Due to some recent changes at my hospital, my income as a labor and delivery nurse has taken a nosedive. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize the extent until I spent some time browsing through the payroll website while at work yesterday. As an on-call nurse, my income can vary a bit, but I realized that I was pretty much bringing home $1000 less per pay period since mid-summer.
$1000 less per pay period.
Umm . . . that’s not a good long term plan. Especially for someone who:
- Has a son who will attend college next year.
- Someone who enjoys paying her mortgage and buying groceries.
Yes, I have a small amount of income from blogging, reselling thrift shop finds and helping my mother clean her guest cottages. (All income sources that can be worked around the busy-ness of daily life.) But I certainly don’t bring in enough money to make up $500 per week.
I recently experimented with opening up an Etsy shop with an eye to bringing in some extra income from the great vintage finds that pepper my house. I listed eighteen items and have only sold two so far. I’ve also sold here and there on eBay through the years and I would estimate that 95% of listed items have sold with that first week. I know what I need to do is to take my Etsy items and list them instead on eBay. Yes, eBay is less pretty and hispter-y than Etsy, but it brings zillions more potential buyers, and seems to be a better market for my vintage wares.
Lesson learned.
I do feel like the right thing to do is to stay in the job I’ve been in since 1995, as I’ve successfully weathered other changes through the years, and therefore should be able to ride this one out as well. (I like to think that I’m playing the long game.)
I want to hear your stories though, as I know that I am not the only one to have ever experienced a significant drop in income. What changes did you make, and how did it affect your life?
Gotta go, as I need to switch my Etsy listings to eBay and to plan the two guest cottages turnarounds for this week.
Money, money, money, sigh . . .
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
I went thru something similar in late 2012 thru end of Sept. 2013.
**I had a garnishment from a 15 yr old credit card/fight/lawsuit that I ultimately lost. $480.00 per month for 11 months.
My work hours have been cut, resulting in a lost of almost $200.00 a month.
My daughter was in braces, which cost me $135.00 a month.
**Luckily the garnishment has been paid off and the braces are now off so that’s putting about $615.00 back into my household again! It’s been a tough year (financially) but that nightmare is finally behind me and taught me quite a lesson!
Hang in there Katy!
Thanks!
We are lucky that neither of our sons need braces. I had them and my husband should have had them. We dodged a bullet there.
Katy
I’m really sorry to hear about the drop in income, Katy. That stinks. And you’re right, it’s really hard to make up that much income loss by being frugal and by selling stuff!
It would be one thing if I were a normal American spender, then I’d have lots of opportunity to slash expenses, but such is not the case. That oft mentioned “low hanging fruit” was picked long ago.
Katy
Often with frugal websites, I feel the same way. Not a lot new that I can do. I am lucky at this point that it doesn’t make a lot of difference but I guess the “low hanging fruit” got picked long ago as you put it and I have to do something more or different.
Ugh, yes, if I had a dollar for every time I read “pack your lunch” and “make your own coffee” then I would have enough money to never read a single frugal-advice list again! Not saying that I have all the answers, of course, but I think I’ve got the not-rocket-science ones down.
Is it possible to pick up a couple extra shifts in another department? When my home health hours decreased, I picked up some PRN shifts at a local nursing home, it was interesting to do something a bit different too!
My area of practice is so specialized, that I’d be lost in another area. However, I have a backlog of online education I need to catch up with, so I think I’ll schedule a few days for that. Also, I can get my RNC certification to bolster my hourly wage.
Katy
We went through this when I decided to quit my job and become a stay-at-home mom three years ago. What really helped us was becoming totally debt free. I realize that’s easier said than done (we were able to do it because we moved and sold our house for a slight profit and used that profit to pay off our student loans and car payments). We also don’t undertake monthly payments lightly. We have a basic cell plan (no data plan/smart phones) and just basic cable. I’d like to cancel cable altogether and just do Hulu plus but my husband would miss sports and that’s really his only entertainment/relaxation time. We rarely go out to eat, and I cook mostly from scratch and do vegan once a week and beef no more than once a week. Hope things turn up for you!
