Some Things I Did for Money

by Stephanie Georgopulos

As a rejected child model, failed telemarketer, and pet-sitter to a dying bird, Stephanie Georgopulos has never refused an unconventional job – which is good, because graduating into the 2008 recession ensured those were the only ones she qualified for. Equal parts comical and cringe-inducing, Some Things I Did for Money is an honest reflection on the way we define work and what it means to be rich.

Most of Stephanie Georgopulos's odd jobs now fall under the umbrella of writing and editing. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, Glamour, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and more. She edits the Human Parts collection on Medium.com and delivers weekly vignettes about growing up on the internet to people's inboxes, like magic! Find her on Twitter at @omgstephlol.

Cover design by Hannah Perrine Mode.

Spot illustrations by Alex Cannon.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

95 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2015

Reviews

[Fate's Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

I keep expecting to see the word "Stupid" before the word "Things" in the title, because that's what this felt like to me: a series of stupid decisions and childish attitudes that (surprise!) left her in difficult situations. I'm glad she finally got her life figured out in the years since, but I'm not interested in her misspent youth!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Kindle Single via IHG hotels, which I read in a couple of sittings.

Author writes well enough, but I felt that the material was for those of similar backgrounds, rather than this older guy. I skipped her second "job" dealing weed entirely. First one about McDonald's and last about posing nude from a Craigslist ad were the strongest.

[Connie White · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps younger readers will find this rambling life up to now, interesting.I didn't.

I found this to be a boring read as it seemed the author bragged about her poor work ethic,illegal activity and lifestyle.Nothing but self aggrandizing.

[Alexandra Lee Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, quick read

Author was real and interesting. Much comedic value and realistic experiences. Something I'd like to see hashed out as a TV show even!!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh, fearless, and funny!

[The Idle Woman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in New York state, the daughter of loving but financially straitened parents, Stephanie Georgoulos knows from an early age that she will have to make her own money in life. This self-deprecating memoir is a millennial-eye view of the tough years following the credit crunch, and the current state of the job market. From her first  grim Saturday job as a fourteen-year-old at McDonald's, to a brief stint in modelling; from pet-sitting to telesales; from posing for artists to dealing drugs on her college campus, Georgopulos has tried a wide variety of things to supplement her dream career - writing: ironically the one thing almost certain not to bring in the money. It's written with humour, but Georgopulos offers a sobering glimpse of the struggles faced by many of her generation, burdened with university debt and desperate for financial security.

[Trang Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and easy to read. Would recommend for a Sunday afternoon

As a recent graduate who is also finding a path, I can relate with the character tremendously. Reading this brought me back to every job that I have had so far, and make me wonder what I truly want to do with my life, for money and passion.

[Patricia Charhut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever writer tells her raw yet funny story

Very visual and very intuitive, Stephanie Georgopulos immerses the reader in her scrappy story of being poor in cash yet rich in insight. Every job experience she has adds another layer to her onion of a life. Looking forward to her next steps in a future story.

[ranae beyerlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty with words but esoteric with slang

I enjoyed this short compilation of essays and related to the coming of age angst that crosses all generations. She admittedly and honestly self-absorbed but insightful. I hope that she writes down her bones and finds the kindness within. Worth the read...

[Phil Kolocotronis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, funny, and quirky read. This reads more like a diary or even stand-up comedy routine. Funny stories about the author in her quest to earn money in her younger days. Nothing too, too salacious, but definitely felt real.

[Robin Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and comedic telling of the author’s resume, which turned out to NOT be stigmatizing as the title suggests (or perhaps, I assumed.)

Light, laugh-out-loud funny, and effortlessly enjoyable. I liked it.

[Elisa Eckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories

Cute, fast read, hysterical in some parts and others actually thought provoking! Recommend as a good reminder that we all came from different places but just want to be happy (although happiness looks different to everyone).

[Judy D. Kriss · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good reading

Could not wait for it to end. Just felt like she was uninspired and needed to clean her mouth up.

[LaDonna Carman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trashy.

Could not finish - her language was disgusting - don't need to hear it or read it! Hope the other five short books are better.

[Josetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've all had some crazy jobs. This writer has had more than most. I did find it interesting, even if it wasn't the greatest Kindle Single I've read.

[Maricruz · Rating 1 out of 5]

It had funny witty lines that made it a fast and simple read. I feel like it didn't have an overall story line which made it seen all over the place.

[Mattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly, quick & clever

I needed something quick and light to whip through before returning to my regularly scheduled programming. This did the trick.

[Douglas Castagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent and funny kindle short about the author and some of the crappy jobs she had on the road to where she is today.

[Jessica Solari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

Funny but just ok. I didn't realize how short the book was. It is basically a bunch of short stories telling exactly what the title says.

[Filipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Episodes of life, told according to jobs and financial motivation and with some funny bits. Might make us think on what makes us move forward.

[Lisa Rosemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and Relatable as Hell

An honest take on what it is like to survive your teens and twenties. A quick, entertaining, and fun read.

[Susan Stebal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Quick fun read. Easy to break up by chapters. I hate putting a book down in the middle of a chapter. Excellent sense of humor.

[Samantha Dooley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only if it’s free

Eh... I was underwhelmed. It had its moments of interests but overall not something to spend money on if you can help it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who hasn't had an exceptionally crappy job or 6 in their lifetime? An amusing Kindle Single about ways the author has made money.

Bonus points for taking place in Rockland County where I work so when the Palisades Mall and New City are name dropped I'm all like "hey I know that place!"

[Beetqueen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book, but the execution was severely lacking. While I find nothing objectionable about her jobs or her language, I thought her writing was flat. She doesn't make any of her jobs sound very interesting or intriguing. From the title, I figured her jobs were going to be quirky or odd or at least described in a way that captivated me. But they didn't. I've read some great job narratives (Gig and Waiting for example), but thus was not one. The stories were choppy and lacking a personal voice. I almost felt as if she was recounting someone else's stories.

I didn't give it one star because it wasn't awful, just lackluster. It had potential.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do wonder if I may have enjoyed this more had I known who Stephanie Georgopulos was prior to reading. I grabbed this for a quick and easy diversionary read, and, sure, it did the trick, but there wasn't enough that was compelling here for me to think this was all that great overall, I suppose. Just a personal thing, it may turn out that something blows my mind later and I get into this someday, but in terms of Kindle Singles, I didn't really love this.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose to read this based on all the raving reviews of how funny all her stories of making money at odd jobs were. I found no humor in her potty-mouth, pot-smoking-and-drug-dealing ways. The one thing I did find "funny" is that it is true that she writes bad stories. I hope her life is cleaner and happier now that she finally has a steady job.

[Natalie S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie Georgopulos is funny. I feel like most younger internet writers don't write about money because they don't have to think about money ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's nice to read someone who gets it/isn't delicate about it. These stories range between mildly entertaining to slow-burn hilarious. Quick read, 3.75

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed her as a writer for years, so this piece felt more personal to me than it may have those who didn't know her writing beforehand. I found myself laughing out loud and sympathizing with her struggles during many passages. Behind the dirty, grungy uncertainty of financial/job instability, there is a subtle hint of the glamorous freedom of youth.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quick and Amusing Read

This is the first Kindle short I have read and since I so enjoyed it, I will be getting more. The stories of earning money while essentially jobless and the subtle theme of good parents make their children work which can lead to eventual good jobs made me enjoy every word. I look forward to reading more by Stephanie Georgopulos.