It’s been a busy last couple of weeks, as my middle child was set apart as a missionary, did a week of online training, and then we took her to the missionary training center in Provo, Utah, to continue her training. As a convert to my faith who also chose to serve a year and a half as a full-time missionary, this was a particularly poignant time for me.
We took food with us for the drive up. We filled gas at Sam’s Club before leaving and once on the way back, saving 30 cents per gallon, compared to the other places we had to fill up on the way.
My husband and I took the opportunity to visit our alma mater after dropping her off next door. The campus has changed so much over the last 35 years, as buildings have been replaced and landscaping has changed. I noted some new changes to the landscaping, where even more grass had been replaced with colorful plants that use less water, and mulch had been and was being spread on the beds. In an ever hotter and drier climate, I loved seeing this, and I took a few plant combination ideas home with me for future garden designs for clients.
I enjoyed visiting the free art museum on campus and seeing several famous paintings from their collection.
We spent the night with my son, and got to spend a bit of the next morning with him, which was extra nice, as it was his birthday. I brought him some home-canned fig jam and sweet pickle relish, along with a pothos plant I grew from cuttings from my mom’s plant.
I repaired a broken irrigation valve in my garden. Thankfully, I realized things weren’t getting watered before everything on that valve died. Everything is growing much better now, and I didn’t have the high expense of hiring someone to fix it. I have paid for this in the past and it was over $100 per valve to have someone do it.
I collected around seven gallons of water a day from the ac drip and used it to water potted plants in the garden. This is the monsson season here, and though we aren’t getting rain, the clouds and humidity are still a help to the garden. A few years ago, we didn’t have the clouds or humidity here during this time, and around a fifth of the trees and bushes all over the city died. The heat and sun have been relentless, and I’ve still lost some plants this month, but the humidity and clouds are a help to so many plants.
I sowed seeds I had on hand yet again for anything that hadn’t come up or came up and was eaten by bugs and birds. I still have plenty of time to grow many crops, so sowing again is still viable.
I had taken some cuttings from two monstera plants a few months ago and rooted them in water in vases. I potted them in two plastic nursery pots I already had with potting soil I already had, and put those pots in two blue and white planters that I got at garage sales several years ago. I put one on my entry table, as I don’t have many flowers to cut in summer, and I liked having the monstera cuttings there in vases.
I said yes to some free food from someone who is moving out of state. She offered me three things, but when I drove over, she had more things to offer me, which I gladly accepted.
I harvested figs and made fig jam.
We made the decision to sell my husband’s vehicle, once again becoming a one-car family. This will save us a huge expense each month. With the exception of three weeks in March/April when he worked in Ohio, there haven’t been enough storms for him to work as an insurance adjuster all over the country since last September. Last year was a slow year (no hurricanes hit the east coast) and this year is expected to be even slower. It’s peak hail season, and there haven’t been enough large hailstorms across the country for independant agents to work. All of the companies that he has worked for have no work for anyone.
He’s been applying and interviewing for jobs in other fields, and has not found anything. He starts a seasonal, part-time position in a few weeks, but it’s only for a few months, and low-paid. I have been hired for a part-time position elsewhere, but the job won’t start for a while, as my boss is working on creating the marketing campaign that I will be running for him.
My husband got the call about the job as we were traveling in Utah, so my husband looked on Marketplace, and found an inexpensive motorbike for sale there (there are more there than here). We checked it out, emptied the gas tank, and drove it home in the back of my car. It will be much less expensive to register and insure than my husband’s vehicle was, and will get around 50 miles to the gallon. It’s the kind that doesn’t go fast enough to ride on the highway, but is enough cc’s that it still has to be registered (lower cc’s do not). It’s hot to ride when it’s 108° and hotter outside, but his new job is also outside, so he will be hot no matter what. My job is far from here, so I will take the car to work.
On an even lower income, budgeting is more important than ever, and I’m glad we were able to reduce our expenses significantly selling his car. It needed new tires, and registration was due, so our timing to sell it also saved us quite a lot. We found the best price for it by comparing several places, and found Echo Park paid more than Car Max, and substantially more than Auto Nation. I know many families who are selling cars now, so my suggestion for my American readers would be to check Kelly Blue Book for value, and see what places they recommend. This is how we found Echo Park, which we hadn’t heard of before.
What did you do to save money the last two weeks?
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Brandy,
Has Steve looked into grocery stores? Our King Soopers (Krogers affiliate) is always hiring, as is places like Home Depot. It would be so much better if he could be inside in the air conditioning.
Or if he could do something like accounting where he could start a company and work from home. Even if school is needed, it’s something that can be done even after retirement age, and also a notary. I wish him the best
Thank you. We have talked about those as well. This job he is taking is just short-term, so we know he needs to find more–preferably something with higher pay. What we’re finding is that most jobs don’t want 22 years of real estate experience, and management jobs don’t consider running your own business with 35 people working for you as management experience, unfortunately. Most of the jobs we’re seeing pay $14 to $15 an hour, and it’s simply not enough. It’s tough out there; a lot of people I know are dealing with layoffs or are being asked to stay, but take a reduction in pay. I am hearing of it worldwide. I know many readers are also dealing with it as well.
I understand Brandy. Hugs and prayers. I am now working full time, bc of the economy and everything being so high priced, at age 66.
You retired from one job to start the next! Rapidly rising costs are really affecting everyone.
My friend has retired and is doing Spark deliveries for Walmart on the side. She has made anywhere from $300 to $900 in a week. Of course this is driving rural so I don’t know if that increases the income. Just thought I would put it out there for a side job while y’all hunt for steady work. Virtual hugs. It is rough out there job wise it seems.
Gas is $4 to $5 a gallon here, but now that my husband has the bike, he may do some. I hadn’t heard about the Walmart deliveries. I will look into that. Thanks!
Wm delivery can be very lucrative, and at least here, they are always looking for drivers. I knew someone who did it for a few months as a side gig to pay off medical debt, and she was making several thousand a month doing evenings after her regular job, and weekends. It’s flexible too, which is helpful.
Diane
Has your husband ever considered working for the federal government? Husband worked for them for well over twenty years and was always complaining about the low number of employees and the high amount of openings across the entire country.
I know he had already been on their website looking for work here, but didn’t find anything for which he qualified.
The city of North Las Vegas just laid off hundreds of people. I believe it was around 700 people. Layoffs are increasing everywhere, and I think we’re just getting started. I hope everyone’s tips in the comments help others who end up looking for work as well.
I haven’t read through all th comments but The website Rat Rebellion supposedly researches on line jobs before they post them if you are interested in a side gig of a work from home job.
I also know you said that it takes six months to get on as a substitute teacher but I would go ahead and apply and have husband apply also just in case something permanent has not happened before then. It is taking longer to get permanent jobs these days it seems. Praying hard for y’all.
Yes; we’ve been discussing it.
I’m so sorry. I wonder if he might consider becoming an insurance agent for home/ life / auto? It’s something everyone needs, and he is already familiar with the insurance industry so maybe that could become a new career option. I know you mentioned he is older than you, so I just felt worried about him when you posted that he would be working outside in that Las Vegas heat.
Please hang in there. I know something good will work out. The Lord is faithful.
Thank you. He’s 63. I’m 50. Selling insurance is very different than getting on a roof doing insurance claim damage, which is what he’s been doing the last three years. Insurance sales are like real estate; the income isn’t steady, so it’s not what he’s wanting to do at the moment, but thank you! We’re really looking for something more reliable with a regular paycheck at this point.
There is a job in the Henderson Area as a co-manager for Hobby Lobby it pays between $70,000 and $74,500. That could be nice. I don’t know if that is something he would want. But if he has experience in the arts and He does have management experience with his own company and would be willing to train. Maybe he could get it. I saw it on Indeed. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Working in air conditioning would be so much nicer if it is possible.
Thanks! I will tell him!
Brandy: my daughter lives in Portsmouth, NH. She is self-employed and makes excellent money, but not for the North East. In Tennessee, she would would be a Princess. Up there, she is one check from poverty. She has been looking for a side gig and she decided to market herself as a Pet Sitter. We have always joked that there is not an animal that has been born that doesn’t love her. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that she is making $100 a day with free food, gas and lodging(the latter she doesn’t need, but the free food is a nice perk). I was astounded by the pay!!! I am so thankful that this has come her way. Her client list is booming! Thought it might be a possibility for either your or your husband since Las Vegas is filled with moneyed people.
I also wanted to tell you that you and your family are such an inspiration. You have made me think about and look at things in a different light on many occasions. Know things will work out.
Take care. Onward, by all means!!!
Thank you for the suggestion. I have to say that it is not for me. I have very bad experiences with dogs and have since I was a child, and for some reason it keeps happening! Just Saturday I was dropping my children off to someone’s house to go swimming. Her husband opened the door where their three dogs were, all three dogs immediately came jumping and barking at me, and one immediately BIT me! This is not the first time I have been bit by someone’s dog; it has happened way too many times. Two weeks before that, I went to visit a friend, and her dog jumped on me and then peed on me!
My children do pet sitting for people a lot, though.
I don’t know why people’s dogs always bite me right away. I’m really nervous around dogs now; it is really shocking the number of times that I have been bit.
We keep doing what we can! I’m looking forward to the new job for myself; I think I will really enjoy it, and my future boss is someone I really like who respects me, so I see a lot of positives!
Gosh, that’s awful and frightening! They must read you as a more advanced life form! Think a case could be made for that!
The new job sounds great! May it be the answer to your prayers! God bless!
Thank you. I hope it goes well.
You are welcome! I hope he gets it!
I know how tiring looking for work can be and I wish you the best!
Keep an eye on UNLV and other higher ed employment websites. His management experience might translate into something there.
If I could get $14 an hour, I would think I’d died and gone to heaven! And I have a college degree. And more years’ experience than I’d like to admit to, lest you think I’m over the hill. Never mind the fact I work circles around the (lazy and unmotivated) youngsters! Who cannot be more than 10 paces away from their cell phones.
My career positions, of course, paid more. But once you hit age 40 or 50, they don’t want you as they think you are too old.
$14 an hour won’t pay my bills, unfortunately. But it would pay some.
Brandy, I am truly sorry your husband is having trouble finding suitable work. Hopefully more will come his way. Meantime it is great that you have found some work too. Nice that you visited your son and all the best to your daughter on her mission-is she serving overseas?
We have had anything but a frugal week-my husband had a hip replacement last week. We chose to pay for it as the wait for surgery in the public system was 2 plus years. He is recovering very well and we are very thankful.
