really, even as you try to earn the money, it might not hurt to come up with a few other ideas too. Here’s one: get her a few awesome How-To books or biographies of her FAV music artists, so she can study up on how serious musicians started their careers! 

How about all of you readers? Have you ever needed to make some cash fast, or wanted to buy a gift that you couldn’t afford? What did you do about it? Tell us all about it in the comments.

Category: Ask Brandon nikki

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Comments

  1. Diary of a Dorky Potterhead says

    February 28, 2021 at 11:16 pm

    Hey! your friend doesn’t expect you to get such an expensive gift!
    She has probably already asked her parents to get it for her!
    Imagine if she got two!
    I totally agree with Brandon’s 4th point.

  2. Gamer haters says

    February 28, 2021 at 10:47 pm

    I need money too I need it to buy an iPad Pro and I also neon $400!!

  3. Anonymous says

    February 28, 2021 at 9:08 pm

    OMG you’re such a great BFF!

    • LipGlossGirl says

      March 1, 2021 at 9:11 am

      Yes, she is such a great BFF. I bet your BFF is so lucky to have a friend like you.

  4. Superdork says

    February 28, 2021 at 5:44 pm

    Maybe you could tell her parents that she wants this kit! I’m not saying that they will buy it for her immediately, but if you get the idea in their heads maybe they could consider her getting it for her birthday! Well that’s all I have to say, Superdork out!

  5. Sakura says

    February 28, 2021 at 5:41 pm

    During the pandemic making dough is hard ☹️

    • Awkward from all angles says

      March 1, 2021 at 3:29 am

      Yeah, but saving dough is easy.I have £40 from the start of December! And half of it’s not even my allowance. That’s right, I got £20 from Christmas money!

    • Dorky Duchess says

      March 1, 2021 at 9:17 am

      You can say that again!

  6. Anonymous says

    February 28, 2021 at 5:25 pm

    I take a loan from my sister and pay her back when I can. I can also offer to do her chores for her so if you have a sibling or relative, try that!

  7. bubble gum says

    February 28, 2021 at 4:31 pm

    I am save-ing money for a hamster

  8. K-on! Dork says

    February 28, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    I need money too

  9. Hufflepuff badger says

    February 28, 2021 at 2:21 pm

    I play the oboe, and last Christmas I played songs in town and raised 89 pounds for the seal sanctuary! But, before you buy it, ask her parents if they’re getting it. My parents always get me my dream gift! So, yeah that’s it.
    Bye!

  10. DarlingDonut says

    February 28, 2021 at 1:49 pm

    Great idea! I could use those ideas

  11. Music says

    February 28, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    You could get her something that you have enough money for this year and work really hard to earn enough money throughout the year and get her it next year

  12. O-K Dor-K says

    February 28, 2021 at 12:14 pm

    Very sweet of you to even think about getting your friend such an expensive gift. Best of luck!!

  13. DogLover#1 says

    February 28, 2021 at 12:05 pm

    That sounds so fab! If I were good at writing songs, I would totally ask for one! I write songs sometimes for my band with my sisters, SKN. They never really turn out that good. Partially because they’re so short. Anyway, I think that Option #2 might be the best. There are TONS of dogs in my neighborhood. I would totally do #2
    DogLover#1

  14. xXAesthetic-MangoXx says

    February 28, 2021 at 12:03 pm

    Great advice!!! You bff will love the gift you’ll get her, recording kit or not!!!

  15. Off we go says

    February 28, 2021 at 10:30 am

    My mom would never allow me to get a job ’til I’m 18. What am I, a child? ( I am)

    • BlissfullBlue says

      March 1, 2021 at 10:40 am

      I have the same problem!! #DorksInNeedOfMoney

  16. Good stuff says

    February 28, 2021 at 10:28 am

    All I ever do is get good grades in mathematics and I get a raise in my allowance lol

  17. Dork Vader says

    February 28, 2021 at 10:14 am

    If the something is too expensive, I just (a) tell my dad I’ll pay him back ,(b) I would to small jobs for cash or (c) I save my money till I have enough. ( Btw (c) is pretty hard, because there are so much cool stuff I see; Like Art Supplies, But I try my best not to spend my money )

    I hope these options work for some of you, Good Luck!

    – Dork Vader

  18. Madame Chocolatea says

    February 28, 2021 at 9:23 am

    Haha!
    Just follow Brandon’s tips!
    Everything will be normal…

  19. dollarless dork says

    February 28, 2021 at 9:18 am

    thank you so much brandon

  20. Anonymous says

    February 28, 2021 at 9:01 am

    my family can afford everything!

    • BlackCatGirl says

      March 1, 2021 at 8:17 am

      sadly that does not help, sorry

  21. Dark Raven says

    February 28, 2021 at 7:09 am

    My crush’s birthday is coming soon so I thought of making him something. Hope he likes it.

    • He will !!! says

      February 28, 2021 at 12:02 pm

      He will Gurl !!! Anything from heart is the best !!!

    • Daisy1012 says

      February 28, 2021 at 4:17 pm

      I agree!! He’ll like it!

    • BlackCatGirl says

      March 1, 2021 at 8:22 am

      trust me, he LOVES IT ALREADY!

  22. TryingtoHelpaDorkyFriend says

    February 28, 2021 at 6:52 am

    I have about £. Do you know why? Because my dad gives a lot of money for helping out on the garden. So there is my advice. Also, you can mow (I think that’s how you spell it) other people’s lawns. I’ve read a lot of books about that!

  23. Adorkable Aliens says

    February 28, 2021 at 5:52 am

    Make a deal with your parents! I did recently with my mother! She gives us £5 a day depending on if we do our hard chores! (We don’t get money for cleaning our rooms ) like folding ALL of our clothes or washing the dishes on days where there are LOADS of dirty dishes in the sink. My point is if you get £5 day for 7 days then at the end of the week you’ll have £35!

  24. Sunflower says

    February 28, 2021 at 5:06 am

    I suggest you give her something else this year, and something absolutely wonderful next year. Because I’m still writing my book to be published before I go to university. Use your talents,

  25. Yaaas Queen says

    February 28, 2021 at 3:53 am

    Amazing advice Brandon thank you

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