I grew up living on a budget. Things weren’t bought at the drop of a hat. If I wanted something just for fun, more often than not I was told “No” or “Not right now”. I will say, I never went without. I always had a roof over my head, I always had clothing on my back and shoes on my feet, I always had food in the cabinets. I was still very fortunate. But extras weren’t high on the priority list. Going out to eat was special. Brand name clothing had to be bought with my own money.

Many people are feeling the pain of losing an income, or even two incomes right now and it is scary. Not knowing how you are going to feed your family, or keep up with your rent/mortgage, is downright terrifying. But you will be surprised at all the ways you can find money or at least make your money stretch. These are not going to be comfortable or easy. They probably won’t seem like something you even want to do because we are already in such a state of disarray that to change more seems unmanageable. But if you can use one and find even $10 more in your budget than you had, you are making a step towards being in a better place. And who knows, maybe once normalcy has reemerged, you will realize that it is a permanent change because priorities have shifted.

10 Ways to find money in your budget:

1. Write down your income and your expenses. There are plenty of budgeting systems you can find for free on the internet. I personally like the zero-based budget. It gives each dollar of income a job to do. If you don’t know where your money should go, you will wonder where it went. Your income – Your expenses= X. If your sum is positive you are ok and you can still start saving in case things get worse. If your sum is negative, you need to start making some tough choices. (I did say this wouldn’t be easy)
2. Meal plan! Every 2 weeks I buy a family pack tray of chicken breast, thighs and ground beef as our base. Is it the most exciting meal plan? Nope. Does it feed our family of 5? Yup! We do something different with each, never eating the same meal twice in 2 weeks. Tacos, Burgers, Chili Mac, and Spaghetti for the beef. Fajitas, Soy Maple Chicken, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Cajun Chicken, and Instant Pot Salsa Chicken for the chicken (I will link a page with our recipes for these over the next week). The USDA says a low to moderate budget for a family of 4 is between $175 and $250 per week. I spend on average $550 on groceries for our family of 5 in a month! Buying more of one thing but using it multiple times is more cost effective! Stretch your items so they overlap. You would be surprised at the different meals you can make with many of the same ingredients. Make smaller portions to make it stretch even further. Carbs fill you up faster but protein and fiber will fill you up longer.
3. Speaking of food, and this seems obvious, but stop eating out and buying your coffee at a coffee shop. Even though drive thrus are open, it is much cheaper to make something at home. Easier? No. Cheaper? Definitely. That 10 piece of nuggets with french fries and sweet tea? For just a couple dollars more than the $8 you pay for that, you can buy a bag of frozen nuggets, 2 bags of fries, tea bags, and sugar which will feed you at least 6 times. Probably closer to 8-10 if you portion it out more appropriately. For the price of 3 Grande Lattes at Starbucks, I can buy a 24oz bag of coffee grounds and a thing of flavored creamer and be set for 2 weeks!
4. Cut out all unnecessary bills. Do you NEED Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+? Can you cut back your cable and internet to just internet? Do you have other subscriptions you can cancel? Do you need trash service or are you able to run your few bags to the dump once or twice a week?
5. Cut back on all other things. Keep your lights turned off, use less water, try to consolidate errands so you are only using the gas once, buy the cheaper shampoo. Price compare everything. Just because something is cheaper doesn’t mean it is a better deal. Don’t only think of price but also price per use.
6. Stay home more. We should be staying home as much as possible with Covid-19 going around but the more you stay home and stay present with those around you, the less likely you are to be on your phone or computer online shopping and if you aren’t going out you can’t spend money elsewhere. You would be so surprised to realize how much of your money is spent on impulse buying. If you keep receipts, I challenge you to find as many as you can and add up all the items you didn’t intend to buy on those trips. The amount can be staggering.
7. Sell the things you don’t want or need. This one may be difficult. Many people are watching what they are spending right now because the times are so unprecedented. Even those with job security are still paring back their spending. However, you can still attempt to sell unused clothing, books, movies, games, etc. Even if they don’t sell right now. Keep the post up. As people NEED to get things, many are going to turn to thrift and second hand items if their financial situation hasn’t changed. It may not help now, but it could in the future.
8. Learn a new skill. Did something break? Does something need a repair? Can you YouTube it and figure out how to fix it yourself? My husband learned how to change his alternator on YouTube. He bought a part for about 1/3 of the price it would cost the shop to repair and in just a few hours, had a running car again. We have learned how to fix dry wall holes, lay flooring, fix basic plumbing issues and many other things, just by researching and doing it ourselves. A lot of times you spend so much money on labor. If you can safely make the repair on your own without having to spend more than paying someone to do it, then that is a better option.

