Money Matters Monday - extra income

We all could probably use a little extra cash flow.  Here are a few things we are doing around here to save a little and earn a little:

1. Stop eating out!  This is working rather well for us.  While we have not entirely cut it out, we have cut down considerably.  I would say we have saved about $350 this month by not eating out as much as we were doing.  

2.  Sell stuff!  We are in the process of selling an extra sofa and loveseat since we "inherited" a new sectional.  I have more items - clothes, art, knick knacks - that I plan on getting rid of soon.  Cleaning out the clutter seems to clear my mind.  And if I can't sell it, I will donate it and get a receipt from the thrift store for my tax file.  That adds up on your tax refund too.

3.  Tax refund!  If you have gotten your W-2s already, get started on filing those taxes.  I will be working on ours this weekend.  I'm hoping I can get a little back instead of having to pay more.

4.  Hubby got an extra job!  Hubby will start helping some friends at their sports training facility which will generate and extra $1000-$1200 per month.  It might even lead to better opportunities than what he's doing now.

5.  I'm building my business!  I have been a Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant for almost a year now and I have found a new way that works for me to promote my business.  I love the products so it should be fairly easy.  Hopefully I can generate $250-$500 extra a month to begin and build the business.   Check out my websites at www.jennifercharles.myrandf.biz or www.jennifercharles.myrandf.com

And that's about all I'm doing right now.  What do you do to generate a little extra cash flow?

Be blessed! 

Summary Sunday - it's getting better

Well, this week has been better, a little.  Another short work week thanks to a winter weather warning that never showed up.  I like working 5 hour days!  Money is still tight but hubby got paid Friday and we were able to pay the rest of the January bills.  I haven't been paid in 6 weeks (ah, the perks of being a teacher) so this Thursday will be one joyous day!  I am very excited to start my emergency fund and also begin my 2013 savings plan - remember, the one with the 52 weeks of the year?  That means that my newly funded emergency fund will have $110 in it this week!  Yeah!

Basketball season is winding down, finally, but baseball season is about to be in full swing.  I love baseball but the first games of the season are always so cold!  

We are working on some environmental changes to see if the middle child can improve his grades without medication.  Earlier bedtimes, better nutrition, and vitamins.  I am praying this will help so we do not have to seek medicine for ADD.

Mother in law is still in rehab for hip surgery.  After our visit today, I see a long physical and mental recovery time ahead.  On a good note, we were able to bless a family in need with her living room and dining room furniture, dishes, small appliances and more.  The bad part is, MIL didn't recall telling my husband he could do that and she got ill with him for giving away her stuff.  Too late now and the family was truly blessed with things they've never had.

After fighting a cold or sinus congestion since Friday, I am hoping my week will be sickness free and I can start feeling like myself again.  I did not get to make crafts this weekend because I spent most of it asleep on the couch trying to recover from whatever this illness is.

A few more basketball games this week, theatre class for the little one, and baseball practice.  Oh, and hubby is going to start a part time job at a sports training facility!  I love extra money coming in!  I'm hoping we can really tackle some of our debts this year.

I did break down and buy fast food on Friday night after little one's basketball game because I felt so terrible I could not cook the chicken I had thawed.  I did cook it on Saturday and we ate at home again on Sunday.  Although we did not completely cut out fast food this month, we significantly reduced the amount of just running to a restaurant or picking up fast food.  We have 2 freezers full of food, there's no reason to be eating somewhere else.

I haven't done much reading but I will be making a trip to the library sometime this week and I plan to read my Bible more.  One goal at a time!

Art on the Lake is coming up soon and I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to work on some art for that.  I just haven't been very successful the past 2 years so I don't know if it's worth the stress.  More praying to be done on that one.

Have a great week and may God bless you!

Tuesday Tutorial

I love how this art piece turned out!  I had painted the Memphis painting a couple of years ago from a photograph that I had taken.  I've never really painted something like that before so it was a challenge but I'm pretty proud of myself.  However, I painted it on a flat canvas panel so it's been sitting in a crate of paintings ever since I completed it.

This past weekend, I was working on some other crafts and trying to use up things I have lying around (after deciding I do not want to be on Hoarders).  That's when I got this neat idea.

