Svelna the Magnificent-Writer, Actor

Svelna the Magnificent-Writer, Actor

1.What were you doing for work before the pandemic?

freelance writing, editing, acting. Work has been affected mainly in that substantial acting possibilities are almost non-existent and theatre writing possibilities are mostly deferred into an indefinite future. Non-performance writing opportunities seem less directly affected (e.g. magazines are still publishing), but then some book publishers are delaying making offers on new manuscripts and delaying releases, so there’s lots of uncertainty there too.

2.What do you miss spending money on these days?

I wish it felt more possible to travel safely, and to go for drinks with friends.

3.How do you think your spending will change after the pandemic?

Will totally depend on whether I have a more-than-subsistence-level income. If so, I’d love to visit friends in other cities. If not, groceries and rent. 

4.What are your tips on how to cut costs?

Tips…I mean, these days my spending is pretty much just groceries and rent and donating to GoFundMe drives…I guess economical cooking is one way to shrink those categories? Getting good at meal-prepping? (I’m not that good at this, but I make a lot of leftovers.

5.Do you feel that there is uncertainty about how your work will look after the pandemic ends? If so, what are you doing to cope with this uncertainty?

Deep uncertainty. Messing with my mental health. I’m oscillating between trying not to think about it and trying to think of contingency plans. Law school? I dunno. This uncertainty is not so dramatically different from the uncertainty I feel about my work prospects at most times, though it’s at a higher level of intensity, probably. 

Emily Nixon

Emily Nixon

Rags to Reasonable Community Outreach Coordinator

Emily Nixon is an actor/writer/director/filmmaking Swiss Army Knife. She is also a big money nerd and Community Outreach Coordinator for Rags to Reasonable.

She came to this work after becoming completely fed up with living paycheque-to-paycheque and being too afraid to look in her chequing account. She is passionate about empowering other artists and variable income earners to keep doing what they love and feel confident about their finances.

Email Emily at emily@ragstoreasonable.com

Want to start getting control of your money? How can I help?

Haran the Distinguished-Actor, Camp Counsellor, Disability Activist

Haran the Distinguished-Actor, Camp Counsellor, Disability Activist

1.What were you doing for work before the pandemic?

I was teaching mainly and being a camp counsellor, those jobs have either  gone or adapted in a way I can’t work with (being far away and I don’t have a car)

2.What do you miss spending money on these days?

I don’t spend a lot of money but I do miss going to the book or music stores and hanging out and buying music!

3.How do you think your spending will change after the pandemic?

Yes I just don’t know what’s going to happen as I often like to work with pwds (disabled) people and many are immune compromised. And of course as an actor I don’t when things are coming back! I’m honestly not coping, just really anxious! I think I will be putting some more money into finishing my studies and save more and spend less generally, but I’m not sure yet!

4.What are your tips on how to cut costs?

I would say cut costs by buying cheap whenever possible and always divide where you put your spending money and money meant for paying bills, taxes and stuff like that!

Emily Nixon

Emily Nixon

Rags to Reasonable Community Outreach Coordinator

Emily Nixon is an actor/writer/director/filmmaking Swiss Army Knife. She is also a big money nerd and Community Outreach Coordinator for Rags to Reasonable.

She came to this work after becoming completely fed up with living paycheque-to-paycheque and being too afraid to look in her chequing account. She is passionate about empowering other artists and variable income earners to keep doing what they love and feel confident about their finances.

Email Emily at emily@ragstoreasonable.com

Want to start getting control of your money? How can I help?

Jade Douris-O’Hara-Actor, Choreographer, Studio Director at Shakespeare by the Sea

Jade Douris-O’Hara-Actor, Choreographer, Studio Director at Shakespeare by the Sea

1.What were you doing for work before the pandemic?

[My husband I] were both working for a theatre company here in Halifax on a contract basis. Part of our work is administering and running the education programs, the tuition from which is almost entirely where our pay comes from in the budget. We had to suspend classes, so that income no longer existed, and so we had to do an EXTREMELY reduced, part-time contract for the Spring. Then, we were set to take the acting contract for the Summer, 15 weeks of Equity work (enough to have full insurance for 6 months and year-round off-contract insurance), which was entirely cancelled.

2.What do you miss spending money on these days?

Honestly, I really just miss going to plays, and having a cocktail or a mocktail afterwards. The ability to adjust to changing circumstances has made the artist life livable up to this point, and so I only feel derived in the sense that I miss the activities we don’t get to do right now.

3.How do you think your spending will change after the pandemic?

I think we will be a little more aggressive with our saving. I also have found that we are spending more money than before on groceries, since restaurants have been closed, but that’s actually saving us money overall. We are both better cooks now, which is great.

4.What are your tips on how to cut costs?

Making your own food is the biggest thing. Ingredients cost way less than pre-made items. I’ve been doing huge batch cooks (soups, chilli, quiches, baked goods to freeze for later, shepherd’s pies, pancakes, etc) and it makes it so easy to eat good food at home.