Hi Cara,
You should really look into AppleTV for your husband. If you have a friend or relative who is acable subscriber, then you may be able to “piggy back” on their service for free with AppleTV. My fiance and I use her parents’ Xfinity (comcast) cable account to watch HBO, ESPN (all channgels), Netflix and other programs for free. Most NFL football is on the major networks and college sports are on ESPN. AppleTV costs about $90 and only requires an internet signal. Hulu is another option, but make sure you research what cable providers it will support. Even if you split the cost of a friends/relatives cable subscription, you’ll still probably save around $50 a month by using AppleTV. Good Luck!
When I was a kid (1960s – 70s) both my friends’ mothers were private duty nurses and I think they did very well. I don’t know if it is the same now.
It has been many years since my children were still at home….so I can’t offer relevant advice….other than we went through similar circumstances while raising our family and I empathize. But I did want to mention that if your income is lower when you fill out your financial aid forms for your son’s college assistance you should be able to qualify for more. It may not be that much but every little bit helps while educating your children.
Is there any way you could get hours with a health care group as a telephone reference nurse….our plan offers a phone service that we can call to see if we can get health answers without actually seeing a doctor….or they recommend we see our own physician if they deem it necessary. I assume they work from home. Just a thought. I am sure thinking of you and hoping the “ducks decide to get in a row” for you soon.
Hope everything works out Katy. I know what it’s like to have a decrease in income; hang in there!
Yikes! That is a lot of income reduction. When I quit my job suddenly, we lost a “professional” income but we were not as frugal as you so we did have some leeway. I guess it is a matter of cutting expenses or gaining income… whichever you can do. You do so well on eBay that maybe you can add to that. I have a friend who makes a regular salary from selling stuff on eBay (things she finds at yard sales, etc.)but she has to work at it for several hours a day. Also, have your children start looking at ways they can contribute to the college expenses. There are lots of good books in the library on this subject including “Debt-free U”. The best thing is to make sure they have top grades as that always helps even if they aren’t eligible for scholarships. Can’t wait to hear the other answers.
I’m in a similar boat as you. We’ve dwindled down our monthly expenses so much that there’s nothing else to cut. I’ve been trying really hard to sell excess items on ebay, but nothing has sold yet. I’ve also become very comfortable shopping for Christmas presents in my own home. There’s a scarf that I received for my birthday that is screaming “regift”.
I might have to go back to college strategies; can you say ramen noodles?
We are going through it now,switching from regular income to retirement. I got forced into retirement when the company was sold. My husband decided to retire early. I have always did groceries on the cheap, and new how To stretch a buck. I’m not that good at selling. Last month, I was sick too much and didn’t sell a thing. On line, I’ve never had any luck. Some months are better than others. I took a job at a temp agency when we were both out of work. I have run nursing homes, they are always needing relief help. Pretty basic stuff. Every little bit helps. We cut anything that we didn’t have to have and held our breath.
Katy: Would your hospital train you to be a CPR instructor? Being a hospital, I assume they run classes there for staff for certification/recertification. It might not pay as much as your L & D gig, but it would be with the same organization and provide a few more hours a month.
Also, some home health agencies have a maternal-child team so you could check to see if any agencies near you have that. It would involve well mom/baby visits as well as acclimating NICU patients to home. If you went prn there, it would mean more hours, but alas, much less pay than a hospital (spoken from experience!)
Funny you should mention being a CPR instructor, as that’s something my husband does as a volunteer.
I have probably twenty hours of education due, so I’m in the process of getting it approved to come in extra to do that at the hospital near my house, which is a five minute commute, rather than the 40 minute commute of where I work.
Katy
Katy – do you anticipate that this situation will eventually change and your hours will increase to what they were? that really stinks! i have no advice – you are way more skilled than I am. I am so impressed with your pragmatic approach to this, concentrating on continuing education credits and other options.
