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Monday, November 29, 2010

Making up for time off

Today is not a rather productive day so far. I managed to complete one article and begin another one. So today’s total so far is $2.50 provided I keep my writing percentage up to earn that if not it’s a $2 day so far. I figured out that I’m way behind on my earnings for December already but I think I figured that out too.

The earnings for the month of December are already pretty much set so there’s nothing to do except write some articles to other sites for upfront payments. I have to write everyday to make up for the time off that I took the last few months. There are some adjustments that I have to make to my schedule because of the increased amount of time we'll be at the clinic for therapy. Little things like taking paper to figure the budget and updating my diary so that I can type those up at wikinut as diary pages to earn from the page views.

If I can manage to come up with enough items to review that I can get $20 I'll be up to the $50 for payout at Review Stream. I'm hoping to get enough before the end of December. My three girls are each getting Christmas and the two with birthdays will get presents too. That's five gifts, one for each girl, one for each occasion. I'll be testing the "review anything and get paid" theory a great deal this month. I know food reviews, people reviews and product reviews are excepted but what else can I review. People reviews only get about $0.50 each so that'd be about twenty people to review. I know a couple of people I can write reviews of today, I can write one on my pets as well. That'll just leave a lot of work to earn a little bit of money for payout. I think I can manage to get it down to writing a few reviews in an hour each day.

Well, I'm not earning anything by sitting here thinking about what I should do so I think it's time to go back to work for the day.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Taking it Easy but still earning something

Sidetick is where most of my energy has been focused today. It's a rather relaxed atmosphere. All I've done there today is make my daily blog posting and look at pictures others have posted. I'm still earning although at a slow rate for the day by doing things that I'd normally do on FB all day long when I didn't feel like working. The difference today? I'm actually getting a little bit of housework done while I do my work.

Don't get me wrong I'm searching for an article to write too but I'm waiting until I find one that I can write from beginning to end before I start it. Or at least one that I won't get a paragraph written on and stop. I have to figure out how to get the overdrawn checking account to a zero balance and close it. That will leave only the account with my name on it which means there won't be anymore overdrafts on the account. I can't stand paying bank fees just because of someone not understanding you have to know the balance.

I have earnings goals for the month although the way that I've been distracted lately I'm already behind on my working for the month. It's only a couple of days but it's going to take me a while to catch up. I need to up the promotions to make my goals for the month but that's fine too.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Figuring Expenses Again

I figured up most of my expenses again. I got up to $865 and stopped thinking there isn't any way that could be right. Well, I once I stopped to look I saw why they were so high. Child support is in arrears by $665 currently and one of the bank accounts is over drawn by $403.22 at the moment. That's gonna take a couple months to fix.

The light bill is on budget billing and runs $200 a month. So far we've been under budget which is good because the summer means that the bills are going up. The air conditioning doesn't work right. According to the last people to look at it I would be in desperate need of new duct work which I can not afford. I want to have a house built but I can't afford that either. I want it put in the trees so that it has shade. I also want window air and an alternative to the central heat without having to have something sit in the floor for it.

My credit is shot which creates a big problem there though. I have to lower my bills a great deal to do that. I also have to build up my savings account enough to cover the majority of the expense while having something to fall back on in the event of an emergency. There are a dozen expenses that I could cut out if I was the only one in the house. Since I am not it's only my personal expenses that I can reduce and not the costs of the entire house.

Well, this post is getting off track so I'm going to update my rambling blog now since that's what I'm doing.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Searching for change to make it until payday

Well, this afternoon I found myself searching frantically for change. I managed to find $1.40, which is better than nothing. The problem? It was for gas which is $2.69 a gallon at the nearest gas station. That mean that since the low fuel light is on we'll be cutting it awfully close. Hubby gets paid tomorrow which is good they could make them wait until after the holiday. Of course at the moment I'm just hoping that he'll make it home and back to get his check without running out of gas.

Out of this check he has to make a deposit in the overdrawn bank account and pay at least $55 worth of child support. I'll be keeping closer track of it this time, he has to pay arrears too as soon as we can in order to catch it up and have it reevaluated. The fact that it should have been done a long time ago is one I'll leave alone. When you make an average of $100 a week $55 is a bit high for child support.