These final two are a little tougher to swallow. They require the thought process to survive and that things will get better but you just need to get to that point.

9. Get another job. Right now it is hard because we are supposed to be social distancing and staying home but if you need income apply at a grocery store, pharmacy, distribution center, or any “essential” job. Even if it isn’t a lot of money, if it is something you are better off. Some are even work from home.
   • I do not recommend a direct sales business at this time. You will have to spend money to sign up, try to get people to buy products when they are also trying to save, and build a team which will be unstable.
   • Get help from the state if you need to and qualify for it. It doesn’t have to be forever.
10. Focus on the things you need to survive. If all else fails, focus on Shelter, Food, Transportation and Utilities. These are the things that make life so much harder when you lose them. You need to be able to have a roof over your head, food is necessary to survive, you need to be able to get to food, medicine and work, and water and electricity. You can lose cable, cell phone, trash service, all of that is a luxury, even if it doesn’t seem like it.

(Tip: Many people say they NEED a phone in case of an emergency. If you have a phone and it is disconnected but it charged, has relatively decent connection and works, you will ALWAYS be able to call 911 whether your account is disconnected or not. This is also why you should never let kids play with phones, even if you think they are disconnected!)

We have been fortunate to not lose our income. But we are currently working on paying off debts, and building our savings so that we aren’t always playing catch up or worrying when something comes up and we need to spend money to fix it. I still am using many of these in our lives. We will continue to meal plan and have a low grocery budget, we will continue to budget our money, we will continue to always ask ourselves if something is really necessary, and selling things we don’t need. We rarely eat at restaurants but will occasionally order delivery. If you have it in your budget to treat yourself every once in a while, it is important that you still do that. But if you don’t, find other ways to still enjoy time. Go for a hike, play a board game, watch a movie, play catch outside, or even just turn on music and have a dance party while doing chores.

If you are worried about what your kids may feel like or that they aren’t getting enough “stuff”, don’t. They don’t need stuff to play with, they just need you. Involve them in cooking, fold laundry together, read a book together. They will remember the moment!

Stay strong in these hard times. We can all support each other and root for each other. If you need a virtual shoulder, reach out to someone who you can trust who isn’t going to be judgmental. And most of all give yourself some grace. You are doing hard things in a hard time. You can pull through this because you are stronger than this. In the meantime… tighten those purse strings!

Right now I am sitting at my kitchen counter with 2 boys who just woke up and a baby girl eating in her high chair. Seems like the charmed life at 8:15 am. Yep, 8:15 and they just woke up… or at least just came down stairs. But behind that 8:15 wake up is 8 years of conditioning them not to get out of bed until 7:15 when their “OK to Wake Clock” light turns green, many hours of teaching them to read and that when they wake up they can read in bed, and a long grueling night the night before with a baby who just wouldn’t sleep and thought that midnight to 3 am was the perfect time to play and eat a snack.

Before they got out of bed though, I was awake and in bed wondering, “Is today going to work the same as yesterday?” Likely answer, no. Yesterday we had a relatively uneventful morning of school and chores with minimal argument. Today it will likely look completely different because today is different. They are different, I am different, circumstances are different.

As so many of you are starting what some are calling home-for-now-schooling, I want to take the time to remind you that you are not alone, you are not crazy, every child and day is different and more than anything that YOU CAN DO THIS.

Your days are not going to look the same, there will probably be tears from one or both of you, this is going to be hard. But there is NO ONE more qualified to teach your child than you. Think back to teaching them to walk and talk. You did that. Potty training, you did that too. You have already been their biggest teacher. Academics are no different. You are qualified. You may not have a masters in math, you may not have gone to college but you are capable of understanding their needs, how they learn, and supporting them in this new journey of theirs also. Here are a few things I want you to think about and do.

