My Typical Work-at-Home-Monday
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Hubby forgot to wake me up at the butt crack of dawn today, so I enjoyed a little extra sleep and leisurely began my day (as usual). It’s not often I have to do anything at any certain time, and I think I function best that way. Working from home, and as an independent contractor, I do enjoy certain pleasures when it comes to flexibility. While 15 hour work days alternated between nothing to do for 2 days can be frustrating, I really can’t complain. I get to sleep in a bit if I want to, get up and make coffee, go let the chickens out and enjoy some fresh air for a few minutes in the morning. I can start my work day at 7am, or noon, or 8pm, whatever works best for me on that particular day. If I really wanted to, I could pull extra hours one week and the next only work a couple of days.
It’s a luxury that I can’t imagine living without, particularly as the primary caregiver for a 3 year old. My hope is that I’ll be able to work at least half-time for myself within 5 years, to be able to apply all that I am learning to advance other people and companies’ businesses to my own ventures. There’s really no work you can apply as much passion to as your own dreams.
Today’s morning coffee is from Trader Joe’s (can’t always afford Stumptown, darn it), a fair-trade organic whole bean from Nicaragua, ground this morning and brewed in my french press. Soy creamer and turbinado always top off my caffeine fix. Lil’ E and I both enjoy a bowl of Kashi cereal and rice milk for breakfast. He usually eats a lot more than me, devouring at least one fruit, a handful of baby carrots, etc etc by mid-morning. I, on the other hand, nibble on a few things I’m feeding him but don’t have another meal until dinner. I also usually eat after he goes to bed, a snack and maybe a glass of wine.
Today’s work agenda proves to be a typical Monday- one which begins around noon and ends around 11pm. I’ve got a newsletter html site to reformat, a portal page and recipe page to create, and a 100+ slides PowerPoint presentation to finish. I’ll take a break around the time Hubby comes home, hopefully take Lil’ E to the park for some good ol’ large-motor movement, likely Frisbee. Until then, Lil’ E will occupy himself with a DVD from the library, some free play with his toys while we listen to music, and an art project I’m going to set up for him with some tracing and cutting exercises. I have no idea, as usual, what I’ll cook for dinner until about 5pm, when I wander into the kitchen and see what I can come up with. After awhile the chickens will go back in their coop for the evening, Lil’ E will bathe and have stories and songs and then be tucked in around 7-7:30pm (probably Hubby’s job tonight, with my workload). I’ll continue to work and finish my day with a shower and crawl into bed, likely around midnight.
So, that’s it, a little snapshot into a very typical Monday for me. If I were to create a pie chart of how I divvy up my time, days like this are a little skewed towards work. But then some days I only work 2 hours, so it kinda all evens out in the end.
Things will be changing soon, when I begin child-swapping TWO days a week at the start of June. I hope that giving myself three days to get all my hours in for the entire week will help me consolidate my time and allow Lil’ E four days of more activities, and a playmate to boot. If I can reclaim most of my late evenings and my weekends in order to spend more quality time in relationships, it will be a huge blessing.
Muy interesante, si?
Hello Vivian,
My name is Chalah. And I stumbled upon your blog awhile ago thru The Polk Voice. (I live in Lakeland, Fl). Anyway, every now and then, I pull up your blog to see what you’re up to because I really LOVE it! Your writing is very enjoyable. I love writing too, and I guess I’m living vicariously thru you - since I never really did anything to earn a living at writing.
But, I really wanted to comment on this article about your income vs your expenses. You know - it’s tough all over - and so, you should be proud of yourself that you are finding work doing what you love. I am a stay at home mom, and our daughter is 12 now, and so - I need to find a job to bring a little more $$ into the house. It’s tough to make ends meet that’s for sure.
The only advice I can give regarding money is to live BELOW your means, and to make sure you pay everything on time. I learned the hard way (as I’m sure most do) that avoiding late fees - frees up so much disposable income. Also, by paying bills on time eventually your credit score goes up, and your interest rates go down. Saving you more in the long run. I know it sounds like it could never happen, but my husband and I really made an attempt a long time ago to pay off any unneccessary bills (credit cards etc..) and pay cash for everything. If we don’t have the cash - sorry!
Lately, I just don’t go to the store. We eat what we have in the pantry. We make do - that’s all. Sometimes, I even challenge us (secretly) to use everything in the pantry before I go shopping again. Of course I go just for the regular stuff - milk, bread etc. Also, the biggest way I’ve learned how to leave the store with more money in my pocket is to leave my husband and daughter at home. I’ll ask them if there is anything they want “special” and I’ll get them that, but, I tell you what - If they are with me they want sooooo much more!
Of course I use coupons, but for me - coupons can make me buy something I really don’t need. So, mostly I just use coupons when it’s something I’d buy anyway.
As far as the cell phones and such, unless you need them for business - you may need to rethink if they’re a neccessity. We got rid of ours at one time, and learned to live w/o them. There’s always a phone somewhere to use if need be. But, I’ve heard about some of the GO-Phones being good. And I think AT&T (?) had a inexpensive plan w/ quite a few minutes.
I don’t know if you have cable tv, but that’s one thing we don’t throw money at. We do have internet, and I’ve heard that the package deals aren’t bad, but so far we have everything separate. Because we write our cell phones off - we have them - but, mostly I use them for long distance calls. We spend the $5/month extra for weekends/nights unlimited calls - and I make my long distance calls then. I had the phone company take the long distance capablity off of our house phone because they charge $5/mo whether you made a call or not. We had calling cards at one time to call long distance if we wanted to on the house phone, but we don’t have a problem using the cells.
I don’t know if I helped or not. My parents, who are both gone, wouldn’t believe the price of everything these days. That’s one thing I try to remember when I’m putting an almost $4 gallon of milk in my buggy. I think of how my mom tried to find ways to lower their $75 electric bill every month, and really understand why God took them so long ago — if they were still here, they would be driving me CRAZY! Our electric bill is $500/mo in the summer! (Lakeland’s killing us - by the way - w/ some sort of sur-charge! So, be thankful if where you are -you’re not being gouged by the utility co.) My mom would be running around our house sealing this, unplugging that, closing vents, taking clothes - that didn’t look that dirty - out of the laundry basket
Actually, come to think of it, too bad she’s not here - SHE could really give you some advice.
Well, I’m sorry I went on & on. Here I am - a complete stranger - and I wrote so much. I do want to say - good luck to you, and keep your chin up. You’re doing a great job. You’re a very positive person and I’m sure you will surpass all of your goals.
Take care of yourself,
best wishes,
Chalah DiCesare
Lakeland, Florida