Life has been interesting lately. It's been a struggle as life usually is, some things are good some not so much. Finances always seem to be an issue and I always seem to find myself struggling the most with my emotions and stress levels at the end of the month when our basic food items (Milk, Eggs, Fresh Fruits and Veggies) seem to dwindle and disappear. With me running an eBay business some months are better than others, but this month seems particularly difficult for some reason. More so the dealing with it emotionally than the situation itself actually being different. It's this weird dynamic where I should go back to work to get a consistent paycheck, but if I do that then one of two things happens, I work the same shifts as Brian and we lose our food benefits and my paycheck goes to child care which defeats the purpose of me working, or I work an opposite shift as Brian, and we'd lose our Food benefits, and I'd never get to see my husband. How do you decide? I guess that is why I just keep up with my eBay as much as time allows. So I can stay home with the boys, and still see my husband and not be stressed out by a different financial situation. Money sucks. But I have wonderful things in my life that make it less horrible being broke. And if we could get rid of some of our debt it wouldn't be nearly as bad. I feel like I am sounding like a spoiled entitled American with the position I am in as to whether to find a job outside the home or not. Maybe I am. I suppose the fact that I even have an option puts us in a much better position than many American's.
So enough of the financial rant. I do want to talk about my Businesses as well. I am happy with where things seem to be going. On one hand I have this eBay business which is fun and produces extra income, and I know the harder I work at it the more successful and profitable it'll become. I love it because it is MY business, and I can do what I want to do with it. I also have another little side business that actually started quite casually. I've been making celebration cakes. I haven't done much cake decorating outside of school until this last year. And it is definitely reigniting that passion and I am hoping to turn it around eventually into more of an actual business and not just a hobby business. The biggest issue with the Celebration cake "business" vs the eBay business is that there is a lot more overhead and cost to run a legitimate brick and mortar business. I'm currently only really making things for family and friends. I want to move this business forward, but I'm not at a point where I have enough clientele to really honestly look into finding a commercial kitchen rental space. But if I want more orders, I need to find a commercial kitchen rental space! It is difficult finding the point to move forward without screwing myself over. Blah! It's all somewhat overwhelming.
On another plus side, I have started going to a gym. I enjoy it and they have child care so the boys can go play while me and my lovely neighbor get our work out on. We've been going about two weeks. My biggest concern is the ability to afford it in the coming months. I'm paid for 2 months, so I'm glad I get that time, but after that, it's going to be a struggle. I guess we will just take it as it comes. if we have the extra funds for it, great! If not, I will find things to do at home to keep up my physical fitness. The exercising has helped improve my energy and stamina which I love! I've only lost two pounds but I know it'll be more the longer I stay. One of the biggest downfalls I am finding is that Since I have started taking Jack to the child care there, his attitude has changed, and not for the better. I thought socializing him more would be a good thing, but now he is acting out and throwing tantrums. It's out of sorts for his behavior. Maybe it is a phase and has nothing to do with the child care in the gym. I can't really say, but either way, it's a new challenge we are facing and it is not a fun one.
Well, I guess that is life these days. I am sure I will have a follow up post in a couple days because I feel like there is a lot more I want/need to talk about I am just unsure of how to verbalize it yet I suppose. I feel like this is one of my more generic and boring posts, but isn't that the way life usually is, a little generic. I guess we'll chat later dear audience! As always, Thanks for reading!