I had a big 16 X 20 canvas that I painted a gloss black.  Actually, the canvas had been painted by my daughter years ago and was less than artistic so I painted over it.  I have to do that every once in a while to my art and hers or we would be up to our ears in paintings (then you would see us on Hoarders).  This gave the big canvas some texture because there were some thick globs of paint that had to be covered with the black.  Then, I centered the Memphis painting on the canvas and glued it in place.  But I didn't stop there!  I had an entire container of gold thumbtacks so I stuck them in the canvas around the original painting, almost like the flashing lights of the Blues Club!  I know my thumbtacks aren't perfectly straight but, hey, it's art!  I love the dimension and layers.  The reason I had not done anything with the canvas before is because I didn't want it in a boring frame.  This is much better.

I think this is now one of my favorite pieces that I have in my house!  And I love the fact that it is a constant reminder of that trip a few years ago with the hubby and kids.  It was their first time in Memphis and it was right after Christmas.  Great memories.  I think I'll start doing more paintings from my travel photos and finding unique ways to display it instead of just painting on a canvas.  Now I just need to recover the chair and repaint the side table that sits near the door where I hung the painting.  Another project for another day.  An artist's work is never done!

Be blessed and go create something!

Money Matters Monday - revisiting the budget

Those of you who read yesterday's summary post know that I fell off the wagon - I went out to eat at a restaurant.  I didn't pay for it but the hubby did so I still count it.  We also ate out again Sunday after church. Again, I didn't pay but hubby's money is my money too.

I did get some birthday money that I am using to renew my passport at the end of the month.  I did go out to eat at a fast food place tonight with my daughter but I used a gift card I was given at Christmas.  I actually have not started my 52 week saving plan but I think I am going to open up an ING Direct savings account and start putting it there.  That way, I can't really touch it but I could get it in a day or two if I really needed it.  That's my plan for our emergency fund.  Why am I choosing an online bank?   Because right now they are offering a deal where they will put $25-50 in the account after 30 days as an incentive to get your business.  I'll take free money!

I have to revisit the budget this weekend and tweak some things.  It's been a long time since payday for me and I've got to make sure I have everything taken care of when the 31st rolls around.  I also need to work on selling some stuff to help pay for my trip to Spain.  I've been trying to promote my fundraiser web page but that is slow.

Short post tonight but it's my birthday so I'm doing what I want!

Be blessed!

Summary Sunday - fell off the wagon

Well, it's time for another Summary post.  Quite a bit to summarize today.

First, last week was hectic so I did not post at all - no money post, no crafty post, nada.  Why was last week so crazy?  Let's see - weather in the 70's early in the week but snowing by Thursday.  Of course, this is Alabama so that sends folks into orbit...well, at least the grocery stores for milk and bread.  (I didn't because we are actually pretty stocked up on plenty of freezer food.)

I think just getting back into the routine of basketball games, school, mother-in-law still having health issues (but she's better now and in rehab) has gotten me all out of sync.  Hubby was sick last week too so that didn't help in the home department.  We acquired new-to-us furniture since MIL is now moving in with sister-in-law and can no longer live alone.  We passed one sectional on to a family who just moved here from another state and could not bring their possessions with them.  We kept another sectional for ourselves and will be selling our sofa and loveseat.  I'll have to ask hubby if I can apply the money to my Spain trip or if we will apply to a debt.  Still more furniture to acquire so I may be redecorating for a while!

All was going well with my No eating out in 2013 plan until my family took me out to eat last night at one of our favorite restaurants.  They keep telling me it doesn't count since I didn't pay for it and it was for my birthday!  I am the only one in the family who has not eaten out so far this year.  We did it again this afternoon when we went to the neighboring big city to visit Nana at the rehabilitation center.  We left right after church so we were all starving.  Still, we have saved quite a bit of money already this month by not eating out as much.  (And I didn't pay for today's meal, either.) 

I did get some crafts made this weekend, which I am very proud of.  One is for my bedroom, which lacks a lot of decorating but this is starting to inspire me!

I love how it turned out and plan to make more crafts using up all my buttons and bling!  I'm thinking crosses and fleur-de-lis!  I still need curtains and more throw pillows in my room.

I also worked on another art piece that's been sitting around for a while.  I don't really know what inspired me but I'll post a tutorial later this week on this one.