I cancelled my planned trip up North this week due to smoky fires and one of my friends I was traveling with has lung disease-so I guess that saves the cost of a one week holiday. I will lose a little when cancelling my train fare but that is ok-it is not as if overseas flight are involved and completely non refundable!
I have lined up 3 months of childcare starting in Sept and my husband will also return then to his school job-so we can re-stock the coffers a bit! Wishing everyone a great week.
She is serving stateside.
The photo of your house and garden is just lovely! It makes it almost hard to realize how hot it gets there with all that lush vegetation. You indeed have created a beautiful oasis.
The past two weeks have continued to be about minimizing expenses and adding extra income where we can – but then, when is that NOT the theme of our life? My husband replaced the rear brakes on our older truck, saving $400-$500 in labor costs. I am eternally grateful he is so skilled at such things as that is certainly one of our best frugal tactics – DIY everything but especially otherwise expensive things. I had another (second time this summer) slow leak in the tire of the truck I drive. This one, too, was still under warranty so was replaced at no charge other than tax. It pays to keep track of warranties as not all retailers or service providers might be as inclined to do so. While my husband was in another town on a specific errand, he stopped by Aldi to pick up a few things that continue to be cheaper there than anywhere around us. We finished processing and stacking the wood the crew from Lutheran Disaster Services helped fish out of our creek (remnants of Hurricane Helene). We now have enough wood to heat our house for the next 3 years but we are always working on more. The more seasoned, the better. I continue to work on eating down our pantry and freezer doing things like making broth out of chicken carcasses I had in the freezer, making lots of beans in the Instant Pot combining it with food from the garden and eggs…always eggs. 😆 I harvested about 6 gallons of honey and have sold some of it. I’ll be harvesting some more in the coming weeks. I mostly sell it word of mouth but also have a spot on the local food shelf at the antique shop. For the first time in my 15 years of beekeeping, we had a bear visit the apiary. Fortunately, he or she did not cause much damage – just made a bit of a mess – but we are reinforcing the electric fence as economically as possible. Too much time and money invested to let anything happen to them. My boys and I went to my husband’s family reunion at the beach for a few days. My husband was not able to go due to work. I have not been for the last 2 years due to conflicts with plays I was in but, this year, I took a couple of days off from my current show and went. As parents age, you begin to realize the times for such things in the same way they have always been done may be numbered so it was good to go. We made it as inexpensive a trip as possible by the boys taking snacks in the car and only stopping for a meal once (using rewards points to pay for it.) We took groceries to contribute and, as always, eggs. We enjoyed cooking together, putting together ridiculously challenging puzzles (a family tradition), fishing and walking on the beach so no money was spent while we were there. I enjoyed some no-cost social events through church that involved food I was invited to/told to take home to my boys. People often rightly assume my boys are ravenous beasts at all times so we are the usual recipients of left-overs. Considering my oldest, who will be 15 this weekend, just recently was measured as being 6’3 1/2” tall, that assumption is spot on. 😆 Takes a lot of food to fuel all that! I’ve been hanging all the laundry on the clothesline to dry. What doesn’t dry by the end of the day (if the humidity is up) gets put on a drying rack in front of a fan at night. We don’t have air conditioning but do use fans in the summer as needed.Fortunately, they seem to use very little electricity. We also open windows at night (our nightly temperatures in the summer are upper 50s to low 60s normally) and close them late morning. The house stays fresh and we stay comfortable very easily that way. My contract for the show I am currently performing in requires a certain number of PR events – the 4th of July parade was one of them. I auditioned for and was hired for a quartet to sing at local venues to promote the show. We did two such events at a local restaurant close to the amphitheater which was well-received AND we were thanked with food from the owner. I realize this week’s post has a lot to do with food but, considering the cost and the fact there is no way to avoid eating, any savings there is significant. I am just lucky that the things I have done to receive the food have been fun – much more fun that’s going to the grocery store!
Have a lovely week, all!
I love the native plants in the second picture. Im hoping to do something like that eventually in my front yard for where I live(SW Mo)
I hate that July is flying by, I have to go back to work mid August. 🙁 My college class wraps up this week, so I’ll have about 3 weeks of actually nothing to do.
Continuing to clean out my house. I found frames for two art pictures that I wanted to hang up. Now I only need to buy two more.
Found several things we had been missing.
I have came to the conclusion I will need a whole summer to actually go through everything in the basement and garage(which I haven’t even touched yet). Oh well, I’m just working on making it as tidy as possible.
Hubby really cleaned up the back yard and now has a pile of scrap waiting for me to finish in the basement, so he can bring up an old washing machine and water heater.
I canceled my Planet Fitness membership.
I found .60 on the ground.
I scanned receipts into rewards apps.
Hubby fixed our leaking bathtub drain.
I returned a part he didn’t need promptly.
Read and returned library books as soon as possible.
My son had a birthday. He’s a simple guy, I made him a pineapple upside down cake, we went out to eat, and he only asked for some Magic the Gathering booster cards.
I was the “big winner” thanks to “I” who picked up a bag of apples for me. She saw them on flash food and kindly offered to pick them up for me. She got a refund for them as they were advertised differently so the cost to her and me was $o.
I have just finished writing an article. I had tremendous help from McGill University., its archives is closed for the summer (well at least its reference desk is closed). I nevertheless received wonderful help in accessing digital copies of 5 or so letters that had gone astray. It would have cost me several thousand dollars to fly to Montreal, back again and for a hotel, meals etc. The digitization of records really saved me a lot of money. Unfortunately, my computer is causing me some grief. I hope it is nothing serious. Fortunately it is still under warranty so fingers crossed.
Costs will go up again with the latest round of 50% tariffs that are being slapped on Canada if they come into effect. Here’s hoping not.
I’m sorry that things are difficult for your husband and you. The motorcycle sounds like a great idea.The fig jam looks lovely!
Your garden is so pretty. I am sorry about your husband’s job. My husband has picked up helping a mowing crew at least 2 days a week sometimes a third day if needed. It is cash money that has helped a lot. Jobs are not as plentiful as they once were and specially for a family man. We have limited our trips to town and have been making do and eating out of the garden. I have been canning and freezing everything that I can. Nothing goes to waste. Our town has been fortunate that local business and churches have stepped up and are sponsoring school supplies for all the children in the school system. Also the county qualified thru a government program for free breakfasts and lunches for all the children. I know this is a relief for families. My husband and I get up at dawn and walk every morning. I have a clothes line now. I was using a rack, but my husband made me a line. We are planning a fall garden with seeds that have been given to us. I received in the mail some free milkweed seeds from Project Milkweed to help the pollinators. It is still a few weeks before I will plant those. I requested 2 different canning books from interlibrary loan and have wrote down some recipes and attend a marinara class at the local extension office.
The stories you share – certainly help this household work better as a team. I am grateful you are willing to share the beauty and hard work you both put in your home and family. Glad you got to visit and re-spark memories while making new at your alma mater. Also, high fives fixing that irrigation line.
We are still cleaning up post storm. We lost A LOT of small branches, and thankfully I inherited a small branch wood chipper. I chipped enough “raw” mulch to redo the mulched pathways that were not in the budget to spruce up this year. I did lose half of my veggie garden, friends and family have been sharing their extras which is a blessing and helped keep the groceries down.
My car loan is finally paid in full.
Our insurance initially offered to cover 3 visits with a nutritionalist – and recently approved to cover 9 more. I have struggled with my weight the last 10 years, and am thankful this person finally is helping me understand how to use the tools I already had better. I am finally feeling like my old self again.
I said no to coffee/food outings with friends and have been taking more walks with friends.
Hope everyone has a calm and productive week!
J, I don’t know if you’ll see this or not, but you can try Chip Drop for free wood chips/”mulch” and/or Facebook marketplace. We have had a lot of success getting free wood chips from these places.
We have people in our lives looking for a job and it is very difficult. And age discrimination is very real. I pray for all the best for your family, Brandy. We sold our second car this spring and have been a one car family since then (my husband has a motorcycle that he rides to work so that really helps). It does save such a lot and we are really loving less maintenance to keep up with.
We are not buying any produce, our garden and friends produce enough to feed us. So that’s a huge savings for us. We picked 10 pounds of blackberries at a friend’s house. I gave her rhubarb in return.
We are working on removing some landscaping in order to save water.
I’m faithfully listing things to sell and it seems like just as I get down to nothing left to sell, someone gives us something else to sell. Some of my friends and family know that I sell and they are so kind to keep that in mind and give me things that they are passing on. Re-selling has definitely slowed down, I can see that change in the economy. But I do keep selling.
He had another motorcycle before that was no longer running. We sold that in March to pay the mortgage, and I was in a car accident with my daughter as we left the bank to deposit the money.
This bike is smaller and not nearly as beautiful; it’s really a trail bike that can’t handle the freeway (the other one could). His new job is 10 minutes away, so it will do just fine for what we need.
That was so unfortunate to be in an accident while leaving the bank! Hopefully word of mouth at your church etc might also help your husband find work. I am thinking he is self employed and perhaps not eligible for employment insurance-which is unfortunate. I am glad you can use the food bank too as needed. Does your church have a food pantry or other supports for church members? I am so impressed with the resourcefulness of both of you in providing for your family. I guess with your daughter serving you have one less person to feed for the time being.
I noticed in your previous post that your husband was home in the summer which did concern me as I know it is usually his busy time. Thanks for sharing your challenges and all your great ideas to support your family. We all have challenging seasons in life and your are definitely facing one now. Thinking of you.
Yes, our church does have some food help as well. I’ve done both, in addition to eating from the pantry.
Who you know is always important in finding work; my job came from a friend who introduced me to his friend, whose wife I worked for for 3 days, and who will be my new boss. They are not church friends; my closest friends are Muslim.
He was working as an independent contractor, so you are correct in that there is no unemployment pay.
If your husband (or anyone) has a college degree, tell him to look into becoming a substitute teacher. Usually no benefits (he might get a free breakfast or lunch), but often the pay can be 80 to 150 a day, depending on the district and upon the circumstances. Also there is a shortage of math , foreign language and science teachers, so if he can get certified for teaching and can teach in one of those critical areas,ly that would be another option. Finally, Goodwill Industries often have job search and job training help. They now serve any one disabled OR “disadvantaged,” and they consider unemployed people to be in the latter category.
Thank you. He has subbed before (he was getting teaching credentials 3 decades ago, before we met, in another state). We’ve been discussing it. Right now he plans to go with the seasonal job he has.