Katy,
I am an RN also and for many years I worked “per diem” meaning I didn’t have a regular schedule or benefits. I simply picked up shifts here and there on my own terms and it worked well for us. Do you have the option of taking a regular position in your hospital with guaranteed hours and benefits? Currently, I work two ten hour shifts per week. Gives me a good income and lots of time off to take care of the house and fam. Good balance.
I am also an RN (neuro-surgical ICU) and work full time so when things are slow at the hospital I don’t get called off as often as the per diem RNs. However, our ability to pick up OT has been almost nil for at least 6 months now. Our raises our almost non-existent as well as bonuses of late. With all of the changes in Medicare reimbursement our hospital is cutting the budget like crazy. Like you said the low hanging fruit was cut awhile back so trying to find places to cut in our family budget is getting harder.
Any chance you could pick up per diem at another hospital? In my area the per diem RNs make a higher hourly wage to make up for no benefits so if that were the case for you a shift or two a month might make up the difference.
Kim
The Medicare reimbursement changes are what prompted our cut in hours. 36 is the new 40. 🙁 Occassionally if we have a large project we’re trying to finish in a time crunch, they’ll approve 40 hours but most time not.
I realize that sometimes it seems like L&D skills don’t translate well but remember that you have many more skills. You can do preop, you can circulate, possibly scrub? PACU. Perhaps there is a surgi center you can apply to if you have the time.
Also, while the RNC seems daunting, practice multiple choice questions like when you passed, NCLEX.
Though healthcare reform has sent all of the Hospitals into a tizzy, you know that it will pass and people will still be making babies, cuz it’s big fun.
Wish I had something more helpful, I’ve been trying to get off nights and away from L&D for nearly a year, just gotta bide my time, and work on my BSN
I know that sometimes it seems like L&D skills don’t translate well but remember that you have many more skills. You can do preop, you can circulate, possibly scrub? PACU. Perhaps there is a surgi center you can apply to if you have the time.
Also, while the RNC seems daunting, practice multiple choice questions like when you passed, NCLEX.
Though healthcare reform has sent all of the Hospitals into a tizzy, you know that it will pass and people will still be making babies, cuz it’s big fun.
Wish I had something more helpful, I’ve been trying to get off nights and away from L&D for nearly a year, just gotta bide my time, and work on my BSN
sorry, didn’t mean to double post, can’t seem to call it back
I’ve been a sahm for 22 yrs now. I have a 22 yr old who is graduating from college in May. He’s done college frugally. He had $13,000 in a 529 that his great aunt left him. He went to the local community college. He had a state scholarship for that as well as a scholarship from being a caddy at a local country club. Hubby and I let him use my mini-van and I got a new car. After community college he was accepted at Rutgers, the State University of NJ business school and continued his NJ STARS scholarship and caddy scholarship. He also worked while going to school. He had to fill the gas tank of the van. He took one personal loan to live off campus junior year and he lived a half a semster on campus. He’s now living at home, going to school and working part time. When he graduates he will have about $10 – $15,000 in debt. He’s already paid off the personal loan he took out and he’ll get that other debt paid off quickly. We have him on our car insurance and medical. He had braces, hearing aids and surgery to fix his hearing problem. Those are the things that we paid for. My daughter is going to school in CO. and is taking tons of loans out. I figure she’ll have the rest of her life to pay them off. Her first year was paid by her 529 and dh and I paid the rest.
Katy,
I have had a lot of financial challenges in the last 20 years. I was fortunate to have (and still have) a good job working 32 hrs/wk managing a medical practice when my 1st husband died 8 years ago. Our kids were 11, 9 and 5 at the time. However, even with my job and social security for the kids due to my husband’s death, it was still month to month. (We were always frugal since in our early years we were youth ministers at our church and didn’t get paid diddly. So we always have shopped at thrift stores, cooked homemade, etc.)
Fast forward to now, I am 2 years remarried, but things are still pretty tight (we have a blended family of 7, two of them grown now). This summer, our social security was cut in half (from $1400 to $750) as my 2nd oldest turned 18. I needed to throw a big graduation party, shop for all she needed as she was moving out, replace appliances at my rental house, etc.
