by Hope
It is official, Princess has begun looking for a part time job. Volleyball season is over. She has decided that she does not want to commit the time to travel ball. And cheerleading is just a couple of afternoons a week.
She is ready to take the next step and start earning her own money. She will be applying at the two local fast food places we know will hire 15 year olds. (Most of them won’t hire until 16 here.) We are both excited for this next adventure and step in her life.
We have agreed that she can do what she wants with the money she makes until the end of the year. Meaning, I won’t step in and designate a percentage that must be saved or a budget. This will allow her to buy Christmas presents, go out with friends and hopefully save without my watchful eye.
After the New Year, we will sit down together and come up with some savings goals and a budget. I think this is a very balanced way for her to get started…
- We will see how much she earns just working one or two days a week, most likely at minimum wage.
- Gives her control and a chance to really see how working and making your own money feels without constraint for a few months.
Halloween Festivities
On a side note, Halloween is right around the corner. We will be going to my Grandmother’s house to pass out candy and eat pizza with our extended family. This is all the candy she has collected so far this year (I haven’t contributed any yet.)
This is 3 large boxes full. And it won’t even last an hour on Halloween night, the traffic is so heavy on her street that night. The city police block off the street and it is filled with literally hundreds of kids and their families.
This is probably normal for more rural areas where there aren’t as many neighborhoods. But I’ve never seen anything like it. Our first year coming for Halloween was 2011 when the twins were first placed with us.
2011 Halloween – just 3 weeks after the then 12 year old twins were placed with us as foster kids.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