Hello, frugal friends. Brandy, I am sorry to hear about your husband’s job situation. God is good. He will meet your needs. I will keep you on my prayer list. Such a smart idea to replace his car with a small motor bike. I am glad you were able to enjoy your trip and see your son. Mr. Fix It and I went to Alabama over the weekend for his mother’s memorial service. It was a lovely service and reception. We took the drive down and back in two days going and coming. We stayed in Tennessee at my brother in law’s house. We only bought 2 meals. I packed food and water for all the meals. We did have lunch at the reception. We purchased gas at Shell using our T Mobile app, saving .30/gallon. We used our hybrid car which gets 45mpg. When we arrived back in town I bought a rotisserie chicken at Earth Fare for 7.99 as I was too tired to cook after such a whirlwind trip. This bird will give us at least 8 servings plus broth. Now that we are home I spent the day canning applesauce. Tomorrow will be dehydrating summer squash. I came back and found about 10 pounds of summer squash in the garden. I cannot give it away at this point. Everyone else has plenty. In other frugal ways, I have been collecting rain water every evening as the storms pass through. I use this to water the potted plants and window boxes. We have raised the a/c to 80. The result to our bill? $147 for the hottest month of the summer. Not bad for an all electric house of 3600sf. We have been eating out of the garden and pantry. Before we left I canned 18 pints of peaches. After the squash I will can tomatoes. I continue to do the usual frugal things. I wish everyone a blessed week.
Marley! You have an Earth Fare? I go to the one in Johnson City…always watch for their deals and go when I get 10% senior discount on Monday or 10% organic produce on Thursday. What I wouldn’t give for some zucchini squash! We just started our garden at this place this year and didn’t get those earlier crops in. I will have more peppers than we can possibly eat though! Peppers, mint and basil🤣🤣
Thanks for the tip! I will occasionally go to Earth Fare on Mondays to get their roasted chicken deal. I can get 6-8 servings out of one. And on a busy day it’s so helpful.
We have had a lot of rain this year, and twice this month it was too wet to cut my lawn. This saved me the cost of paying for lawn mowing. Not so good for the man who cuts my lawn, but he is picking up a lot more lawn mowing customers, and is selling baking at more farmers’ markets in the area.
I’ve been doing more baking for myself: berry muffins, bread and oatmeal cookies. I use canola oil instead of butter, since butter is $8 a lb at the moment, and canola oil is more like $3 a half litre, which is equivalent to 1.25 lb. I’ve been using icing sugar instead of cane sugar, which is a perfect substitute when the sugar is being mixed into the recipe. I had a bag that I hadn’t used at Christmas, and then received another in a food pantry box. It was difficult to buy a bag of ordinary cane sugar. The bags have either been really tiny or enormous. I also received two jars of honey that I use on oatmeal in the morning, which is especially good now that I can put a handful of berries in each serving that I make. The honey has $1.00 price tags on them. I’m not sure where someone got such a good deal on it.
This month’s food bank box came with the comment that the food bank was short of supplies this month. There are things that are useful in the box, but very little meat, no eggs or milk. It looks like the supplies that come from the main government run food bank organization weren’t delivered, and the surplus frozen meat that comes from grocery stores in the area weren’t available. I have enough food though, left from previous boxes and my own purchases.
A few months ago, it was announced that the thresholds on what income triggers an Alberta Seniors Benefit would be lowered. My income squeaked in so I would still receive a monthly check but there was no information about how much. The news has come that my monthly check will go from $106 to $74.40. A relief to me, since I thought it might go down to $40. Any amount is important, since there are a lot of extra assistance that comes if you are qualified for the benefit at all. I am counting it as good news that the monthly income news wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
I was interested in hearing about your husband’s work situation. I had been wondering about it. I am sure he will get it sorted. In spite of the income problems, it must be a relief to have him at home after all the time he was away. Your middle child grown up and venturing out as an adult! How quickly that happens.
To be honest, it was more of a relief to have an income. Nine months without employment is very difficult. I have been doing what I can: selling plasma, working at the election, doing photoshoots, taking in some shirts for someone, working odd jobs that are a day or three, designing a garden for someone, being my neighbor’s personal driver for a month, driving cars to auction for an auto dealer, selling things at a garage sale, etc. I’m hoping the new job I will be starting will cover the mortgage, but pay and hours are still undecided. I’ve said yes, as he created this job with me in mind, working around my schedule at home. I hope he’ll be ready for me to start soon.
In the years I was self-employed, my summers were very slow. I would do temp work as a receptionist or accounting clerk, which was just enough to cover my mortgage during those months. I liked it because I could stop and start as I needed to.
We’ll hope for the best, and that you both have some regular income soon so that your situation eases.
Thank you. We talked about temp work, but so far, he has been unable to figure out which companies hire temps in Las Vegas. We know there’s temp work for conventions (he did it when when first moved here 26 years ago) but he has been searching online and hasn’t found any temp companies. If anyone has any ideas of places we should be looking for these, we are very open to them!
I googled these. I have not researched them. http://www.eastridge.com, http://www.manpowerlasvegas.com, http://www.aerotck.com, http://www.expresspros.com, http://www.instawork.com, http://www.adecco.com, http://www.atwroknv.com, www. partnerpersonell.com., http://www.alliedforces.com. These are all websites of temp agencies in Las Vegas.
Thank you so much!
I hope it helps!
Mynextcareerpath.com
Thank you!
https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/jobs?city=Las+Vegas
https://www.manpowerlasvegas.com/
I have used both of these companies (in a different location) to staff for temporary and permanent positions.
Thank you so much.
I work in church communications and churches are always looking for social media and photography on a contract or remote basis. Photography of campus, showing up on a specific Sunday to capture an event or photos for promos, posting to social media or moderating comments, etc. You definitely have the skills. Also if your husband has any background in electronics, lighting or audio, or could learn, that is another option for Sunday morning “gig” work. Having church knowledge/background (any denomination) is extremely beneficial. I am in several national Communicators groups and have worked with a couple of larger agencies (with remote employees all over the US) and would be happy to share info if that is something you’d be interested in.
I wonder if you could do seamstress work. Where I live they get paid very well. Often schools need seamstresses to make uniforms for cheer leading, drill team, band, ect. I know you are an amazing seamstress! I imagine Las Vegas would need good seamstresses. Or bridal dresses and all their bridesmaid dresses. I hope you don’t mind me posting my ideas. Also there are websites where people purchase homeschool or even teachers purchase lesson plans and worksheets.
Oh, I forgot to mention I did some sewing for someone as well the last few months. We both also drove cars for someone for a few days who sells cars at the local auctions.
Oh that is great! You have so many skills and I’m sure your husband does too. I wish you the best!
Seconding on the sewing, Brandy. It’s impossible here to find good people to do alterations, and I’m not capable of doing my own except hemming! Also if you can make slipcovers, it’s rare to find anyone who will do that. Everyone here wants to reupholster and with animals and children, slipcovers are a must.
That’s a lot on your plate, Brandy! Thank you for sharing and being open to ideas, while offering encouragement to those facing similar situations. While my household is not in that boat at this time, my heart goes out to you all.
I don’t always remember to go through your site before making Amazon purchases, but recently I had a very large order to place on behalf of my church, and I was prompted to go through your link. I hope you received the benefit of that. Though it’s a small gesture, I do think highlighting that affiliate area of your blog with occasional mentions in the body of your post could help your readers remember that it’s a little way they can contribute and support you, especially in gratitude of you hosting this forum for a long time!
Thank you! The costs of hosting my website have risen a lot lately, so I appreciate that!
I rescued more food from going to the landfill, and that’s mostly what I ate. I also was able to fill several community food boxes with rescued items. I visited a rummage sale and got things on the needs list and a few nice to have items. All meals cooked at home as usual. Have you looked into selling photography or doing freelance photography? My friend did that for apartment move-in and move-out services. Also, look into pharmaceutical and medical research organizations, they are often looking for people with diverse work experience. If your husband is also bilingual, that would help him.
Thank you. My husband only speaks English.
The main thing I am doing to keep us on budget is planning our meals. I cook beans, peas, or lentils in a variety of ways at least 3 times a week. I buy chicken leg quarters for .69 a lb in a 10 lb bag. I use the bones to make broth. I may start making bread for my husbands sandwiches that he takes to work in his lunch to save more money. We are eating up all our leftovers or freezing them for the future. Frozen meals make for a quick meal and little work on the day I bring it our of the freezer. I am considering making chapati bread or flatbreads for my husbands lunches. I look at all the ads online and choose what I will purchase from that. Although we have a store nearby that will have unadvertised sales. I will buy from that when I am there as well. It is usually low priced produce. I bought burger at $3.99 a lb many months ago. I am spreading it out between the chicken, beans, and occasional seafood that I use along with produce to make curries, so it uses less. I have found that I can make simple things like beans or tuna, or chicken taste really good with a variety of spices. And although spices cost a bit upfront, they last a nice while. I love a dish called Tuna Thoran. There are many recipes of this dish online. I’ve cooked it enough that I can use what ingredients I have and make it my own. Family loves it! I serve this with rices as I do with the bean and lentil dishes or even chicken dishes. Because I bought a giant bag of rice a the best price point I can find, It lasts! We continue to use cloth. I am not buying clothing, even at thrift stores. I have lost a lot a weight and will eventually buy clothes. Most things will be bought from thrift stores. My family enjoys ethnic foods, as do I. So I cook Thai curries, Indian days, Mexican dishes, Korean dishes, stir Frys , lots of soups, even in summer. Borscht is yummy. I have a meal plan through Sunday and then I will reassess my refrigerator and pantry and decide if we need to shop yet. The goal is to eat what we have and not through food away. We really are doing a better job of it than we did in the past. Of course food prices are great incentive to not through food away. And feeling good from eating the right foods is great incentive to not buy a bunch of processed food.
The only temporary employment agencies I found in Las Vegas area were agencies like Core Personnel Staffing Services, 2709 Chandler Ave building A Suite 1, Las Vegas and a couple of others. My friends tells me that here in this state the temp agencies hire you temporarily and if the
company likes
you they keep you after the temp employment time is up. I don’t know if it is the same in Nevada. The local state unemployment agency is helpful here I am
told. They also have job fairs here that are advertised. My other friend substitute teaches almost every day. Substitutes are in demand in rural counties here. She got her job by going to the Board of Education and asking for a substitute teacher packet and filling it out.
I imagine it can be done on line in larger cities. She does not have her teaching certificate. I don’t know if the demand is as high in urban areas.
School bus drivers are really needed here also. I know a guy who owns a restaurant who drives early in the morning and again at 3 pm every day for the health insurance provided by the bus driving job. He works at his restaurant in between and at night.
I bought canned salmon, sardines, and tuna at Aldi. The tuna and sardines were $1 a tin. I also bought ground turkey for $2.24 on sale. I made turkey meatloaf . I have been walking most days from 5:30
to 6:30 in the morning bc of the 110 heat index making it so hot during the day.
