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!

Money Matters Monday - 2013 Budget

Ugh.  Money.  Mondays.  Not the two most desirable topics, especially together.  However, in an effort to keep myself accountable, and try to interest you in my little blog, I am going to use Mondays to talk about money - lack of it, acquiring of it, saving of it, whatever pops into my mind or confessions I need to make.  Maybe I can give you some pointers or you can leave some pointers for me!  Let's help each other save more and live more fully in the coming year.

So, with that in mind, I need to talk about budget.  I need one.  Well, I need a better one.  I have been doing a better job for the past few months at making a written budget, keeping track of every expense (even the $1-$2 trips to the vending machine at work), and trying to lower some areas of spending - like eating out - while trying to increase other areas - like paying down debt or building an emergency fund.

I came across another blog the other day about a family that decided to not eat out at all for an entire year.  Wow!  I was inspired and motivated.  So, I tossed the idea around to the 3 boys and the other girl in the family.  To my surprise, they were in agreement that we should try to eat at home more.  Not only will we probably become healthier by doing this, but I believe we will also save lots of money.  On average, our family eats out to the tune of $350-$500 a month.  Woah!  In two or three months I could have my $1000 emergency fund if we stopped eating out.  This is going to be a real challenge for my family since we are constantly on the go with ball games and practices.  It's going to take some planning and preparation on my part.  But I'm willing to try.  If I can save that much money (and it's honestly a little more than that because that is just the amount out of only my paycheck each month) then the extra prep will be worth it.  My realistic goal is to limit our eating out or pick up food, including pizza delivery, to once a week.  With a family of 5, that could bring that number down to $250 or less.  Still saving money, though.

So, my suggestion to all of you on this Money Matters Monday is to make a budget for 2013, or at least a goal worksheet.  Take a look at your expenses and see where you can make adjustments and save more money for a rainy day shopping trip, a vacation, or add to that retirement or emergency fund.  Since I'm asking you to make goals, here are mine:

1.  Have a $1000 emergency fund.  (I know we should already have one but we don't.  This is why this is numero uno.)
2.  Save for educational trip to Spain in June 2013.
3.  Save for family Christmas vacation in December 2013.  This year's goal is Hawaii.  (We dream big!)
4.  Pay off TV loan early (will be paid in full in January 2014 anyway).
5.  Pay off vacation club package by October 2013.

I have other goals but these are the top 5.  What are your top 5 money goals for 2013?

Be blessed!

My daily inspiration to achieve my goals.

Closing out 2012 and Welcoming 2013

For the first time ever, the Charles family went on a vacation for Christmas.  And not just any vacation.  We braved the hundreds of thousands of people at Disney World in Orlando.  It was crazy.  It was crowded.  Lunch was awful.  We went a little over budget.  But it was worth it. 

The looks on their faces as we approached the crowded parking entrance on Christmas day does not really explain the excitement and joy that they were feeling...well, maybe Miss Hollywood in the middle.  She was so thrilled to learn of our adventure.  Especially since she thought we were going to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon for the past four months!  We had to break it to her earlier than we wanted because she was so excited to be flying in a plane and we were really driving to Florida.  So we told her the night we left out by letting her open a little gift that I had made for her for the trip.  Her "magic shoes" and the ticket hiding in them, with a handmade Disney Christmas shirt and scarf (which she did not wear because Santa brought everyone a new Disney shirt to wear).

We started off with Space Mountain because the wait was only an hour and we did not upgrade our tickets to include FastPass.  Note to self - we will next time!  We rode the tea cups, Splash Mountain, and a few other rides.  We happened upon the Christmas parade as we were riding the train around the park.  That was really neat!  Then, my favorite part.  We had just finished riding the space plane thing in Tomorrowland and Cinderella's castle had the blue and purple lights shining on it.  We were making our way back to Main Street to try to get some autographs because little miss didn't have any and it was already after 6 pm.  We noticed crowds in front of the castle and a holiday show going on.  Yes.  It was Cinderella's wish to have the castle lit for Christmas.  And what a magical moment it was!  I teared up a little from the sheer amazement and beauty of it all.  Christmas is my most favorite holiday and this was just the thing that made my cup full of blessings overflow.  I also teared up at the joy and wonder on little Jessalyn's face as all this happened.  It most definitely made every second of the craziness we had experienced all day worth it.

We ended our Christmas day by walking down Main Street USA as snow flakes fell on the crowd.  Yes, I sort of got my white Christmas too.  Even if it was in 78 degree Florida weather with 100,000 other people.  And we ended up getting a signature for the autograph book before we left.  The big one.  Mickey.

Our vacation included visits to Daytona Beach, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and several other attractions.  It was a great way to end 2012 by bonding with each of the children and sharing in this fabulous family adventure.  I pray that 2013 will hold as many blessings as I continue to thank God for all that he has given our family.  I pray that you, the reader of this little blog, will be blessed as well.

Holding myself accountable

It's my blog.  It's my dream.  So why am I so jealous when other people are living the lifestyle I want?  Because I keep letting "stuff" get in my way.  Now, some of that stuff includes the kids' ball games and practices, church activities, or the full-time teaching job I have.  But enough with the excuses.  I can do this.

I found this quote tonight and it really hit home.  I must keep trying and persist until I succeed.  No more waiting around for something amazing to happen.  I must make that amazing thing happen on my own.  I must hold myself accountable and stop making excuses.  So what if I have a job?  I also have a little bit of free time that I can truly devote to making my dreams come true.  And it starts now.

Thanks for reading my little post.  Time is short, back to school tomorrow (and I have to be there early), but I will find the time to start making my dream my reality.  No more excuses. 

Be blessed!