Such a sad, sad story…

Actually, I am going to start this off with a happy thing…I just got a new (to me, anyway!) truck! And, it is just about the cutest thing EVER! Anyway, I have needed a new car for about 2 years now…the one I have been driving was the right price, at the right time. (The right time being when my last truck died a dramatic, unexpected sudden death…I sorta kinda blew the motor in it.)

So, being a single mom, and always trying to squeeze some extra money out of something, somewhere, I have to sell my old car. As much as I like temporarily having two vehicles, I can’t afford to keep both. I wish I could, but since GeeksOnTime chose to not pay people, and my utility bill has tripled during the winter months, AND Christmas is coming up, I could really use the extra cash right about now.

Anyway, this lady, she comes by to look at my old car with her brother. He takes it for a test drive while she hangs out with me. And, boy, does she have a sad story! She just relocated here to take care of her husband’s disabled mother.  She has the full responsibility for that, because her husband, who was military, was killed in Iraq a few months ago. Unfortunately, he was killed before ever even seeing his beautiful baby girl. Added to that, she isn’t getting military benefits yet. And, she can’t find a job here. (We live in a low income city, and nobody seems to be hiring right now.) Jeez, and I thought I was under some strain!

I really feel for this woman…I mean, her husband gave his life for his country, and now she has to take care of both his mother and his daughter, all on her own. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to sell her the car; she only had about half what I was asking for it. And, being a single mom myself, with no child support coming in, and the fact that GeeksOnTime still hasn’t paid me on top of that, I just flat out could not afford to do that; I’m asking a reasonable price for the car, and I HAVE to make a certain amount of money from it.

Being the helpful soul that I am, though, I gave her some web site addresses that might help, and gave her some leads to some places where people tend to park inexpensive cars for sale, as well as local places that she may be able to find at least temporary work at.  And, like I told her, everybody here keeps saying,” times are tough, we’re not hiring.” Her best option, at least until her benefits kick in, may be to go for a quick cash job, or to start a little business. I think most of what I’m doing fits into the “little business” category…Most of my work now is freelance.

The great thing about that is that I get paid more per hour than I do at a salaried 40 hour a week job. I get to be my own boss, and I get to make my own schedule within reason, although meeting deadlines or working a meeting into my client’s schedule sometimes does make things hectic! The tradeoffs are worth it though. It seems like I have more time for my daughter, I get paid deposits when a job starts, plus a final payment upon completion. And I can do a fair amount of my work from home.

Short on ideas for a side business? Browse the archives here for some ideas, or check out Dan Miller’s website at 48days.com. On the off chance you haven’t read my previous posts about him, I just LOVE Dan Miller. He has some very creative ideas, and many of them are geared towards single moms, making the money you are worth, and loving the work you do in the process.

In the meantime, send out some happy thoughts for the military widow I met today…regardless of your opinion of the war, you have to respect the military that helps protect this country, and feel some compassion for those they have left behind.  Best wishes to all of them, especially the lady I met today!