Need a little advice

[DiscipleJimmy]

Update: I decided to get a ESV Buffalo Leather Deep Brown Thinline on sale for $45. Looking to get the ESV Study Bible same cover on sale for $85. Both are less than a rebind. And I’ll shelve the NIV 84 and revisit it in a few years permitting my health issues are resolved and can find work placement. Thanks for all the replies.

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I wanted to share a little about something meaningful to me—my 1984 NIV Life Application Bible. It was gifted to me by an older mentor and has been my go-to Bible for reading and study ever since. It’s still in overall good shape, but it’s showing its age. Some pages need repair, and it really needs to be rebound if it’s going to last me for years to come.

I’ve been in touch with AA Leather, and they’ve graciously offered me a discount for the restoration work. I recently sold my Nintendo Switch for $150 to put toward it, but I still need around $200 more to cover the full cost.

Now, just to be transparent—I’m currently unemployed, a stay-at-home dad, and dealing with some disabilities and health issues that I’m working through. Our family is in a tight financial spot, and there’s just not much left from my wife’s paycheck that we can set aside right now.

I’m trying to find some reliable online gigs, but it’s been tough. I don’t have a college education or marketable skill set. I’ve been trying Fiverr, offering to write custom devotionals, hoping maybe a church or ministry might be looking to outsource something like that. But I’ll be honest—I’m feeling kind of stuck and discouraged.

I tried sharing a GoFundMe in a couple Christian Facebook groups, but as some kindly pointed out, since no one knows me personally—and with all the scams going around—it’s understandable that I haven’t had any help come through.

So here I am—like the persistent widow—not giving up. But to be clear, I’m not asking for money. I know how unlikely that is. What I am asking for is advice:

Are there any online gigs or flexible jobs that someone like me (with limited experience, no degree, and some limitations) can actually do to earn a little income?

I know some might say, “Just buy a new Bible” or “Try a newer translation.” I’ve heard that before. But I want to be clear—I’m content with the Bible I have. I don’t need to have it rebound, but it’s something I would love to do so I can keep using this Bible for years to come, rather than buying newer ones that just sit on the shelf.

If you know of anything practical, reliable, and legitimate that someone like me could do from home—even online side work—I’d really appreciate any pointers. Thanks for reading and for any encouragement you can send my way.

 

[davejonescue]

Our family is in a tight financial spot, and there’s just not much left from my wife’s paycheck that we can set aside right now.

To be frank then brother, a rebind should be the last thing on your mind right now. $350 on a Bible in your situation is kind of absurd and poor stewardship. If the Bible you have is still fully functional, stick with it. If it is falling apart, get a used one to hold you over until you have rebind money. Don't be that husband who spends the little a family has on some needless thing. That is no better than a drunk taking the grocery money to spend the day at the bar, or the gambler who takes it and runs to the casino. Just because it is a Bible doesnt make doing it holy.

If your NIV 1984 is falling apart, just ask, and I think many of us on here would have no problem shooting you a used one to keep you going. But a rebind is a luxury, and should probably wait until you are in a better spot.

 

[iainduguid]

NIV Life Application Study Bible: New Bonded Leather (1997) | The Book Spot

Free Shipping - ISBN: 9780310919810 - Bonded Leather - Zondervan - 1997 - Condition: New - NIV Life Application Study Bible

www.abebooks.com

New, bonded leather for $69

 

[davejonescue]

Some good side hustles for the time being may be:

1. Get a used mower, and do lawns for $20-$30. 3-4 lawns a day is $100.
2. Get a power washer, and do peoples sidewalks or sidings (with the condition that you use their water.)
3. Look into your states Cottage Laws, and possibly do cakes, muffins, breads, and canned goods.
4. Look for low-impact jobs in your community, like Security, or being a Dishwasher or Laundry at Nursing Home.
5. There is a Truck Driving school close to where you live by, possibly think about saving up for it or see if you can do it with Pell or a grant, and do OTR. I have seen pictures of highly out of shape people do OTR, and even older people into their 80's; so it may not be as labor intensive as other work.

Just some ideas. Good online work is hard to come by without special skills. And the ones offered in general are probably going to have you dealing with rude people all day, so burn-out is highly likely.

