As I have mentioned before, Scott and I are really trying to get on board with the Dave Ramsey program, and the first step is to gather an emergency fund so that we do not have to find ourselves with any other debt in the process of trying to get rid of all debt. The problem is that all of our money is already accounted for in our weekly budget, and there really is no extra to go towards collecting an emergency fund. Dave Ramsey talks about this in his book,Total Money Makeover, which encourages me to know that other families have been in a similar situation, and he strongly encourages finding a way to bring in extra income. Well I am trying my hardest to tutor online, but I keep hitting brick wall after brick wall. I mean, I make an extra ten dollars here and there, but it just isn't cutting it. As I have mentioned before, my going back to work is not an option as I fully believe I am to be home with Ada. Dave Ramsey tells stories of men who delivered pizzas for a few months on top of their regular job just to get the debt snowball rolling. Well, Scott and I are finally at a place where he might do something like that--take on an extra job, just for a few months in order to get things started. He already picked up an application at Shane's Rib Shack, mainly because we love that place and we happened to be there yesterday. It seems to be a laid back atmosphere, and we thought it might get his foot in the door to one day (far, far down the road) us opening up our own Shane's in Auburn or Huntsville (I say this half kidding, though it is fun to dream about). Our next conversation has been about a job at Chick-Fil-A. I think Scott's pride kicks in a little bit here--not wanting to work at a fast food restaurant with a college degree, but I have heard that it's a good place to work, and again, I wonder if this could somehow get his foot in the door to actually work for Chick-Fil-A headquarters in the logistics department. Plus, Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays. A huge plus. Sundays would definitely be a major rest/family day if Scott does end up taking on a second job. I would love some feedback from anyone who has done the Total Money Makeover. Any suggestions as to how we can bring in a little extra income. We are starting to pray for God to provide a specific amount of extra money every month, and I am trying to get excited (rather than discouraged) to see how God is going to provide. Seriously, we would love feedback/encouragement. We are having a sort of "down" day as we truly want to get started with the Dave Ramsey plan but feel rather stuck. We truly want to use wisdom and discernment as we seek to be obedient to God's will, we just don't really have a clue about what God's will is right now.
P.S. I am also open to any suggestions about how I can make some extra money while staying home with Ada. The only reason we are thinking Scott take on an extra job is because it would create more urgency to get it done. We don't want to rely on this extra income. We want it to be a temporary thing, just a few months to a year until we are debt free except for the house.
11 comments:
A friend of mine who also had the conviction like you to stay at home with her children started to keep other women's (from church mostly) children on certain days so that they could run errands, etc. Kind of like offering a "mother's morning out" or something to a few other moms.
LB,
A woman that I used to teach with wanted to make a little extra money and she worked from home for a company that sort of contracts out to other major companies. Debbie answered calls for HSN or QVC (sorry, but I can't remember which one) using her home phone and computer together. I think that she answered calls and placed orders for them. She made her own schedule, she could work anytime - she often worked after 9pm, once her kiddos were sound asleep- and she could work as many or as few hours as she wanted. She really enjoyed it and made good money. My email is ianaham@yahoo.com, let me know if you are interested and want more info. Good luck and Hope this helps!
~Iana
Hey, I know Amber Huey works part time at the local YMCA's day care area. She can take the boys and let them play with the other kids and get paid. Plus free gym membership I'm sure. I don't know if you have a local Y near you but thats a thought.
I was thinking about keeping another child for someone that has to work, especially if they had a part time job or maybe a person who is a nurse and works 3 days a wk 12 hrs a day. That way they would have another mom watching their child instead of going to day care.
I also know a couple where the grandparents come on weekends for them to both work at a restaurant waiting tables. That might work for every other weekend.
I read your blog regularly and I know something will work out.
love both of you and Ada
We are also following Dave Ramsey- and our trying to get rid of car debt and a lot of student loans- that's why I'm working (our plan is to get these paid off then I can stay at home or work part time when the 2nd baby comes).
Have you considered babysitting? I know it is really hard for people to find part-time day care for kids. The centers only want full time kids, so maybe there is a mom out there who needs care for her child 2 or so days a week.
Or, are you apposed to leaving Ada at night?, you could get a job maybe once or week or something at the mall, like Macy's, or something like that and Scott could keep her while you were gone. I know my mom did this when my brother and I were little.
When we were in Montgomery, I was having to work full time while Russell was finishing Seminary. My mom kept Claire 1 day, Russell was home with her on Fridays, then we paid a babysitter (an arm and a leg) to keep Claire the other 3 days. The babysitter had a little girl the same age as Claire and just needed some extra money. It worked out really well for both of us....I had peace of mind knowing Claire was being well taken care of and the babysitter made the extra money she needed!
LB, I would also consider tutoring in your own home. Adam and I are working a "semi-Dave" plan in order to save for possible adoption. I plan to do some tutoring this school year for some of the local high schools. My friends in B'ham make $50/hr and here in H'ville, the going rate is $30-40/hr. The kids come to your own at your convenience (maybe when Scott is home or after Ada goes to bed). You could do 2 or 3 hrs a week, and boom: major cash flow. Put your name in at local middle or high schools for tutoring in English and Writing!
thanks so much for all of the ideas. I am still leaning towards tutoring, I think, just because I enjoy it and it makes me feel like I am actually using my degrees a little bit. If that doesn't work out, I might try the baby-sitting, especially if it is part time.
My new plan is to try to schedule a time to meet with some of the English teachers so that I can get my name out there. We'll see what happens. I will keep you posted. If you think about it, please join us in praying that God provides in SUPERNATURAL ways. I love watching when things happen that could not be anything but a God-thing.
I was a full-time nanny for a while and it worked out great so that I could keep my baby with me. The baby that I watched was about the same age as my baby and it was just about like having twins! But it worked out really good for a while.
Hey LB, my first thought of course is tutoring. I am doing that right now too. I do it during Brennans naptime and sometimes i have a young girl come over during tutoring time. she loves brennan and doesn't have a very good role model/ mom to look to for homemaking and mothering skills. it allows a bit of mentoring as well b/c she stays for dinner (that is how we pay her-we always have more food than 2 people can eat) She sees me cook dinner, watches how i care for ben and brennan and hears our family prayer over the meal (she's not a believer) Anyway. she was on the squad I coached last year thats how i know her. But also, I no there's truly no glory in it, but you could clean houses. It goes for about $10-20 an hour, you set your won schedule and your child can go with you.--i know that might be hard with Ada in the crawling stage though..so maybe later -im with you on the use your degree thing!--JOY
We're in the exact same boat...for me I watched two kids while I just had Hannah. It definitely helped...it paid for our gas and groceries. I also try to sell Southern Living at Home..off and on. AND, I took a writing course geared toward children's literature and am trying to write articles/stories for kids' magazines. You being a writer might find that fun and helpful. And of course, I too have tutored. haha..we're ALWAYS trying to come up with a creative way to make that extra money we so desperately need. John has started a fence staining business for his second job. I"m always encouraged though because the Lord has been so faithful to provide for us even when we had no clue as to where it would come from. I know He will do the same for ya'll.
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