Nix9to5

Perks of Being a WAHM: Flexible Schedule

// May 19th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies, Life in General, Organization, Time Management, Work at Home

Being a work at home mom definitely has its challenges.  One of the drawbacks I’ve discovered is a difficulty in compartmentalizing tasks.  When I worked outside the home, “work work” was done between the hours of 7:30-3:30 or so; “house work” was done in the evenings and on weekends.  Of course, there was always “work work” that I could bring home if I wanted to/had to/needed to, but no one ever–EVER–expected me to vacuum the living room or do the laundry from 7:30-3:30 Monday through Friday.  Now, however, all of the work tasks and home tasks collide in one giant, messy, behind-schedule explosion that leaves a noxious cloud of stress that hovers over me like this:
Fortunately, this difficulty in compartmentalizing tasks is really a problem that can be fairly easily remedied.  My plan is to create a schedule for my day and work tasks are to be completed during their scheduled times, and housekeeping/bill paying/laundry folding tasks are to be completed during their scheduled times.  Having a structured schedule like this is really antithetical to the way I typically like to do things, but something’s gotta give.

Of course, the unstructured work day of a work at home mom is one of the blessings of being able to work from home.  If I want to wake up early and finish my work before 8:00 and play the rest of the day, I can! (Okay–that will NEVER happen).  If I want to procrastinate all day long and then work into the wee hours to catch up, I can! (Much more likely.)

Yesterday, Bear and I had nothing planned for the day.  I had some work that needed to be done, and I had some laundry that needed to be washed, and a plethora of any other tasks with which any other mom anywhere else is beleaguered.  As Bear ate breakfast, though, I thought, “Eh.  Let’s go to the zoo instead.”

So we did.

I love being a work at home mom.

Extreme Couponing: NOT What It’s About

// May 12th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Balance, Couponing, Money Matters

Every so often, I get a Facebook message or an email from someone saying, “I saw that show on ‘Extreme Couponing,’ and I thought of you.”  I know no one is accusing me of being a coupon nut like those featured in the series, yet I still get a little defensive.  I think that “Extreme Couponing” as portrayed in the TLC series is some kind of addiction or obsession.  For these people, couponing is compulsive, and their stockpile of products is akin to hoarding.  Many of these couponers use tactics that are unethical, or even downright illegal.  Yes, coupon fraud is a Federal crime. (more…)

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

// April 13th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Balance, Life in General, Time Management

These lyrics from The Clash have been spinning around in my head a lot lately.  I have just  not been able to give Nix9to5 the kind of focus or attention it needs or deserves, and I’ve been really considering just letting it go.

Once I finally decided to get on here to write my farewell post, I had second thoughts.  First of all, the domains Nix9to5.com and Nics9to5.com (did you know you could find me that way, too?) are paid up through next February–and you KNOW I don’t want that money to go to wasted.  Second, I keep thinking, “But I’ll eventually get caught up”–or at least close enough to caught up–to put some energy into this blog.

So, despite the fact that my posts have been unfocused, sporadic, and at times virtually nonexistent, I am still here.  I have not forgotten the blog, or its tens of loyal readers.

I’m going to do some soul searching in the next few days (or, let’s be honest–weeks), and decide what to do with the blog.  Should I let it lapse?  Should I find a new focus for the site?  Should I continue with my random mishmash mayhem of coupon/wahm/cooking/mommy blog?

“This indecision’s bugging me . . . Should I cool it or Should I blow? . . . Should I stay or should I go?”

Inspiring Blog: Sara Walker

// March 11th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Family, Life in General

I want to thank my sister for sending me this link.  It is a CaringBridge site for a young mother named Sara Walker.  Now, for those of you who don’t know, CaringBridge.org is a site designed to help people keep up with the treatment, progress, and daily life of their critically ill loved ones with whom they cannot be physically close.

Sara is truly an inspiration as she overcomes her struggles with the most amazing sense of peace and joy and a fullness of faith despite her hardships.  We all have struggles in our lives; we all deal with tragedy.  However, Sara’s tragedies help me put my own in perspective, and if she battles through them with such a joyful spirit, then surely, we can all not only endure, but prevail.

You see Sara gave birth to a stillborn daughter two weeks before her due date.  If that wasn’t enough grief to bear, through the testing to see if they could determine what caused the death of her baby girl, it was discovered that Sara had stage 4 colon cancer that had already metastasized to her liver and lymph nodes.  She was diagnosed four weeks after the death of her daughter.

Sara is a 33 year old wife and mother with five-year-old and three-year-old sons at home.  She fights for her life and for her family with an optimism and faith that is beyond inspiring.  Read her story and be uplifted by her journals at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sarawalker. If nothing else, take a moment to read her March 3 entry, “Be Still.”

