Perhaps I should change the title of my blog to be procrastinator! I started this on July 17th, typed a rather large post, and somehow proceeded to have my computer lock up and lost the post before it was saved or posted. How frustrating! To keep to my normal routine, I chose to ignore it. Why? Did I think it would magically reappear itself? I think I need this to keep myself accountable. I need this to get other people's ideas. I need to hear what everyone else is doing.
So, to hold myself accountable, here I am starting all over again. My situation has only gotten worse since I decided I needed to change my financial life.
Let's start at the beginning. My obsession with crafts, of all kinds, has contributed to my large debt. However, if I were really honest with myself, I might admit I possibly have OCD and just like to shop and hoard, period. Over the years, I think I have justified my hoarding as I would only allow myself to spend money on craft items (for the most part). I told myself I could make gifts for people (and I do). I told myself I could make money from the crafts, so that was an allowable hobby. At one time, it did help support my now ex-boyfriend and myself through several very low periods where he was laid off and then working a nonpaying (commission only) job. I know I can not spend, I have done it, I have proven that when times are tough, I can deal. But I don't want to wait until they are that tough again before I start doing something about my problem.
So, first question to myself, exactly what is my problem? Initially, I felt it was all financial and that I had to find a way to get out of debt. I had to find a way to basically make more money so that I can finally get out of debt. I have been trying to get out of debt for so many years, and I keep slipping up and spending and I just never get out of debt. But as I begin to write this, it becomes painfully clear that my biggest problem might not be that of financial after all, but more of my obsession with shopping. If I could resolve this, the financial problem would eventually resolve itself. I pay all my bills on time. I have a plan of action. I have every penny written down. I account for APRS, promotional APRS, minimum payments, etc. I work and rework the numbers to see if paying off one card before another is a better plan of action. I have a "snowball" plan broken out to bimonthly payments and an amortization program that will compute bimonthly payments. I have my budget broken down to bimonthly and I pay a portion to each credit card each pay (ever two week) very faithfully that Friday morning before work. I definitely pay my bills first. I theoretically should have the remainder (very small) to spend for myself, to spend on my needs and wants. I find myself charging any non necessities though. I had stopped this all together for at least 5 years but find myself just allowing myself to do it again. I have to get a grip on that.
This brings me to the entire reason for this blog, I want to keep track of my plan. I want to dabble with some ways to make some extra money. Speaking of, a second job is out of the question. I have some health problems, which I will get into one day I suppose ,that really prevent me from doing so. I have tried in the past. At the moment, I have a salary position, so my normal work week is Monday through Friday from about 7 am until at least 5 but usually closer to 6 pm. I rarely take a lunch and usually more often eat lunch at my desk as I work. I carry a blackberry and find myself answering several emails throughout the evening and weekends. I enjoy my job. I am trying not to be bitter, but something happened at work recently that I don't want to change my view of my job.
I think I mentioned that I started this post on the 17th. Well, a few days later, I made nonrefundable reservations for a vacation. I had promised my niece and her best friend I would take them on a road trip. I get plenty of vacation and I had quite a bit to use up soon before I lose it, so why not? We all agreed to split expenses and they are in high school, so I honestly didn't expect an even thirds split, but if they put forth an effort, that was enough for me. We booked at just about the cheapest hotel we could find, bargain shopped for our attractions, put together a pack it with us meal plan for the week, and are going on an extremely cheap (but fun!) vacation.
Let's just through the monkey wrench in now. I knew I couldn't afford this vacation, but agreed to it anyways. I know I have to treat myself every now and then. I also make an effort to make up for some things (someday I might talk about this too) to my niece. Nothing I have done that I might feel I owe her for; she just hasn't had the idyllic childhood I had. Somehow, I find it my job to try and make it up to her. In any case, if I really try, I can get away with $150 for this vacation. I might not be calculating correctly on the gas and tolls, but I am pretty close. This is considering the girls are paying a third of the hotel and tickets, and I pay the food, gas, and tolls. So, we made the reservations and the next day at work, they dropped a bombshell. We are each being asked in my department to cut our hours (slightly) each week. Now, to me, as tight as I run my budget, wow, that will be a little rough. I know, I should be thankful I am not laid off or that I still have a job. But here is where I get a tad bit bitter and I am trying really hard not to. I am salary, so as I said, I work way more than 40 hours a week. And now you tell me you want to cut my hours to cut my pay? I almost feel like I will only work the hours I am getting paid for now. I know other people are certainly going to do that. I have always done what I felt was for the good of the company, without sacrificing my own life. Now I have to question if I shouldn't be more putting myself first.
I feel like I am digressing. I talk a lot, has that become apparent yet? I try not to ramble, but, oh, just get me started...
So, problem one, my ever-growing craft stash has taken over my house and it is beyond a little unorganized and cluttered. I have to find a way to weed these out. I can't throw them out. I just have a problem with that. I know, I could donate, but I just can't get rid of it, I feel somehow it could be useful and be of value to me. I feel the best recourse is to find a way to make crafts out of all my supplies and sell them. Easier than it sounds.
Problem two would be my financial worries. I have signed up for an online medical transcriptionist course and am not even halfway through it. My goal was that would be something I could do at home and I didn't have to do everyday, so if I physically was having a bad day, it wouldn't be an issue. This was a way I could make some extra money and that I could work on my debt. I have found myself not spending as much time on this schooling as I had originally hoped. I have paid for it, so I need to take advantage of that. The crafts have pretty much been sitting because I need to spend as much time as I can on this course. But if I can find a small amount of time invested craft that will sell quickly, I will certainly allow a few hours each week for that.
Problem three is with the shortened paychecks now, I am not positive I can come up with the $150 that I need for vacation in less than a month! I know, I can charge it and in comparison to a lot of other things I have charged the last few years, it really is small. However, I really want to not charge anything anymore. I have some books on half.com and have sold a few, but not enough. I am hesitant to check out garage sales for books because number one that is money upfront I need to spend and number two I will probably find lots of other junk I think I have to have at the time.
I guess my first short term goal will be to come up with the $150 needed without having to charge it. I will blog my attempts here. If anyone truly has a way to make a few bucks that is legal, quick, and fairly easy, I really would love to hear about it. Someday I will post all the money making schemes I have fallen victim to over the years.
I am making myself work on the MT class for at least half an hour now before bed (even though it is already past bedtime now).
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