1. Understand that this is a major life change for them as well. Their daily schedules have changed. They are feeling the fear and uncertainty we are experiencing as adults. They got ripped from friends and a trusted adult with little warning.
2. Their teachers are feeling it also. They don’t want the kids to fail. They wanted the time with their students to finish out the year. Most teachers are working on online assignments to keep the year going as best as they can with the resources they have. Many are also hoping that parents understand, this is new for them as well. If you have questions, you can still ask them. They are there to help your kids still.
3. Your child is unique and perfect the way they are. Let them learn and work at their level, at their pace, and in a way that makes sense to them. This is the hardest part of this. I have been homeschooling for 4 years now and I still have to remind myself of this.
4. Learn your child’s love language. This is really just a general task. I love these books, they are very eye opening and finding your child’s will change your relationship with them. You can find it on Amazon (linked above) or any major book retailer.
5. Your family’s security is more important than their school work. If you are working from home and getting paid, that is your focus. Continue providing for your family at this time. If you are finding it difficult to get schooling done on top of your job ask an older child to help a younger child (you would not believe how effective this is). Communicate with your child’s teacher, maybe they have some ideas or resources to help, or even just let me them know the work will get done but it may be a little late (many of them are working from home right now with kids at home also)
6. Learning doesn’t have to be boring worksheets and books. This is probably my favorite part of homeschooling. We learn organically so much of the time. We talk about science of space and math of trajectory while watching a space shuttle launch. We learn spelling by playing Bananagrams or Scrabble. We read stories and watch documentaries. We learn math by adding grocery totals. A little harder now with the advisement to stay home, but do it online or on an app.
7. Use this time to teach them life. Have older kids? Use this to teach them about savings, budgeting, taxes, insurance, basic car repair. If you don’t know how to do this use it as a bonding time. Learn together, they won’t forget it. Younger kids? Teach them how to cook, clean, care for themselves.
8. Teach them art. Art is intimidating to some. Art isn’t about a beautiful product. It is about a beautiful process. Art is messy, it is fluid and changes constantly, and what you thought it maybe, may not work in the end. But you created something. Teach them to create. With yarn knitting and crocheting, with fabric sewing, with paint and canvas or paper, with pencil, with food. This is all art. Emotions will be expelled whether they think they are or not. It may just feel like fun to them and that is okay.
9. It is okay if it doesn’t all get done. Some days, all you may get done is your work. Some days you won’t get the rooms cleaned or the dishes done. Some days you will get math done but not science. Some days you just throw your hands up and go outside and enjoy the sunshine. All of these are normal. All of these are needed. All of these are learning days. Give yourself a break.

If you really, really feel the need to continue a more formal approach besides what your child’s teacher is sending home, go to Our Current Curriculum. This is what we use for most of the year. I will also be adding some supplemental things you can use, worksheets you can print, etc at the bottom as I find them and I will do my best to advise if they are K-5, Middle, or High school level. There is a community to support you, if you are looking for more help just comment below and ask!

I am rooting for you. Hopefully all our kids will go back to normalcy in the fall. In the meantime just enjoy your family, enjoy the extra minutes with them. Before you know it they will be out on their own and hopefully remembering the time they got to have some extra time in their safe space, at home with Mom and Dad.

I am not paid for you to use any of these links. They are all just products I use in our daily life. I am not an affiliate, influencer, or the like.

Anyone else have Frozen 2 on repeat these days? Thanks Disney+… I mean really. THANK YOU but at the same time… kinda took the wind outta my sails for the Easter Bunny in a couple weeks.

Quarantine and social distancing are the rules right now. And of course my stubborn and rebellious side wants nothing more that to go out! Normally being at home is my catharsis. It is where I recharge as an introvert. I don’t have to be around people. Now that is literally what I am supposed to be doing and all I want is to go to a play place, museum, the zoo, ANYTHING.

Most of our day hasn’t changed though. We still do school in the morning, the husband still goes off to work (essential personnel), I still work on orders in between it all. But so many others have been thrust into a lifestyle they are not used to or prepared for. People are learning to work from home when they don’t have all their resources. Children are learning at home without their typical teachers, in a new format, and for some without the ability to access internet. Families who rely on food from school are trying to figure out how to eat during this time. Our school system has set up drive up services for many of these families. To be honest, I don’t know how it works or if it is working, but at least they are trying. Families are going without pay. A lot is up in the air for so many people right now.

