by Hope
So this past Wednesday in my rushed post, I wrote about some new income. I now come before you to retract that, well at least part of it.
I had been sought out and hired by a online marketing exec trying to build his “system of tools” and while it seemed like it would be a good fit for my skills and of course I was tempted by dollar signs in light of my plight to get out of debt ASAP, it just quickly overwhelmed me. So I quit.
In fact, I sent him an email that night and quit, it had just been a week. I was so relieved.
No matter how much I may want/need the additional monies, I have to balance what I’m doing and this wasn’t healthy for me. I’m really proud of myself for determining this quickly both for me and the client.
So I do have a new website to do in the next few months, but I’m really back to square one with adding income on a regular basis.
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
Thanks for your honest post, Hope. I am sure another opportunity for extra income will come up. I think you made the right decision. If something’s not working for you, better quite before devoting too much time and energy to it.
I am sure that couldn’t be an easy decision, but indeed, your general well-being is worth more than whatever pay they were offering. Sucks for the opportunity, but hopefully another one shows up soon that can work with your lifestyle needs. Good luck!
I’m really conflicted on this, as I know how direly you could use some extra income to get you over the hump. Would it be possible to elaborate on what was so overwhelming? Of course, I completely trust your judgement on what you can and can’t do, but I think it would make for some interesting reflection.
On that note, is the door still open with individual to take on smaller work? Maybe the overall project was too large, but perhaps there is a small portion you could have handled? Even a couple hundred dollars here or there would make a substantial impact on your situation.
I was pretty much thinking the same…
I am sure you are relieved. You have a lot on your plate Hope-homeschooling, 4 kids to care for, a full time job, a part time job and then taking on extra work. It’s a lot. No one can do everything. You can’t be up 24/7 taking care of the kids during the day, working a part time job and then being up all night doing your full time job. You have to cut yourself a little slack and take good care of yourself.
Since your number one goal is to get the house in your name, I really think you need to call/meet with a mortgage person with regards to your goal. You can have some conversations about where you are at now and what you need to do to get mortgage approval. From there, you can formulate a debt repayment plan that works knowing full well that you’ll get mortgage approval when you are ready. I read your post yesterday and agree with the consensus in terms of paying off debts and possibly getting rid of the car. Meeting with a mortgage person will help since you’ll know exactly what you have to do and how much debt (car) you can carry for approval. It’s far better to have these conversations now instead of waiting for a year and then finding out there were some things you could have done differently.
I do agree on working on the emergency fund and I know this is off the table, but I’d hold off on taking in any more foster kids until you get your financial house in order and get your own mortgage and pay off your Dad. Notice I didn’t say never, I said to delay the foster kids for now. I think it’s important for anyone paying off debt to delay additional expenses until things get under control. Emergencies happen all the time and it’s tough when you are teetering on the edge. Good luck Hope. We are rooting for you.
I am curious about needing a 12 passenger van. I have 4 kids and a big dog and drove a Suburban for a long time and have moved down to a more conventional 6 passenger SUV. My kids play multiple sports so we always have a lot of gear. I totally understand wanting a newer and reliable vehicle as a single mom (or any mom 🙂 but think driving a minivan or regular SUV would be far less expensive in both purchase, insurance, and upkeep. Especially since your big kids will have their licenses and a car at their disposal soon. You are doing a great job!! Best of luck in everything!
I was wondering about this too. Hope, I know you said you were often driving 6 kids around, but I wonder if a regular 8 person minivan would work for this. It would save a lot in gas too.
We appreciate your honesty Hope! I’m glad you are trying to balance paying off debt with your life. It is tough and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who gets overwhelmed sometimes by the lack of work-life balance I’m experiencing right now.