Thank you. It takes about 6 months to get in as a sub here. I gave a friend the info and he does it now; he also had it take 6 months. Even people with teaching certificates in other states who moved here have said it has taken them 6 months or more.
Wow I have always loved how you and your husband have worked as a team BUT reading all you have done and gone thru really shook me. To realize your family and others are working so hard and doing anything possible to cover food, lodging etc was humbling to say the least. I am with all your friends and colleagues hoping, praying a decent job and relief will come to your family. I thought your daughter going off to ministry as you once did was so touching and beautiful legacy. Time with your son especially for his birthday was awesome. Reminiscing at your alma mater is such a tender experience. The sacrifices of selling the car and using a motor bike, the primary car for the person driving the farthest is the excellent example you share with us each week. It brought back a memory of my husband using a motorcycle rain or shine and I had a VW bug for daughter and myself for work and school and we survived that challenging time but it reminds me that we don’t know what people are going through. My sincere best wishes for your family during this time.
Thank you. I really debated whether or not to share, and discussed it with my husband. The thing is, I know a huge number of people around the world dealing with unemployment and under employment right now (a friend of mine who works in hospital administration in the DC area has been out of work since last August, and a friend in England who is a helicopter pilot has also been out of work–there are a lot of layoffs all over). Several readers have mentioned using the food bank in the past few months (and we have,too, as my pantry has run lower this time than before, and I needed some fresh foods). So, I hope that sharing will help those who are also dealing with the same issues.
We waited it out, thinking surely there would be storms in summer, which is the busy season, but at this point, it’s time to look for something else and move forward.
Thank you Brandy for sharing what you and your family are going through. It helps us to feel less alone.
Be well.
Patricia
There are a lot of people who are unemployed right now. I have a friend in the DC area who has been unemployed since last August; he worked for a hospital that did a lot of layoffs. A friend of mine who is a helicopter pilot in England had been unemployed as the company’s government contract ended. I’ve seen lots of people on Threads commenting about being out of work for over a year after layoffs at their companies. A lot of people are looking for work, and many are being turned away even from low-paying, entry-level jobs.
There is flooding in South Texas and also in areas where TS Bertha hit. Will the insurance co. call your DH in for those disasters????
Flooding is different. Most homeowners don’t have flood insurance. You have to purchase a separate flood policy. Floods are not covered under regular insurance. They are handled by FEMA.
Also, for people who live in earthquake prone areas, you need a separate earthquake policy.
Not sure if either of you are looking for a job with benefits, but this list came up in my mind.
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/part-time-jobs-with-benefits/
Some of the jobs I’ve heard pay decently.
Thank you!
Your back garden layout is so beautiful!
First, please reshare your Amazon affiliate link and post it more prominently on your site, at least on your about page as I can attest to difficultly in finding it. Consider adding a donate/“buy me a coffee” button as well. These should be on your main front page. Your blog has helped so many and it has value we appreciate!
I’m sure your husband has considered doing property management, but he has a lot of transferable skills like marketing, appraiser/accessor, property inspector, stager, and pr. He could specialize in doing foreclosures, look into working on the commercial side of re too. Lots there. Many corporations have re departments and often have a facility department within their re dept he has the skills for too. Corporate jobs are steady employment w benefits. Another is corporate furniture companies, they work w commercial re companies that need to install cubes and office spaces. Since Vegas is such a big hospitality city, sales divisions in hotels, resorts, and golf courses could use his skills as well.
For temp jobs, think of places he might want to work, then call their hr dept to find out what temp companies they use, then sign up with them. This is how I managed to get in the door at a notoriously difficult to get hired and popular company. Temp to permanent is a great way to get a job. I almost exclusively used this approach at times, so I could test if they were a good fit for me too.
For side gig, my friend is doing well with eBay. I’ve sold there off and on, it’s pretty easy. She now exclusively spends no money on inventory. She finds items that are posted as free on craigslist and resells them, being mindful not to drive far and spend gas. You can also sell for other people and take a commission on what you sell for them. She’s done this as well. You can get shipping supplies like boxes, etc free from USPS. If you use their website to order, they will mail them to you for free as well. Packing materials like bubble wrap get free from Craigslist.
Another friend does quite well selling plant starts. I don’t know how well that would work in such a hot climate where you are, but starting seeds now for fall crops cost little, especially if you can find a free seed library, and you can sell them anywhere from five to $10 apiece. You can get free plastic pots pp return to recycle at Home Depot and the like.
Since he is quite handy, he could sign up with task rabbit to help folks with small repairs and such.
Probably the only frugal thing I managed lately is to get a free tower fan, but it’s been a great help circulating the air in my bedroom which gets hot from the western sun even with the AC on. I had a big car repair bill, but it was deferred maintenance and nothing much wrong. Apparently rodents can get under your car and chew the wires which made my check engine light go off, but thankfully it was just the wire that needed fixing.
Sending encouragement to all of us who need it right now…and it’s many of us.
Thank you for your suggestions.
I did try starting some plants in spring, but most of them didn’t make it. I’ve held on to nursery pots for this reason. I plan to try rooting some specific plants to resell; there are certain plants that do well in local gardening groups. However, these take a long time to grow and I would need about a year before I have viable plants to sell. I still plan to do more of these at the right time of year for each.
Fall starts would have to be started indoors, and I don’t have a place to do those, nor have I have ever been successful at them. I direct sow seeds outside in November for the best success, as it’s too hot before then and anything planted earlier tends to bolt. Starts sell at the local nursery here for $1.50 to $5 each, so when people sell them locally in gardening groups, they sell for $2. My hope is to try the more rare and hard-to-find starts again next year and sell those like I tried this spring; hopefully, they will have a better germination rate. I did try selling century plants starts at my garage sale as well as cut flowers and herbs, but I only sold a few.
I appreciate the temp suggestion; that’s really insightful.
I had forgotten about task rabbit; thank you!
I’m glad that your wires weren’t eaten. My friend had rats get into her garage and eat the wires in her car. The repair cost is around $5000! They do so much damage.
I can’t recall if task rabbit has one list skills, but another would be clearing out estates and prep for sale. Seems there would be a market for retirees that have passed without anyone local to clear out and prep home for sale. Seems that could be a niche specialty he could offer. To families and local realtors.
Please share your Amazon affiliate link here as I have a fairly large order to place and would like to go through your link, thank you!
Most people here hire estate salespeople; it’s a regular business here. I will look at task rabbit and see what they have. I wouldn’t mind doing some sewing for people, for instance.
My Amazon link is at the bottom of the post. They’ve changed the way they ley me link, and picture links no longer work. They just let me do word links. I plan to see what other options they have added recently that I’m not aware of.
I’m happy to know about the new way of doing Amazon links. I’d been going through someone else’s link, because I hadn’t noticed yours in some time. I was going to mention it, if Maria hadn’t, and will use yours again, now that I do know. I’ve been a follower for years, and appreciate all you share.
It sounds like it’s been a very challenging time for you and your husband. It seems as though you’ve been doing everything in your power. I hope and will pray that your husband finds suitable and well paid employment soon. I also hope your new job starts soon, and is everything you hope for.
Thank you!
Thanks! I just put in a big A order via your link. Now I know where to look, so will be able to do it regularly.
Thank you so much!
I might not buy garden plants, but I always stop to look at house plants. Some of those are fairly easy to propagate, (or so I have heard; that isn’t my skill).
I have been propagating house plants; perhaps I should do more to sell.
Oh Brandy, I am sorry to hear about your husband’s job problems. Don’t feel alone – the economy is horrible. I have read stats that show it is worse than the Great Depression. However, you are creative, resilient, and have learned the skills to not only survive but thrive. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
It has been a month since I have shared so these are some of my money saving accomplishments.
My sons came home for two weeks vacation. My goal was to empty out the freezers so both could be defrosted to avoid any waste. They were quite helpful eating the meals made from forgotten items. One son brought his meat grinder so we made 60 pounds of the best tasting sausage ever. Sixty-seven pint jars were canned in addition to the patties that were cooked and sent home with them. The pork had been at the bottom of the freezer for almost two years and the purchase price was $1.00 a pound! (Oh, how prices have risen!!!) I reached my goal of rotating everything out and not needing to throw anything away.
Each son empties his refrigerator as he leaves his apartment and brings leftovers for everyone to enjoy. (I like trying their cooking.) One helped dig potatoes in the garden and another helped my husband change the oil in our car along with other maintenance projects. Since it is at the end of the spring season, my son who works in a greenhouse sifted through the flowers that were being trashed and brought some home to me. They were root bound and suffering but all have survived transplanting. The full retail value would have been about $300. I got an assortment of annuals that made me dance with joy!!!
As a family, we sat down and discussed rising prices and what everyone can do. One son upgraded his brothers gaming computers. He had been watching the news and realized certain parts are going to be in short supply due to the demands of data centers. He got the parts they needed from Facebook Marketplace and then did the upgrades while they were here. They shared their cooking skills and taught each other to make: mayonnaise, salad dressing, humus, sourdough bread, sandwich bread, biscuits, kimchi, yogurt, ground sausage and how to grill meat. I suggested when they leave to focus on eating what I can easily grow in the garden then add it to my canned dried beans, and rice. They brought back my empty jars and washed ziploc bags.
We all circled around the pile of household supplies and food that I had purchased for almost nothing at garage and estate sales. They chose what they wanted and I was surprised how much they wanted the small bars of scented soap from hotels. (Some estate sale people collect them.) Soap has gotten pricey and thankfully my sons like using it! One grabbed the little yellow ducks and dinosaur floaty bars and started snickering.
I emptied my pantry of items needing to be rotated and filled their car trunks full. My only rule is that they use it or return it if they don’t want it. Under no circumstance is something I grew and canned to be left in the back of the refrigerator to spoil.
Since they have left, I have scrubbed both freezers and discovered the upright had a leak in the drain that puddled then soured the carpet on the basement floor. The seal had dry rotted but my husband was able to fix it with a sealant he had purchased at an estate sale.
The rubber soles came loose on both of my tennis shoes so I glued them back on. Usually, the glue tube top becomes stuck after one use no matter how well it is cleaned. I purchase tiny tubes at Dollar Tree then cut the end open on the second use. It can be folded closed then used again and again until it is empty or too short to squeeze anything else out.
We are in southern Tennessee and are able to get Georgia peaches at a great price. When I realized this recently after listening to other people’s prices across the US, I decided I need to add more to our winter diets. I purchased fresh peaches for $.99 a lb at Kroger but they rotted before ripening (a common problem.) A week later another local store had the same sale but with riper peaches. However, I ended up with only 5 pint jars after everyone ate them. I can them with Juicy Juice peach juice (expensive) but each jar only takes a little. It naturally sweetens them so no sugar is needed.
