When I was eliminating the titties I had an idea of what I needed to do. Eat less. Work out more. I am searching for that two point plan that will help me get out of the hole. Spend less. Make more money. There it is. It’s not that easy.
I am a teacher. I love the job. I know people hate teachers. Everyone had one that they hated. The summers off. Always asking for separate bills. I get it. I make good money. How can I make more money? Tutoring? Home schooling? Summer school? Perhaps.
I do feel guilty pursuing those options because there are a tonne of people coming out of teacher’s college without jobs. Don’t get me wrong. I am not a martyr. I do, however, believe that we have to get as many young qualified people into the education field as we can. You know, people who can turn a computer on. We are failing to capture the minds of the youth with VHS movies. I digress.
How can I make more money? Rock and roll. Maybe but not sure I have the juice anymore. I thought if I could pick up a couple of gigs a month it could be worth it. Then I thought I could learn to play the ukulele and play 80s covers like this http://youtu.be/Yr2woarCpCY The sad reality is that I could never be that good. Plus is there anyone willing to pay for that?
I will figure out to make more money. This is the weaker part of the equation for sure. It will come to me. I know I am going roll all my coins as a start. I am going to try beat the house on Pro-line (sports lottery) I think I have a system. (I really know in my heart that it won’t work but it will be fun). I’ve got to find something that won’t take time from my girls.
The spending less part of the equation is where I need to make hay. This is my only way out. I know there is money just seeping out of my coffers. I need to find out where I spend my money. I know for a fact that I spend way too much money on food. I’ve gotta figure that out. Maybe I can reduce my bills somehow. Coupons. Last resort. I feel that people who use coupons just end up buying things they don’t need, just to save. That doesn’t work. I know I can spend less. I may have dumpster dive for my wife’s Valentine’s Day present but I will do it. I will do it for love.
I have to put over $1700 a month on my line of credit to pay it off in 180 days. Shit. How did I get into this mess? Do they still pay you for blood in the States?
We have spent the last 2 years doing this....is hasn't been easy...but once we got on a roll....we ended up ahead of schedule and have paid off all but one outstanding debt. ( not inclusing our cars) I have lots of ideas for you...but I will stress how important it is to reward hard work....like still having a vacation..but camping instead of a resort....get me? Eating out at resturants has got to go. only once a month. for lunch. ....cut back on cable...we got rid of home line and just had cell phones, reduced our monthly living expenses as much as we could..then made a realistic budget. ONLY USE CASH.....swiping that card is too easy! I like envelopes....with the cash amts allotted in them. ..then I am motivated to save in one area to compensate in another....Plant a garden....you would be surprised how much you can grow yourself!....I could go on....I believe we have paid off over $17,000 in 2 yrs...on one income! We always joke that I do have a part time job...saving us money!.....which I do work hard at.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Gail Vaz-Oxlade's website, particularly the resources page: http://gailvazoxlade.com/resources.html
ReplyDeleteI use the Gail's Interactive Budget Worksheet (excel download) that you can find there -- not so much as a budget yet, but to see where my money is going every month. It's customizable, you can add categories. Every time I spend money I just add it to the category. And then I can see where it all went (like the thousand dollars I spent on my cat in the last two months).