So I ramped up my EBAY store and sold over 1000 the first month. I shopped for items every day on my lunch hour and listed them on my one weekday off. I kept it up all summer, was able to pay for the party, buy her what she needed, give her a bonus chunk of money, and take care of my property without additional debt.
Then I sold my rental property in November and eliminated a lot of expenses. So now I am back on track (using a budget) still with half of the SS income. I slowed down on my EBAY when things got better. It’s a great season to start up again though. Shop for resale items out of your usual zone if you aren’t already… not just vintage wares, etc. But look for brand name purses, wallets, briefcases. I bought a pair of EyeBobs reading glasses for 49 cents and resold for $50. Look for big profit margin! I am sure you will have success, it may be uncomfortable, but that’s where we grow! Soon it will be another feather in your cap of resourcefulness.
Katy,
I have had more than a few financial challenges in the last 20 years. I was fortunate to have (and still have) a good job working 32 hrs/wk managing a medical practice when my 1st husband died 8 years ago. Our kids were 11, 9 and 5 at the time. However, even with my job and social security for the kids due to my husband’s death, it was still month to month. (We were always frugal since in our early years we were youth ministers at our church and didn’t get paid diddly. So we always have shopped at thrift stores, cooked homemade, etc.)
Fast forward to now, I am 2 years remarried, but things are still pretty tight (we have a blended family of 7, two of them grown now). This summer, our social security was cut in half (from $1400 to $750) as my 2nd oldest turned 18. I needed to throw a big graduation party, shop for all she needed as she was moving out, replace appliances at my rental house, etc.
So I ramped up my EBAY store and sold over 1000 the first month. I shopped for items every day on my lunch hour and listed them on my one weekday off. I kept it up all summer, was able to pay for the party, buy her what she needed, give her a bonus chunk of money, and take care of my property without additional debt.
Then I sold my rental property in November and eliminated a lot of expenses. So now I am back on track (using a budget) still with half of the SS income. I slowed down on my EBAY when things got better. It’s a great season to start up again though. Shop for resale items out of your usual zone if you aren’t already… not just vintage wares, etc. But look for brand name purses, wallets, briefcases. I bought a pair of EyeBobs reading glasses for 49 cents and resold for $50. Look for big profit margin! I am sure you will have success, it may be uncomfortable, but that’s where we grow! Soon it will be another feather in your cap of resourcefulness.
I switched all my Etsy listing to eBay yesterday, and will continue to keep an eye out for additional sale items.
I used to sell a lot on eBay, and am happy with how much easier the process has become.
Katy
Uggh! This almost the same reason I got out of ED nursing 5-6 years ago…things changed and working PRN mostly dried up…I already had a small barn on our property where my horses lived, we added 4 stalls and started boarding horses…it’s 7 days a week, 365 days a year, a royal pain in the rear dealing with owners sometimes, and I don’t like to figure out my hourly rate…but the money equals what I made working 16 hours a week as an RN….
But, I love the horses, I’d be out caring for my own horses anyway and I never have to visit the gym…the work is nonstop!
Atho’ sometimes I think longingly of home health care…my nursing buddies say there is always a deficit of nurses here…maybe in your area too?
I worked for the state of California a few years ago when they instituted furloughs. While it wasn’t a large pay cut, I ended up doing some freelance writing and starting teaching. Between writing for one weekly and one monthly publication, in addition to teaching one college lab course twice a week, I made up for the pay cut (and then some). It was tiring, especially since I was working mostly full-time and going to grad school, but it made up for the loss in income.
I’d suggest seeing if there’s a need for per diem nurses at other area hospitals, or possibly trying to get a part-time position at your hospital (or another one in the same network). Also, have you explored outpatient work? My sister, an RN, is a “floater” for her system, working in various outpatient clinics when someone calls in sick. She works full-time, but is never in one place too long to get bored, or caught up in office politics. There might be something like this available on a part-time basis for your system.
