For the past few months, I've been debating whether to find a part-time gig or pick up some freelance work, in addition to the full-time job I already have. With the economy the way it is and jobs uncertain, some extra cushion every month to save would be great. But with my already overloaded schedule and underloaded energy level, another commitment really isn't in the cards.
Chatting with my girlfriends online, most of whom are stay-at-home mothers whose job it is to manage their homes, it occurred to me that I am just as much a "homemaker" as any of them, despite spending long days at the office. I'm still responsible for cleaning, laundry, cooking, managing money, taking care of kids, running errands and doing the shopping. Managing my home IS my other "job." Working outside the home is for money and benefits...working inside the home is my life. So how can I make my career as a wife/mother/homemaker more profitable?
Once I started thinking of my home life from more of a management perspective, I could see how to make it pay. For instance, shopping. I'm a bargain hunter by nature, and skillful bargain hunting complete with coupon clipping, deal planning and deliberate shopping can save a lot of cash. And money not spent is, in a way, money earned. Decluttering a home can also be profitable. Instead of just tossing things you no longer need or use, selling them or logging them carefully before donating them to charity for a tax deduction can also generate some income.
There are other ways to save/generate cash managing a home. Simply planning errands to reduce excess driving saves time, money and gas, which makes it great for the planet too. Likewise, planning laundry and dish washing to maximize loads and minimize drying can save water and the cash it takes to get the water and power to do it. Having an organized system for paying bills and managing your budget means bills get paid on time (eliminating late fees) and keeping an eye on your cash flow can save bounced check fees.
And obviously, little things like taking lunch to work instead of eating out (one of my biggest vices) can save lots of cash and is healthier too. Instead of just thinking of all these things as "should do's," thinking of them as business strategies for running your profitable, greener, organized Company Called Home can take a bit of the pain out of doing them. After all, it's part of your job to increase the revenue!
Two easy ways to jot down those important memories -- especially good for those with little ones hitting milestones every day!
- Jot it on your calendar. Every year I make a photo calendar with my kids' photos to give to family, as well as to use myself at home. Since I already keep these calendars from year to year for the cute photos and layouts, I've started jotting notes on it when milestones are hit. It gives my brain a place to save the info for later to transfer into the baby book, and since I keep the calendar in the kitchen, it's always in sight so I don't forget to record the moment. Baby's first time crawling or Big Bro's new somersault skill or Baby's third tooth or Big Bro's correct use of the word "asinine" -- it's all there.
- Email yourself. Sometimes, it's easier just to send yourself an email recording something funny that was said, a conversation you don't want to forget, or a sentimental moment that happened at the grocery store this morning. My first note was a letter to my oldest son's future wife, apologizing for the loud snoring beast I created. I just sent myself a note about my son's first Santa requests. He's not old enough to write it himself, but I don't want to forget. These little notes are saved in their own email folder for posterity, or at least until I can get around to recording them in the appropriate baby book or scrapbook. Or I can just give the kids the folder of emails and wish them luck deciphering them all.
Are you ready for the holidays? The holiday season is my favorite time of year, partly because I get to organize the beejezus out of it. Staying on top of things and keeping good notes can really simplify your holidays and help you relax and enjoy the spirit of the season.- Gift organizer: Keep a running list of all the gifts you buy, who they're for, and how much you spent. I use an Excel spreadsheet that I've set up to automatically total my spent column so I can make sure I stay within budget. It's helpful to save the final one from year to year as well, so you don't get Uncle Fred the same book three years in a row. I also mark down when I've wrapped or shipped something so I always know what I still have left to do. I also have a second list that's just for gifts I pick up at holiday sales for birthdays or next Christmas, so I don't forget what I've got.
- Menu planner: Write down what you want to make for your holiday meal, and photocopy any recipes you need. If you keep this info together, you won't need to reinvent the wheel every year, and you won't waste time searching for the same recipes again and again. If you're having guests during the holidays, preplan breakfasts, lunches and dinners so you'll have all your groceries on hand.
- Christmas card tracker: Save time from year to year by making a master list of the people you send holiday cards to, along with their addresses. Each year you can just print the list, make any necessary additions/deletions/corrections, and you're ready to go.
- The gift closet: Find a designated area to store all your Christmas gifts, so you don't forget where you hid them. Put a lock on it if you need to keep the kiddos out! It doesn't have to be an actual closet either ~ a trunk, a dresser, whatever space you have.
- Use "non-holiday" wrapping paper for gifts ~ a gorgeous green, red, blue or gold with festive ribbons looks lovely under the tree, and it doesn't need to be saved just for Christmas use. You can even buy the nice plain papers at the after-Christmas sales super cheap. My one exception: Santa paper. The kids' gifts from Santa are each wrapped in a fun paper with Santa Claus on it, and no labels. Each kid's paper is different, and they won't know whose is whose until they find a swatch of the paper with their name on it Christmas morning.
- Purge your decor before the holiday: when you start decorating for the year, go ahead and pull out any decorations or supplies that you don't need anymore. Offer them up on Freecycle, local organizations or to friends and neighbors so they can use them for the season, and you can free up storage space.
It's December, and you know what that means: last chance to donate and get those 2008 tax write-offs! It's the perfect time to do a little end-of-year purging, right before the Christmas holiday hits, and all the gifting that entails.
Take a couple of evenings or a weekend day between parties and chunk some junk into your car. Take a quick photo for posterity, and haul it off to your local charity drop-off. Make sure you get a receipt, and attach the photo to the receipt so you don't lose it. You'll free up some space for new holiday acquisitions and get a little back on your taxes come 2009.
For the past few months, I've been debating whether to find a part-time gig or pick up some freelance work, in addition to the full-time job I already have. With the economy the way it is and jobs uncertain, some extra cushion every month to save would be great. But with my already overloaded schedule and underloaded energy level, another commitment really isn't in the cards.