I learned a little this weekend, or actually was more inspired, when we had to start cleaning out my MIL's apartment.  She's a bit of a hoarder.  Seriously.  It was a mess and ridiculous how much stuff one person could accumulate.  Well, she's not going to be able to take it with her so there's lots more downsizing to be done there but it got me thinking about my own house and my own habits.  I do tend to stash fabric, buttons, odds and ends, thinking I will make something out of it one day.  I am pretty good about storing it in organized containers and plastic boxes, but still, I wonder if I'm on the same path.  So, I am adding another project to my list of things to do this year and that is to downsize my hobbies and craft supplies.  I don't have as much time to work on it as I'd like and it seems I'm never actually going to be able to quit my day job to that kind of stuff all the time so why do I need it all?  I'd much rather simplify my life and spend time with my family than have all this stuff sitting around.  Also, I don't want my family to have to deal with all that if something should happen to me.  So, let the online selling begin, until it warms up enough to have a yard sale!

I did not finish my manuscript in time to submit to the contest.  I just wasn't comfortable with submitting an incomplete script so I'll just keep working on it and find another contest that I can submit it for.  Or, I'll just self-publish again when the time is right.  Still praying about this one!

I was accepted to present a lesson plan that I created at the National AATSP conference in San Antonio in July.  Not sure if I will accept the invitation and go but I'm honored to have been chosen.

I hope this week will be better than last week.  Today is my last day as a 36 year old so I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good birthday instead of a typical Monday.  Little one starts theatre class in the afternoon tomorrow so that is a new adventure we're looking forward to.  I plan on getting back on track with my blog posts so tomorrow will have a money post and I'll post a tutorial on the Memphis art later this week, too.  I'm reading a book on blogging so I hope to make my blog a little more interesting and visually appealing as I learn some tricks. 

Have a great week and be blessed!

Summary Sunday - it's been a crazy week

Well, this past week has been one of the craziest we've had in a while.  My mother-in-law was hospitalized for a few days, then sent home only to be hospitalized again for a broken hip.  Lots of life-changing events happening on husband's side of the family.

I seem to be the only family member who hasn't eaten out this year.  I'm proud of myself! 

I have been working on my manuscript for the writing contest but with the deadline approaching on Tuesday, I don't think I'm quite ready.  But I may submit it as is and just see what happens.  I can continue to work on it and possibly self publish, or it will be editor ready by April if I should win this contest.  Positive thoughts will yield positive results!

I actually got a little crafting done this weekend but nothing new listed on my website.  I've got to find some time to declutter around here and make a little extra cash to put toward my passport renewal and the trip to Spain this summer.  I'm debating whether or not to have a booth at our annual craft show in April.  I could use the money but the past few years have not been very profitable for the time it takes to create art and sit the booth.  Still praying about that one.

Back to school tomorrow for week 22 of this school year.  Yes, I count down that way.  It is the only way I can make it through.  It seems each year gets harder for me to enjoy my job.  I don't know if it's the excess political garbage and technology that we are expected to incorporate or the lack of respect I get from the students.  If I could just teach my subject matter with small classes, I would be much happier.  But that's not happening any time soon.  I did get some grading done this weekend (today actually) so I'm not completely behind.

My daddy blessed us with lots of chicken again on Friday so I packed it and separated it and blessed others.  Gave some to our neighbor, my bestie, and another good friend.  Have some packed tightly in the freezer to take to church on Wednesday to help feed the homeless next week. 

I need to clip and organize my coupons so I won't make silly mistakes and spend more money than necessary but there's just not enough spare time in my day.  I started laundry today and washed most of the kids' things for practice and games this week but haven't even washed anything of mine. 

This week looks rather busy with basketball games and college night.  I hope I can stick to home cooking and not have to eat out with our busy schedule.  I'll have to find time tomorrow to plan our meals so that doesn't happen.  I guess it's leftovers and hot dogs tomorrow since I forgot to set out something from the freezer.  A quick trip to the store for some chips should make that acceptable to everyone around here!

I've also got to take out my savings of $1 and $2 for the first two weeks of the year.  I'm trying out this savings plan this year, in addition to building up my emergency fund while also saving for that trip to Spain. 

