On the Agenda for Today: Finding Relief for My Aching Back

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Anonymous Mom

I can’t just quit my life.  I can’t just not take care of my kids.  I have to do laundry, do dishes, pick up the house, pick up the baby, make the beds, sweep, vacuum, etc.  I have to do these things.  But how?  It kills my back.

Products Tried:

  • Chiropractor
  • Massage
  • Water
  • Tylenol
  • Ibuprofen

New Products to Implement:

  • Firm pillow between legs (have yet to purchase)
  • New DVD; Say Goodbye to Back Pain (purchased today)
  • Neck/Back Pillow (have yet to purchase)

I’m not sure what exactly is wrong with my back, other than the obvious.  I carried three large babies in a body that wasn’t equipped structurally to do so.  I pushed myself a little too far with each pregnancy, but how do you not when you have things to get done and a life to live?  Not to mention the fact that I had a slight scoliosis that began early on in life.

What I don’t know is the exact cause of my pain.  What is it?  Something pressing on something?  A slipped disc?  I have no idea.  And I don’t know much about the spine or back pain. 

And how do you take care of yourself when you are financially limited to do so?  All of these treatments are expensive!  And we are barely making it as it is.  We’ll just do what we can to get by, I suppose.  And pray I find a combination that works for me.

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Be Debt Free or Healthy?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Anonymous Mom

I am so discouraged right now.  My hubby has been doing so good lately losing weight.  He’s lost around 30 pounds using Weight Watchers and exercising regularly.  But he’s hit a stumbling block.  He’s one of those people that has to switch it up every 3 or 4 months, or he gets bored with the workouts and quits.

Unfortunately, this means we end up spending money on the next fitness adventure he finds exciting.  This time, it’s P90X.  To the tune of $200 after you purchase the chin-up bar and resistance bands.

But I’m mad.  I’m mad because I feel like I’m constantly choosing between my health and being financially frugal.  The two seem to be at odds with one another.  Eating healthy can get expensive.  At the grocery, the lean hamburger is $4.01 per pound compared to $3.80 per pound of the 80/20 version.  And it’s that way with most other items, as well.

I feel like I should be taking Fish Oil, but I can’t justify it in the budget right now.  Do I sacrifice my health for paying off debt?  I would like to take a nutritional product called Juice Plus.  But I can’t justify that expense either right now. 

Yeah, I can drink water.  Hallelujah!  Something that’s free (well, not always).  Yes, I cut back on the sweets and fatty foods.  But to buy fresh over frozen is more expensive from my experience.  Add on the gym membership, the doctor visits, and the changing workout routine, and I’m stressed.

I’ll be so glad when I don’t have to choose.  Please, Lord… let us eventually live debt free.

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Debt Deflates Me Yet Again

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Anonymous Mom

Yesterday was eventful.  One of my dear friends from church had to call me to tell me our account at her workplace was overdue and needed payment.  Talk about feeling bad!  I was just mortified. 

The exchange was not comfortable for either of us, but necessary, I suppose.  I have been paying on the account for a few months what I could.  But there was no way we could pay the entire thing, so I just split it over 12 months and started paying that amount monthly.  That was a mistake.  I should have just called and dealt with the issue head-on.  Instead, I let it slide, which resulted in a very weird conversation between two church friends over money.  Ugg.

I hate that we are in this situation.  But what do you do?  I’m not willing to sacrifice this time at home with my children for a part time or full time job.  I’m just not.  We will be out of this debt eventually.  We haven’t added any new debt in a very long time (with the exception of medical debt).  In a year and a half we will have most of our monthly debt paid off.  We just have to get to the point of freeing up that money.

I’m mad at myself for getting in so much debt in the first place.  I’m mad at myself for not having an emergency fund.  I’m mad at myself for not realizing early on this is the path I would choose and thus planning for it.  Why do I always have to live and learn?  Why can’t I just heed the advice I read and learn?  Maybe I’ll teach my children to do better.

I realize there is a lesson from God in all of this.  With the money I have made doing my direct sales recently, I had chosen to use it for some of my husband’s educational needs.  However, this incident is forcing me to use it toward existing debt.  Maybe that was the extra push I needed.  Hard lesson to learn, but God knew I needed it.

I really wish I was a better financial planner.  Or maybe just a better financial executor.  I don’t know.  Whatever I am, I just hope it’s enough.

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Getting those Priorities Right

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Anonymous Mom

I need to write.  Being a stay at home/work at home mom is HARD.  It’s much harder than working full time (at least, in my opinion).  Physically, it’s harder.  Emotionally (believe it or not), it’s harder.  But worth it?  Yes, it’s worth it.

