So . .. I didn't sleep very well last night. (Let's just say that when you have a bottle of vegetable oil from 1997 and you're not sure if you should use it or not - no matter how much you want to make the brownies - DON"T DO IT!)
While I was tossing and turning, my mind was scheming as to what to do about my storytime blog. I'm thinking the likelihood of getting publishers to give me a carte blanche go ahead to read their books from cover to cover on videotape without having to pay royalties or something, is probably pretty slim. Especially without having anything established other than the one post.
So, I've decided to go ahead and do something similar to what I was thinking - except without the videos. I'm going to focus on different children's authors/poets and/or themes. I'll write short histories of the author's, give ideas on how to use the books or poems in a homeschool or classroom setting, and provide either links to already created activities or my own suggested ideas.
I also am going to see if my dad would be willing to record himself saying his children's stories. My dad was a pastor for 35 years, and I've never heard better children's stories. So, if he's willing, then I might put up two of those a month with a transcript.
Eventually, if it gets established enough, I might be able to add in my original idea. I still might make videos showing how to read a story to a group of children, or how to engage one child on your lap in a story. You would think most people would have those skills naturally, but from what I've seen, that's not so.
I need to get an amazon code from today for linking to the books, so it may still be a while before I get it really going.
I may be asking those of you with little ones 10 and under to give me suggestions of some of their favorite current authors. I know quite a bit myself, but there's so many out there that I may not have heard of them before.
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Can I live on $838/month?
The answer to that question is no. But I *can* live on $1000/month.
Why am I asking myself this question? Because that is what I'm probably going to be doing for the next couple years.
I think I'm going to give up on the job search for now. (Not that it's going so great anyway.)
If I work at the gym 32 hours a week - M, T, TH and F that will give me roughly $838/month income. The monthly difference will have to be made up through my savings.
What this will allow me to do is:
1. Have 4 days a week where I will have plenty of time to study and work on my blogs while getting paid.
2. Be in a place 4 days a week where I can work out.
3. Have my Wednesday's free to volunteer at my local library branch to start getting some real world experience.
3a. By getting my foot in the door at the library as a volunteer, I *may* be able to be in line for a paid position eventually if one opens up.
So, here is my budget:
Income: 838
Rent: 665 (Utilities are paid)
Phone: 50
Internet: 20
IRA: 50
Insurance: 200 (Health, Car, Renter's)
Gas: 40
Food: 50
Other: 10
Total Output: 1085
Difference: 246.60
246.60 *12 = 2959.44
So, at least $3,000 will be used from savings. I will have to use savings also for any taxes owed, medical costs, or car repairs. So I'm thinking roughly $4200 for one-year above my income.
I will pursue other avenues of income, such as from my blogs and babysitting, but that's not consistent enough to count.
My food budget will basically be this:
loaf of bread - $4
jar of peanut butter - $3
2lb bag of pinto beans $2
quinoa or lentils - $10
RiceMilk (2 lg containers) $7
Oatmeal $4
Fruit - $5
Frz Veggies - $6
Other -- $9
A day's meals would look like this:
Breakfast: Oatmeal w/milk banana
Lunch: Beans and veggies
Supper: Quinoa w veggies
Snack: peanut butter toast
I have some of these things on hand already, as well as a good number of other food items, so any grocery money not spent will be kept back for months when the gym is closed for a holiday.
I think I can make this work. It won't be easy - especially using up my savings. But if in the end I have my Master's and have library experience for my resume, I think it will be worth it.
What do you all think?
Danger - Thinking ahead
March 15th, 2009 at 01:43 am
March 15th, 2009 at 06:50 am 1237099806
Also, weren't you having trouble with the gym paying you and not having the check bounce? Can you count on that money to always be there? You will be skating on the edge without much of a buoy to help out if the check does bounce...
March 15th, 2009 at 07:01 am 1237100462
You may be right about my food budget too - that is something I'll have to play by ear. If I need to, I can always increase it.
March 15th, 2009 at 12:49 pm 1237121387
March 15th, 2009 at 03:41 pm 1237131707
March 15th, 2009 at 04:33 pm 1237134818
I may be able to get done with school faster this way though. If I was working a full time normal job where you are actually doing something all day, then I'd only be able to take one class at a time. With this job, I may be able to take a full class load because I'll have plenty of time for studying.
I hate to eat into my savings too, but eventually once I have my degree and get a job as a children's librarian, I will be able to replenish those savings quite quickly.
And yes, the job market stinks. I got an email this morning to another Craigslist posting - they said they had received 700 responses to their posting - for an $8/hr job.
Joan,
Thank you. I think I can do it. The more sacrifice and effort to achieve a goal, the sweeter success will be, right?
March 15th, 2009 at 04:58 pm 1237136335
March 15th, 2009 at 08:47 pm 1237150064
1. Your idea of getting some new schooling and pursuing a new career direction seems really perfect. I say "go for it!" If that means working only part-time while in school, so be it.
2. BUT, if you are going to go back to being a full-time student (and part-time worker), you need to go back to a "student mode" way of thinking ... remember how cheaply we lived back then? The budget item I see as a problem is the rent. Who of us lived alone when we were in school? Probably none of us. I sure didn't; it was either a shared dorm room or a small house shared with 4 people.
Since you're going to be in school for a couple years, I think you need to seriously consider moving some place significantly less expensive, such as a small studio apartment, a room in a house, or a roommate situation. If you could cut $300 off the rent expense, that would give you so much more breathing room.
3. Yes, I think the $50 per month for groceries is too tight. Off the top of my head, I'd say $90-100 a month would be a stretch but doable.
Good luck! I'm really rooting for you!
March 15th, 2009 at 08:48 pm 1237150135
March 15th, 2009 at 10:04 pm 1237154664
I do see your point about the rent.
