When I first started my blog, I was at a low point in my life. I was struggling hard financially after moving out on my own. This was worsened when I found out that I could get surgery to fix the gynecomastia that I’ve had since childhood. Despite fixing a problem that has caused me years of anguish, the surgery wasn’t covered by insurance. After my first consultation with a surgeon, I was quoted $7275 for surgery and anesthesia. After leaving the clinic, I sat in my car and cried for nearly 30 minutes.

Later that day, I called my best friend for comfort. Even though I was ready to give up, he encouraged me to try to raise the money. Several of my other friends convinced me to do the same. I decided to listen to him and raise funds on my own. Shortly after this, I got a second opinion from a different plastic surgeon that quoted me $5900 and was rated higher than the surgeon I had seen previously. The second evaluation took place in early October and I had raised all the necessary funds by the end of December.

Here’s everything I did to raise $6000 in 2 months:

1. Used a Digital Fundraising Platform (GoFundMe)

I chose GoFundMe to collect donations. Before starting, I opened a new bank account for the funds. This kept my money separate from my regular finances. I could make payments for the surgery directly from this account.

There are many platforms for raising funds. GoFundMe, Donorbox, and Fundly are popular. You can also accept cash, checks, or e-transfers. But GoFundMe was easy for my friends to recognize and use.

If you want to know more about GoFundMe campaigns, I’d be happy to write about it!

2. Used Subtle Advertising Tricks While in Casual Conversation

Advertising your fundraiser is key to reaching your goal. I mentioned my campaign in casual conversations. This led to donations and questions about gyno.

Sharing on social media helps too. But talking about it in person can lead to more donations. A friend in Australia became a big donor after I mentioned my GoFundMe to him. He became a recurring donator and happily helped with paying for a significant amount of the surgery. All this without asking him a thing or even attempting to advertise to him.

3. Paid for the Surgery in Pieces

One of the benefits of gynecomastia surgery being elective is that you can pay off your balance in multiple payments. This is key because surgeons often require a 50% down payment before scheduling. To make installation payments, you can choose between either credit-based plans or paying as you go.

Using credit plans like CareCredit is simpler, but it might not work for everyone. If you’re like me and have limited credit, paying as you go is better. As I mentioned earlier, I kept my GoFundMe money in a separate bank account and made payments every time I got deposit notification. This worked out to be roughly $1000 every few weeks. This method avoids interest and doesn’t require approval, which I think makes it an overall superior option as long as you’re willing to keep track of your payments and watch your income vigilantly.

4. Took Advantage of Unforeseen Incidents

Life can be unpredictable and sometimes funny. A month after starting my GoFundMe, I was in a car accident. Luckily, I was okay, but my car was totaled.

This accident turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I got a check for enough to cover my car and had $6000 left. I had already paid $4500 towards my surgery and needed $1500 more.

Instead of buying a new car, I bought a used Honda Civic for $4000. It was perfect for my needs, and I had $2000 left for my surgery. This way, I could afford both a car and my surgery without having to compromise on my needs.

5. Stayed Positive

Believing in myself was crucial in raising the money. If I didn’t have faith, I wouldn’t have shared my story. People care about you and want to help. Stay positive and you’ll find a way to make it work.