When have we not found ourselves struggling to make ends meet? Unless we are born into a wealthy family or married someone with money, hit the jackpot, or scored a 6-figure job, money continues to be a stressor in most of our lives. I know for me, now deciding to become a stay-at-home was a difficult decision. Not only was I afraid of losing my identity as a person, not being in the workplace, but also coming to terms with the impact that losing my income would have on our family's monthly take home check, was nerve wracking to say the least. But, after figuring out how much it would cost for weekly daycare for two girls, I would be working just to pay for childcare, with a few extra dollars left over at the end of the month. This realism made me decide to stay home with the girls, and I am so grateful that I made this choice because I am loving every minute of it. Yes, it is stressful at times, when they don't listen or skip their naps, but I get to be here for all their firsts, and share that special bond a stay-at-home mom has with their kids (just like I had with my mom, who stayed home with my brothers and I until we were in middle school).
The first few weeks of not working were great. Yes, I was tired from the nightly feedings and diaper changing with Savannah. But, I didn't have to worry about the commute back and forth to work, having to have work clothes washed and ironed, and having to deal with the workplace gossip and stress. I was my own boss sort of speak, and didn't have to report to anyone. This is really a freeing feeling, if you have ever experienced working for yourself. But, when the bills started rolling in, I started to freak out. It always seems that when you are trying to stay within a strict budget that things start breaking and falling apart, and need to be replaced. Out of nowhere, our house roof started to leak and needed to be replaced. My husband's car needed to be repaired, and I needed 4 new tires on my car. Not being able to put off any of these unexpected expenses, we started to charge expenses, as we didn't have enough money to pay the monthly bills and these new expenses. Faced with bills piling up, I started thinking about my college days when my roommates and I tried out odd jobs to make the ends meet. Like many college students, we were living off of Ramen noodles (I can cook it 20 different ways), and trying to find jobs that would work into our school and personal life schedules.
Did you have any crazy jobs you took to pay the bills? While in college, I did so many crazy jobs. Like they say, you only live once, and to experience life while in college. After looking at the college "Help Wanted" bulletin board and through local newspapers, I set out to interview for jobs. You know that if you don't have to interview for a job, just merely show up to get, then you are in for some fun or humiliation. Have you ever seen the Statue of Liberty waving outside a tax office during tax season? Maybe you had saw me then. With a painted silver face, and a gown that was 10x the size of me, I stood out in front of a tax office waving. Did you know that this job is done rain or shine? Just my luck that it was drizzling on the day I was scheduled work. And, by the time I got myself positioned and started to wave, the sky opened up, and the rain came pouring down. If I didn't need the money, I would have left right then and there. But, for a college student I had to help pay textbook costs, as well as having spending money to go out with friends. I thought that back in the day that the more money you made the more fun you would have. I never thought about the hassle it would be to make $50, which I got paid to stand outside in the pouring rain for 5 hours. By the time I dried off and warmed up, my feet killed. So, my plans to go out that weekend were out the window. And, for the next two weeks, I, along with a few friends, who also got stuck waving in a downpour, missed classes due to a bad cold. And, once we were feeling better, we spent the next month catching up on missed work.
After being a living Statue of Liberty, I also tried my luck at singing telegrams (another miss as I can't sing a note and people told me that with no tips), did telemarketing, was a coat room checker, and even waitresses. While I never became rich off of these back-breaking and oh so boring jobs, I did make some great memories with friends (even if some I would rather not mention). As I reminisced about these odd-jobs, I turned to my daughters and realized that we had only hit a bump in the road financially, and that slowly but surely, we would be back on track. And, while it took a while, we are finally more financially stable, and I am enjoying waking up and getting to spend my days with my two girls, instead of waving to people from the side of the road, dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
I am not the only one to have an odd job like this? Have you seen the popular comedy sitcom on CBS, 2 Broke Girls? It seems like all my favorite guilty pleasure shows never make it, and are cancelled shortly after I get into them. But, thankfully, not only have 2 Broke Girls stayed around, they are now moving to Mondays at 8:30/7:30PM C, making it easier for me to actually tune in and watch this show when it airs, as the girls finally go to bed at 8 PM. :-)
Not familiar with this show on CBS? Here is more about it, as well as a short clip.
ABOUT 2 BROKE GIRLS
"2
BROKE GIRLS is a comedy about the unlikely friendship that develops
between two very different young women who meet waitressing at a diner
in trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and form a bond over their dream of
one day owning their own successful cupcake business. Only one thing
stands in their way – they’re broke. Sarcastic, street-smart Max Black
met the sophisticated, school-smart Caroline Channing when the uptown
trust fund princess was having a run of bad luck due to her father’s
Wall Street scandal, which caused her to lose all her money and forced
her to give waitressing a shot. At first, Max sees Caroline as an
entitled rich girl, but she’s surprised to find that Caroline has as
much substance as she does style. When Caroline discovers Max’s knack
for baking amazing cupcakes, she visualizes a lucrative future for them
and they begin to save money to reach their start-up money goal of
$250,000. As the girls’ cupcake tally expands week-to-week, they become
closer to their goal and to
each other. At the diner they are surrounded by their offbeat,
colorful “work family”: Oleg, an overly flirtatious cook; Earl, a hip
75-year-old cashier; Han, the eager-to-please owner of the diner; and
Sophie, the girls’ outrageous upstairs neighbor. As Max and Caroline
climb toward their goal, we see that their “smarts” plus their “hearts”
might just be the recipe for success."
ON AIR: Mondays (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT)
I would love to hear your funny stories about jobs you have done in the past or are doing now to help make ends meet. And, if you are looking for a way to unwind after a crazy day with the kids, why not check out 2 Broke Girls on CBS, now at the new 8:30/7:30PM C time slot on Mondays? Be prepared to laugh!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer's Network. However, all views shared are mine and mine alone.
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