[Dismas]

Currently the site costs over $60 a month to run, at minimum. This includes the cost of our domain and hosting combined. If I were to add our Cloudflare plan into the equation, we're paying over $80.00 a month, and that's just an estimate. That's a lot of cash for a site of our size. While traditionally I have kept the fees quiet and stuff, I think it's a good idea to let people know how much is actually being put on the table at the end of the month. It's a lot.

Normally, I just pay for the hosting and stuff since it really shouldn't worry you guys. However, sometimes I am low on cash, and might need a hand to cover some of the fees. I don't run the site for profit and I avoid covering it in ads (or anything like that). This is one of the few times I might encourage users to donate.

Obviously I won't ask you for cash without anything in return. That's why there are awards for donation. Since the awards don't provide any unfair advantages, I think it's reasonable. In addition to the awards, it is possible I might sell SP for real money. While I have generally gone against the idea of selling it, I think posting might not be the only way to contribute to the forum. Even though SP should be earned, donating money may become a way to earn it. Obviously it will be priced according to its worth and I will monitor the value consistently.

As for donations, which are rarely discussed, I accept Paypal and Liberty Reserve. The awards available are listed under here and I will update everyone if SP becomes available for real money. Even if you can't get an award, a few bucks can really help pay for some of the fees. As always, all money goes to the site.