Hope for your financial life and beyond

Even Jesus Had a Side Hustle?

February 3, 2022 by 23 Comments

The title of this post makes me laugh. Who would have thought the words “Jesus” and “side hustle” could be used in the same sentence to communicate a personal finance idea?

side hustleYou’ve probably heard of Jesus. He was a really good preacher who lived several millennia ago. He claimed to be God in the flesh and Savior of the world. After three years of ministry, he died on a cross for the sins of all mankind. But his story didn’t end there. Three days later, he rose from the dead and appeared to many. Ultimately, his ministry launched a brand new movement (Christianity) and a brand new entity (the church). You can learn more about him here.

But you may be unfamiliar with the term “side hustle.” When you hear the word “hustle”, what comes to mind? Pete Rose diving head first into third base? Paul Newman and Robert Redford conning their way to a fortune in the movie The Sting. In this context, side hustle doesn’t mean either of those things.

So what is it and should you have one? Let’s take a look.

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How to Manage Your Side Hustle and Family Life So You Don’t Go Insane

January 24, 2022 by 11 Comments

There may come a time in your life where you want to or need to create a side hustle to earn extra income. It can be many things depending on your skills and the depth of your need. Regardless of what you choose, it will be something you do on the side (apart from your day job) to bring in additional money to the family budget.

Side hustles can be a financial blessing. They can help you build up your savings account or pay off debt or meet any a number of financial goals you might have.

side hustle IIIHowever, while the additional income of a side hustle is welcome, there is a dark side that many are unprepared for. Side hustles, done improperly, can be a curse on family life.

It’s one thing to have a side hustle if you are single. I remember talking with a blogging friend who told me how he’d work his 9 to 5, take a 30-minute dinner (maybe) and then work till past midnight writing and networking. I’m not saying that’s necessarily an easy schedule but it’s not like you have anyone else to account for. It’s just you.

When a spouse and/or kids are in the picture side hustles take on a whole different dimension.

There is a tension that immediately surfaces the minute one member of the family begins a side hustle. What was a normal life is no longer normal.

You know the side hustle must be done to improve your financial life. But you also know family life matters. How can you manage it all and not go insane?

Here are a few strategies I’ve used over the years as I’ve managed a career in education, side hustles (my blogs) and family life.

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God Places Us For A Purpose – Find Yours

July 29, 2021 by 1 Comment

god purposeAre you sick and tired of your job? Wish you could win the Mega-Millions Jackpot and escape to paradise, never to work again? If so, maybe some reflection and a new perspective is in order about your purpose from God.

What you may not realize is that God gave mankind purpose. He endowed humans with the nature to work from the very beginning. They could not escape it, not even in paradise.

In Genesis chapters 1-2, God spectacularly created the universe and all that it contains. He spoke the heavens, planets, stars, plants, animals and finally human beings into existence. At the end of it all, after six days of creation God was very pleased with his creation and rested on the seventh day.

God issued an important command at the end of His creating. He told Adam and Eve, “…have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). In essence, God granted mankind authority to rule what He had just created.

Then God did something awesome. He created a garden of paradise – in a place called Eden. And God gave the first humans a purpose.

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The 10 Best Summer Jobs for Teens and College Students

June 1, 2021 by 11 Comments

Memorial Day marks the official beginning of summer. For teens and college students that means one of three things. Either you are:

a) continuing school by choice (to get ahead) or out of necessity (because you failed)… summer jobs for teens

b) looking for a summer job to earn money or…

c) in for a really boring summer sleeping in and playing video games.

We all know that teens and college students love money. But we also know that some of them NEED money in a bad way. They have lots of expenses, from gas for the car, to eating out with friends, to paying for college tuition and expenses. Many times, parents are unable to fully fund (or refuse to fund) these expense categories. So teens and college students are left to support themselves. And the time to rack up the big money in a paycheck is over the summer when they are out of school.

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4 Tips to Break Out of Your Career Rut 

March 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment

If you love your career, you are in a great position. That is because many people don’t. But even those who love their career may find it becoming tedious or boring at times. And if those moments extend to longer periods of time, you may be dealing with something else. So, if you sense that you’re no longer excited about your job and feel a lack of purpose with it, you might be dealing with a career rut.

career rutHow might you know this? Typical signs include complaining about your job most of the time, feeling under-stimulated at work (things are boring to you) and being apathetic and uncaring towards your responsibilities. Joint research by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, and Gallup revealed that over 50% of workers are unhappy with their jobs because they can’t find purpose in what they’re doing.

That’s not a great place for anyone to be. For most, a career is such an important part of their lifestyle and personal identity. The impact of not enjoying work, will leak out and find its way to impact other areas of your life.

Fortunately, you don’t have to remain in this situation forever. You can get yourself out and have a rewarding career. Here are some things that’ll help you break free and move on to something better. 

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What Are the Challenges of Being a Digital Nomad?

March 1, 2021 by Leave a Comment

A lifestyle that is appealing to a growing number of people is being what is known as a digital nomad. This type of lifestyle brings the freedom many enjoy and the ability to make money in the way that they want. In essence, while you earn, you get to travel and experience new things. You’re not tied down and stuck at home or in an office, doing the same stuff day-in and day-out.