Aldi had decent sized pineapples for $1.79. I purchased eight to can and should be able to at least get two and a half or three pint jars from each one. Juicy Juice Mango Tangerine juice is added as a sweetener. Normally the juices I use for canning are gotten during a winter sale but there were no decent sales this past year. (I know because I watched the ads.)
Avocados were $.69 at Aldi so I purchased enough to try freezing. This is a first for me.
The vegetable garden is in full swing due to plenty of rain which is rare for us. Some of the tomatoes rotted on the vine and it could be caused by either too much rain or blossom end rot. I purchased a small bag of calcium nitrate at the hardware store to fertilize the soil but the price has DOUBLED! (We compost our egg shells but it doesn’t seem to be enough.)
Garden: Sweet potatoes were just planted because I purchased the slips online at a close-out special for half price. It is a great deal but you get them late in the season. Cucumber seeds were planted, tomato suckers were pruned then stuck in the ground to root in empty spots. Usually half of them die but I just keep planting. Bush green beans were planted in one of the empty rows caused by harvesting potatoes. After I read that corn prices are soaring (sigh, I am almost out), I decided to plant old seeds in a few empty spaces. As soon as I returned to the house and wasn’t looking a blue jay ate the kernels!
We have harvested: red and white onions, shallots, chives, green beans, Purple Hull peas, Big Boy peas, Lima beans, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash, Napa cabbages, collard greens, kale, lettuce, cherry and regular tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, chamomile, feverfew, stevia, and basil.
Seeing my pantry and freezers empty has made me uneasy; however, sending food to my sons is a priority. All three are having difficulties with the rising prices. Their apartment rents are soaring and two of their employers have announced NO pay raises for anybody! The third one is waiting to hear if he will receive an increase. Feeding my family and those in need is the purpose of my pantry so, this coming week, I will do my own “every bit counts challenge.” I need to push myself to preserve everything and see that I am making progress replenishing my supplies. Some weeks you run on auto-pilot and other times you focus. My goal this week is to not let anything slip through my fingers by recording my progress.
My Mother used to use plain white Tums and crush them to prevent blossom end rot.
Ellie’s friend, Tums is calcium! It would work plus I have an old, expired bottle in the first aid box that needs to be rotated out. Thanks.
Jeannie
Thank you for this advice, Anne! My tomatoes are having a lot of blossom end rot…we have had a LOT of rain consistently. Some crops are thrilled, but not the tomatoes. However, I am thankful we don’t have drought! I live in the same general area as Jeannie. Jeannie, you are SOOOO inspiring with your approach to food and waste not, want not. I did a lot of canning during the covid era, lots of jams and fruit. Way more than we eat! So, I am thrilled my husband has found a way to use the hundreds of jars up…we got a Ninja ice cream maker for Christmas (good sale at Costco) and he has been adding them to the ice cream he makes (he loves ice cream). This has been a great way to use the jams and fruits up, and so much healthier and cheaper than buying ice cream at the store! It has more than paid for the machine…did I mention how much he LOVES ice cream!!!🤣🤣🤣
Laura S, I will take too much rain over drought ANY TIME! It has rained almost every day for the last two weeks. We have lived here for 20 years and have never had a summer this lush. It is wonderful and it is shocking how great the garden is growing.
I have too many jams and jellies but it was caused by experimenting with new recipes. I tired all kinds of things and no one wanted them. They said they liked them but would only grab grape jelly or apple butter out of the cabinet. It has required creativity to used them up. I have put them in fruit salads, muffins, yogurt, and smoothies. I have enough room in my deep freezer to hold the freezer bowl. Homemade ice cream is on the to-do list!
Crush Tums and water your tomato plant bases with it once a month. My dad always did it and I do it. My daughter does it too. No blossom end rot.
I just love they system you have with your grown sons, and how you all work together to support each other and save!
Thank you Ava!
It hasn’t been easy. The savings knowledge has come from years of living right above the poverty level and the relationship wisdom has come from many hours of counseling. I vowed I would do the best job I could raising them and that took learning to undo what I was thought was right. The hyperinflation of the 1970’s taught me quite a bit and years ago I saw the signs of it returning. My warnings to them were first ignored but now they understand. Keeping my mouth shut and not saying “I told you so” is the hardest part.
I relate when you say it hasn’t been easy (including keeping my mouth shut… ;] ). I respect and admire how your efforts are paying off.
It was really nice to get an update on your family. You guys work so hard and knowing of your struggles makes this blog more interesting.
We received a load of free wood chips/shreds from a local tree company. It’s going to take me months to get it moved to all the areas I want it in 🤣
I mended 2 pairs of jeans.
I discovered what was supposed to be blackberry vine is actually a wineberry (Japanese raspberry). I’ll process them with the strawberries for jam/jelly.
I planted a bunch of sprouted potatoes for a second crop.
I picked lettuce, Swiss chard, catmint, chives. thyme and one banana pepper from the garden.
My hens are laying far more than we need right now so I’ve been giving them away.
We got 4 cats vaccinated with the 3-way vax for free.
Our neighbor picked up a food box for us from the mobile pantry. It added 4 pounds of black beans, many many snack packs of dried cranberries and a bottle of juice to the pantry and 8 peppers went in the freezer and 5 pounds of potatoes and 3 cukes went in the frig.
We used our ebt at the farmers market where we can double the amount to use on fruits and veggies. We got carrots, broccoli and some lettuce and have enough left f or several more trips. It’s very close to our house so very little gas is used.
I found multiple “baby” sedums growing and transplanted them to a better area. I also split and moved all my hostas from the front to the back away from the doe whitetail that is eating them! She promptly started getting in to the backyard where my veggie garden is 🙄 I will be adding more fencing I already have to try and keep her out!
Made all meals at home.
We kept our air at 78°F even though temps were in the 90’s. We also had to run it longer than we wanted because of the wildfire smoke. It was a constant bluish haze, smells terrible and causes me to go into coughing fits. Thankfully we are getting a few days break right now.
Hope everyone has a frugal week!
Melissa V, my brother used to have problems with deer eating his garden. He purchased a motion detector water sprayer that attached to his garden hose. It would suddenly spray the deer when they came into his yard. It worked except that he would forget about it and get drenched when he started mowing. He said he found it on Amazon.
Jeannie
If you start a gofundme for your family, I’d be happy to donate money.
Thank you. I have no plans to do so at this time, but I am going to look into how to add a donate button to this site.
I think a donate button is an excellent idea.
I just need to figure it out. I’ve been so busy working all these different jobs that there hasn’t been time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2YHs9fd8dY&t=22s
How to Add a Donation Button to Your Blog
Thank you!
This has been the most real blog post and comments that I’ve read in a long time. I am sorry to learn that many people are doing without in the great land of plenty. It must be so worrying to be financially insecure at this time of your life. Costs of everything soar. I was astonished to learn that our neighbouring little town has rents of $2300. a month for a single person in a one bedroom apartment.
We in Canada are fortunate to have government paid health care, dental care and monthly rebate checks for energy costs and goods and services taxes. There is also assistance on energy bills for qualifying income brackets. Thankfully our home is paid for as is our vehicle. We switched our vehicle insurance providers and saved over $500. per annum. (CAA also has perks and of course road assistance.)
I wonder if renting a room in your home now that your family is downsized is a possibility. When I was young, I lived in a boarding house and it was a fun time. Housing was scarce. Our landlady had a big house and squeezed so many people in; there was a young man sleeping on a cot in the laundry room. I had a tiny bedroom and shared bathroom. There was a common room with t.v. too. A variety of nationalities and job descriptions made it interesting.
If I were in need, I would absolutely use every food bank and similar resource available. This gets the message out that people need help and money needs to be redirected to people who could benefit from it. Good luck to all of you.
And Brandy, if it’s any consolation, I too have been bitten and peed on by dogs. They’re not my favourite people!
I still have four children at home, so I don’t really have the space yet. I have looked into renting out a room in the future (for example, for traveling nurses) but am not comfortable doing that while I have children at home.
I found out this week that the city is restarting a small utility rebate program for seniors aged 60+, based on last year’s income. We don’t qualify this year, but if they do it again next year, we would. It’s a rebate on a specific tax on some utility bills and a larger rebate on the sewer bill. If they do it again next year, we would qualify, based on this year’s income. I think it would be a couple hundred dollars. You have to make an appointment and bring in every bill and proof of payment. I pay online, with paperless billing, so would have to print out every bill to bring with me. If they do it again next year, I plan to apply.
You too with dogs?!? People think I’m awful for not liking dogs, but dogs don’t seem to like me, so . . . I guess it’s mutual at this point. My grandmother’s dog bit me when I was four; I asked my mother the story again this morning and she said I was pointing at something, and the dog came up and bit my finger! I’m just very, very wary at this point, and I don’t trust dogs at all anymore.
Thank you for sharing your situation. I’ve been through job loss and it is so stressful. Reaching out to my network, like you’re doing here and in your local community, was a huge help in landing my current job. I hope it helps you and your husband as well.
Adding a donation button to the blog is a great idea. I support a podcast I love through Patreon. It might be worth seeing if an account there might help you get paid for all the work you put into running this site.
I’ve been using my days off to catch up in the garden this week. It doesn’t feel as productive as past years, but we were still able to enjoy two meals of green beans, one of broccoli, and two with carrots from the garden this week. I enjoyed my first two tomatoes of the season tonight and I’m enjoying cut zinnias on the table.
I said no to a plant sale that caught my eye when I remembered that I still needed to plant the plants I got at our library plant swap earlier in the week. I’ve started planting a second round of carrots with seeds from the library.
I’ve heard Baker Valley Unified School District pays $225-$250 per day for subs. They provide transportation to and from Las Vegas in a van pool.
Wow! That’s wild! Baker is almost 2 hours from here. That’s a four hour daily commute.
Better to sub in Vegas, I think.
So interesting, though!
Other community resources would be Medicaid (or whatever it is called in Nevada) and EBT. There was a time in my life that we qualified but I didn’t know it. If I knew then what I know now, I would have applied.
Libraries and schools I our state are offering free lunch for every child 0-18 through the summer. One does not need to enroll.
I plan to try reapplying for Medicaid after we have paychecks. They like to see two pay stubs, so a month of work.
hi Brandy,
Thank you and your husband for sharing. It makes others who are experiencing unemployment/underemployment know that they are not alone. It also is very interesting to see what suggestions everyone has.
I lived on a street where every other house was home to an unemployed family. I think the most important thing is not to let it affect your self-esteem or self worth and to manage the stress. Good luck, God bless — I know something will come up.