I can’t answer all of your questions. I probably can’t help in most situations. But I have been homeschooling for 4 years now. Not a huge amount of time but enough that I have some words of wisdom (ok, maybe it is just unsolicited advice) for you.

SCHOOL DOESN’T HAVE TO BE STRESSFUL.

Your children have and will learn the same things over and over again on about a 3-4 year cycle, slowly building on prior knowledge. Is it stressful to have them home? Yes. Is it stressful to be thrust into a teaching position you didn’t want and don’t know how to do (or so you think)? Yes. Is it going to be ok? YES!

Most children are about to or have already started distance learning. This is new territory for everyone involved. There are going to be kinks. There are going to be breakdowns. Be kind to the teachers, they are doing the best they can. Be kind to yourself, you didn’t know this would fall on you. Be kind to your kids, their entire world just changed and they may not know how to handle it either.

If possible, don’t make your kid sit and do school work all day. Let them get up, take breaks, reset their mind. They learn so much just by living life. I am not saying your 16 year old doesn’t need any responsibility and should just play video games all day. I am not saying your 8 year old shouldn’t do their work just because they don’t want to. I am saying that 16 year old may have been dealing with stresses at school and can finally relax a little bit. Letting him/her play a couple hours of video games if everything else is done, may not be the end of the world. That 8 year old may not like doing the work because they don’t know how or they don’t understand the way they were taught. Use this time to try to figure out how they learn. Fill in the gaps they may have from having to keep up with the rest of the class. I am hoping most school systems will not be forcing kids to do 6-8 hours of school a day. If yours is, I am so sorry. From most people I have seen, the kids have just a few hours (if that) of work a day. My kids can get all of their school work done before lunch if they focus. It doesn’t have to take all day. Use the other time to let them relax, use their imagination, get bored (it is the catalyst to creativity), learn life (perfect time to teach about finances, oil changes, independent living, etc), and most importantly be kids! They are going to spend the rest of their life having to worry about deadlines, viruses, money and the like. For now let them enjoy the simplicity of it all (even if they don’t appreciate it now).

I don’t write. I’ve never really enjoyed writing. So why am I starting a blog? Because right now, people need real. Not perfect. If you want perfect grammar, move on. If you want proofread and perfect posts, you came to the wrong place. While I am writing these 1 of 2 things is happening:

1. My 3 kids are fending for themselves while I attempt to ignore them and focus.

OR

2. My husband is laying in bed snoring next to me while I am the only one still awake in my house (current situation)

These will not be perfect. But they will be real. Real people doing real things. A real mom who is real stressed and just trying to stay home, raise her kids, love her husband, and maybe make a little money on the side doing something she loves.

Now that we all have our expectations managed… Hi! I’m Chelsea. A 30 something crafting, homeschooling, introvert, wife and mom of 3. I love creating. Anything crafty is my drug of choice. Nope, I lied… that’s coffee. But crafting is a close second.

My family is my life. My husband (of 11 years yesterday!) is my best friend and my true counter part. I have known him for almost 20 years and I can’t imagine what life would be like without him. We are not perfect. Our relationship is not perfect but we are perfect for each other. My kids are the reason I get up in the morning. They are also the reason I drink coffee in the morning and wine and (more recently) mead at night and stay up way too late. I have Monkey who is 8.5. He is way too smart and literal for his own good, and is learning his limits by testing them on almost a daily basis. I have Monster who is 6.5. He is the most lovable kid in the world and can get you to smile no matter what. He tests my patience but he has a heart of gold and never stops moving. Then there is Mermaid. I may be biased, but at 1 she is probably one of the most perfect creatures alive. She is smart and stubborn (no idea where she gets that from), a daredevil in the making, and just about the happiest girl in the world. Individually, they are handfuls. Together, they will move mountains and are a force of nature you don’t want to cross. We also have 2 dogs who love to add chaos into the mix…

Daily life is simple. My husband goes to work. I stay home and homeschool the kids, work in my studio on orders, attempt to be domestic more or less and try to keep the tiny humans alive (so far, so good!)

So there we are. That is me and my life. I’ll get down and dirty with the nitty gritty details in other posts but expect to see a lot of rambling thoughts, funny stories from my kids, homeschooling tips and tricks (also failures and blunders), relationship stuff, crafting adventures and everything in between. Welcome! And if I “seemstressed”… I am!