by Hope
I am not making enough to cover my monthly bills. And my reserve cash will be exhausted after covering February bills. So while I do have some cash flow starting up…it’s a trickle, things are going to be really tight this month. And that is okay.
Last week, I made just over $200 on Upwork with my 3 new small contracts. I’m grateful, it’s better than nothing.
But there will most likely, most definitely, be credit card debt added this month unless I get one of these bigger contracts or the full time job, which would turn things around very quickly. Praying something comes through!
In the Meantime
This month, my number one goal is to get the house on the market. So that is going to require not only some serious manual labor, but also some money. Here are my current thoughts:
- Keep selling things I am not planning to keep. My sectional couch and rugs sold at the end of last week. I’m listing things on Facebook Marketplace almost daily. I am hoarding this cash for now in preparation for March bills.
- Moving everything I plan to keep and don’t need to live to storage this weekend. (Storage costs $79 per month.)
- Packing things that I need to: a) take to Texas to leave there, b) ship to a kid, c) find space in my car for the next phase of life.
- Making a list – room by room – of what MUST be done to put the house on the market + a list of supplies I need to get those items completed.
- Reviewing what I have here to complete the tasks identified in #2 (paint, putty, plastic/cardboard, etc.) and making a list of what I need to either borrow, rent or purchase.
- Prioritizing list and blocking time on a daily basis to get things started.
- Borrow and purchase items I need. Right away, I know I am going to borrow a shop vac, must purchase poly and such to refinish floors, and will have to plan to rent an orbital sander for at least 1/2 day (Home Depot has them for $55 for 4 hours, I think I can make that work.) I am guesstimating that the supply cost for refinishing the floors is going to end up being around $600-700. But I’ll get back to you how far off I am.
- Continue to spend a 1/2 to an hour a day looking for work and being very intentional with that until I get enough steady income to pay basic bills. Goal is to get to at least $6K per month to start.
Mental Health Improved
Having no one else to “care” for during this lean time and having decisions made has put me in a much better headspace than I have been in a LONG time.
I am looking forward to what ever adventure comes next. And staying very positive despite feeling a bit overwhelmed at the amount of manual labor this month…refinishing these hardwood floors is going to be a beast, especially the prep work.
However, I know I will learn a lot, save some money, and it’s one of those things that will take the house to the next level as far as selling it. (And if I do end up staying…I would have done this eventually anyways.)
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.