Thank you for sending me this, Amanda!

Thinking Other Moms’ Homes are Neater Than Yours?

// March 10th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Balance, Life in General, Organization, Time Management

I admit it.  I think everyone’s house is cleaner, neater, and tidier than mine.  I just assume that everyone else’s house ALWAYS looks like it does when I visit, and not just that they cleaned it up for company.  This article by guest writer Jennifer Tankersly of ListPlanIt really sheds some light on TOMHANTY Syndrome and how to combat it.

Thinking Other Moms’ Homes are Neater Than Yours?

Do you ever visit other moms’ homes and wonder how they keep it so neat? Do you ever sit around in your own home with toys strewn over the floor, laundry piles (both clean and dirty) beckoning for attention, and three meals worth of dishes stacked next to the sink and wonder why you are the only mom on the planet who cannot keep up with her home? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you may be suffering from “TOMHANTY” Syndrome (Thinking Other Moms’ Homes Are Neater Than Yours). The symptoms of this terrible disease are guilt, envy, stress, and even withdrawal (did I mention guilt?). You look around as you walk from room to room wondering how it could have gotten so messy since yesterday. You believe that the new friend you just made from your weekly visit to the library could never let her house look like a tornado just went through it. You are sure that your friend whose house you visit occasionally for a scheduled playgroup would never have dust bunnies the size of . . .well, a bunny.

Welcome to the Real Moms Club, where it is not just about being a mom, but being real and knowing that you don’t have to be a perfect housekeeper. Maybe in the days of our grandmothers when society said that kids could roam unsupervised and free around town, but a mom’s house was a reflection of who she was as a woman. Today, there is a different set of priorities for many moms, and a perfect house is not usually the highest on the list, although we still imagine we are being judged on everything from how we raise our children to how much education we pursue to how great a job we land and finally to how tidy we keep house. Moms of today are stretched and pulled in many directions. Life is rarely as simple as a clean house. Stop telling yourself that you are not a good mom because your house is not always as neat as you think other moms’ homes are. Most moms are struggling to keep up as well. What is the cure to TOMHANTY Syndrome, you ask? Well, you could drop by a friend’s house unannounced with the pretext of delivering some home-baked cookies; you could watch her face turn beet red with shame as she turns to survey the wreck of toys, laundry, and dishes behind her; you could listen to her offer up every reason why her house is in such disarray; or maybe you could just take me at my word when I say that you are not alone. Release your guilt by making a list of what you DID accomplish today: got kids dressed, dropped kids off at school and picked kids up after, washed and folded a load of laundry, paid bills, took dog to vet, fed family for the day. It all counts toward making your house a home in which your family can grow and feel loved.

——————-

Jennifer Tankersley is the creator of ListPlanIt where you can find 400 lists and planning pages including cleaning schedules, daily to do lists, grocery lists, and holiday/party planning to put your world in order.

Big Shopping Trip

// February 28th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Couponing, Life in General, Money Matters, Organization, Time Management, Work at Home

As most of you know, one of the most significant changes I made to allow me to become a WAHM was to become more frugal in our spending, trimming the grocery/household budget by clipping coupons and matching with sales.  As I got further behind on work and on housework, however, I really started slipping with the couponing.  I did still try to be more conscientious in my shopping–usually–and I tried to shop at Aldi as much as possible for low-priced groceries.  However, none of the savings are as good as when I’m really into couponing.  My “stash” of products was getting depleted (except for body wash, which we may never run out of), and I knew it was time to get back to thrifty shopping.

Luckily, I’ve done better with managing my time, getting caught up on my copywriting projects, and getting the house straightened up.  That means that I have the time to get back to coupon-clipping and smart shopping.  Yesterday I threw out expired coupons and clipped the ones for this week’s sales.  Today, I hit four stores (CVS, Walgreens, Crest, and Homeland) and came back with a lot of groceries and household goods for not a lot of money.

I wish I had taken a picture for you, but I was too concerned about getting everything put away immediately (part of my strategy for keeping the house clean).  Here’s the breakdown, though:

• 69 items (which also includes “bulk” items, like an 8-pack of paper towels, and two 6-packs of paper towels, and two 6-packs of toilet paper)
• Total out of pocket:  $134.91
• Total back in Register Rewards and Extra Care Bucks:  $46.28
• Like paying $88.63

My receipts show I saved $83.95 with combined sale prices and coupons, plus I got the $46 in RR and ECB, so theoretically, I paid $88.63 for $218.86 worth of products.  Not too shabby.

