My Monthly Savings Challenge

As a parent, I try to provide the best that I can for my sons. I don't mean the newest gadgets and games and things like that, but the things that we need to survive. Unfortunately these things revolve around money, and that is something that is lacking. It is then due to this, my mental health suffers because I get the bad case of mum guilts. I wish I had the money to take my sons out, I wish I had the money to take them out to dinner, I wish I had the money to take them on a holiday, I wish I had the money to buy them new clothes, I wish I had the money to make some amazing memories. Unfortunately I don't and I have to make do with what I do have.

At the moment I am a full time student and in my final semester of uni and about to undertake an unpaid internship. In July last year I resigned from my job as my hours got cut back to one 2.5hour shift a week. This was due to the boss hiring someone new, who was cheaper and would accept cash. Within a week, after 10 years in the same place and a new landlord, we were given our 60 days notice to vacate. At that time, I had over $17,000 in savings, which I was planning on using at the end of this year as a deposit to buy a home somewhere. Unfortunately, due to moving, no job and rent being over $200 more a week, my savings depleted fast. I have not been able to find a job and am trying to do whatever I can at home to earn money, from selling things, to doing ironing, streaming when I game and now this blog. The reality is, I have about $1850 per fortnight coming in, and $1260 goes straight on rent. Whatever is left goes on food, petrol, bills, school fees and expenses and anything else.

Now, you may ask, what about the boy's father, where is he? Does he pay child support? The father is not in the picture, and I will explain more about this in another past, and No he does not pay child support. Yes, he is supposed to though, however, he hasn't done his tax in 2 years, avoids any communication from child support and does the dodgy the system. I did leave him due to DV in 2014 and financial abuse was one of his specialties. So I don't rely on his money.

So, why am I making this post?

Well..... I have set myself a challenge. This challenge is to earn myself an additional $1000 a month. This could be through selling items, doing ironing, be consistent with streaming, and finding other methods which I will share. However, at the end of each month, I need to have earnt an additional $1,000 which will be going straight into my home savings account. Now, I could use this money on treats for the kids. However, I dream of owning a home, a place that when the dishwasher breaks we can get it fixed or replaced straight away, instead of still waiting 9 months. Yes, this is our current rental. I am sick of slack landlords, and just want to buy a home, where I can have my vegie patches, fruit trees and herb garden. A place that is self sustainable, and a place where, if anything happens to me, I actually have something to leave my sons.

My Starting Amount, which has been slowly building up since September last year. Made up of money earnt from selling things, ironing, and money left over after paying off everything.

As for now, I am sick of living in the red or on the border line, I am sick of not having money or procrastinating. I am so used to working and having money, and many times withdrawing from courses because of work, that this time, I am putting my education first. It is challenging, however I know that next year, once I am finished, it will be rewarding. However, for now, I need to concentrate on finding ways to earn that extra $1,000 a month.

Wish me luck, and follow along for ways that I earn a little extra to help us out.