Today has been eventful already, and it’s only 10 am.  I do direct sales part time, and this morning, I’m wondering why.  Why in the world do I put myself through this?  Yes, it will help financially (a little bit), but is it worth the extra stress and worry it puts on me, and thus unfortunately gets transferred to my children through my less-than-admirable attitude?

I’m just strung out this morning.  It’s like I can’t put 100 percent into anything I’m doing.  I feel like I’m half doing everything, if even half doing.  Probably quarter doing everything.  Oh me… and my nerves are shot. 

Trying to balance everything is crazy.  What needs to give?  I know my priority is family, but wow… we really could use the extra money right now from my direct sales job.  But it totally throws me out of balance sometimes.  But then again, there are sometimes I feel like I need it.  I mean, after a party, I’m energized and excited.  I had a girls night out, even though I was working.  I got to be just a girl for a little while, instead of mommy.

Not that I don’t like being mommy.  I love it.  But just taking care of me (even if I was taking care of customers) was great!  But then comes on the guilt.  What have I missed at home while I was gone?  Was it worth it?  Ugg.

I know my priorities: God, family, myself and work.  Why is it so hard to keep them in order?  My checking account and my aching back can explain it, I suppose.  Wow.  Being a mom is tough.  Being a woman is tough.  Being in this economy is tough. 

When I look back on my life, what will I think about this time in it?  I know I’m not going to think about what my checking account balance was or what time I spent working.  I’ll be measuring my success by time spent with family, memories made, and most importantly, the things I did to secure my eternal destiny.

I know the answers, I suppose.  The laundry can wait, the dishes can wait.  My bank account (as long as it’s in the green) will be okay.  It’s the tea party that I need to focus on.  It’s the dinner with my family I need to prepare for.  It’s the sitting on the couch with my green tea and my Bible that I need to make sure happens.  The rest will work itself out.

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I’m Not Superwoman

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Anonymous Mom

I don’t know where to begin.  I try so hard to do and be so much, and when I can’t do it, I feel like not doing anything at all.  I know I’m not superwoman, but I would like to be.  My time management skills must stink.  Just when I think I’ve got it all squared away, it doesn’t work out.

I know having a new baby makes it difficult to get things done, and I know I should just enjoy the time I have at home with him.  Why is it so hard to enjoy the present?  Why do I expect so much of myself?  Why do I want to throw all my progress down the drain when I hit a bump in the road?  Self-discipline is a hard one.  Lord, please help me overcome myself.

This Christian mom is currently having a rough time.  Between trying to get my direct sales career up and going again and trying to take care of myself and family, it’s rough!  I have to always remember who comes first – the Lord.  Lord, please help me be successful in my endeavors.  But more importantly, help me to always put YOU first and be present for my family.

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Ah Saturday, My Shoulders Feel Lighter Already…

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Anonymous Mom

Saturdays are great.  I have help.  The children are spread out among myself, husband, and grandparents.  It makes the load so much lighter, and I can see clearly.  I can see light at the end of the tunnel.  I can enjoy myself a little.  I’m not nearly as stressed and high strung.  I see a little of the old me.

But why can’t I be the “old me” all the time?  Why am I different with the kids?  I mean, I’ve always wanted kids.  So why would I change when they came along?  I think it’s the stresses of raising them, the stresses of only being one person and trying to satisfy three little one’s needs.  I don’t feel very good at it most days.  I just hope I’m doing the things they need to be successful adults.  And most importantly, the things they need to be Christians.

I’m also struggling with how I want to pursue an online career, while helping others.  I feel this website can help other Christian moms realize they are not alone in their feelings.  Sometimes we just feel like we have so many expectations on our shoulders.  Our kids should be well-mannered, should always be well-dressed, the list could go on and on.   We should have it all together, hair and nails done, a presentable outfit put together, matching purse and shoes…  I do well to find a clean, maybe ironed (if I’m lucky), unstained dress shirt to put on and manage to get out the door without a spot on it from little sticky hands.

I know there must be others of you out there who feel the same way.  Why do we think we have to be so perfect?

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Thoughts from the Bible on Self Discipline

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Anonymous Mom

“For the moment of discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11 ESV

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”  Proverbs 13:4 ESV

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Make Money Selling Books on Amazon

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Anonymous Mom

I’ve recently discovered a new way to make a few bucks.  Hallelujah!  So my hubby has several old textbooks laying around the house and attic.  I’ve never really known what to do with them.  They won’t sell at yard sales.  I’ve thought of donating them to Goodwill, but who wants an old textbook?