P.S. Ironically I used to have a hard time getting a job myself but I would suggest something for a friend and she would get a job there without fail! I was once out of work for slightly more than a year but used to joke i’d probably get 3 0r 4 jobs on the same day — and guess what I did get 4 offers on the same day. (I picked the wrong one but that is another story!). I have often looked back at the struggles I’ve had — and ironically, it was good that things turned out in unexpected ways. If you need to go back to be retrained for something specific, the women’s organisation P.E.O. has some scholarships, loans and grants for that purpose. If I lived closer to you, I’d recruit you to do mending, alterations and custom sewing. I could also see you or your husband giving English lessons or you giving piano lessons.
My dream job several years ago was to be hired to courier corporate documents around the world but alas I never did it.
I live in a 55+ community. One thing I have noticed since moving here is that many people seem to be financially comfortable and are ready and willing to pay people to do things around the home and garden that have become too difficult or that they no longer want to do. Everything from cleaning house, hanging pictures, mowing the lawn, dusting areas that require a ladder or baseboards that require getting up from the floor. Also things like changing batteries in smoke detectors, taking care of the house/pets/plants while away from home. Not to mention rides to the airport or doctor appointments. The list goes on and on. I often think that if someone is willing to do these types of jobs, they could do well for themselves in a community like this. Personally I have used a female owned business to help with some of the garden chores that are beyond me at this age. She has a thriving business and it is primarily in this neighborhood via word of mouth. Don’t know if this information could be helpful to you or your husband, Brandy. Just thought I would mention it in case.
My mother has done this, starting around the age of 55, for years. The last woman she helped passed away at the age of 99 last year. There is a nearby senior community. I will very seriously keep this in mind and will quite possibly pursue it, if I can work it around my other job and family responsibilities. I had thought of this before but forgotten about it. Thank you.
I drove my widowed neighbor quite a bit after her husband died earlier this year, and she paid me, but she is using Lyft now, and that’s been better, as I couldn’t always drop everything to take her whenever she wanted to go. She would have me take her one place, but then add more, and I was gone for hours more than I expected, unable to make dinner for my family several times. So I have to make sure to set some regular times.
I like the idea of someone to do just little things– Top of my list for such a person would be to go through the juice bottles I bought on sale and crack the tops: I can’t open plastic lids any more! Opening a pickle jar is a major undertaking.
I know it gets in to issues of liability and insurance, but I see a real need for my husband and I in the near future: Transportation to medical facilities for procedures. So far we can still drive, but that will change. We have to drive close to an hour for many doctors. Our small town has limited or no Uber/Lyft drivers, and I don’t know if they go out of town, or what their procedures for waiting several hours would be.
Someone I know drives people to the major airports, price doubled for using his car instead of the passengers’. But again, liability comes up. He “advertises” by word of mouth.
My mom was driving someone to appointments. And I took my neighbor to hers. But I’m not driving her anymore. She’s using Lyft, which is better for both of us.
Yes, my mom did something like this too. She also made an extra plate and brought dinner every day to one of her “old people”. A nice side income for her.
I am sorry to hear about your husband’s work situation. I do private elder care. I am contacted constantly to see if I am available. I don’t know how people get my number. I am CPR and first aid certified so I would recommend that. I know of so many people that need a night helper. They make a lot more then I do and do a lot less work. It might be something your husband could do. Just something to think about. I will pray that he finds the right job for him.
The garden is doing great. I have picked 16 zucchini so far. I seem to put some in almost every dish. I made zucchini brownies for the first time. They are very good. They are vegan (no eggs) so I now have another dish for when a vegan friend comes over. I picked our first tomato today. Now we will be getting so many. Lettuce, Swiss chard, basil and parsley are still doing great. Raspberries are done for the year. Our first figs should be soon.
My friend gave me her leftover rotisserie chicken. I take care of her mom. Usually it is to boil the bones. This time there was a lot of meat on it. We had quesadillas and chicken salad with it. I then cooked the bones to make stock. She also bought Entenmann’s donuts which are so good but we rarely buy them. I had a chocolate one as a snack.
Went to my sister’s 2 weekends ago. We went in her pool. She gave me 2 bags of clothes. Some fit now and some will fit soon. I am down 48 pounds so far.
My son needed clothes. He asked if I would go with him shopping. We went to Old Navy. We did really good on their clearance section. I had a gift card and a coupon. I treated him to the clothes. I got 2 pairs of leggings for this winter for less then $2 each and 2 tops for less then $2. We then went to Kohl’s who was also having a clearance sale. We found some more clothes for him. Some for now and some for the winter. I had a gift card and coupons again. I treated again. I got $20 in Kohl’s cash. Hubby is there now with it looking to see if he can find anything on the clearance racks. All clearance is an extra 50% off. I then treated my son and I to Panera with a gift card. We didn’t get drinks and it was $32. It wasn’t very good. I did bring 1/2 of mine home. I was sent a survey and honestly filled it out. I gave low scores on some of the categories. I got an email yesterday saying they were sorry to hear about my bad experience and gave me a free meal. I will grab it one day.
Stop& Shop’s freebie this week is a container of ice cream. I stopped on my way home from work and got just that. I did look at the clearance section but there was nothing good.
Our grocery budget will be very low this month since we are trying to make room in the chest freezer. All of the garden produce goes into the freezer before I can tomato sauce. I like to do it in large batches.
We are cat sitting for our son while he is away for work. He gets a daily amount of money for his meals whether he eats out or not. He tries to always stay at a hotel with free breakfast. He can usually pocket at least half. He just bough a new to him car for cash. We are very proud of him and knowing that car loans are crazy.
Hubby and I have been enjoying our back yard a lot recently. We have been going in the hot tub, eating outside and doing firepits. I have been going to the library regularly for classes, crafts and to borrow stuff.
Your pictures are wonderful as always. Our weather has changed on a weekly basis. At the moment it is rainy. Some water came in the basement for the second time in 41 years. DH and DS spent a lot of time moving things and wet vacuuming. I have been cleaning out some of our freezer by canning things. As I put them up I rearranged spaces that got messy. Produce is finally coming in here. I canned pickle slices already. I bought some TitanClad frying pans to get rid of coated pans that I had in February. I have since been reducing other plastics in cooking and kitchen storage. My cooking time is reduced between the new frying pans and the new oven from last year. That is an ongoing adjustment that I like. I am still decluttering and have reached the point where I pick random drawers. A little drawer in a desk had items to donate and throw away. I also found some staple boxes that could be combined. It looks so neat now. I heard of a really old book and didn’t want to buy it as I couldn’t preview it. I googled and found I could download it from a religious organization in Alabama. I have been checking the salt on lots of things I never thought of before. I have been more careful about eating too much salt and immediately lost 4 pounds. I am also taking apart a big pillow of two from our couch. We want to separate a long cushion that lays on a footstool base that is slid under it so it can be moved around. The two pillow sides will be used for material to sew one end of the footstool together again. I don’t really like the feel of the other side of the pillows so I am not sure what I will do with them. Have a great week everyone!
I don’t know if this would be of any use to your husband, but I read “My Frugal Miser ” blog and he makes good money assisting at corporate events or delivering for Amazon. It might be worth a look. Has he considered evening work so that you could share the car without inconveniencing each other? Just a thought. I’m sure that you will work your way through the current difficulties although it must seem like an uphill struggle at present. Best wishes , Essie.
Yes, he is looking into evening work. We shared the car before for 17 years, and we are certain we can do it again.
Has Steve looked into getting social security? If so, dependent children get roughly 1/2 of his monthly social security. And he could still work part time.
I believe they would only get money if he died. I don’t think living children get any, unless there’s something on the government’s website I’ve missed.
He doesn’t reach full retirement age until 67. It would not be to our advantage to take it now, nor will it be enough to live on, even at 67. He needs to keep working.
Brandy you should check out the website called Open Social Security.com. It will let you run different scenarios about when your husband should collect Social Security. It looks like there would indeed be benefits for your three youngest children if he retired right now, in addition to whatever benefit he has accrued for himself. You can change his retirement age and see how the benefits change. It still might be better if he is waiting until 70 but maybe not.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Brandy, a homemaker can make half of what her husband makes on Social Security. That might be what the reader is thinking of. I advised my mother in law about this in the last few years.
Yes, after he passes. But not while he is living.
One of my siblings took early benefits (before reaching full retirement age) so that their three children could receive benefits until the children reached age 18. It made a huge difference for all of them during the several years of. my sibling’s unemployment.
Here’s a link at Social Security that might be helpful: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10085.pdf.
Of course, as you’ve mentioned, starting benefits before full retirement age has drawbacks, especially down the road. I’m sending all good wishes to everyone who is working out the best options for their family’s situation.
Thank you for the link. I truly appreciate it. People kept mentioning it, but I hadn’t seen anything about it anywhere online.
It doesn’t mention the max amount–just says that there is one. What I found when looking before at death benefits with minors in the home is that the maximum amount was equal to about 1.5 children at home. So in my case, even though I have 4 children at home, we would still not get more than the maximum amount, which is way less than the amount we would get if they paid for all four children at home.
The other problem is–how does one live on the lower amount once the children are 18? That’s the other major concern I have.
But, if we are forced to go this way, I appreciate knowing it’s an option. Thank you so much.
I am back to reading your blog after being away for awhile. My family is doing okay week to week but are unable to save any money. Every week when we get paid, we pay the bills, put gas in the vehicles and buy food with whatever is left, which often isn’t much. However, I am always grateful for what we have. We are as frugal as possible but always willing to learn new things. I regret not starting a small container garden this year. I would like to can tomatoes. I may go to the local flea market soon to see what I can pick up there. If you go toward the end of the day, you can often get a deal because they don’t want to lug it back home. My youngest son graduated high school this year, so we had a party for him at home. We only had about 27 people, including us, and family members each made a side dish to contribute to the meal. We ordered the two main dishes and a cake from a local store, but my mother paid for that as part of his gift. He is using some of the money he was given to pay for drivers ed classes which are required for anyone under age 21 in Ohio now. Other than that, my husband was able to replace the back brake pads and both sway bar links on my car, saving us a ton of money. He also repaired a bathtub faucet leak. He has saved us SO MUCH money over the years being able to do house and car repairs etc himself. I have been decluttering and organizing around the house as well as working full time. I usually just donate items to the thrift store but I would like to try to sell some things, maybe on Facebook marketplace. I have also been slowly trying to keep building our pantry with staple items and things that I believe will be going up in price soon. The economy certainly isn’t getting any better. I hope your husband finds suitable work soon.