Alternately, you could try to make more income on your blog (Problogger.net is a great resource), do more thrifting to eBay, try your hand at teaching or writing for other blogs/publications. In any case, good luck!
I think you mentioned once before that you had a live in who tutored in exchange for a room. Could you rent that room out? Even at $500/month that at least covers 25% of your losses.
As for college, I know it sounds harsh, but couldn’t your son cover himself? My brother, sister, and I all paid our way through college other than the $500/semester our parents gave us. And I mean we covered everything except medical insurance that my mom didn’t have to pay for–gas, car insurance, rent, utilities, cell phone, books, food–you name it, we paid for it. I was the only one who didn’t come away with student loans, but my siblings only got them out of stupidity, not full need. I bet with your frugal ways, you could teach your son how to live on a college salary 🙂
I’m so sorry this is happening-it sucks!
That would be my question too, Megyn. But Katy didn’t really say if her son is working now at all or plans to work his way through college. I had to pay for everything while I was in university. I worked summers full-time and then part-time during sessions, plus took a year off after second year to work full-time. I did get some help from student loans. It took a while to pay off the loans but I did it. My mother was not in a position to pay for my degree.
My son works in the summers as a lifeguard. He has good savings, which will probably work out as his spending money during college. (He’ll also work summers during college.) I imagine that his financial aid package will include some kind of campus work-study component, which will help. However, I want his focus to be on school as much as possible during his college years.
Katy
We’ve decided that we won’t do any more long term exchange students again until we get a second bathroom, which is nowhere in the near future.
Katy
Late in commenting. I hope this isn’t assvice. If your son moves out for college would you reconsider long term exchanges?
We only have a single bathroom, so it’s a problem to have long term exchanges.
Yes it stinks, not just in the nursing field. I know many people who now work less than full time – i.e., no benefits. Our company did give an annual bonus but no raises this year – several people left/retired but only some were replaced – i.e., more work load for the rest of us, without more pay. Just have to suck it up and hope for the best.
Katie, I would invite you across the sky bridge to the VA (I work as a nurse and love it there), but we send our L and D pts to OHSU. 🙁
First of all, best of luck getting through this rough time. Secondly – and this may not be the case – I checked your eBay listing and it told me you “may not post to Australia”. I know from experience that payments from and posting to overseas is not all that difficult and you may GREATLY increase your potential pool of buyers (obviously start with the easy to post items like magazines etc for this). I have sold all over the world with no problems and have made excellent profits.
I inadvertently haven’t earned any income in over 3 years now. As I’m self-employed I decided to take 3 months off (after a really busy year) – which for a couple of reasons extended into 6 months. Then a long-term contract, I was expecting, didn’t come to fruition. By this time my historical clients had moved on.
I wouldn’t say I don’t need the extra income, it would be lovely – but I also cannot say we’ve necessarily gone without. Interestingly my expectations and aspirations have also reduced during that time. Whether that was due to financial circumstances or I was headed that way (maybe? I had started reading your blog first and then Kristen’s a few months before my income dramatically dropped – and then started my own blog on simple family life). If our overall income dropped again now, I’m not sure what effect that would have – because we’ve already frugalised (is there such a word)
Here’s hoping your income starts to climb once more – I’m wondering what can be done to increase the birth-rate in your area 😉
A decreased birth rate isn’t the issue, it’s that a new hospital opened up in the area, and one of major insurance providers only delivers there now.
I am confident that the staffing issues at work will self-correct so I have no current plans to find a new job when I already have eighteen years into this one.
Katy
Since you are not working full time at your old job, wouldn’t it be possible to take a second nursing job without quitting the first? If and when the staffing problems at job #1 level out, you could quit job #2. Selling on Ebay is a good idea, but you can probably make a lot more money in a shorter period with your skilled profession.
Alternatively, would be you be willing to advertise locally to do in-home senior’s care visits (check-ins, cleaning, shopping, cooking, maybe some light nursing tasks)? You are more than qualified, and lots of working families need this kind of help (sandwich generation + aging population).