5.Do you feel that there is uncertainty about how your work will look after the pandemic ends? If so, what are you doing to cope with this uncertainty?

My work outside of being a contracting actor is pretty tuition-dependent. But I’m cautiously optimistic that it looks like it’s going to return to some version of normal come Fall. We probably won’t have the growth we were hoping to see this year, but I’ll be thankful just to be able to return to something consistent. The parents of our students have been enormously supportive and appreciative of all the energy we’re putting in to keep everybody super safe, but also give the kids something to focus on that is social and creative. I’m thankful to the kids for the same thing! Without being able to actually do plays, teaching amazing, smart, talented kids how to be in plays is a good way to fill the time. The only way to really cope with uncertainty surrounding that is just to try to channel that energy into doing a really good job of planning for the year and administering really strong online and outdoor classes this summer so that the kids continue to want to engage. That’s not always easy, but truly, it’s the best thing.

Emily Nixon

Emily Nixon

Rags to Reasonable Community Outreach Coordinator

Emily Nixon is an actor/writer/director/filmmaking Swiss Army Knife. She is also a big money nerd and Community Outreach Coordinator for Rags to Reasonable.

She came to this work after becoming completely fed up with living paycheque-to-paycheque and being too afraid to look in her chequing account. She is passionate about empowering other artists and variable income earners to keep doing what they love and feel confident about their finances.

Email Emily at emily@ragstoreasonable.com

Want to start getting control of your money? How can I help?

Margie Scherk, DVM-Veterinarian, Freelance Speaker

Margie Scherk, DVM-Veterinarian, Freelance Speaker

1.What were you doing for work before the pandemic?

I travel internationally to give lectures and visit clinics. This is completely curtailed by the pandemic. Conferences have been postponed or gone virtual. I have had to learn to video record my presentations, which sadly removes all aspects of interaction for some organizations, especially if they have to be translated. Other events are live virtual lectures, i.e., webinars. The honoraria I was being paid have decreased dramatically. 

2.What do you miss spending money on these days?

Travel, eating in restaurants, training at the gym with a personal trainer.

3.How do you think your spending will change after the pandemic?

I will continue to cook more and spend more time gardening…this has meant my spending more on plants.

4.What are your tips on how to cut costs?

Stay out of gardening centres. Ask myself if what you are wanting to buy (or do) is “essential”. Because of only going to buy groceries once a week, I have become much more aware of not having anything go to waste. This has taught me to be more conscientious about what I buy and what I cook. Also, while I have had a 1 in-1 out policy on buying stuff, meaning I have to be willing to give up one article of clothing if I want to buy on, for example, I am doing fine with fewer new things….of course, this is also reflected by the fact that i’m not going anywhere! But I plan to continue making fewer “just because I like it and it makes me feel good” purchases.

5.Do you feel that there is uncertainty about how your work will look after the pandemic ends? If so, what are you doing to cope with this uncertainty?

Definitely. I think that as people can get a lot of their continuing education on-line, without travel and hotel costs, some of the on-line teaching will remain permanent. I don’t enjoy it, but if this is the new reality, I will just live with it. 🙂

Emily Nixon

Emily Nixon

Rags to Reasonable Community Outreach Coordinator

Emily Nixon is an actor/writer/director/filmmaking Swiss Army Knife. She is also a big money nerd and Community Outreach Coordinator for Rags to Reasonable.

She came to this work after becoming completely fed up with living paycheque-to-paycheque and being too afraid to look in her chequing account. She is passionate about empowering other artists and variable income earners to keep doing what they love and feel confident about their finances.

Email Emily at emily@ragstoreasonable.com

Want to start getting control of your money? How can I help?

Thomas McKechnie-Playwright, Bike Courrier, Union Organizer

Thomas McKechnie-Playwright, Bike Courrier, Union Organizer

1.What were you doing for work before the pandemic?

I was working for Foodora which has now left the city. I was also working for Uber. I’m organizing and writing full time these days. 

2.What do you miss spending money on these days?

Nothing really, maybe sitting in a bar together with friends. Seeing plays I guess?  

3.How do you think your spending will change after the pandemic?

I’ll be back at work so I’ll be eating out more as I get while I’m working. I’ll spend money on seeing plays and bands 

4.What are your tips on how to cut costs?

Go veggie, figure out what things you can make yourself. 

5.Do you feel that there is uncertainty about how your work will look after the pandemic ends? If so, what are you doing to cope with this uncertainty?

Not really, the only uncertainty I worry about is whether we will forget what we’ve learned during the pandemic

Emily Nixon

Emily Nixon

Rags to Reasonable Community Outreach Coordinator

Emily Nixon is an actor/writer/director/filmmaking Swiss Army Knife. She is also a big money nerd and Community Outreach Coordinator for Rags to Reasonable.

She came to this work after becoming completely fed up with living paycheque-to-paycheque and being too afraid to look in her chequing account. She is passionate about empowering other artists and variable income earners to keep doing what they love and feel confident about their finances.

Email Emily at emily@ragstoreasonable.com

Want to start getting control of your money? How can I help?

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