Yay! It’s a new month. Making goals at the beginning of a new month is pretty much one of my favorite things to do!
I did pretty good with my goals but for some reason I don’t feel completely satisfied with what I’ve done. I think I need to shake a couple things up this month.
Here’s what went down in September.
September Recap
Parenting
Have learning days with the girls at least three times a week.Take them somewhere educational and fun. Most likely the Zoo or the Aquarium.- Teach them something about the Bible each week. {Total fail. I really sucked at this in September.}
I completely failed with the Bible teaching. In fact, I didn’t go to church at all this month. I got a little lazy with it last month and I found an excuse every Sunday morning not to go. I am going to have to add this back to my goal list this month and get back in the groove of things.
On another note we went to the Zoo and had a lot of fun. We also went on several nature walks, went to the corn maze, and the Amish market. We even made some homemade fall candy which didn’t turn out half bad.
Blogging/Writing
Make $1500 in blogging/writing income.Do work as it comes. Zero procrastinating!{I can’t say there was absolutely no procrastinating but I did do pretty good!}
I didn’t do as good with my income this month as I did last month, which kind of sucks. I did however exceed my $1,500 goal.
So I made………$1,929.50 in freelance writing and blogging income. I really thought this was going to be higher but I didn’t make much at all from my blog this month. And, I have had no work from one of my biggest clients over the past two weeks. So, I am freelance job hunting once again.
Personal Goals
- Finish reading
Positive Discipline for Preschoolers,The Yahoo! Style Guide, andThe Deborah Company: becoming a woman who makes a difference. Cut my monthly budget by $50.Add $1500 to my emergency fund.
I cut my budget back more than $50 this month. I have a few free months of service on my Republic Wireless Phone and I saved a good chunk of money on groceries this month.
October Goals
I have took the past couple of day to really think about what I want my goals to be this month. Here’s where I am at.
Parenting
- Do Two Fun Learning Themed Weekends
Here’s what I am thinking:
Weekend # 1 – Find a couple children’s books about Amish Life another about the Fall Season. Read these books then take the girls back down to the Amish market and community so we can take a look and talk about what we just read. We can also buy fall related items like pumpkins, gourds, corn etc. This will be very fun and cheap to boot!
Weekend # 2– Dig out the Halloween books I bought from the Facebook Yard Saleread these, watch Coraline (which my mom just bought them), carve pumpkins, and bake some Halloween themed cookies. This will probably be the weekend that I take them to buy Halloween costumes.
Blogging/Writing
- Earn $2,000 this month
- Email 5 writing prospects per weekday
- Write One Article Per Week for Defeat Out Debt
In September I was thinking I would earn the same amount of money from my blog as I did in August – and I didn’t. I don’t want to count on blog income to get me by. I want to successfully find a steady $2,000 worth of writing work per month. I obviously welcome money earned from my blog but it’s far from steady.
So, I am going to focus on finding more clients for the time being. If you’re in need of a staff writer, I’m for hire. I did land a couple of new gigs in September but I still need more.
Also, I figured that $2,000 will be the minimum I need to earn in order to be able to pay all of my bills without a problem. (Which will really be $1600 after taxes.) Luckily, if I don’t make this my emergency fund is building up and I can fall back on it. After the emergency fund is complete I am going to build me a pay buffer with at least one months salary in it.
Out of $2,000 the accountant I work for advised me to pull out $400 for taxes. However, since I’ll still be considered low income this year and have a child to claim he thinks I won’t owe anything in income taxes this year. That will change next year though.
Personal Goals
- Go to Church Every Sunday
- Read The Psychology of Selling: Increase Your Sales Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible, The Five Love Languages, and reread Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (One of my favorites!)
I feel so much better when I go to church. I don’t know why I’ve been slacking. I will go every Sunday this month.
I am on a Brian Tracy kick right now too. Eat That Frog is one of my favorites. I started rereading it the other day which led me to purchase The Psychology of Selling (which is very good so far). He also has a new book coming out today which I’ll have to read when I get these three finished.
Alright, that’s all for now. How about you? What’s going on this month?
DC @ Young Adult Money says
$2k a month is really solid income! Congrats! Also I hear you about church. It’s hard in the Summer and there always seems to be some reason not to go. I hope to get better about it in the Fall (been going about every other weekend throughout the Summer). This month I hope to get ahead on the blog. I have a four day weekend in a couple weeks and really want to crank out some posts and have everything scheduled in advance. It’s something I haven’t accomplished in the year plus that I have been blogging and I’d love to finally get there.