I’m sure things will improve too. Very often patience resolves an awful lot in life…
My story is a little unusual, but sobering none the less. In 2005 I had about 3 years to go before I could retire with a full pension from my teaching career. However, then came Hurricane Katrina and I think you know the rest of the story. Needless to say, I was forced to retire with a meager monthly benefit. I had a teenage granddaughter in my care. Fortunately, I found an occasional job scoring teacher certification exams which boosted my bank account for the next 8 years until that office closed down. Now I sell my baby quilts on ebay (yes, I agree it reaches a better audience than etsy), make items for 2 small shops, do focus groups as they come up, do surveys for gift cards, and will attempt to score student test responses online for Pearson this spring.
Meanwhile, I spend nothing beyond basic essentials, bills, and rent. I feel very fortunate to be able to find happiness in my simple life.
My thoughts go out to you as you reconfigure your life and earning possibilities.
Have you thought of taking on new, paid projects using your blogging skills and experience?
Have you considered paid opportunities using your blogging skills and experience?
Yes, it happened to me. The bottom fell out of the legal market just as I was finishing law school. I’ve only made more income 1 year since law school than I was making before law school (which wasn’t a lot anyway), and now I have more debt. (Not six figures as many do, as I was extremely frugal throughout, and for that I am grateful). As you say, without low-hanging fruit to pick…I find The Frugal Homemaker as well as Amy Dacyczyn’s books to be a big help. For example, while before I could balance the cheapest homecooked meals with pricier ones, now it’s the very cheapest every time. With everything. I stopped buying any non-food, non-toiletry item at all (for you this would not include those you buy to re-sell obviously), and found that as I need things that I don’t have, the forced creativity has actually cleared out the clutter as I use up/wear out literally everything. Although I love books, I sold every book I could on ebay, as well as anything else saleable. Less clutter, more cash, bit by bit. I stopped driving nearly altogether — for everything except work, even if that means I miss things — to save on gas. I enjoy life and am happy every day, but I don’t this economy will improve any time soon; your experience seems to be hitting each of, sector by sector, and we’d all do well to prepare. My immigrant grandparents lived on very little — way less than any of us with even high school degrees currently (think no AC, only spotty heat in a cold climate) — while working very hard, and yet they enjoyed every day of life, so I know it can be done!
Having spent most of the last 5 months in ICU with family members, it was surprising to me how many of the nurses there were transferred from other departments in the hospital, quite a few from L & D. I’m sorry you are having to deal with this too. The nurses were very good but very stressed, always playing catch up and learning the new routines in an already stressful environment. When we finally got my dad in a rehab facility he had a bedsore and a nurse there told me that 90% of ICU and CCU patients that spend more than 10 days in hospital have bed sores because of understaffing at hospitals. I had always heard that nursing and other medical field jobs were the only sure thing in this economy. I’m sorry to read how so many of you have struggled. You do amazing jobs with high stress and are so appreciated by those who need your care and benefit from your efforts. Big thanks to all of you and I hope job security will get better.
Well, as a retired L &D RN/NP I would say it does not cross over very well to ICU and most L&D nurses don’t enjoy ICU work anyway. Katy, You will no doubt weather the storm, could go to work at the other hospital, or cross train to an area you’d enjoy if they offer it .. possibly home health or an outpatient surgery center that is also per diem?In our area, the outpt. centers are VERY BUSY since insurance won’t pay for much IN HOSPITAL CARE anymore. They seem to want IV skills, mostly..and some recovery–I am sure you have recovered C Sections and epidurals ad nauseum!!
You are resourceful, you will hear of just the right opportunity.. good luck!
I agree. ICU has so many more meds and equipment, it would be like being a brand new nurse.
Katy
(I am not a medical professional, so I apologize if this is not helpful!) When I was pregnant and needed to see an MFM, my favorite nurse was only there on Thursdays because she was a L&D nurse the rest of the time. My doctor’s office was in the hospital complex (and obvs part of the same health system), so it was pretty convenient for her.
