Saving the Money

One of my biggest challenges for this to happen was to be able to save enough money to purchase the trailer I want and to also get this trip started.  I picked up a seasonal job going to farmer's markets selling breads for a local bread company.  It has been quite enjoyable.  I am not a winter person... I really become completely sedate over the winter so it is wonderful to be outside all weekend long.  I have met some really nice people and I love to people watch... so many interesting things to see.  For instance the amount of different strollers and they all look like they were made by NASA.  I love to listen to the different languages being spoken and the conversations going on around the market.

                                                       Picture of the Farmer's Market

In November 2011 I started crocheting like a mad woman.  That has brought in some extra income.  I can't seem to sell anything on my Etsy shop but I have friends that ask for specific items and I love to create these items for them.  I call my crochet business Neldee... it is a combination of my grandmothers' names.  Nelda and Delores.  You can check out my crochet creations at Neldee.com.

Below is an outfit I made for myself... I crocheted everything but the pants, boots and glasses.

                                     

April 2011, I decided to start saving money by not having a cell phone.  That is really the only item that I paid for once a month that is really not necessary.  I don't have internet or cable TV so the cell phone seemed to fit into the category of unnecessary purchase.  So I cancelled my $90+ a month cell phone and got a pay as you go phone instead.  I saved over $1000 in 1 year.  I spent around $150 for the entire year and that included buying a phone.

My most recent adventure to save money was to find, what I call, transitional housing.  hehe... I moved from a 1 bedroom apartment from hell to pretty much a shack.  I save over $600 a month.  It is also the perfect place to transition my boys from an apartment to a trailer.  I have lived here for 2 weeks now.  We don't have electricity or running water at the moment but the electricity will hopefully be up and going within the week.  I have to say I have kind of enjoyed not having water or electricity.  It makes me get out more.  I go out to eat or go to the library to charge my computer.   I am outside a lot with my boys so all in all it has been pretty good.  I'm still not a huge fan of peeing in the woods but I do love showering in the wide open... in the middle of the night of course.  I have some great women here who live on the property and we get along great.  Last night we had dinner by camp fire and had a great time talking and playing music.  What more could you ask for?

                                                       Picture of front and side of shack

I am still looking for some odd and end jobs for extra income.  The more I can save the better.  So if you know of anything or need any audio/video editing or crochet items let me know. :)