For the past couple of months or so I have been trying to wrap my head around how to make extra money without having to work retail again. I just can’t do it again. Why? Because me working retail is enabling my spending habit. I’m not saying that I’m unable to curb my spending. It’s just that the siren’s call of a gorgeous pair of ballet flats sings to me. Or, a well appliqued blouse with tiny little floral details calls my name. Maxi dresses are fantastic because they are so easy and you look great when you wear one. Or, the jacket in the hot new color of the season shouts at me. This season it’s orange, or a luscious emerald green, or stripes.
So, working in at mall won’t work for me. Also, I’m sick of dealing with people face to face. For reals. I love people, but I’m tired of helping everyone and caring deeply about their issues. I do love the clients that I work with right now. They are hilarious! But, I’ve put in a lot of time working with others face to face. So, I need to make extra money a different way.
(google pic-black and white stripes very fashionable)
Michelle from Making Sense of Cents is my extra money guru. I am writing a post about this to post next Monday. One of the the enthralling things about Making Sense of Cents is the extra money posts Michelle shares with us. She is amazing at making extra money and a huge portion of that money is via online endeavours. So, I’ve begun looking for opportunities to make extra money in such a way that I don’t have to work at the mall this summer.
As I’ve begun this process I’ve realized something that kind of sucks but is the truth. When you’re broke and not working “the hustle” you have free time. That free time is great because don’t you deserve free time after a long week at work? However inertia settles in as time goes by and your bills basically stay the same and nothing seems to change. Then, there is a day (hopefully) when you decided that you’re tired of not getting ahead in the way that you’ve envisioned and that the free time that you deserve will be going away. Why? Because you will have to use that time to create a solution to your problems and that means that your free time will be going away.
When I first started working my current job I also worked at an olive oil store at the mall. I worked there for a number of years as I stabilized my financial situation that was a lot worse than it is now. I really liked my colleagues and enjoyed the products that we were selling. I still visit them from time to time and would be able to work there during the holiday season if I asked. I also have gained an amazing amount of knowledge on how to select good quality olive oils and would be happy to share it with you. I do put this knowledge to use from time to time!
I had no free time when I worked at the mall and my full-time job as I was working hard and getting things done. This was a good thing because aren’t idle hands the Devil’s work?
(no I am not that religious but there is truth in this statement)
(google pic)
I am going to be honest right now-I resent losing that free time. I like riding my bike aimlessly and reading books for hours, and spending time with friends and family. I like sitting on the patio at the coffee shop and talking with my friends for hours while the sun warms my face. The reality is I feel like I’m treading water and I’m over it and willing to sacrifice to get things done.The reality is that I will be able to do all of these things and even though I won’t do these things as often it will be ok. Let’s face it, I’ve become a lot less organized with all this free time on my hands. The benefit of having that free time is that it has allowed me to rest up for “the Hustle.” Because “the Hustle” takes time, energy, and complete focus.
For those of you who resent the loss of your free time to take care of your sh$t think about all of the time you’ll save not working to pay interest to someone else on borrowed money. When you stop owing money to other people all of that energy that you spend working to pay someone else will be time working for yourself. That car bill payment becomes your trip to Hawaii, or your Roth Investments, or whatever it is you want for yourself. I’m rested enough to put in a good 3-4 years to get this thing done. Whatever it is I owe I need to focus on and get it done.
Afterword, the sky is the limit. I can’t wait.
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“That car payment becomes your trip to Hawaii, or your Roth Investments, or whatever it is you want for yourself”. So true! When you have debt, debt owns you. When you’re debt free there’s so much freedom (that you didn’t know you were “missing”).
When June hits I’m going to be an extra money fiend! Will be traveling in May so I won’t begin adding hours, looking for extra $ when I get back.
Yes, I agree…but you have to have a balance. I was busy almost every weekend Jan-March, and now in April I am taking it pretty easy, because of emotional/physical burnout. I am starting to feel rejuvenated again, and will continue hustling! I also would love to make more money online…I know the answer is to be self-hosted, but I don’t like the idea of spending money to make money, considering blogging is a hobby for me right now. We’ll see….gotta continue trying to find new ways!
I have an amazingly high tolerance for being overworked-not a good thing! I do find it challenging achieving balance and have worked to the point of collapse before. Fear can be a huge motivator. Now, I am trying to work smarter not harder. I do spend a little money to run this blog, but in the grand scheme of things what I’ve gotten out of it has been a lot more than what I’ve paid. When you self-host it’s a little cheaper than you would expect. Just run the numbers. Or, just take your time 🙂
I have an amazingly LOW tolerance to working too much! 🙂 I need daily balance, and if I don’t get it I’m the worst person to be around. And DOD you should go self-hosted! Anyway, I think as long as you do have SOME free time and you can handle it, then getting a side-job is going to make you happy. You know your limits and tolerance. I don’t have debt but my freelance income has been really bad, so I know sometimes I also have to do what it takes to put food on the (coffee) table. 🙂 BTW I would be a cow if i worked at an olive oil store. I LOVE olive oil!
You make me laugh! I am getting a lot more protective of my time which is why I am looking for side hustles that I can do from home. During those crazy years I was a bitch on wheels due to stress, stress, more stress and not enough rest! You won’t believe this but I got an email yesterday saying that my beloved olive oil store is closing-ON MONDAY!! I am really concerned about my friends 🙁
Love this post, Michelle – it’s so true!!!! I cannot wait until our free time belongs to US again instead of to the list of creditors we pay each month!
I’m so done paying other people. I want to buy a car, but I refuse to get a car loan. So, I’m waiting until I have the cash. That’s how serious I am about not owing other people $$. I just can’t stand it anymore!
We agree! http://nicoleandmaggie.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/its-not-really-your-money-if-youre-in-debt/
I was sad when I had this “light bulb” moment. I love my free time but it’s about to go away starting in June.