Rough numbers, but The Mudcat costs about $375 per month to run. Broadband with upload speed is the biggest monthly expense. The google ads provide an average of $150 per month. Contributions and Auction average about $50 per month, and t-shirt/badges is a trickle.

I got the cost down this year by consolidating servers to reduce electricity, but did have to purchase a new Server and DSL router to handle the load.

Most years, we're close enough to breaking even that it doesn't matter to me. We've never made more than we spent.

If I moved the google ads to the top, I could probably do much better, but I've always wanted to avoid making ads overt. If it pays the bills though, maybe I should.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining now, it's just that money coming in has been thin so far this year, and I want to take the burden off me and the usual contributers. It's on too few people.

Shambles: If I ask you not to curse in my home, it is not censorship.

Clinton: You are a smart man, and I agree with almost everything you say, but wow do you argue everything. This is not every other message board on the net. I was here before them, and I'm very likely to be here after their gone. I have no interest in doing things their way. It's like lite beer. Flavorless so not to offend anyone.