I haven't gotten much work done lately. I've blogged a lot but other than that I've not done much else. I wrote a couple reviews this week that are pending. I've got a few left to finish.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Trouble finding Motivation

It would seem that at a time when I need motivation more than ever it is nowhere to be found. I have to figure out how to get out of this financial mess. I have a feeling that it's going to take a few months. There are a number of things that I want but those will have to wait. I wanted a Kindle so I could take books with me without needing the book. That's going to have to wait in the meantime I will read free books on Kindle for PC. It's not as portable due to my lack of battery power for the laptop but it is a way to keep from adding to the clutter around here. I love books and I love electronic toys so I can combine those to help prevent having something else to collect dust.



I have a few items that I need that I can't find or afford in the stores around here but I have that part figured out. I just have to learn patience. I've been using Swagbucks in my spare time. So far I've had to wait for the 700SB to get a $5 Paypal deposit because the money has been desperately needed. I'm hoping to be able to start cashing in 450SB for $5 Amazon.com gift cards that I can let build up in my account to use for things that we need. I donated 5SB to the charity drive (it's all I could spare) since I don't have anything else to donate this year.

I'm spending an awful lot of time blogging lately instead of writing articles. I suppose it counts as writing something since I try to write at least one thing everyday to stay in practice. My biggest obstacle at the moment is that I want to be mobile with my computer. I'm hoping to use the gift cards to help me buy a new battery for my computer and a wireless router so I can work anywhere in my house. I just need a table in my kitchen and I'll be able to work while I make dinner. I could use the computer to let the little one watch videos without the expense of a portable DVD player that has a much smaller screen than my laptop.

OK I'm off to update the other two blogs now since the rest of what I have to say has nothing to do with working or saving money.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Earning Money to Cover an Unexpected Expense

I was planning on stepping up my work efforts to get through the extra expense of the holidays without much difficulty. Now I would be stepping up the work efforts for a different reason. I need back brakes on my truck, it seems to be an epidemic. The ABA therapist just got a new fuel pump for the holidays.

I'm not sure but I think I've spent a great deal too much on the freaking thing this year. New front brakes, (replaced the pads twice, once it didn't need it), two clutch cylinders (one twice), a new radiator and now the back brakes. I don't want to think about how much that comes to.

I have yet to price the set of brakes for the back. I'm too afraid that I need the entire braking system checked before anything is done. Well, My mind is wandering again so I'll stop for now.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

No brakes, not what I wanted to hear today

Well today was OT and speech in the afternoon. The morning went fine until we went to leave. The two of use had our things together and went to take the half hour drive to the therapist. Well the first little bit went fine, we made our turn and went down the road a bit. Of course someone pulled out in front of us, still no problem. Then we came to the first stop sign and the brakes scrubbed. We made our turn and when I went to stop for the light I hit the brakes fully expecting to stop, what happened scared the daylights out of me.

I went to stop for the red light. I heard a swish of air as my brake pedal hit the floor and the light for the brake and the anti-lock light came on. Had I started slowing down I would have assumed I locked the brakes up. I was not happy, well on to therapy we went once I managed to stop and my heart came out of my throat. The rest of the way I slowed down a bit and hit the brakes early, still metal on metal. When we got to the first appointment I took the baby in and once she went back I went to check my brake fluid it was full.

OK off to the next appointment without a problem, then we went to go home from it. I was more than a little upset by the time we got home. Rear brake pads and rotors are hopefully all that's needed to fix the problem. Now to figure out how to get motivated enough to raise the money for them and still pay all of next months bills.Centric Parts 121.61042 C-Tek Standard Brake Rotor hopefully they'll be the cheap ones and still work.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

One new goal

I have one new goal. I want to purchase a Kindle to get the physical books in the house cut down on. I installed the Kindle for PC today and got one book for it. It was free so I was splurging without splurging. I began reading "Wife No. 19" today, it's stored in Google Docs because it's over 600 pages the way that it's set up for online reading. I have a few dozen paper backs that I haven't managed to read yet.

I have four reviews pending and since I'm working on some reviews I figure I can review the books too. That'll give me a little bit more income off of my leisure time. I usually take notes during therapy, I tried to read during it once but I can't find the book I was reading for the life of me. I'm going to have to start over if I ever manage to find the book again. I want the kindle so I can take it with me and not have to worry with an actual book. My biggest problem is that if I loose the kindle I'd be out a lot of money.

The time I once spent on Facebook wasting time while I couldn't think of anything to write is now spent on Sidetick. They pay you to do basically the same thing you do on Myspace or Facebook so I take my breaks there now. I know my kindle will have to wait until the new year but that's fine too. In the meantime I have something to work for. I'm wondering if I have the patience to use my swagbucks for enough $5 gift cards to get one.