I wonder how someone becomes a drivers training instructor. That would certainly be in Brandy’s husband’s skill set– all those kids, homeschooling experience, undoubtedly can drive a manual transmission.
Or giving workshops like changing a tire or changing oil.
Not sure of the openings in Las Vegas, but selling flooring might be something to look into. My dh and youngest both work for a flooring company and it can be a very good job. Their company has hired several former real estate agents. Every salesperson in the store here makes $90,000+ a year, but obviously different locations might be different. It’s a good job that is often overlooked because it’s usually straight commission, which is scary for a lot of people. As a realtor your family is used to the feast or famine of commission sales. Might be something to look into.
That’s really good to know! Thank you so much.
I really like the way all your readers come together with such great suggestions and support when anyone needs help! I also wanted to commend you for the great work ethic you show to your children. Well done!
Thank you. I hope the ideas prove useful to others as well.
I, I agree with your comment 100%! Brandy, your blog has given hope and community to so many of us, through all our personal and collective struggles. So many ideas and so much support. Once you add a donate button, I will be donating. I lived so many years just trying to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. Even though times are better, that feeling still haunts me. I am living proof how God helps us and provides for us…the stories I could tell! And most of it was His work through other people. After all, that is what we are here for…to help others along the way.
Thank you. I just need to learn how.
I feel bad sharing this, but I was finally approved for a “market adjustment” (raise) after 2 years. It’s been a hard fought process but it will give us some much-needed breathing room as we’re still waiting on disability news and my kids are only getting a few hours a week at jobs. I’ll continue teaching night classes though because the economy is so very uncertain and we know the gas tax will be back in our state in a few weeks.
I picked some of our flowers for inside and started some more lettuce. Hopefully it will be grown before the next heat wave and doesn’t bolt.
Highs in 70s today so we opened the windows.
Picked up a few tomato plants for $1 at the farmers market and am nursing them currently. Also picked up some small shallots for seeds for fall.
For fun I’m going to be a movie extra this weekend! Cost will be the drive and the food, but why not?
Wishing you all peace in this coming week.
Robbie
Congratulations on your raise! Don’t feel bad sharing! Someone else’s success isn’t a reason for me to feel bad. The cost of living is rising faster than raises, and I’m happy for you!
Congratulations on that hard won raise, Robbie! My daughter’s friend just had the same struggle and finally, after three years, got a raise. So happy that this will ease the strain for you! I am wondering if you live near northeast Tennessee as your description of the weather fits to a T right now. AND, your comment about being a movie extra as a movie will be shooting in my town and I wonder if it’s the same one! I had not thought of planting shallots for fall, but will be doing so now!
Garlic can be planted in fall, too!
Where I used to live in Illinois, we planted garlic in November for a summer harvest. You could plant in the spring as well, but the bulbs were much smaller and the cloves not as defined. I will try planting some here and see what happens! Thanks for the suggestion, Brandy!
Hi Brandy and everyone
I am very sorry to hear of the long period of unemployment, this must have been very stressful for you. I am full of admiration for the way you and your husband have turned your hands to many things to earn money and wish you every success in your endeavours. Thank you for sharing this time in your lives, you will be an encouragement to others and it helps to know that in any situation we are not alone.
Making life beautiful for less over the last two weeks-
We have a glut of cucumbers so I’ve made bread and butter freezer pickles, also prepped and froze a glut of plums and blackcurrants. We’ve given lots away to family and friends. A friend gave me a lift to a free event we were both attending and saved me £9 on parking. I gave her a big box of plums in return.
We have also used from the garden lettuce, basil, potatoes, spring onions,courgettes and French beans. I’ve cut lots of flowers for the house and cut seed heads and alliums for drying for winter arrangements. Our onions, shallots and garlic have been lifted and are drying in the sun.
We’ve potted on lots of plants and taken cuttings to propagate.
I sold some books to a reseller.
Our SIL brought over some black bream he had caught and prepped them for the freezer for us.
I found two new cotton tops for me in the charity shop, together with a new in its packet bath mat and a dog toy.
There have been a few good deals on meat and butter in the supermarket so I have added to our freezer stock. I think the prolonged hot weather in the UK is prompting supermarkets to reduce prices on some fresh meat so it doesn’t hang around and spoil.
Good luck to everyone.
So sorry that things are more difficult for you at the moment Brandy – but thank you for sharing as it certainly helps to put things in perspective. You all work so hard that it just doesn’t seem fair. I had hoped to make my final payment to one large debt this month but with interest over the past year it looks as though I’ll still have another payment to make in August – although slightly smaller than what I have been paying. Then I got a reassessment from the tax dept. on my 2025 taxes and they want more money so will have to get that sorted as well. One step forward and two steps back.
At least I can pay all my monthly bills, add money to my transit pass and pay for groceries – but after making payments to two debts there isn’t much left. But – I will just keep plugging away.
I have been tracking my grocery costs and I am quite shocked that I easily pay about $400 per month – just for me! I thought that I must be going overboard but couldn’t understand how so sat down and went over most commonly bought items. I spend about $100 on dairy and eggs, $60 on meat, poultry or fish, $100 on fresh, frozen or canned fruit & veg, $60 on non food items and then the final $80 on things like tea, coffee, pasta, rice, flour etc. I went back and looked again, but when milk is $3.50 per litre, butter $8 per pound and yogurt or cottage cheese at least $5 per container – it adds up pretty quickly. I tend to buy only apples and bananas fresh as things like grapes, kiwis and melons are ridiculous and I also buy frozen fruit & veg as it doesn’t go bad before I can use it. I cannot even imagine how families with kids are managing! I restock during sales (few and far between) and I am rotating my pantry goods as much as possible so things don’t expire. I eat from home at least 90% of the time so that explains a lot but I still want to do better. Once things cool down I am determined to make even more items at home – such as yogurt, bread, dressings, pickles etc. The one good thing about the high prices is that I am walking right by the bakery and snack aisles so I’m hoping that will help with losing weight.
Had my last check up after my cataract surgery (no cost) and I now have 20/20 vision so I am very grateful for that. The downside has been able to see how grimy my kitchen was and how many cobwebs and dustbins live in my apt. – even though I dust every week! I have been scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom and I’m very pleased with the results – it’s a pleasure to work in there now. Something leaked in the fridge so had to take out all the shelves and baskets and scrub. Also took the opportunity to clear out some old condiments, group things into plastic baskits that I dought at the dollar store years ago so I now have a VERY clean and organized fridge! Lots of negatives these days so just trying to focus on some of the positive outcomes. All the best to you and your family and best of luck with the job searches.
Hi Margie! When you get your next statement, take a look at how much principal you still owe. You can then call the card company and ask them o waive the rest of the interest since you are paying off the principal. A lot of times they will do this. Just a suggestion☺️
Thank you for sharing this tip. It is something that I have not heard of before and I would be willing to give it a try!
Margie,
I’m smiling because after cataract surgery I too observed that my dusting efforts had not been effective — like you I was appalled at the dust left behind! I also am finding that I am spending a lot on food — in fact my food bill one month in the winter surpassed my energy bill — imagine that! Now I’m really watching what
I but and when I buy it. Laura S’s comment about asking the creditor to waive interest is a good suggestion.
Brandy, I, also, will be praying your husband finds a very good job that uses his skill set. It sounds like you are doing a myriad of small jobs to continue paying your bills. There are a lot of good suggestions above. God is faithful and He will provide.
I am recovering the house now that all of the kids and littles went home. We had a great time and made all meals here. They set off their own fireworks and just hung out with each other. That seemed to be the thing they wanted to do most🥰 Since I had loads of laundry (20+ people all sleeping here), mostly linens, I took the opportunity to reorganize my linens. My daughter could use some linens so this was the perfect opportunity to figure that out. We are getting back on track and enjoying it.
I came here to say, “Have you or your husband considered substitute teaching?” only to find plenty of people, yourself included, got there first. 😉 I did this on and off for quite a few years and it worked well for my situation. I was able to be flexible (marking myself unavailable as needed) and the added income really helped. I actually found the work to be very gratifying. Several times I was asked to take on long-term jobs, when a teacher was taking maternity or medical leave. I’m considering going back to it.
I have to say – $225-$250/day!? Wow! If I were near there I would do it, especially with the district providing transportation. But yes – two hours each way makes for way too long a day.
Frugality these last few weeks has meant: collecting water from the AC (many gallons!) and using it to water potted plants and even fruit trees; collecting water from washing fruits and vegetables as well; making dog treats from dog-safe things I had on hand; drying laundry on the line and avoiding using the dryer as much as possible (and then during off-peak hours); selling an item on eBay (unlike the last time I did this, the transaction went smoothly); consolidating as many errands as possible. I harvested strawberries and different varieties of mint. I just looked up your recipe for granola and am hoping to make some tomorrow.
I rediscovered my late husband’s travel laptop, on the shelf in the closet. I plugged it in and it fired right up, though it spent several hours updating itself. He used it specifically to play his favorite online game when we were traveling and that game is all that’s on it. My poor laptop is 10+ years old and getting very battered and this one is significantly newer. If I can get the programs I use regularly onto it, that’s going to be a real help to me. (Thank you, honey… though I’d much rather have you here using it yourself.)
I have a an old Keurig and use reusable k-cups in bright colors. Once in a while one will break, so I turn it into a Christmas ornament.
I too revisited my college campus recently. It was very nostalgic. I wandered into the campus sanctuary in time to observe a rehearsal by a praise group, and came away refreshed in spirit.
That higher price is in the next state over with a four plus hour commute each day. I would imagine they would leave from the south end of the city, which is 45 minutes from here by car. Withonly one car now, that won’t work for us, since I will need the car for my job.
Here, the pay is between $100 and $230 a day, depending on the school. I know a couple of people who sub here.
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned tutoring, among the discussions of substitute teaching?
Perhaps tutoring a home school student or someone home with medical issues?
I have considered being a French tutor.
My neighbor used to teach English via the computer to kids in other countries as a second job.
I have thought about this. My Urdu tutor is in Islamabad, Pakistan. She teaches on Preply.
Your library might be able to help you switch everything from one computer to the other. My has a tech team that does it for free.
Brandy, would it be an option for your husband to sell the beautiful tuteurs he made for your garden? They could be advertised on the various on-line platforms such as CraigsList, and also through garden clubs and nurseries? You could even build a website for them with the pictures of your garden.
Just a thought…
He made several a year ago for a garden that I designed. They took several months to complete. The large arbors take about a month each. We have advertised them on Marketplace and in the local garden groups, but we have not sold any that way. They are not cheap, and people want cheaper than the cost of materials. He would love to make more for people in the future.