I hope this works!  It's worth a shot.  I like the way it starts out simple to build momentum.  I even thought about working it backwards, so that the smaller amounts are closer to Christmas when spending increases but right now, I need the smaller amounts.  I may just print this and mark off an amount as I save it.  If I have $20 extra then I would go ahead and mark week 20 off the list.  This way I could save big when I have it and when things are tight could choose a smaller amount.  Either way, it will be nice if I can do this all year.  Look at the savings after 52 weeks!  Not bad.  I'm going to try and get the oldest boy to do this too.  He seemed excited when I was telling him about it so maybe he'll try too and we can hold each other accountable.

Well, that's my summary!  Let me know if you are working on any goals!  I'd love to hear your summary and how you are tweaking your plans for this year.

Be blessed!

Pretty display

After all my freezer cooking today, I needed a creative break.  I have been wanting something pretty for my bathroom so I can organize all my stuff.

See, here's the problem - a mess.  And when I plug in my hairdryer or curling iron, everything gets knocked over.  I wanted something to hold it all but didn't really want a tray; I have plenty of those.

I hit the thrift store and scored this nice white plate with gold accent stripes for 50 cents.  I found this ceramic candlestick for $1.00.  Not pretty yet but just wait!

 

I used glossy spray paint to paint the candlestick black and sprinkled a little black glitter on it while it was still wet.  Not really for sparkle but texture.  While that was drying, I used my metallic Sharpies to embellish the dish a little.  I chose swirlies and flowers in silver, gold and copper.  The next step is to glue it together.  I used my heavy duty hot glue gun.  I turned the plate over and placed the candlestick in the center.  I drew around it with a Sharpie so I would know exactly where to place it when I had the hot glue on it.

Now to clean off the bathroom counter and see how it looks in its new home.  I'm loving it and want to make another one, slightly shorter, for all my skin care bottles. 

And there it is!  My little beauty corner.  It's coming together nicely.  I can just see a little trio of these.  I'll have to hit up the thrift store again or see what I've got lying around the house!

Be blessed!

So frustrated.

Oh, I am so frustrated right now.  First of all, it doesn't help that I can feel a sinus infection or some other winter illness coming on.  In my line of work - teaching - I can't afford to be sick because I can't get a good sub.  I teach Spanish and there are very few subs who offer any kind of benefit in that department.  So, I usually just go to school sick, until a doctor tells me to stay home (which happens if I run myself hard enough).  Add to this mixture a faculty meeting where we are once again taught some new and great technology tool to incorporate in our classes, or better yet, to use when we have to call a sub so that the students have meaningful assignments to do while we are gone.  OK.  I get it.  You want me to work all the time because I sure as heck can't grade papers, plan lessons, make copies, contact parents, AND record podcasts or video lessons to upload to my website during my 55 minute planning period. 

I'm not saying technology is a bad thing.  I like my computer, the Internet, my blog, shopping in my pajamas.  But, seriously?  When is it going to be enough.  Kids don't want to pay attention as it is.  They want to be entertained and play games.  Well, I have a family of my own and I can't work an additional 2 hours every day once I get home to work on podcasts or researching a good app for the students to use.  I am a traditional arts and crafts, paper and pencil, let the kids do the work kind of teacher.  So, I was frustrated anyway when I came home today.

Then, I get an email from one of my child's teachers explaining some grades she had given in the past 2 days.  One of those was for an assessment that determines what grade level the child reads on.  At this point, the children should be on a 7.4 - 7th grade, 4th month.  This is simply a tool for the teacher to use to help the child get on grade level.  She gave this as a grade!  Why am I so upset?  Because my child struggles and reads on a 5.5 grade level.  That's 5th grade level.  He made a C on this assignment because he does not read on grade level.  Shouldn't she be helping him get on grade level instead of punishing him for being a poor reader?  Oh, and for children who are above a 7th grade level, they were awarded bonus points.  Yeah.  I'm mad.  The school (and I teach in the same system so this could be detrimental to my child) will be hearing from me about this after I calm down.  Not only is this not fair, but it is setting children up for failure.  My child feels horrible that he is not on grade level with his peers, although he tries.  Giving him a grade for this hurts his self esteem, and middle school is definitely a place where we need to be building that up.  Oh, I have so many opinions about this that I just needed to vent so I can compose my email to the school.

