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Hello all. I'm starting the annual donations run slightly earlier this year because I've just paid a big bill for the server! The good news is it's a very good server plan with future-proof capacity, and it's fixed for the next four years. However, to keep our good server plan I had to pay for four years upfront! Server plans have got very tricksy - most don't offer enough storage, and then when you run out you're forced onto a really expensive plan, so renewing and fixing our current plan was important as it doesn't exist any more to buy, only to renew for four years. It works out at £116.51 a year - slightly less than usual, but paying four years upfront at £466.04 means we need a good donations run this year! And then for the next 3 years we won't need to raise as much.
I will also shortly be setting up an option for new people registering in future to have the option to take out a small subscription or make a donation when they subscribe, on the sign up page. It's optional though and membership is still free if opted for.
The good news is, affiliate links made £228.81 over the past year, but funds are still needed for the upcoming year. I've listed below the forum annual costs and the goal we ideally need to reach:
I haven't included the cost of the Advent Calendar software as it isn't essential and I pay for that personally.
Target £646.23!
However, if we don't reach the target, I will make up the difference. The positive is the forum is secure and futureproof in terms of server plan. This forum is a place that is, I believe, fairly unique on the internet, in providing balanced and researched care advice and resources, daily support for people in crisis with a hamster, help with issues, and a friendly and caring ethos for members. It is worldwide and is also a place to share and have fun, with no adverts, no "algorithms" pushing content you don't want, no constant scrolling to find things and a good search facility. Our care guides are there to support all hamster owners, with researched and referenced articles. I'll be sharing the donations post with a graphic on the home page as well, for visitors. Most of the bills come up in September and October.
Members are very valued on here - we are a nice bunch and we all love hamsters and want the best for them.
Your support, and any donation, however small, would be much appreciated!
VIP Banner
As before, anyone who makes a donation receives a shiny purple VIP banner for 2026/27
How to Donate:
You can either use Paypal or Stripe, below. Stripe allows payment by bank card or apple pay.
When making a donation, please add your username - so I know who to give the banner to!
paypal.me
Stripe is similar to paypal but payment is by Apple pay or debit card. It's regulated by authorities worldwide and used by large global brands like Amazon. It asks for an email address when donating, so it can send you a receipt, but the email is then securely encrypted.
I will also shortly be setting up an option for new people registering in future to have the option to take out a small subscription or make a donation when they subscribe, on the sign up page. It's optional though and membership is still free if opted for.
The good news is, affiliate links made £228.81 over the past year, but funds are still needed for the upcoming year. I've listed below the forum annual costs and the goal we ideally need to reach:
- Server Hosting £116.51 a year (but cost £466.04 this year to cover four years for futureproofing)
- Email £84 a year
- Forum Software renewal (due Sept) £70 a year
- Essential software for function and security £135 approx a year
- Domain renewal £105 a year
- Graphics software £120 a year
- Annual Costs Total: £525.51
- Affiliate links income: £228.81
- Actual Costs to pay this year: £875.04 (due to 4 year server bill)
- Minus £228.81 from affiliate links
- Equals Total to pay £646.23
I haven't included the cost of the Advent Calendar software as it isn't essential and I pay for that personally.
Target £646.23!
However, if we don't reach the target, I will make up the difference. The positive is the forum is secure and futureproof in terms of server plan. This forum is a place that is, I believe, fairly unique on the internet, in providing balanced and researched care advice and resources, daily support for people in crisis with a hamster, help with issues, and a friendly and caring ethos for members. It is worldwide and is also a place to share and have fun, with no adverts, no "algorithms" pushing content you don't want, no constant scrolling to find things and a good search facility. Our care guides are there to support all hamster owners, with researched and referenced articles. I'll be sharing the donations post with a graphic on the home page as well, for visitors. Most of the bills come up in September and October.
Members are very valued on here - we are a nice bunch and we all love hamsters and want the best for them.
Your support, and any donation, however small, would be much appreciated!
VIP Banner
As before, anyone who makes a donation receives a shiny purple VIP banner for 2026/27
How to Donate:
You can either use Paypal or Stripe, below. Stripe allows payment by bank card or apple pay.
When making a donation, please add your username - so I know who to give the banner to!
Pay The Hamster Forum using PayPal.Me
Go to PayPal.Me/TheHamsterForum and enter the amount. It's safer and more secure. Don't have a PayPal account? No problem.
paypal.me
Stripe is similar to paypal but payment is by Apple pay or debit card. It's regulated by authorities worldwide and used by large global brands like Amazon. It asks for an email address when donating, so it can send you a receipt, but the email is then securely encrypted.
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