Also, in a different transaction, Soap.com was offering $10 off to first time customers with the code 10bucksoff.  I used the code to get 6 boxes of protein bars for Hot Husband.  These run around $9/box at CVS, and he goes through them pretty quickly.  With the lower price at Soap.com, plus the $10 savings, plus free shipping, I got them at $6.15/box.

Today, I’ve done a better job of saving money than making money, but I did get a new client today, so I have another project (and paycheck) coming my way.

Being a WAHM is hard work.  It takes a lot of time and energy, and it requires more balance and organization than I thought possible.  Luckily, after several months of being a WAHM, it seems like it might finally be coming together.

Productivity at Last!

// February 26th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Life in General, Organization, Time Management

I have been working really hard lately at trying to get caught up on copywriting projects and making a dent in the housework, which is why I’ve neglected Nix9to5 a bit.  Fortunately, I had a highly productive week, and I am actually NOT BEHIND on copywriting.  I mean, I’ve got plenty on my to-do list, but none of it is past deadline or has a looming deadline.  That’s such a sense of relief.  Also, my bathroom counter is clean, my bed is made, and there are only two loads of laundry to be done . . . and they are in progress as we speak.  I have a chicken cooked and deboned and homemade stock waiting to be defatted.  I have a crockpot full of beans, a menu plan, and a shopping list.  It may not be much, but I’m getting there.

I’ve come up with some ideas on how to better organize my time, accomplish tasks, and not feel completely overwhelmed at all times.  I’ve also found some tools to help me implement those ideas.  Next week, I’ll begin sharing those tools and ideas with you.

In the meantime, I’m going to keep taking advantage of Bear’s unexpectedly long nap and get a little more housework done.  I’ll “see” you Monday!!

Now THAT’S Busy!!

// January 12th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Family, Organization, Time Management

I’ve been thinking a lot about how even though I say I’m busy (and I AM), I’ve actually got things pretty easy by comparison.  My excuses for not getting things done seem pretty weak when I think about how much other women have to juggle, and how they seem to be are much, much better at it than I am.

My friend Kelly at Sowell Honey Farm is one of these women who amaze me with their ability to successfully balance tasks and chores that would wipe me clean out.  Kelly not only raises her children, but also goats, chickens, pigs, bees–who knows what else?  Her bees make THE BEST HONEY, and Kelly makes the most wonderful beeswax and honey skin care products.  While my work at home job involves sitting on my couch or at my desk and typing, Kelly’s involves a slew of tasks I can’t even fathom–taking chare of a farm; running a small business; making lotion, soap, and lip balm; inventing new products.  I need a nap just thinking about it.

And yet, Kelly explains that she has no excuse for feeling like she’s busy.   She wrote a guest post called “I Have No Excuse” on Farm Bell Recipes at Chickens in the Road.  She writes about her great-grandmother Mary, and what it must have been like for this 46-year-old mother of 19 kids in 1895.  Nineteen kids in 23 years. Can you imagine?  That alone would have flat killed me.

If you need a dose of reality or a reminder of just how good you have it, head over and check out Kelly’s article.  While you’re at it, “like” Sowell Honey Farm on Facebook and check them out on the web.  Buy yourself some Creamed Cinnamon Honey or beeswax lip balm.  You’ll be glad you did!

Hmm . . . perhaps this could be one of my giveaways if enough people “like” Nix9to5 on Facebook by this weekend.

Feeling Overwhelmed as a Mom?

// January 11th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies, Family, Life in General

Here’s another story on which to reflect when you’re feeling overwhelmed caring for your family:

Amazing.

Suck it up, Princess.

// January 11th, 2011 // No Comments » // Balance, Children and Babies, Family, Life in General, Organization, Time Management, Work at Home

Those of you who have been following me for a while have read numerous posts about how I really struggle with effectively managing my time since nixing the 9 to 5 to become a work at home mom. Yesterday, I complained about how I felt guilty for taking my Bear to Mother’s Day Out and to his grandparents’ house so I could have time to focus on my work. And while I did get several pages written for my two biggest clients, my house is still unkempt, and the Christmas decorations, which have at least been taken down, are piled in boxes on the kitchen floor and dining room table, just waiting to be taken to the garage, where they will remain until November 25–or later, depending on how far behind I am.

Today, Amanda at Simple Saving Savvy reposted an article from Money Saving Mom on her Facebook page that really made me stop and think.  The article was a guest post from Lisa at Warrior Mama called Time Management Tips for Parents with Special Needs Children. The article begins:

“I’m a mom of two special needs kids. I make all of my kids’ foods from scratch to avoid their combined 35 food allergies and sensitivities. I also manage multiple specialists, food supplements, medications and education IEP’s.  Here are a few things I do to make my days run more smoothly.” (more…)