How is this possible? Through the use of technology. Digital nomads use telecommunications devices like cell phones or laptops with wi-fi access or hotspots to conduct their business. By using these devices they are not tied down to one location. They conduct their business and do their work wherever they want, like in coffee shops or libraries. Many even work in foreign countries. 

While this lifestyle might sound appealing, the life of a digital nomad isn’t always a perfect paradise. There are plenty of challenges with living this way. So, if you are thinking about becoming a digital nomad or are looking for ways to navigate some of the challenges you face as one now, here are some strategies that might help.

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2020 Goals That Will Make This the Best Decade Ever 

December 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Boom! Just like that, it’s over. In a few days we are set to close out a whole decade and begin a new one. By some accounts, we just experienced the best decade ever. Could bigger and better be yet to come? I believe so. But that bigger and better all starts by making some 2020 goals to help launch this next decade.

2020 goalsAre personal goals really worth it? Some people live and die by them. Others pass them off as cliche and not worth the effort. I mean, who really cares about setting goals when you know for sure you won’t keep or reach them?

It is true that people have varying degrees of success when it comes to completing their goals. But just because you may fail at them doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have them. For a variety of reasons, setting goals is simply too valuable an exercise.

Goals provide pacing to your life. They focus you on short and long-term tasks. They give you direction, purpose and clarity. Completing them gives you confidence and propels you on to do even more.

But maybe most importantly, goals allow you to dream.

“What would life look like if I could…?”

“How would my life change if I accomplished/gave up/worked on…?”

“Who would benefit if I…?”

It’s in the dreaming stage that goals are birthed. So as you dream about what the next decade of your life looks like, perhaps it would be good to set some 2020 goals that will serve to guide you through the next 10 years.

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How to Save One Thousand Dollars in a Month

September 25, 2019 by 25 Comments

Are you serious about getting out of debt and building a strong financial future? If so, then you must save money on a regular basis. The best part is you don’t have to begin with much. All you need to do for starters is to save one thousand dollars. That will give you some cushion and breathing space which you can then build on.

Speaking of building, when I worked construction I learned that every building requires a solid foundation. For your financial life, that foundation is savings. Without adequate savings you will struggle to get out of debt and will always be susceptible to emergency situations.

save one thousand dollarsNow I know for most people the process of saving money isn’t a sexy financial move. We’d rather spend money on gadgets or entertainment or experiences that give us an emotional high. Saving money and leaving it in the bank is an emotional blah.

To save one thousand dollars in a month may or may not sound like a daunting task. Some of you may be struggling to pay your basic bills. To save one thousand dollars may as well be like saving one million in your eyes.

But be encouraged. You can save one thousand dollars quickly. In fact, you can do it in only one month. Here’s how.

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How Much We Pay Our Kids For Chores

September 19, 2019 by 43 Comments

If you’ve ever wondered how much to pay kids for chores you are not alone. It’s a question my wife and I have wrestled with again and again. I’ve mentioned before why we don’t give our kids allowances. I’m not giving them money just for existing. It seems like that is what an allowance implies. Kids need to feel the burden of work so they can experience the joy of its rewards.

how much to pay kids for choresIn addition to earning some money, doing chores around the house is teaching them responsibility. The home is where they should begin to learn basic life skills. When I was in school, I knew some college freshman who couldn’t do their own laundry. All four of my children have been doing their laundry since they were nine.

Over the years my wife and I have adjusted how much we pay our kids for chores. The amounts started out small and increased as they got older. And then when we started having teenagers, specifically when they turned 16, we made another radical turn. Before I get to that though, here is some background information that helped us decide on how much to pay kids for chores.

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Start a Side Hustle While Still Working Full-Time With These 4 Tips

June 27, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Side hustles are quite common among Americans in today. You’ll find that many people will have an additional job that they do on top of their full-time job. They do these gigs for many reasons – out of passion, as a hobby, out of necessity or to make their budget work. Still others have hope that their side hustle it will one day become their new full-time job.

Side hustles offer many unique opportunities. However, not many can take one on and quit their day job at the same time. Quite often, the side job comes while the person is still working full-time.

Don’t let that shy you away from the challenge though. Holding down a side hustle can be done. Here is how.

Four Tips for Starting a Side Hustle

If you’re interested in a side hustle, we have four tips to help you out if you’re still working full-time.

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How to Turn a Hobby Into a Career

April 12, 2018 by 1 Comment

Ever want to turn a hobby into a career? Maria Cannon at HobbyJr.org did just that with her love of quilting. Now she is trying to help others do the same. In today’s guest post she shares some practical tips that can help you get started.

Many people these days are looking for a new career. There are many ways that can be accomplished without going back to school. One such way is to use an existing hobby to make money.

It’s a valid path to pursue, especially for those who feel like they’ve hit a lull within their jobs and want to try something different. Starting your own business is a wonderful option when you’re ready to branch out. However, it’s not without its challenges. Done poorly it could blow up in your face and leave you worse off than you are right now.

So, the question is, “Where do you start?” If you already have a hobby that could be a potential moneymaker such as sewing, baking, or making jewelry, you’re already halfway there. If not, you’ll need to think of ways you can earn money while doing something you love.

Here are a few tips on how to get started.

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