The problem is, what do I do with all my furniture if I go to a smaller place? Give it away/sell it, then have to buy more when I'm in a real job again? Rent a storage space for $100/mo+?
The other thing is that if I move, then I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep the same internet rate - right now I'm grandfathered in.
Also, the rent covers all utilities. I was checking Craigslist for roommates wanted. The cheapest I saw was $495/mo + half utilities. That wouldn't be saving that much money - esp. if I have to put a bunch of stuff in storage.
I considered moving in with my mom and stepdad and renting a room from them. But after much thought on it, realized that it probably would prove disastrous for my mom and I's relationship. She and I are complete opposites on several key matters, and having distance has greatly improved our relationship.
The only other thing I can think of, is to somehow divide my bedroom in two, and have a roommate. I would need to probably sell my King bed and buy two twins. I'm not sure though if my lease allows me to have a renter though. And are you allowed to specify you want someone who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't do loud parties, doesn't do drugs, etc.?
March 16th, 2009 at 01:24 am 1237166672
I've been offline since Fri and missed the post.
I think that it is do-able, though you could supplement your income by looking for part-time babysitting or pet sitting or something like that.
Look into the health insurance coverage through the school (when you return as a student). DH and I both did that and while it wasn't the best coverage possible, it was a least something for catastrophic emergencies.
Do you feel that you need to add to your retirement fund while in school? That could go toward your grocery budget and you'll be able to max out contributions after you graduate.
I think that you can achieve anything you put your mind too.
March 16th, 2009 at 01:28 am 1237166905
You're right, I should look into health coverage through the school -- have to get enrolled and accepted first though.
As to the IRA - Yes and no. At 33, almost 34 I'm not sure that I should NOT be putting something in my IRA even while in school. But, I probably would reduce it to $25 or even just $10 if I could. But, my account is below the $2500 mark (thanks to the stock market) and so if I stop making automatic contributions of at least $50/month, then I'll get charged account fees.
March 16th, 2009 at 01:57 am 1237168667
Another idea would be to move up to a 2-Bedroom place, but with a roommate to split the rent with.
Oh ... and I completely understand about not wanting to move in with your mom.
Not sure if the whole moving thing would work, but it's definitely something to think about, especially rent by far your single biggest expense.
March 16th, 2009 at 02:35 am 1237170905
Oh, and I hope my post didn't come across too negatively. Those are just two things that immediately popped out at me...I'm sure you can figure out a way to go to school pretty cheaply!
March 16th, 2009 at 03:01 am 1237172518
I will look into the renting option - it's just that I really don't think there is that much of a cheaper option when you add in utilities.
Before all my moving around, the place I rented was $549/mo plus utilities. Electric was at least $50/mo, water/garbage another $13/mo. So, that was ~%610+/mo. That same apartment now starts at $630/mo and was about 100 sq ft smaller than where I am now (although it did have a place for a washer dryer - which was a HUGE plus.)
So, let's say utilities run $100/mo (water,garbage,electric). In order to break even, I would have to find a place that is $565/mo. I would also have to find a place where I can have DSL with no landline - otherwise I would have to get a landline + DSL, which would add a min. of $30/mo extra. So, that would mean I'd have to find a place no more than $535/mo - just to break even.
I could see about going to a two-bedroom and splitting rent. I would just have to be *very* sure of my roommate - otherwise I might be stuck with some huge bills + a roommate probably wouldn't be able to live without cable or a landline - so those would be added expenses.
I *could* advertise for a roommate and go on a month-to-month term with my complex. The advert would be for a - non-smoker/drinker/drug user/partier; no cable or landline but wireless internet; no "guests" overnight other than family; two-months upfront security deposit; full credit/background check; several verifiable references, etc. How many takers do you think that would get?
Oh, the other big kicker. To qualify to lease a new apartment, the usual rule is that your income is 3x the rent. I'm not even employed right now - and I'm not sure if the gym (independant contractor) income would count. As long as I stay here, I don't have to re qualify - they know I pay my rent every month, and I doubt they'd kick out a tenant who pays faithfully.
cpateck,
No, your comment wasn't too negative. I appreciate everyone offering their points of view. Unfortunately, no, I don't know anyone who is single (at least not well enough to be able to ask something like that of.)
March 16th, 2009 at 01:18 pm 1237209496
Be very careful about whom you rent to. My friend is going through an awful time, and if she had to deal with this in addition to the stress of going to school, I think she'd crack. She advertised on Craigslist and he *seemed* OK (even tho she didn't listen to me and check his references). Now the drama is unfolding - and who knows when he is leaving.
March 17th, 2009 at 01:21 am 1237252870
You are right, I would need to be very careful in who I rented to/shared a rental with.
Scfr,
I checked with my apartment office today -- a small two-bedroom would be $750/mo (including utilities.) So, that divided isn't too bad at all. I went ahead and signed a 6-month lease for my current place, otherwise I'd be going to the month-to-month rate. So for the next 6-months I will do an intensive search for a roommate to share a two-bedroom with me.
March 17th, 2009 at 02:21 am 1237256480
Since you have 6 months, maybe you can just keep your ears open for people who might mention that they just lost their roommate, need to cut expenses, etc., and let a few good friends know what you are thinking about and ask them to let you know if they hear of any QUALITY people looking to split rent?
I completely understand about not wanting to rent to just anyone. Personally, I probably wouldn't advertise broadly, but would just let word get around to people whose judgment I trusted that I was looking. Who knows? Maybe someone great will come along!
March 17th, 2009 at 02:50 am 1237258254
I think you're right - just kind of do a word of mouth advertising. Maybe let my pastor know that I'd be ready for a roommate come September or October if he hears of anyone.