I really want to do something, not just for my son but for others like him.  It also makes me question my own teaching practices.  Do I honestly do everything I can for students or do I do things that are unfair?  I don't know but I will find some time somewhere to ponder that and change if I need to.  Honestly, I think I am at a point where I no longer want to be in education.  The health insurance is great and the retirement isn't bad but I'm thinking I can find something comparable, especially with my skills. 

I will work on my book tonight since the contest deadline is Tuesday.  Maybe that's my ticket out.  No matter, I will give everything over to the Lord tonight and I'll listen to what he has to say to me.  He'll guide me in the way I need to go with this.

Thanks for reading (listening) and Be blessed!

Money Matters Monday - Earning more

I'm a teacher.  I'm on salary and there's no overtime.  The benefits are pretty good; that's why I stay in this profession.  But I do like to supplement my income.  I need to build an emergency fund and I need to save for an educational trip to Spain that I'm taking in June.  So, I've got to find the extra money somewhere because there is no extra in our budget.  How do I do that?

I am crafty, as you may have read in a previous post, so I have an Etsy site where I list my arts and crafts.  Sometimes I go through stages where I sell something every other day.  But then there are times, most of the time, actually, where I am in a dry spell and don't sell a thing. 

I sell on Ebay but that has really gotten to be more trouble than it's worth.  I stay up late and take photos of stuff we don't need and I write descriptions to entice others to bid on it.  Again, sometimes I do really well and get what I want out of an item.  Other times, I lose money because I underestimated shipping or didn't get any high bids on something. 

I've taken things to consignment shops and did alright but my children are at the point where they completely wear things out.  Plus, that's only seasonal but it helps.  I've done yard sales but hate the hassle of getting up early, hanging up signs, and setting up tables outside.  And you have to have warm, nice weather.  I live in Alabama.  That's mostly unpredictable.

If I had extra time, I could teach some extra Spanish lessons.  I've been asked by several people in different professions but I am always at a ballgame or ball field somewhere. 

It's very hard when you have a family to find free time to try and make a little extra money but I try.  I guess that's why I am writing this blog and entering writing contests.  Maybe I can win a little extra cash or publish a book to start my emergency fund so I can send my 3 kiddos to college or travel or retire!

Well, I know there wasn't any profound money advice today but I never promised that!  I just want a way to hold myself accountable so I am using Mondays to talk about anything money related, even if I'm talking about my lack of it and need for just a little more since I won't be getting a raise any time soon.

Be blessed!

Sunday Summary

Well, it's Sunday, and here's a summary of how things have been going and where things will (hopefully) go this week.

Summary:  Had to come back to reality and start back to school on Thursday.  I am revisiting a book I started a few years ago and working on it to submit for a contest that ends on the 15th.  Not much time left for that but I have been praying about it and God has continued to inspire me and give me the free time to work on it.  Budget has been in place and we have not eaten out this year.  Yes, I realize there have only been 6 days of it so far but for us, that's a big deal.  I've also been working out again on the Wii Just Dance sweat option.  I have to lose weight.  I am at my heaviest and I physically feel terrible and unhealthy.

What's coming this week:  To continue on my plan of regularly writing on this blog.  I hope to post more items to Etsy and Ebay, as I need to declutter and raise some money for an educational trip to Spain that I have coming up soon.  I also have a few projects I want to work on.  Actually, I did start a crochet project last night while watching movies.  I am using old tee shirts of different colors to make a rug for my front entry.  So far, it looks okay.  I don't really have a color scheme in my house except for lots of color, black, white and mounted ducks, so I'm hoping the rag-style of it will work nicely.  If not, I guess it will end up in the Etsy shop.  The kids have ball games this week so the eating out challenge is going to get real!  I think we can do it, one week at a time.  I do feel more successful already in this first week of 2013 than I have in the past. 

Wow, I didn't realize I had so much to do this week but things are always busier when school starts back.  I keep praying for the day when I can be a work-from-home mom, writing or creating something while still providing for my family.  Unfortunately, we just can't afford for me to give up teaching at a public school just yet.  But I'm working on it!

Have a blessed week!

Why am I so crafty?