Well, I have three more blogs to update so I'll be back later on. Maybe by the time I get back I'll have figured out what I'm doing.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Making Plans now to figure out how to accomplish them

Well, lately I've been making plans in an attempt to figure out what to get my girls for their birthdays and Christmas. I figured out what to get the little one, the older ones that's a bit tougher. This year they each get one gift for each occasion plus whatever unneeded item their grandparents have decided are must haves.

I have been planning on reopening my savings account for sometime now and it has yet to work out. If I remember correctly I only need $50 to reopen it. I have the feeling that's gonna be after the first of the year, I am sure I need to see if it can be reopened for a smaller amount. I figure even if I can only put $1 a month into that's better than nothing at this point. I also have to figure out just how much I have to cut back and earn in order to get by if it comes down to get my income to take care of most things around here.

This weekend I wrote and submitted what I think was three reviews that will probably end up getting me an entire 50 cents each. Of course it didn't really take that long to write them so it's not like I worked for less than a $1 an hour, I would have liked to finish the Autism article I started writing early in the week though.

I have almost figured up the total cost of Theresa's supplements. I figured that to get the house I want I have to down size for a while. Downsizing means less room but it also means lowering the bills. Less space takes less effort to heat and cool. If I could afford a camper I could park it under the trees here while I make the plans for the house I want. The house I want has drastically decreased in size over the years.

I saw a small counter top washing machine and little dryer that would come in handy for camping if I ever went again. OK now my mind is wandering. I've decided to start using my swagbucks to get $5 Amazon gift cards and save them in my amazon account until I have the money to purchase the items I want.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

What's it going to take?

I write for a living as you all know by now. I work from the comfort or discomfort of my home. I have an Autistic toddler than I work around. Therapy is taking up an increasing amount of time and the time that I have to work is rapidly decreasing. The fact that lately the only thing I can manage to start and finish are blog postings isn’t helping.

Every word that I write seems to be trash lately. I have even considered going back to work in the real world and placing her in daycare. The added expense is something that I’m afraid would be too much at this time. The last time I had a child in full time day care it was $70 a week, that’s approximately $280 a month that I don’t have right now. I’m seriously considering an additional preschool however since the one she’s at is only a half day two days a week.

I’m not sure but I think figuring out just how to budget my time to make sure I’m covering expenses after the divorce is going to take some time.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Not in the mood to work

I'm really not in the mood to work lately. I'm getting a divorce. I should be working but I don't feel like it and the fact that we're going to have no choice but to be roommates for a while well that takes a bit of the stress of paying the bills alone off of me.

I'm at a loss for words so the writing for a living thing appears to be a bad idea at the moment. I have no choice but to search through hundreds of job postings and bid for private jobs until I get my head back on straight.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

all figured out

well, i got everything figured out. even the fact that me and my soon to be ex husband are going to have to be roommates for a while after the divorce. The cost of living has just gotten too high for us to live separately right now.

at least we're getting along well enough to be civil as we end this marriage and circumstances force us to live together even though we are apart.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Five windows open for working today

I have five windows open for work right now plus this one. I was going to do a profile to put on a writing site but I have to finish up two of my notes pages and start the articles for them first. I'm almost done with one of the articles I'm writing which is a good thing. I have to find one to put up in it's place when I finish with it though.

I have been inserting some pictures I've taken over the years into a few of my articles. I just miss the best photo op I'll have in a while. There was a doe running through my yard, free from fear and full of energy. Watch the next one I'll see will be in the middle of the road as I hit the brakes and flip off the brights so they move.

Well, back to work for a minute then to get the laundry out of the machine to hang up.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

working in multiple windows yes or no

OK lately I've been working with three to five windows open. It's helped productivity to an extent, at least when I feel motivated.

December sees the amount of set income we have going down to $606.60 each month. This is going to be fun but I think with a little bit of persistence I can manage to make enough to get by until I can bring the bills down some. A few like the amount currently spent on supplements can't be reduced.

The light bill is a set amount of $200 each month. I'm thinking that I should take it off the budget billing plan but then I wouldn't have any idea what it'd be each month. I've figured that there might be $150 left before my income to take care of everything for the month.

I'm still figuring and hope that I'm wrong. I've noticed that I at least get all my ideas jotted down by using the multiple window technique. I'm loving that so far but the things I write when I'm gone aren't making it into the computer's word processor.

OK back to work for me, at least until I can go nap because like my little darling I don't feel well either.