So, I got a great idea from a website I now love called Christian PF (personal finance).  According to him, textbooks sell really well on Amazon.  And since we are needing some Christmas money, I thought I’d take a shot at it.  And guess what?  I’ve already made over $100 in the two days I’ve had them for sale.  Now that’s what I’m talking about!

So How Do You Make Money Selling Books on Amazon?

  1. Open up an Amazon Sellers Account.  Go to Your Account.  Then on the right hand side of the screen you will see Your Seller Account.  Click on it.
  2. Go to List Single Items.
  3. You will then see a search box that allows you to enter the ISBN number.  This number is found on the back of the book, typically by the barcode.  Enter it in and search.  Your book should come up.
  4. Click on the book.  Amazon should show you the lowest price another seller is currently offering the book for.  Smart advice is to go about a penny lower than the lowest seller so that your book will sell.  On ChristianPF, the recommendation is to check your listings in the early evening after most Amazon stores have closed to make sure you have the lowest price on all of your items.

Congratulations!  You’ve now listed your first books to sell on Amazon! 

A Few Other Tips About Selling Books on Amazon

  • Amazon gives you a shipping credit of $3.99 per book.  This covers most, if not all, of the shipping cost.  If it’s a heavy textbook, I’ve had to pay a teeny bit more in shipping.  But my profit in the book has more than covered that extra cost.
  • If the book can’t be sold for more than around $7, I wouldn’t bother with it.  You’ll only be profiting a couple bucks.  (Amazon does take out a commission on your sale.  It’s a small percentage, but for an item that doesn’t cost much, it isn’t worth your time and hassle to sell it.)
  • Ship via the US Postal Service.  I asked the customer service rep which way would be cheapest to ship and found that Media Mail typically is.  I had to purchase a Utility Mailer for $1.19 at the post office and then was charged around $4 to ship.  Occasionally, priority mail will be cheaper.  The mailer is included with Priority Mail, so be sure to double check which is cheaper at the post office.
  • You may only sell 40 items per month through Amazon via their “free” account.

It’s good to also know that you don’t profit from the items until after the sale.  This means you are paying out of pocket for the shipping until Amazon credits your bank account with the sale.  It can take up to two weeks for this to happen.  Just make sure you have enough money to cover shipping until you get your commission from Amazon.

Selling books on Amazon has been a great way to earn a few extra dollars for that Christmas budget I’m feverishly working on.

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My Screaming Child

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Anonymous Mom

Let me describe for you my late afternoon and night yesterday.  The baby has had a fairly bad cold, and he has subsequently been fussy.  But lastnight, the fussiness reached an entirely new level.  His fussiness turned to non-stop screaming for probably two hours straight.

I called in a grandma to help out, since I also had two small children running wild and hubby rendered useless taking an online college course.  (I have to admit I was jealous he got to put on the headphones.)

After changing his diaper, changing his clothes, giving him his medicine, trying to feed him to no avail, and doing anything else we could think of, we called the doctor.  Answer to our problem?  Constipated.

When the nurse practitioner asked me when the last time he pooped was, a bell rang in my head.  It was last Wednesday.  Yes, almost a week without pooping.  That was the kid’s problem! 

So after a glycerin suppository and a bottle, he pooped and went to bed.  Hallelujah!  I think I crawled in the bed around 10:30 last night and slept very soundly.  Please, Lord, let us have peace around here today.

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Budget Update

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Anonymous Mom

Thankfully, we are nearing the end of October.  And I can definitely see it in our budget. 

We have a negative balance in the WalMart category of ($24.46), a negative balance in the Extras category of ($45.19), but a positive balance in the Gas category of $108.99.  I’m hoping to offset the other two with this one, IF we can make it another week without filling up again.  Eesh.  That isn’t looking good.

Unfortunately, I have nothing to put into Savings for October so far. :(

And I realized there are 5 Sundays in October.  I only budgeted for 4.

But on the plus side, we did make it through October paying all of our bills, buying Halloween costumes for the babies, and buying birthday presents for one of the kids.  So I guess that’s not too bad.  I’ll just have to BUDGET for that next year.  This year I squeezed the costumes and birthday presents out of our grocery/WalMart budget.

I’m a little bummed we didn’t save anything or get to pay any extra on our debt this month.  But with the holidays coming and our current economy, I’m happy to end the month in the green.  Well, we shall see.

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