It's important that I be completely honest about this.

My goal is to have this site be fully funded by users and supporters, through monthly pledges of varying amounts (as low as one dollar per month). I'm using a platform called Patreon to manage all of this.

I say more about Patreon in the next question, but one of the recent changes I've made to the site (Jan 2016) is that I've added several text-based courses that are only available to Patreon supporters who have pledged a certain monthly amount.

Financial supporters of the Critical Thinker Academy receive access to these bonus text-based courses:

• $1/month unlocks
  • "Weekly Q&A with Dr. K"
• $3/month unlocks
  • "How to Build a Compelling Moral Argument"
  • "Weekly Q&A with Dr. K"
• $5/month unlocks
  • "How to Raise a Critical Thinker"
  • "How to Build a Compelling Moral Argument"
  • "Weekly Q&A with Dr. K"
• $10/month unlocks
  • "Mind Control: The Art, Science and Ethics of Persuasion"
  • "How to Raise a Critical Thinker"
  • "How to Build a Compelling Moral Argument"
  • "Weekly Q&A with Dr. K"

As I reach various financial support milestones on the way to self-sufficiency, I will convert these bonus courses to FREE courses as well, and replace them with NEW bonus courses.

"Fully funded", for me, means that monthly pledges total something between 5000-6000 dollars per month, since this is my only source of income for a family of four.

Currently I'm still a good distance from that goal.

So, how am I paying the bills right now?

The short answer is that my family and I are living off my retirement savings. That's it.

Obviously this isn't a sustainable solution.

But I have faith in the value of this project and in the good will of the people who support it.

Like the voice in Kevin Costner's head in Field of Dreams , I believe that "if you build it, they will come."

Of course I can't expect that to happen without also devoting time to marketing, networking, finding new ways to share content, engaging with users and adding new content on a regular basis that people find useful and valuable.

That's why this is full-time job!

It's the job that I hope to continue for many years to come.