My sister and I are both single, each living alone (and loving it). On October 22, she was fired from her job. Her employer told her she was eligible for rehire and would get unemployment, then reneged and is fighting her unemployment claim. The upshot is that she’s not getting anything right now, although she does have an interview today, weather providing. Fortunately, she’s learned how to hold her expenses down and increase her savings, but she certainly can’t live on what she has for very long.
The on October 29, I was laid off from my job. I am receiving unemployment and am hoping to file for social security when I turn 65 next year. I’ve been living frugally for a while, but I would splurge a bit now and then, since I had a steady income. No more of that, though.
We’re both hoping and praying that Sis gets her unemployment, and also is able to find another job. She has at least 5 more years before retirement, but if she can’t find anything, she’ll have to move in with me. That would not be easy for either of us, but we’ll do it if we have to.
That is very kind of you to have your sister live with you. I am assuming one of my sisters will live with me when she gets older as well.
Katy, You have been writing a wonderful blog for quite some time now. I am not familiar with the publications in the Portland area, but perhaps there are some small newspapers or special interest magazines that might be open to paying you to write for them. Typically, freelance writing pays small amounts per article, but it adds to the big picture. When I was working a job that paid very little, I picked up extra money by covering town meetings for a local newspaper, writing short articles for the regional agriculture bureau’s trade publication and contributing to a local environmental organization’s monthly newsletter. Does Goodwill have a publication or would they want content for the website? Your mom has a vacation rental, is there a regional vacation publication – sometimes they are published through the Chamber of Commerce – perhaps you could contribute an article about the area where the cabins are located? Another thought, is refinishing and rehabbing for other people? You have refinished some nice furniture and turned some thrift store “junk” into beautiful decorating items. Perhaps you could post some fliers offering to do this for other for a reasonable fee?
Have you ever thought about doing an ebay or easy or craigslist consulting? For people who are downsizing or want to sell on those forums, they could use the help. I say this because I will be downsizing soon and I would love for someone to come through and advise me what to do with all my stuff. And I would pay someone to help me or get it going.
We had a similar experience about 18 months ago: my husband (who earned about 90% of our income at the time) took a 20% pay cut to go to work for a startup. At the same time, we got hit with big-ticket car repair and medical bills. We had already gone mega-frugal so I could stay home with our daughter (no debt, shopping at thrift stores, meal-planning and couponing, no cable, etc.), so the only way to make up such a big gap was to temporarily stop saving for retirement and dip into our emergency fund. It was stressful but a worthwhile tradeoff because it got my husband out of a 50% travel job with no growth potential. And thankfully, our daughter had recently started school, and I soon had a lot more work rolling in (I’m a freelance writer). It took about a year, but we’re now back on track.
For you, would it be possible to work at additional hospitals in L&D? Or what about offering workshops on frugality, rehabbing old furniture, or some of the other cool skills you have? I live in the South, but people here pay to attend that kind of thing. Other possibilities that come to mind: work as a science tutor or substitute teacher (since you’re a health care professional), or clean houses besides your mom’s. And I love Sue’s suggestion of being a sort of eBay consultant for people who are downsizing, dealing with a parent’s estate, or just have a bunch of stuff they want to get rid of.
I cut back this year, and its not that I wanted to. I am self-employed doing title searches (the last 15+ years), and I realized some of my clients were becoming more and more of a burden. Basically they weren’t paying on time, had poor communication skills, and one was bought out (I would rather work with people in American vs. India any day of the week). Another good paying client had unrealistic expectations, and wouldn’t budge from them. I hated to let the money go, but they in combination were stressing me out and I told them to find someone else. I was just done with them.
I of course cut back, but more importantly – I just have tried to use my newly found spare time wisely (like you getting your online education done). I say do anything you need done now while you have the time. In the last month, a large competitor of mine decided to quit one county – so I was next in line and I landed a handful of new (more desirable) clients. It couldn’t have happened at a better time, and I got a lot of mental and physical clutter out of the way in my downtime. Hope that makes sense, but things can and will change quickly. Its nice to clear you plate before the next storm arrives . . .