Alexa says
Scheduling posts in advance is something I want to do too. I get on a kick every once in awhile and schedule a couple weeks out then I get behind and don’t write until the day before. It’d be nice to get on top of the scheduling.
Connie @ Savvy With Saving says
Congrats, you’re doing great with the side income! I don’t think you should get discouraged because this month wasn’t as good as you hoped. You’re doing really well and I’m sure you’ll continue to grow your business as you reach out to new clients.
Matt Becker says
Wow, $2k is a great goal. Pretty impressive based on where you were not too long ago. Is the increased income in any way a result of being able to raise rates, or is it all based on increasing the number of jobs?
Alexa says
Its because I have gotten more jobs but I also increase my rate with new clients. My first handful of clients I did for a certain rate. The next handful I charged a bit more. I am going to keep doing this until I discover what the best pricing is for my services!
Andrew@LivingRichcheaply says
Glad the girls had fun at the zoo. I can’t wait to take Baby LRC to the zoo. I think you’re doing well with your goals…good like with them this month!
Kim@Eyesonthedollar says
I love the corn maze. First grade is going on a field trip to the pumpkin farm, and I really hope I’m able to go. Best of luck with October!
Brit says
Ooooh! I like that Themed Weekend idea. Something I can do with the boys. Glad to hear you are doing great with your freelance. $2K is pretty impressive.
Holly@ClubThrifty says
Yay!
Sounds like you’re doing well with your goals. I don’t like to rely on blog income too much either because it varies so much. But, like you said, I totally welcome it!
lyle @ the Joy of Simple says
Way to go Alexa…you’re doing great. Minor setbacks are part of the game as you well know. I have no doubt once you become fully self employed that you’ll get more work than you can handle! After all, the little I know about you…you’re a fighter 🙂
Take care and all the best.
Lyle
Budget and the Beach says
You did great on side income!! I’d love to make that! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that we both do well in Oct! 🙂
Christie says
Hi Alexa !
It sounds like your goals are keeping you pretty balanced with fun stuff for the girls and making more money. You deserve all of your success.
Christie says
Ask your accountant how the OBama health care will effect you. You might have to budget that in. I’m looking forward to having health insurance. I hope the funding goes through. ; )
Alexa says
I am looking forward to having health insurance too. However, if it’s too high then I may just have to take the penalty. You can go to healthcare.gov to apply for the supposedly “affordable” marketplace insurance. I have been trying but the site has been down for the past two days.
Shana Norris says
Alexa, even though you didn’t make as much income from your blogging this month as last month, I’m so impressed with the income you’re generating from freelancing.
I love the concept of eating your frogs. I first came across it in one of Tsh Oxenreider’s books but I think she got it from Brian Tracy.
Michelle says
You are still doing awesome! I see you writing all over the pf web, I don’t know how you do it!
Alexa says
Thanks Michelle!!
Done by Forty says
Alexa,
I am always blow away by your motivation & attention to detailed goals. It’s so cool to see, and it pushes me to do better in this arena. I had missed church for a while but went this past Sunday and was so glad I did. It’s like exercise for the soul…easy to skip but it gives a great feeling afterwards. I wonder why we often avoid the things that both are good for us and give us a good feeling. It’s a mystery.
Best of luck in October. I’m sure it’ll be a great month.
Ree Klein says
I just love your focus and get-it-done attitude, Alexa. I am so inspired by you!
Lance @ Money Life and More says
This is the first monthly recap I’ve read of yours but it seems like you’re making great progress. Good luck with the blog income 🙂
Charles@gettingarichlife says
2K is a great goal Alexa. I enjoy these income posts of yours. Can’t wait to see what happens now that you are freelancing.
dojo says
This month started with us budgeting for quite a lot of stuff (car insurance, extra-taxes etc.) Now I find out that husband has to get his gas analyzer checked (once a year) and it will cost us almost 1/3 of the budgeted expenses. Hurray.
Hope November will be better, I really hate this month already 😀
Daniel says
$1,900 is pretty good but I totally understand what you’re talking about with it not exactly being steady. Writing is much more consistent, and I really like that you have action items to get where you want to be.
Too many people set goals of earning more money or having more blog followers without setting steps along the way. Reaching out to 5 writing prospects per day is a really great mini-goal to have!
Tara @ Streets Ahead Living says
Congrats on getting so close to $2,000! the fact that you made that much freelancing is mind blowing to me. If I had an extra $1,000 a month I’d be super thrilled. I’m sure things will pick up this month now that people are back on schedule. By the way, with having young kids, do you have a gift savings account for Christmas presents? I’d love to hear how you budget for that holiday with two girls.