Brandy: Put me on the list. I will buy one! Does he ever do/could do any pineapple art? I am a sucker for pineapples–Charleston and all that!
How would we get it to you? The structures he makes are huge. The arbors I designed are 10 feet tall and the obelisks are 9 feet. They are made of steel. It would need to be driven across the country.
He spoke with someone before about making some for a garden in the NE, but it would have been rather costly to transport them, and they ultimately decided not to purchase them.
I am very interested in the Armillary Sphere. Would that be doable? Yours is amazing!
I bought that many years ago. I don’t know. Let me ask! That would be fun to make!
Would he be able to offer custom sizes so people could get smaller ones? People also make ones out of copper pipes.
Your husband seems so handy and I know here it’s really difficult to find honest, competent carpenters or even handy-men to do even simple projects.
I hold a plant sale twice a year– mostly aroids (Monstera, aglaonema, dieffenbachia, different philodendrons, syngoniums and more), and also some ferns, as they all take over my yard and I’m always having to trim them or dig them out. I also offer hoyas, begonias and other plants I can’t bear to throw out when I remove them or cut them back. I also offer some edibles, but all are really easy to start which is why I ended up with so many that I had to get rid of them and began the plant sale. I make about $300-500 each time and it’s fun to meet the people who stop by.
I know you’d need to use other plants, but you seem to have a green thumb and maybe an occasional plant sale would be helpful.
How do you advertise your plant sale?
I post it on CraigsList, get a neighbor who’s on NextDoor to post an announcement, and we put signs up around the neighborhood. I include pictures of the plants, not individually, but as they’re arrayed on my driveway, crowded onto stands, in the listings, and I give a list of the plants I have available, explaining that I don’t necessarily have many of each.
After the first sale, when people asked when the next one would be, I began asking people if they wished to sign up to be emailed when I have the next one. I have at least a hundred people on that list now and I send them announcements with pictures.
I look forward to the sales for the conviviality, as well as for getting good homes for plants.
Thank you!
My sister is 54. Her husband is 67. He claims social security and their 2 children under 18 each receive money from social security as well.
In all benefit situations I recommend actually speaking to a staff member. There is a lot that is not clear on websites
Interesting. I hadn’t heard anything about collecting for minors when a person is still living–only death benefits for under age 16, according to what the SSA sent me and their website.
It’s not enough to live on, unfortunately. We need to wait until he’s older and can take full retirement at 67 so that he gets the full amount. It still isn’t enough to live on by a long shot. He needs to keep working.
I’m glad it works for your sister. I imagine he gets a larger amount than my husband will.
Brandy,
If DH can swing it, have him wait until 70 to take SS. Even if you have to scrimp and save in the meantime.
For every year you wait over FRA, it’s another 8% added to your benefit amount. (But that advantage ends at 70 y.o., they say, so don’t wait any longer.)
I waited until 70, which gave me 24% more in my monthly check, and it made all the difference. Several hundred $ more.
Whatever you do, don’t go take it at 62 (unless you think you’ll die at 63). That cuts your check in half!
That’s the plan for us.
It also gives me more as a widow when the time comes, as it is only a percentage of what he gets. We don’t really want to take at 67. We want to wait until 70.
Brandy,
I am truly sorry to hear how stretched your family is currently. I wanted to suggest online tutoring, for either you or your husband. Especially if you have a gift for high school math or sciences, you can easily earn $100/hour or more. I work as an elementary tutor, online and going to peoples’ homes. I earn $65/hour. With your homeschooling experience, you should be able to ask for top dollar in the market. Best wishes!
Can you share how you market your tutoring?
I’m not the person who left this comment, but when I was homeschooling, we used a public charter school. This meant I received a budget for each child that I was allowed to spend by requesting materials/ services from a list of approved vendors. This is how we paid for guitar lessons, piano lessons, dance lessons, tutors, language classes, required driving lessons, etc.
My children were already taking some of these lessons when we started the charter school, so we encouraged the people giving these lessons to become vendors with the charter school. The requirements were a business license, a way to invoice the charter school, and a list of materials that would be used because the charter school being a public school meant none of the materials/ curriculum
/ services purchased could be religious in nature. Being a vendor did much of the advertising work.
Maybe something similar is available in your state.
Amber in SJ
That’s amazing! I know Alaska gives money to homeschool parents. Nevada does not. I was not aware of any other states that do. How wonderful for you.
We have begun eating produce from our garden. This is my first year growing potatoes. They need a lot of space, but I have been pleased with how little work they were. I have hardly watered them at all!
We are in a big drought here in the UK, and are talking about how we can capture and store more rainwater for next year. I have also been discussing some of your greywater tips, Brandy, like collecting shower warm up water. We planted lots of fruit trees last autumn and are trying desperately to just keep them alive this year.
Time seems flying if one of your daughters is old enough to be a missionary! Can you remind me how many children you still have living at home? It seems like it ought to be six or so?
I have just four left at home now. I started this blog when my child who just left was a baby, and now she’s 18.
Brandy, I have read through the comments now, and seen lots of suggestions for work for you and your husband. Perhaps you’re sick to death of them! But I did want to share one more resource: http://www.askamanager.com.
She has a “how to get a job” book which is on sale right now: https://www.askamanager.org/2026/07/heres-a-huge-discount-on-the-ask-a-manager-job-searching-bible-7.html
But honestly, if you have a little time, I don’t think you need to pay the money. This post is a sort of “best of”/highlights post of all her job searching advice: https://www.askamanager.org/2024/05/need-help-finding-a-job-start-here.html Your husband ran his own company! I’m sure that’s a gold mine of resume and cover letter content if he can just get the right angle on it.
I have emailed her a question in the past and she sent a very nice and thorough response. Maybe your husband could send in a question asking for her advice on his individual situation once he’s read some of her stuff?
Anyway, wishing you both all the best.
Thank you! I’m hoping this post and the comments serve as a resource for many, so I am glad so many people are sharing ideas.
Brandy, I don’t know if this has already been suggested or not, but your photography is so spectacular. I know at one time you were doing portrait pictures, etc. Are there any car clubs around you? People with classic cars, hot rods, etc., love to have pictures made of their cars. I would suggest pet pictures but that might not be a good fit for you, especially dogs. How about making notecards with the beautiful flower pictures you have taken and selling them. Or maybe graduation pictures, wedding pictures, etc. I just love your photography. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Blessings from Bobbi in Virginia.
Thank you. I have had a photography business in the past and have been doing a few shoots here and there for people the past year. I’d love to have more again; it’s just a matter of finding clients on a continuous basis.
No one has mentioned mystery shopping: Here is an excellent overview from someone who has done them, (I have not).
https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/a-mystery-shopping-primer-from-alaska-lindsey/
The article has a link to more about the “gig economy” (such a strange term!) that includes possible secret shop companies and many more opportunities. I had never heard of a sharing service for doing laundry for other people. And the blog post comments have some further employment thoughts as well.
A friend has been a paid subject in various studies being done at a local state university. Search for the “name of the university near you, paid research positions.” The list I looked at included a lot of health studies, but also food-related studies, a few for children or parents, testing a board game, trying milk flavors, etc.
thank you!
Brandy I am sorry for your current difficulties, but it does sound as though you and your husband have been very thorough in examining all the possibilities before you. My son was laid off in October of 2023 and finally got a job. He did pursue further education to complete his teaching degree while he was unemployed, but he was looking for work steadily the whole while with absolutely no interest though he was former management and trained as an adjustor for auto insurance. Fortunately, he had a 401K which he bled dry (he said he’ll use the last of his money in September, just about the time he receives his first check). I have heard many stories from two of my other children about how difficult they are finding it to make ends meet just now.
I am fortunate to have a deep pantry and freezer but admit that I am struggling to know exactly how to best utilize them. With it being just me, I find buying in bulk is not always feasible unless I re-can items. I’ve been studying what I find to give me the best return on my labor. Definitely baking bread products is on the list. I need to learn to can in ‘small batches’. A pint of anything is seriously way too much for my needs, but I think I shall find my way eventually. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to break down family packs of meats into single serve portions to freeze.
Mostly, I’m just hanging in there trying to spend as little as possible beyond bills. I am fortunate that I do have an adequate income but also am aware that my cars are 20 plus years old, as is my fridge and stove and my heat pump/AC is now 17 years old. The lawnmower is going to need to be replaced by next year. With six acres to mow it’s necessary we get a bigger mower. Due to the rain, we’ve had my son is mowing an average of every six days, but I’m not complaining about rain! We’ve had drought years and I much prefer the wet years.
Brandy we are cheering you and your husband on from the sidelines (in Australia) to both get the employment you need to enable you and your family to live comfortably. Things are tough out there all over the world and here in Australia with the huge cost of living increases with many in our local country community going back to work after retiring to make ends meet.
Send our congratulations to your daughter from us too on being called to be a missionary.
Dh and I have been concentrating painting our wooden sheds and garages, doing little home maintenance jobs that need doing, cleaning, decluttering, selling items we no longer will use to move into town in the next few years. We are on 1.22 acres here and Dh has some health problems that will likely get worse over the coming years so we are planning ahead.
Like you we have been cutting down on expenses and just sticking to items on our “need” list so we can save for buying a block of land in town and building a new home and selling the current home we are in. Unfortunately the property prices in town are far higher than here but we do have the advantage that the value of our home has risen significantly since we purchased and paid it off in 2023.
Brandy, I am sorry that you and your husband are having to deal with unpredictable or low income again. I am sure it is stressful. All of the suggestions here are very good – the other ones that came to mind for me are thrifting/reselling, and perhaps writing an ebook or two that you can sell on your website.
I know you love making your content available for free for those who can’t afford it, but a few books that synthesized that blog advice into ebooks could be a way that you could also earn some money. Those who can’t afford it can still search on your blog, while those who would love to have a summary of the many things you have learned could pay.
Additionally, developing digital sewing patterns for things you are making could also be a fun way to create some side income. Or maybe a guide to gardening in a hostile climate? You know so many things!
Thank you for continuing to share your journey with us. I have followed you for a very long time and am grateful for the thoughtful posts and blog you have created, as well as the community that surrounds it.
Hi Brandy, thank you for sharing your life situation so honestly and I see so many other who have felt confident to share as well. I find myself in good footing financially now, but that was not always the case. I hear more and more about people being downsized from jobs they’ve held for many years. I wanted to extend that I am happy to do some research into how to post the donation button if you can share the website platform name. I don’t need anything specific about your site per se, but I hope to find the step by step process for you if it available and share it with you. I will check back here on the next day or two and see if you have had a chance to respond. Saying prayers of support for all of those struggling right now.
Thank you. I am looking into it and will add one.