Maybe you've been wondering why I am so crafty and where it all comes from?  My children ask me all the time.  Here's what I tell them:

Growing up, we didn't have much money.  I remember my dad working all the time and my mom working all the time.  Actually, my mom had 2 jobs for most of my childhood that I can remember.  I guess at an early age I knew we couldn't afford a lot of the things I wanted and wanted to do, like take art or dance classes.  I have an aunt that would always take my sister and me shopping for school clothes and that was such a treat because that was the only way I could get any name brand clothing.

I was already a smart girl but I don't remember saying "I'm bored" as much as my own children do. 
What I do remember is always loving to read and draw.  I won my first art contest when I was in the first grade.  I drew a picture of Raggedy Ann and Andy.  It was on a box or something that my teacher had in her room.  I ended up winning 2nd place in the state for the elementary level.  So I would continue drawing and doodling.  Well, I still do that!

I also, being a girl, was into fashion and clothes.  I remember getting one of those fashion designer kits for Christmas or a birthday; you know, the ones that had all the different plates and you mixed and matched the head, the torso, and the legs and they had various patterns and styles.  You put the paper on top and used a flat charcoal-like pencil to rub the image onto the paper.  Then you could color it.  It loved that thing!  My best friend and I also had a large binder full of clothing that we would design when we stayed up late.  I hate that I lost that thing.  It would be a treasure now for sure!  One of the first memories I have of sewing was in 4th or 5th grade and I made a skirt for a 4H fashion show.  I placed but I can't remember what I won.  My mom had a sewing machine that she would use to make doll clothes for my sister and me, or tee shirt dresses for us, and that's how I learned to sew.  I can't recall if my mom actually sat me down and taught me or if I just watched her and tried it myself.  Either way, I learned and, while I'm not a wonderful seamstress, I am sufficient enough to read patterns, design my own patterns, and make clothes, bags, and toys.   My mom and sister gave me a new sewing machine for Christmas a few years ago but I still have the original that belonged to my mom.  I grew up recycling too because we didn't have a lot of money for fabric so I used whatever we had - old pillowcases, curtains, or clothes that didn't fit or were stained.  While I can afford a little fabric, I still prefer to search thrift stores for vintage materials and reuse what's already out there.

Whenever I got bored, I would go make something, draw something, write something or read something.  I'm still that way.  I am not one of those that sit around and watch TV all day, unless it's a DIY marathon!  Even then, I am in front of the TV with my craft supplies.  I take a sketch book or drawing pad with me everywhere I go.  It's just in my nature, I guess.  I still have notebooks and sketchbooks packed away full of stories and drawings, ideas for fabrics and clothing, and home decorating craft ideas.  I'm also pretty handy with tools thanks to my dad! 

I love making things and creating something new from something old.  I gave handmade gifts way back when it wasn't cool to give handmade gifts.  I've still never had an art lesson even though I teach painting classes at my church!  I think I will probably be crafting and painting until I die.  It now serves as my stress relief and a way to reach out to others at church.

Well, now you know where all that craftiness comes from.  I honestly feel like it is just a God-given talent that I have and I give Him the glory and thanks for it.

Be blessed!

Well, Hello 2013

Well...Hello 2013.  On this first day of the year I have been rather productive.  I worked on my budget and my goals for the year, as well as my 3 year financial plan.  I know, that sounds boring but it actually fired me up to do the rest of my tasks for the day.  I listed 12 items on my Etsy site!  I've got to clear the clutter (for real, this time) and make some extra cash for my trip to Spain in June.  I still have 16 more items to list but that can wait until tomorrow.  Hopefully I can free up some much needed storage space and make a little cash at the same time.  I still need to work on my novel for the writing contest so that's next on the list for an hour and then it's bedtime because I have to go back to work tomorrow.  Ugh.  I don't wanna go.

I thoroughly enjoy my time at home during the holidays but I didn't get quite enough of it this Christmas since we went on a first-ever Christmas vacation (which will become a regular event now).  I very much want to be a stay-at-home, write-from-home, craft-from-home kind of mom but right now that just isn't in the cards.  But if I stay positive and organized and motivated, maybe I can make it happen. 

I saw this on a wall in Magic Kingdom and had to take a picture of it.  It is my inspiration right now because if I can stay focused and motivated on reaching the goals we've set in place, the reward is for the entire family, not just me.  This applies to so many of the goals we are working on this year, not just the financial ones.  So...keep dreaming!

Be blessed in 2013!