I have been paid about USD250 for November’s work in writing articles for a US company. It pays about 1.4 cents per word for a 4 star rating and 1 cent per word for a 3 star rating. However, my rating has dropped from 4 star to 3 star this month. But the money comes in handy for Christmas and I intend to save it up for rainy days. No more lavish spending or impromptu buyings on impulse while window shopping. Need to save up for hard times as the economy is not so good with global recession looming in 2009. I just have to tell myself to work hard for such times. But it is nice to take a break now and then from work and remember the carefree days as a student without worries about savings and expenditure.