 

[DiscipleJimmy]

NIV Life Application Study Bible: New Bonded Leather (1997) | The Book Spot

Free Shipping - ISBN: 9780310919810 - Bonded Leather - Zondervan - 1997 - Condition: New - NIV Life Application Study Bible

www.abebooks.com

New, bonded leather for $69

I already have two NIV life Application Bibles and a Thinline NIV. I already paid $40 to book a rebind last week. I have $50 in cash app set aside and $62 coming in from my eBay sell. One NIV application I bought was used-good said there was no highlighting markings which wasn’t the case. I’m just debating whether or not buying another Bible and having two sit on the shelf unused. Considering the one Im looking to rebind was gifted. But this is an idea, one I will need to weigh on.
[automerge]1748441280[/automerge]

Some good side hustles for the time being may be:

1. Get a used mower, and do lawns for $20-$30. 3-4 lawns a day is $100.
2. Get a power washer, and do peoples sidewalks or sidings (with the condition that you use their water.)
3. Look into your states Cottage Laws, and possibly do cakes, muffins, breads, and canned goods.
4. Look for low-impact jobs in your community, like Security, or being a Dishwasher or Laundry at Nursing Home.
5. There is a Truck Driving school close to where you live by, possibly think about saving up for it or see if you can do it with Pell or a grant, and do OTR. I have seen pictures of highly out of shape people do OTR, and even older people into their 80's; so it may not be as labor intensive as other work.

Just some ideas. Good online work is hard to come by without special skills. And the ones offered in general are probably going to have you dealing with rude people all day, so burn-out is highly likely.

I do have a riding lawn mower(Not mine, my mother-im-laws she bought years ago) I am not a professional. But it’s an idea. Now how would I go about marketing that, and transporting it without a truck? But this idea seems the most doable for me.
[automerge]1748441585[/automerge]

To be frank then brother, a rebind should be the last thing on your mind right now. $350 on a Bible in your situation is kind of absurd and poor stewardship. If the Bible you have is still fully functional, stick with it. If it is falling apart, get a used one to hold you over until you have rebind money. Don't be that husband who spends the little a family has on some needless thing. That is no better than a drunk taking the grocery money to spend the day at the bar, or the gambler who takes it and runs to the casino. Just because it is a Bible doesnt make doing it holy.

If your NIV 1984 is falling apart, just ask, and I think many of us on here would have no problem shooting you a used one to keep you going. But a rebind is a luxury, and should probably wait until you are in a better spot.

I appreciate your frankness, and it is a humbling response to read. I am aware it’s a luxury and that is why I haven’t spent my wife’s check towards this. Rather I sold what I had for some of the cost. Trying to figure out other ways to get funds. I have a discounted deal with AA leather and already paid for booking. Based on the responses here I was considering calling AAleather back asking for a refund of my booking fee and resign this futile project. But my wife won’t let me. It’s the only rebind Im getting, if I’m able to do so.

 

[davejonescue]

I already have two NIV life Application Bibles and a Thinline NIV. I already paid $40 to book a rebind last week. I have $50 in cash app set aside and $62 coming in from my eBay sell. One NIV application I bought was used-good said there was no highlighting markings which wasn’t the case. I’m just debating whether or not buying another Bible and having two sit on the shelf unused. Considering the one Im looking to rebind was gifted. But this is an idea, one I will need to weigh on.
[automerge]1748441280[/automerge]

I do have a riding lawn mower(Not mine, my mother-im-laws she bought years ago) I am not a professional. But it’s an idea. Now how would I go about marketing that, and transporting it without a truck? But this idea seems the most doable for me.
[automerge]1748441585[/automerge]

I appreciate your frankness, and it is a humbling response to read. I am aware it’s a luxury and that is why I haven’t spent my wife’s check towards this. Rather I sold what I had for some of the cost. Trying to figure out other ways to get funds. I have a discounted deal with AA leather and already paid for booking. Based on the responses here I was considering calling AAleather back asking for a refund of my booking fee and resign this futile project. But my wife won’t let me. It’s the only rebind Im getting, if I’m able to do so.

Have you thought of donating plasma for the rest of the money?

 

[TheInquirer]

This YouTube channel highlights a lot of work from home jobs - https://www.youtube.com/@ShaneHummus

 

[sgemmen9]

It may be wise to take the rebind money and pursue job related skills then double-back once you're in a good place financially and then rebind.